(TibetanReview.net, May27, 2015) – Advocates of Tibet’s independence, sought to be marginalized by elements within those who support the exile Tibetan administration’s campaign for an autonomous Tibet under Chinese rule, have met in a conference over May 23-24 in New Delhi. The around 100 participants included activists, students and community representatives from India, Nepal, the United States and Europe.
“We reaffirmed our unflinching belief that independence is the goal of our struggle and we will have it anyway. We discussed so many different ways of achieving it. At the same time, we found that non-violence is our method. Following His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we will achieve a free and an independent Tibet,” ANI news agency May 5 quoted activist Tenzin Tsundue as saying.
May 23 this year marked the 64th anniversary of the 17-Point Agreement which China forced an unauthorized Tibetan government discussion team to sign in Beijing and which it used to annex Tibet. However, China later reneged from every provision of that agreement, which promised a sort of ‘one country, two systems’ status for Tibet, culminating in the 1959 Tibetan uprising and the Dalai Lama’s revocation of that agreement after he escaped to India.
Two panel discussions were held during the conference in collaboration with the India International Centre. The Panelists for the discussions, which were on ‘Tibet and India’s Security’ and ‘Tibet at the Threshold of Globalization’, were listed as Mohan Guruswamy, Strategic Analyst; TCA Gopalchari, Former Ambassador; Claude Arpi, Tibetologist; Bharat Karnad, Security and Strategic Analyst; Professor Ashis Nandy, Social Scientist; and Rajiv Vora, Gandhian. Vikram Sood, Former Head of RAW, was also listed but reportedly did not attend.
The organizers of the event hoped to inspire more Tibetans to accept independence as the ultimate goal for the long term interest of the Tibetan nation.
The chief guest was Dr Arun Kumar, Member of Indian Parliament. Exile Tibetan Mr Mr Serta Tsultrim was among those who took part in the conference which was organized by individuals with support from private donations. The conference honoured Mr Lhasang Tsering from Dharamshala, Mr Sonam Wangdue from the United States, Mr Gonpo Trinley, a recent former political prisoner from Tibet, in recognition of their contributions to the independence struggle.