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WATCH IT HERE: https://youtu.be/5iKvTGb9J-I

On 13th February, 1913 His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama Thupten Gyatso came out with a proclamation that reaffirmed Tibetan Independence. Therefore, declaring and ushering Tibet in the era of a modern-nation state, the first of its kind in the high Himalayas as it near neighbor which would eventually occupy it illegally was in a civil and factional power struggle after the dethronement and removal of the Qing Dynasty.

This year Tibetans worldwide, in particular those not under the clutches of Chinese Communist regime commemorated and celebrated the 110th anniversary of this very significant proclamation. On this auspicious day, the Foundation for Non-violent Alternatives (FNVA), Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)- New Delhi, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC)- Rohini jointly organized the event ‘Tibet: Independence and Illegal Occupation’. The event was held at the Chushi Gangdruk Hall in Majnu Ka Tilla, New Delhi and it included two programmes, a discussion session and a movie screening. Scores of Tibetans joined and participated the event with several Tibet supporters and observers also attending the programme as well.

The event started by lighting a Chomey (Butter lamp) in front of a portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and subsequently paid tribute to all the Tibetan martyrs and victims from the uncalled natural disaster that has struck Turkey and Syria, taking away many lives.

The event was followed by the discussion session and the speakers Ugyan Choedup, Tashi Dhondup and Tenzin Tsundue all spoke on various themes relating to today’s significant day.

Ugyan Choedup, a PhD candidate at the Pennsylvania state Univesity on history and the co-founder of popular Tibetan podcast Khyeltam talked on the topic ‘Declaration in Reaffirming Tibetan Independence: An Historical Analysis’. He dissected the Tibet through a historical precision, giving a background on this declaration and brought significant points to the fore:

1. Current China is not Historical China
2. The Qing Dynasty is of Manchus and not the current Han which despised the Manchu, yet claim the formers plaudits including their history.
3. Rise of Nationalism in China during the early 20th century shifted Chinese perspective to Tibet and the claim over Tibet started to begin from then onwards.

Tashi Dhondup, the current president of the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT) deliberated on the topic ‘Democracy in Exile: Call for Independence under illegal Chinese Occupation’. He brought to light the current situation of Tibet and how our Tibetan sisters and brothers continue to suffer day in and day out under Chinese oppression. He noted the Bilingual policy applied from Beijing in Tibet, the Desecration of Drago a report released by Free Tibet organization and the colonial style boarding school, all of which are tactics to assimilate the Tibetans to the Chinese way of life. On Tibetan independence and exile democracy he mentioned:

1. Tibetan youngsters are the future of Tibet
2. Called upon the current plight of Tibetan democracy as dirty and not up to the standard of a nation that is fighting against Communist China
3. Criticized the One China policy and how Tibet does and should not be included in it because Tibet is not China.
4. Tibetan Independence is the only solution and is a cry that continues to be there in our Tibetan since we were forced to exile, he mentioned the former Takster Rinpoche and his organization International Tibetan Movement, which had been spear heading the Tibetan Independence movement.

Tenzin Tsundue, a prominent exile activist, writer and poet engaged on the topic ‘Tibetan Freedom Movement: Aspirations of the Tibetan People’. He firstly gave an overview of the China’s clout in our contemporary times, how through their economic might they are arm twisting nations to speak lies and bypass facts. He then went on to state the importance of today and noted how understanding history means understanding yourself. Some vital points he mentioned were:

1. Even the Middle Way Approach confirms that Tibet was an independent country
2. The current People’s Republic of China is largely made up of 4 illegally occupied nations namely Tibet, East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia and Manchuria.
3. The one China narrative is false and we Tibetans and the people of the world must rally together to remove this Chinese made illusion.
4. Called upon India to look deeper into its history as it was an independent nation before the PRC. Only by understanding History, Tibet and Chinese aggression will India be able to resolve its border issue.

The three speakers were further engaged in the question-and-answer session. Here Ugyan Choedup stated how we Tibetan can find a third alternative beyond the current Middle Way Approach and Complete Independence binary. Tashi Dhondup asserted that it is high times the Tibetans in exile must do away with petty factional politics within themselves and be concerned with the larger front and which is the communist China, who continues to occupy Tibet illegally. Tenzin Tsundue was of the opinion that the very thought of Tibetan freedom is vital and at times, sees it lacking in our current younger generations of Tibetan but was elated to see such a large gathering of Tibetan youngsters today, in marking this auspicious day.

Before its conclusion, several of the participants took to stage for a group photo to remember this day and chanted Bhod Gyalo (Victory Tibet) together.

The discussion session was followed by the movie screening prior to which there was a refreshment break, where the participants engaged informally with our speakers. 

The movie ‘Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion’ directed by Tom Peosay which highlighted and illustrated the dire situation of Tibet through the visual lens made the participants more aware of Tibet and in many ways supported the statements of the three speakers, who led the discussion session. This formally concluded the event and the participants left with a deeper knowledge of Tibet and the Tibetan people.

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Note: Kindly send an email to [email protected] should you wish to receive of the copy of the report.

