(TibetanReview.net, May17’19) – Bringing China to the negotiating table may seem to be as futile a flogging a dead horse for now. But a resolute exile Tibetan administration continues to be hopeful and has concluded on May 16 a two-day, 31st meeting of its task force on negotiation with Beijing.
CTA Spokesperson Sonam Norbu Dagpo has told the press May 15 that important topics to be covered at the meeting would include the relation between China and Europe, China and US, and what could be done to achieve the goal of the Task Force meeting.
The Dalai Lama’s former special envoy Mr Lodi Gyari was a notable absence from the meeting which was stated to have mourned his passing away in Oct 2018 by observing a moment’s silence.
Dagpo has reiterated the exile administration’s goal of seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet through peace dialogue with the PRC.
President Lobsang Sangay of the exile administration was stated to have presided over the meeting which was first held in 1999.
The Task Force on Sino-Tibetan negotiation was constituted to help recommend policy matters and strategies to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable negotiated resolution to the issue of Tibet, said the exile administration on its Tibet.net website May 15.
China’s position remains that it will hold talks, if at all, only with the Dalai Lama or his envoys on the latter’s personal future, not on any Tibet issue.
