IMAGEIMAGE DHARAMSHALA, March 17: The members of the Tibetan Parliament, currently holding its ninth session discussed the recent events of New York, condemning it as a matter that “pleases the enemy and disappoints the friend” (Daga Nyenduk).
Members expressed their disappointment over the “sad incident” in New York and appealed the public to maintain unity and uphold the principles of democracy.
The New York event, perhaps for the first time, brought the disagreement in ideologies and implementation among various Tibetan associations and NGOs in public and in the parliament.
Videos circulating on the Internet shows representatives of Students for a Free Tibet being told to leave the protest area by representatives of the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey.
Sources say that the US Tibet Committee and the Students for Free Tibet have earlier withdrawn their participation from the 6 organizing groups for the 10 March events. The Tibetan Community of NY and NJ, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, NY NJ, Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, NY NJ, Chushi Gangdruk, were the four that organized the gathering.
Representatives of the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey have allegedly asked the police on patrol to barricade themselves from the members of Students for Free Tibet and Tibetan Nation Congress, both of which stands for independence for Tibet, a position that is rejected by the Tibetan government in exile.
The discussion on the New York incident came about as part of the parliament’s discussion on the draft resolution expressing solidarity with the crisis in Tibet.
Sources say that the six organizations involved in the New York incident have already settled the matter among themselves. However, the incident has made it to the first minutes of the opening of the Tibetan parliament’s ninth session. There will be more debates on the issue in the days to come.
The New York incident is being closely followed by the Tibetan public on social networking sites and micromessaging apps.
Tsering Yeshi, a college graduate aspiring to appear for CTA job, stated: “On the outset it appears that the dispute was between Rangzen and Middle Way supporters. But the issue when looked from a different perspective – even those who follow the Middle-way approach denounces the handling of the issue that day by the organizers. It’s sad but we can’t undo it. We can learn from this mistake and try no to pull each others’ legs in our movement.”
The parliament also passed a draft resolution of expression of gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The members expressed their appreciation to the Standing Committee of the Tibetan parliament for bringing the resolution on the floor.
