The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

(The Tibet Post International 6 November 2008) NEW DELHI--TheTibetan delegation, led by Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Kasur Lodi Gyari, returned to India from Beijing today after participating in the eighth round of talks with China, but gave no word on how the meetings went. The purpose of this trip was to follow up on the discussions that took place earlier in July of this year, and to present the Chinese leadership with a memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

Gyari said in a press release following the delegation’s arrival in New Delhi that official statements concerning the outcome of this week’s meetings will not be released until after a special meeting of the Tibetan people is held later this month in Dharamsala.

But in an official statement released from Beijing, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Communist Party's United Front Work Department Du Qinglin, who met with the delegation, ruled out giving Tibet the meaningful autonomy they seek, saying that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should "face reality," the associated press reported.

"It is impossible for Tibet to become independent, semi-independent, or independent in a disguised form," Du said. "The Dalai Lama should respect history, face reality, comply with the times and correct his political stance fundamentally."

H.H the Dalai Lama has maintained since the 1980’s that he seeks for Tibet a meaningful autonomy—not independence—under Chinese rule in order to protect and preserve Tibetan culture.

Chinese leadership has denied Tibet the same degree of autonomy it grants its other autonomous territories Hong Kong and Macau under the “one country, two systems” formula. "We will never allow someone to hold a banner of 'real nationality autonomy' and damage the national unity," Du said.

Lodi Gyari was joined in Beijing by Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, senior aides Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering, both members of the Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations, and Kalsang Tsering from the Secretariat of the Task Force.

In addition to the discussions about autonomy for Tibet, Chinese authorities took the delegation on a tour of the Muslim ethnic minority region Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to demonstrate Beijing’s ability to handle minority concerns.

Full text of Tibetan delegation’s press release:

Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and I, accompanied by senior aides Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering, both members of the Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations, and Kalsang Tsering from the Secretariat of the Task Force, visited China from October 30 to November 5, 2008. We returned to India on November 6, 2008.

The main purpose of this trip was to follow up on the discussions held during the seventh round in July this year.  We presented a memorandum to the Chinese leadership on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

In Beijing we met with Mr. Du Qinglin, Vice Chariman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Minister of the Central United Front Work  Department, on November 4, 2008. We also had a day-long discussion Mr. Zhu Weiqun, Executive Vice Minister, and Mr. Sithar, Vice Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, on November 5, 2008. An official from the Tibet Autonomous Region, Pema Trinley, Executive Vice Governor, was also present in the Chinese side.  We had a briefing, organized by the United Front, by experts on Chinese Constitution and the Law on Regional National Autonomy at the China Tibetology Research Center.  It was moderated by Mr. Lhakpa Phuntsok, Director of the Center. We also visited the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

This morning we briefed Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet, in New Delhi about our discussions. As a special general meeting of the Tibetan people is being convened later this month at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we have been advised not to make statements about our discussions before this meeting.

Our host for this visit was the Central United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party.  The United Front Work Departments of Beijing City and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were also involved with our visit.  We thank them for their hospitality.

New Delhi

November 6, 2008