DHARAMSHALA, September 28: The Second Special General Meeting of the Tibetan People concluded here today with a strong message of unity and solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet and a call for greater activism to fulfill their aspirations of freedom and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return.
The plenary session of the four-day meeting, called to chart a campaign blueprint in response to the ongoing crisis inside Tibet, unanimously adopted 31 recommendations and a resolution, this afternoon in the Upper TCV school auditorium.
Paying deep respect to the 56 Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet, on both sides of the Himalayas, the meeting called for the creation of memorial house to place their photos and biographies. The gathering of over 400 Tibetans from 26 countries recommended that the exile administration and the Tibetan people jointly observe a mass campaign on a single day to pay homage to the Tibetan self-immolators and show solidarity with their families.
While expressing concern over the loss of Tibetan lives, the meeting declared that the Chinese government will be held solely responsible in the event of the situation inside Tibet escalating further.
In light of the critical situation inside Tibet, the meeting recommended the revival of the ‘Tibetan Solidarity Committee’ to head the global Tibet activities and also pushed for the creation of a ‘voluntary emergency fund’ to finance the campaigns.
In order to intensify Tibet’s international outreach, the delegates suggested the opening of representative offices of the Central Tibetan Administration in countries where Tibetan representation is wanting. The delegates further resolved to urge the European Union to appoint a special coordinator for Tibetan issue.
The meeting unanimously approved a recommendation to take Chinese leaders to international courts for their crimes against the Tibetan people on well-researched findings.
In their concluding remarks, both Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Speaker Penpa Tsering, urged Tibetans to rise above differences and lead a united front in organsing and taking part in future campaigns.
While Sikyong Dr Sangay clarified that the recent expression of hurt by the Dalai Lama didn’t arise out of the existence of different political inclinations of independence and autonomy within the Tibetan society, Speaker Tsering stressed that no one can take away the right of Tibetan individuals from demanding complete independence against their will.
The elected leaders of the Tibetan people reiterated the meeting’s recommendation to pursue the Middle-Way policy aimed at finding a meaningful solution through dialogue with the Chinese government in accordance with the past resolutions adopted by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Addressing the press at the conclusion of the meeting, Dr Sangay said the meeting has succeeded in sending a strong message of Tibetan unity to the Chinese government.
“We came here to show our solidarity and unity with Tibetans inside Tibet and to send a strong message to the Chinese government that we do not tolerate their present policies and the continued occupation of Tibet,” the de facto Tibetan prime minister said.
“We will do whatever we can to support our brothers and sisters in Tibet and we squarely blame the present tragedy in Tibet on the hard-line policies of the Chinese government.”
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay expressed hope that Tibetans will be able to highlight the sufferings of the Tibetan people inside Tibet and “deservedly get support from the international community to press the Chinese government to resolve the Tibetan crisis through peaceful dialogue.”
“We have agreed to fulfill the two aspirations – the universal slogan of all the self-immolators and generally of all Tibetans – the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom of Tibet.”
