The struggle for Tibetan independence

  From today’s International Herald Tribune:

DHARAMSALA, India: Young Tibetan leaders at a summit meeting of exiles are pushing the Himalayan region to declare independence from China, while the older guard continues to support a more conciliatory approach toward Beijing, participants said.

The tug-of-war over the future of the Tibetan movement comes after the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, publicly expressed frustration over the failure of his “middle way” approach to yield greater autonomy for the region.

The weeklong meeting of 581 exile leaders in the northern India hill town of Dharamsala, the base of Tibet’s government in exile, represents the first major re-evaluation of the Tibetan strategy since the Dalai Lama outlined the policy, which rejects calls for outright independence, in 1988.

“I see a huge disparity” between the generations, said Tenzin Tsundue, 33, a participant in the meeting, which opened Monday. “The younger generation, most of them speak for independence and that there should be no compromise with China. The elderly generation is completely supportive of the Dalai Lama’s middle way approach, which he said is not working.”

Younger Tibetan exiles said they had lost faith in the government in exile and its moderate approach, which they say plays into China’s hands.

“Our exile government is very gullible; they do not understand Chinese motives,” said 30-year-old Dhondup, who fled to India in 1998 and gave only one name, fearing his family inside Tibet could face retribution.

“We Tibetans should do what we think is necessary to get our freedom,” he said.

Any deviation from current policies was almost certain to scuttle the tenuous ties with Beijing, which has long accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting an independence movement.

On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry was quick to clamp down on any speculation that the region could break away. “Any attempt to separate Tibet from Chinese territory will be doomed,” Qin Gang, a spokesman, said at a news conference in Beijing.

China insists that Tibet has been part of its territory for 700 years, although many Tibetans say they were effectively independent for most of that time.

The closed-door discussions in India end Saturday and their recommendations will be taken to Parliament. The Dalai Lama, who is not participating in the discussions, will meet the exile leaders on Sunday, said Lobsang Cheedak, press officer of the government in exile.

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