The evolution of India’s Tibet policy can be traced back to its pre-independence. The Government of India (GoI) unhesitatingly received the 14th Dalai Lama, accompanying monks and others with him when he sought asylum in 1959. India is host to the largest community of Tibetans outside of Tibet and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is also based in India. It is therefore incumbent upon India to take a more pro-active role in the settlement of the Tibet conflict. 

The vulnerability of India’s security was exposed with the annexation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1950/51. India has to continuously assess and reassess this vulnerability in its own national interest and take appropriate measures — diplomatic, infrastructural, strategic (defence preparedness) — to diffuse tensions and lay a road map for political and economic stability in the region. Tibet is not only the crux of the (China) Tibet- India border issue, but it has the potential to be part of the solution to the vexed boundary issue as well. Chinese officials, diplomats, and members of Chinese government controlled think-tanks have listed the following main items (in order of priority) as issues of concern: a) Dalai Lama and Tibet issue, and b) the border dispute. 

FNVA brought out its policy document “Reappraisal of India’s Tibet Policy 2013”, since then not only have there been numerous transgressions carried out by the PRC along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), but India has had to face an even more belligerent China on its borders. Bilateral agreements between India and China aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity at the (China)Tibet-India border areas became meaningless the moment China moved large numbers of troops to Eastern Ladakh in May 2020. Since then, despite several rounds of talks between the two sides, there has been no forward movement in bilateral discussions to move back to the status quo ante. Relations between the two sides have deteriorated extensively and India must plan for a new phase in its bilateral relations and be constantly prepared for fresh moves along the LAC by the PRC. 

Successive Indian governments have invested heavily to ensure a good and a positive bilateral relation with China, the current impasse however proves that these efforts have borne little fruit. FNVA believes now is the opportune time for India to re-examine, revisit, and reset its current policy on all matters pertaining to Tibet and Tibet related issues. 

FNVA engaged in the exercise to formulate a policy document: “Re-setting India’s Tibet Policy 2022”. The document is meant for the long-term projection of issues between India, Tibet, and China, and their possible resolution in a peaceful manner. FNVA has reasons to believe this policy document will be useful to the government, the parliament, and policy influencers. 

The draft was shared with key experts on Tibet and China including leading Tibetans for their feedback. FNVA received useful suggestions for which we record our appreciation.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07-Ncc-3va0&t=49s

Conversation with Tashi Dhondup

During the session with Tashi Dhondup, president of National Democratic Party of Tibet
(NDPT) he engaged upon Tibetan democracy, its relevance and significance, genesis and
direction of the National Democratic Party of Tibet, his personal life experiences and
aspirations.

It started with his unexpected appointment as the president of the National Democratic Party
of Tibet through election by its members. Though surprised he stated how he will do his best
in his post as president and will not disappoint those who have confidence in him.

Moving on Tashi Dhondup explained the very genesis of the National Democratic Party of
Tibet and how since its establishment in 1994 with the goal of further developing democracy
in the exile Tibetan community, it has accomplished many historical landmarks. He further
stated how the very establishment of the National Democratic Party of Tibet was a vision of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He further elaborated upon the structure of the NDPT and how
it plays the role of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and thereby currently sees the
NDPT as a Semi-Political party.

This was followed by an in-depth discussion on the Tibetan term used for democracy and
how out of the two (Mangtso though phonetically sounding the same) one referring to Masses
and the other to Majority, the National Democratic Party of Tibet adheres to one referring to
Majority. The reason being that in the exile Tibetan institutions the decisions are based on the
majority and not the masses, because the thoughts and ideals of the millions of Tibetans in
Chinese occupied Tibet, individually are not the decision makers in the exile Tibetan setup.

Tashi Dhondup then shared his perilous journey from Tibet and how at the young age of 6
according to official documents he reached India. He also highlighted here how we Tibetans
can and must take inspiration from India, our host when it comes to the freedom movement
and the practice of democracy. He narrated how during his time in JNU one witnesses the
graffiti art of India’s struggle for Independence on campus walls which inspires him and
should also inspire the Tibetans in exile.

When it comes to his own future aspiration and that of the NDPT’s. He made it very clear
that he wants NDPT to become the bridge between the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (TGiE
aka Central Tibetan Administration) and the Tibetan diasporic communities who are not
currently in touch with the TGiE for varying reasons. Stressing also on the fact that the
NDPT on its most recent resolution would try to embody the practice of a multi-party system
as currently the NDPT is the only officially recognized political party by the TGiE. When it
came to his own personal aspirations, he stated that he would like to follow the precedent set
by the previous presidents of the NDPT and that is by being part of the legislative body of the
TGiE, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) in the near future.

Finally, he mentioned through various instances as to how we Tibetans must not take things
for granted especially the practice of democracy but continue to strive for it. Tibetans must
realize its significance and in light of the current stalemate in the TGiE, as out of the 7
departments, 4 departments still do not have ministers (Kalons). He also warned that we must
stay away from non-democratic procedures and wants the election commission to bring
educated and validated reforms rather than just being a rubber stamp. Here he mentions how
the 2017 resolution under then Minister of Finance, Karma Yeshi basically rendered NDPT
and several democratic procedures inactive especially during the central elections of the
TGiE.

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