New Delhi, December 15 – On the first day of the three-day state visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao to New Delhi, four Tibetan non-governmental organizations will organize a panel discussion taking stock of complex − India -Tibet – China − triangular relations.
At a time when India is in compelling situations created by China’s tremendous political, military, economical and geopolitical pressures on India, the discussion coordinated by International Tibet Network will provide an overview of and rethink the 60 year old India’s Sino-Tibet policy. The Organizers are the Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet, and Students for a Free Tibet-India and National Democratic Party of Tibet.
The discussion will be held at the Casurana Hall, India Habitat Centre, and it will be chaired by Major General (Retd) Vinod Saighal and addressed by three keynote speakers; Mr. Mohan Guruswamy, China expert and director of Centre for Policy Alternatives, Smt. Jaya Jaitley, former President of Samata Party and a social activist and Mr. Tempa Tsering, Minister, Tibetan Government in Exile and the New Delhi representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“At a time when the bilateral China-India relation is hitting an all-time low and there are concerted efforts from both sides to salvage the ties and strengthen relations, it is of paramount importance for both the Asian giants to address the Tibet issue which is the core issue,” said Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, president of the Tibetan Women’s Association, the largest women’s organization-in-exile.
“The panel discussion intends to rethink the key and core issue of Tibet and facilitate an in-depth discussion while the Chinese Premier will be making errands with a 400 Chinese businessmen entourage” said Lukar Jam, Vice President of Gu Chu Sum, which is a Tibetan association of former political prisoners of Tibet.
The historical buffer zone between India and China, Tibet is 2.5 million Sq Km; two third of India’s total landmass of 3.2 million Sq Km. “It is noteworthy that while India accepts the Chinese sovereignty over Tibet, India also acknowledges Tibet as a buffer zone and that all border disputes stems from the Chinese occupation of Tibet”, said Tenzin Choedon, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet, India, which is the national network of Students for a Free Tibet International.
“The conference intends to take a closer look at the Indian Government’s stand on the Chinese occupied Tibet and review its substantiated policy” said Chime Yungdrung, the President of National Democratic Party of Tibet, which is the only political party in the Tibetan Community in exile.
The conference will also see the participation by Indian opinion makers from quarters of academics, politicians and public intellectuals.
