On August 27th the larger issue of Tibet was discussed in a day-long symposium, In Search of Tibet: Human Rights, Religious Freedom, and Sovereignty, at the University of San Francisco. The symposium was organized by Professor John Nelson of Theology and Religious Department with help given by USF Pacific Rim Studies and the school’s SFT chapter.
The chief guest for the symposium was Mr. Jamyang Norbu, a prolific Tibetan writer and a die-hard Rangzen advocate, who is supposedly “the last succinct voice for Rangzen in the exiled Tibetan world” as described by Tashi, a young Tibetan participant. Other speakers included Eva Herzer, the former Director of Tibet Justice Center, Berkeley. She presented a paper on the possibility of resolving the Tibet issue through Self-Determination. While Tenzin Tethong, a former Kalon of the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGiE) and now a professor at Stanford University, spoke about the rapid process of cultural revival in Tibet by patriotic Tibetans, though the Chinese authority in Tibet continues to hamper their works in every possible way. Former security Kalon Pema Choejor of TGiE described some of the tough challenges facing the exiled community. Ms. Dechen Tsering presented a report about Chinese government’s violation of Tibetan women’s rights in Tibet. Her presentation was followed by Topden Tsering, former President of San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress, but now a full-time writer. Topden spoke about the need for sustaining unity in our struggle even if diversified views echo on the surface.
Jamyang La’s points were expected by the audience as well as by the other speakers; he encouraged Tibetans and supporters to work harder in the struggle and be more hopeful. He reasoned that China is heading towards internal conflicts because environmental crisis and serious issues arising due to ineffective rule of law. Mr. Norbu argued, “It is the scale of destruction Chinese will face, which is under question now, but signs are already immerging that a disaster is imminent.” He also reminded the younger Tibetans not to forget the history of our people and not to surrender the Tibetan national cause at every point in dealing with the Chinese government. He concluded by saying that Tibetan independence is Tibetan people’s right and we should not give up fighting for it.
