Three months after the Dalai Lama’s visit to Canada, China’s representative in Tibet seems to be having a hard time getting any attention from politicians.
Chamba Phuntsok, the Tibetan Governor, has only been granted a meeting with a minister’s assistant. No cameras allowed.
The Dalai Lama, on the other hand, managed to get a meeting with the top man himself — Prime Minister Paul Martin. There were also thousands of Canadians who bought tickets to see the Dalai Lama speak.
When Phuntsok was giving a speech organized by the Chinese embassy in Ottawa, dozens came out. But they weren’t nearly as welcoming as Phuntsok might hope. About 50 protesters waved signs and chanted slogans, calling for a free Tibet.
Phuntsok says the protesters have it all wrong. “Few people outside of Tibet and outside of China really understand the true situation in our region,” he said on CTV Newsnet. “After the 1959 democratic reform people have enjoyed freedom and human rights. They are now controlling their own destiny and fate.”
It’s a message Phuntsok has repeated when speaking to Asian scholars, professors and even news talk shows.
He’s also downplaying his failure to get a spot on Martin’s agenda. “It really doesn’t matter whether the prime minister meets me or not,” Phuntsok said. “The meeting between the prime minister and the Dalai Lama is wrong. It sends a wrong signal to the separatists.”
But during his visit a few months ago, the Dalai Lama stressed he didn’t want an independent Tibet, suggesting Tibet might benefit from remaining in China.
“I’m not seeking separation because of our own interest,” he said of Tibet, whose people, he said, are eager to modernize while preserving their religious culture.
“For that (reason), if Tibet remains within the People’s Republic of China we might get greater benefit.”
Talks between China and representatives of the Dalai Lama have been stalled since 1993. In the meantime, Phuntsok is staying on message.
“The Dalai Lama and his followers have poured dirty water on us. Tibetan people are enjoying unprecedented human rights,” Phuntsok said.
Still, it’s not clear whether his message is actually getting across.
“Why should we believe you are providing us with an accurate representation?” one Tibetan exile asked Phuntsok.
Another wanted to know why international organizations like Amnesty International aren’t allowed to travel freely in Tibet.
“I think the government of China knows his (Dalai Lama’s) visit was an enormous success,” said Liberal MP David Kilgour.
While the Canadian government formally recognizes China’s sovereignty, it hasn’t stopped some Liberals from speaking out. Kilgour calls the human rights situation in Tibet deplorable.
“If they’re anxious to show the world what the truth is, why don’t they have an all party delegation come from Canada?” asks Kilgour.
It turns out the Liberal MP may just get his wish. Phuntsok has invited all Canadians to visit Tibet and see the “unprecedented freedom” his people enjoy.
