Tibetan exiles end meeting with call for more vigorous action

New Delhi - Tibetan exiles ended a crucial meeting on their future in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala on Saturday agreeing that a firmer stand in dealings with China was needed, delegates attending the meeting said. The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama had called for the special meeting after admitting in October that his 'middle way' policy of securing greater autonomy for Tibetans within China had failed. A little over 600 Tibetan exiles attended the week-long meeting which saw intense discussions on whether there should be a shift of policy to advocate independence, a move which many of the younger generation advocated. But there were many opposed to dropping the middle way who said that the move could result in losing international support. The overall conclusion seemed to be that the middle way should be followed for now but a tougher stand should be adopted with the Chinese government, sources in the Tibetan government-in-exile said. The meeting, after an introductory session on Monday, had divided into sub-committees for the week-long discussions. All the 15 sub-committees had submitted their recommendations and these would be made pubic on Sunday, Karma Choephel, speaker of the Tibetan government-in exile said. The Dalai Lama, who stayed away from the meeting saying he did not want to influence discussions, is expected to brief the media on Sunday after persuing the recommendations, one of his aides said. 'Everyone was determined to continue with the freedom struggle - though in different ways,' said Youdon Aukatsang, a member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile. She said most delegates wanted a stronger stand with China, including deadlines, if the dialogue progressed. The issue of a successor to the Dalai Lama was also reportedly discussed in the sub-committees. The 73-year-old monk suffered a bout of ill health and underwent surgery earlier in 2008. 'The meeting was a democratic exercise. It indicates a transition. the voices of all sections were heard,' Tenzin Choeding, a youth leader said. Younger Tibetans had earlier expressed frustration in having to tone down their protests in the days leading up to the Beijing Olympics. Many of them were invited to attend the special meeting. The northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala is the headquarters of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India with his followers in 1959, and the Tibetan government-in-exile. The government is not recognized by any nation. There are more than 100,000 Tibetans living in exile, mostly in India and Nepal, while 6 million live in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and adjoining areas of China. The Dalai Lama's representatives have so far held eight rounds of talks with the Chinese government.