Exiled Tibetans meet to discuss views, aspirations

New Delhi - More than 600 exiled Tibetan leaders gathered in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala Monday to air their views and aspirations on the best course of action for the Tibetan cause. The situation in Tibet was serious and at this 'critical stage' all Tibetans had to come together to discuss their views on what future action needed to be taken, Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile said in his opening speech. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had called for the four-day special meeting, saying that nothing substantive had been achieved in several rounds of talks with the Chinese leadership on greater autonomy for Tibetans within China. He said he was increasingly losing faith in the Chinese leadership and it was time for Tibetan leaders in exile to 'think over the issue of the common good of Tibet and decide accordingly.' More than 80,000 Tibetan exiles live in India. The northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala is the headquarters of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile and the parliament-in-exile. The government is not recognized by any nation. A section of the Tibetan leadership has been advocating a tougher stand with the Chinese leadership and a call for independence. Samdhong Rinpoche told the delegates gathered from India and across the world that any change in basic policy would be decided by the Tibetan people based on their collective aspiration. He said since March 2008, Tibetans in Tibet had spontaneously come out to demonstrate and express their dissatisfaction with the 'oppressive and brutal ultra-leftist policies of the PRC (People's Republic of China) and to protest a total lack of freedom of speech and thought.' He said the demonstrations were crushed mercilessly. 'Under such dire circumstances, Tibetans in Tibet pinned all their hopes on fellow Tibetans in the free world ... We must show solidarity with our brethren, and we must do whatever in our means to improve the situation,' he said. More than 6 million Tibetans live in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. The Dalai Lama and his followers fled to India in 1959 after the Chinese occupied Tibet. Samdhong Rinpoche clarified that the special meeting had no fixed agenda and was a democratic exercise so that the government, which had limited contact with the people on a daily basis, could understand through debate and discussions their views on the best course of action beneficial to the Tibetan cause. 'Whatever stand may be decided for the future of Tibet, it should have the clear mandate of the people. The united efforts of Tibetans should be visible on the international stage,' he said. The delegates were expected to divide into groups for further discussions. The Dalai Lama is not attending the special meeting as he does not want to influence the discussions, but aides said he is expected to make a statement at the concluding session on Saturday.