Dalai Lama urges caution in relation to Tibet's future
Updated
Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has urged caution to be exercised by Tibetan leaders-in-exile in planning the future of their homeland.
Presenter: Kanaha Sabapathy
Speaker: Thubten Samphel, spokesman of the Tibetan government
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THUBTEN SAMPHEL: The recommendations were that the special meeting reaffirmed the fact that his Holiness the Dalai Lama is the undisputed leader of the Tibetan people and that he should refrain from saying he is currently in semi retirement. The recommendation also said the majority of the views expressed at the meeting have supported the Middle Way approach and there was also very strong views expressed by some people regarding that we should seek complete independence. The meeting also recommended to the Tibetan parliament that if there is no positive response from the Chinese side, the current dialogue process should be terminated until such time there is a positive response from the Chinese side. So it is for the Tibetan parliament to decide on how to go forward.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: It is interesting that the meeting actually adopted the Middle Way approach, an approach that even perhaps the Dalai Lama says has failed. So has it resolved the differences risen in the Tibetan community itself?
THUBTEN SAMPHEL: The fact that the meeting took place was a wonderful opportunity of reaffirming the basic unity of the Tibetan exile, regardless of the, you know, differences which came up during the, you know, discussions and I think that's a significant exercise in democracy. People, you know, on both sides of the current argument those for the Middle Way approach, those for seeking independence, they were happy because of the fact that they were both provided equal platforms to express their, you know, divergent views.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: Was any agreement reached as to how now the Tibetan government-in-exile is going to deal with China?
THUBTEN SAMPHEL: No, these are recommendations made by the special meeting so it is for the Tibetan parliament, which will meet for its budget session in March, to decide what to do with the recommendations which came up during the special meeting.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: It is interesting that the Dalai Lama did not attend this meeting. Will he be giving some form of definite response to the recommendations which would then be followed by the Tibetan government in exile?
THUBTEN SAMPHEL: I'm sure that the recommendations will be presented to his Holiness but it is for parliament to decide what to do with the outcome or the recommendations made by the meeting and his Holiness said that he did not attend the meeting for the simple reason that he did not want to influence the thinking. He wanted unifying discussions. He said as far as he is concerned he is in the middle of both arguments for independence and the Middle Way approach.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: Were there any discussions as to the successor to him?
THUBTEN SAMPHEL: In the charter there is provision which says that during the absence of the Dalai Lama the transition period till the next Dalai Lama is found and discovered would be done by a council of regions. So we would need to follow what clauses dictate are stipulated in the constitution.
