Sino-Tibetan conference urges China to engage dialogue on Tibet

Participants raise their hands in support of Tibet issues during the conference in Taipei, April 23, 2016. Photo: TPI/Artemas Liu

Dharamshala — The Sino-Tibetan Friendship Associations Wednesday released what they refer to as the “Final Declaration of the First International Conference” on Tibet held recently in Taipei, Taiwan, that “affirms the principles and values of finding truth, environmental protection, constitutional government and dialogue.”In light of the continued deterioration in the state of environment, religion and culture and human rights in Tibet under the rule of Chinese government, Tibetan and Chinese associations and experts from across the globe have gathered in Taiwan for the First International Conference of Sino-Tibetan Friendship Associations in 2016.

In the statement, the conference also urges all to cherish the democratic experience of Taiwan and to condemn the Chinese government’s suppression of Taiwan’s freedom and democracy as well as its international space.

The three-day conference features presentations and discussions on a whole gamut of issues related with Tibet and China by 150 people, including scholars, intellectuals, writers, activists and students from all over the world, including those from the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, Spain Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Conference was organised by the Taiwan Office of Tibet in Taipei, claims it is a major project of the China Desk of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR).

The Sino-Tibetan Conference “Finding Common Ground” was held in Taipei, the Captial of Taiwan, where the conference came to the following consensus:

      The Common Consensus of the Conference;

1. According to historical facts, Tibet is historically an independent country.
2. The national self-determination is an innate right of the Tibetan people.
3. The realization of a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people is integral to the constitutional transformation in China.
4. While condemning the White Paper published by the Chinese Government in 2015, Tibet’s Path of Development Is Driven by an Irresistible Historical Tide, for distorting and negating the Middle-Way Approach, the conference supports the Middle-Way Policy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.
5. We oppose the Chinese government for stating that the Tibet issue is an internal matter. The concern for Tibet’s human rights, religion and culture, language and environment is not only a right but a responsibility of the international community.

      Appeal to the International Community;

1. To urge the Chinese government to initiate, under the supervision of the United Nations and the international media, dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.
2. Since the protection of Tibet’s environment is directly related to the environment and the future well-being of the entire humanity, we urge the international community to take collective responsibility for it.
3. To constitute an independent investigative group to probe the cause of Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death in prison and the truth behind the torture of Tibetan political prisoners and the deaths in detention centers.

   Appeal to the Chinese Government;

4. Since the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of reincarnation is an integral part of Tibetan culture, we oppose the Chinese government’s brutal intervention in the matters of recognizing reincarnation. Only His Holiness the Dalai Lama has the right to make decision on the issue of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.
5. The Chinese government should immediately release the Panchen Lama and all other political prisoners of Tibet.
6. Economic development cannot be undertaken at the expense of the destruction of Tibet’s environment. The interest and opinion of Tibetan people must be taken into consideration in the decision-making process.
7. The Tibetan nomadic way of life must be respected. The economic development must not turn Tibetan nomads into environmental refugees.
8. The Tibetan language must be respected and protected. The Tibetan language should be made the first official language in all public and official spheres.
9. While writing the textbook of Tibetan language and history, their content should reflect Tibetan history and culture.

   Appeal to the Central Tibetan Administration;

10. The Central Tibetan Administration, while conducting an annual survey of books published in Tibetan, English and Chinese as well as other languages, the promotion of Tibetan writing is important.
11. To convene a global conference of Tibetan Buddhism in order to strengthen better exchanges and cooperation among Tibetan Buddhist centers.
12. To continue organizing Sino-Tibetan meetings to conduct discussions.

    Appeal to the NGO’s

13. On humanitarian grounds, [we] urge the cessation of the Tibetan protests in the form of self-immolation.
14. Making full use of the cyberspace to promote awareness about the reality in Tibet and the ideas of freedom and democracy as well as [in reaching out to] to the Chinese people and [raising their awareness]
15. To [oppose] the colonialism and the policy of cultural genocide carried out by the Chinese government in Tibet.
16. To establish a liaison office for coordinating the Sino-Tibetan friendship associations across the globe and facilitating implementation of future works.