International brainstorming forum to guide CTA policy for next five-fifty years

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HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama with President Dr Lobsang Sangay at the second day of the five-fifty forum. (Photo courtesy/T Choejor/OHHDL)
HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama with President Dr Lobsang Sangay at the second day of the five-fifty forum. (Photo courtesy/T Choejor/OHHDL)

(TibetanReview.net, Oct08, 2017) – Indian academic Dr Meenakshi Gopinath, Political strategist Jamie Metzl, German politician Dr Schwartz Schilling and Taiwanese parliamentarian Freddy Lim have been cited as some among the 185 “top political strategists, politicians, communication experts, activists, bloggers and writers” from 21 countries who are taking part in what is called the five-fifty forum for Tibet being held in Dharamshala, India, over Oct 6-8.

President Dr Lobsang Sangay of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which is organizing the closed-door, brainstorming event, has described the forum as “an opportunity to express unvarnished opinions, suggestions, and recommendations to re-energise the Tibet movement in the next five to fifty years.”

“We have chosen each one of you individually by looking into your longstanding contribution towards the Tibet cause, or for your expertise and experience in the field of international relations,” the CTA quoted Dr Sangay as saying on its Tibet.net website Oct 7.

The CTA’s Tibet.net remains the only source of information about the forum as other media are excluded from it.

As for the use of the participants’ contributions in the discussions, he was quoted as saying, “After the forum, we will formulate our future course of action by taking into account your inputs. Therefore, we would want you to advise us just as you would advise your respective governments, MNCs or organisations that you work for.

He was also reported to have spoken about “the depressing political situation prevailing inside Tibet” and called for redefining what he has called “the Tibet narrative” to create an increased discussion on Tibet in the global political discourse.

Besides, Dr Sangay, Dr Meenakshi Gopinath, Jamie Metzl, Dr Schwartz Schilling and Freddy Lim were reported to have spoken on the forum’s inaugural day.

Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, made a short visit to the forum on its second day of Oct 7. “Chinese leaders never expected Tibet issue to remain alive even after 50 years. But it is alive and growing stronger,” Tibet.net Oct 8 quoted him as having said.

It said the second day’s session was moderated by Micheal Van Walt Van Praag, facilitated by Dr Sangay, and addressed by Former Canadian minister Stockwell Day and Nalin Kohli, an Indian lawyer and spokesman for India’s ruling BJP.

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