By Tenzin Sangmo
New Delhi, June 4 – The M.L. Sondhi Institute for Asia Pacific Affairs supported by Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC) organized a roundtable on ‘Prospects for Democracy in Post-Tiananmen China’ on the 19th Anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre in New Delhi today. The agenda for the discussion set up by TPPRC revolved around the possibility of China moving towards the adoption of a democratic administration. Chaired by the Former Defence Minister and Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission KC Pant the panel of speakers comprised of T.C.A. Rangachary Former Ambassador to China, Dr. Swaran Singh from the Centre for Chinese Studies, JNU and Youdon Aukatsang Member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.
Citing an example of the former Soviet Union an authoritarian regime and its subsequent disintegration, KC Pant said, “Whether China embraces democracy like Russia after the Cold War depends on certain political and economic features. Whereas China is prospering and has a sustaining high rate of growth year after year, the Soviet Union in the 1990’s had an economy that was weakened from within. An internal weakness and the necessity to introduce reforms accelerated the change paving way for a form of democracy. There is a big difference between the vulnerability of these two nations.”
He further added that even though there have been many developments and changes in recent China the ultimate analysis is not international pressure that will decide how far if at all China moves towards democracy but its internal affairs that will determine this matter.
With China in the lead as an emerging super power and its sturdy trade relations with other countries there has been a careful and cautious approach towards controversial matters from international communities exhibiting their reluctance to press China into implementing a democratic institution or holding a substantial dialogue with the Dalai Lama. According to Dr. Swaran Singh, visibility is so well orchestrated in China that no one is capable of seeing the undercurrents.
TCA Rangachary said, “During the Tiananmen Square protest, the State took total control causing an outrage all through the free world which viewed it as a voice of disapproval towards the system and a step in favor of democracy. If China is truly to become a world power, it has to come to the conclusion that this can be achieved only if there is a better participatory in its governance.”
Lauding the courage of Tibetan minorities and Chinese citizens who have raised their voice against the Party in the past not withstanding consequences Youdon Aukutsang said, “I find people’s participation very heartening, the way they use technology to mobilize masses- via satellite, internet, text message is very encouraging. People are getting fearless and showing that they too have an opinion and are concerned about how the system is working.”
“As a Tibetan I’d say that despite the development and good changes taking place in China, the Tibetan race is not a part of the transformation. The whole agenda is concentrated on stability and tight control inside the minority population and they are not treated well. The changes are only in tune with China’s main interests of social, political and economical control.”
The discourse also covered the status of the middle class Chinese who have become very conservative in response to the government-formed compact with society that boosts stability and economic development labeling anyone that jeopardizes its peace as an enemy of the state. China has eliminated threats to its hegemony under the name of national security and imperial sentiments. Its so called policy in Tibet is to develop economy and any form of disturbance political and social is seen as a nuisance to the society’s development.
