Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Tibetan exiles tackle future China policy
AFP - 2 hours 34 minutes ago
DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) - - Leading Tibetan exiles are set to announce the outcome of a key meeting on how to fight Chinese rule in their homeland, after the Dalai Lama said his own approach had failed.
Nearly 600 delegates gathered at the exiles' base in north India for the week-long conclave, which focused on whether to drop the Dalai Lama's push for "meaningful autonomy" in favour of an unequivocal demand for independence.
"Tibetans are ready for change," said Lhadon Thethorg, a delegate and New York president of Students for a Free Tibet. "Whatever the conclusions are, the meeting has been a turning point."
Participants had broken up into 15 committees that presented their reports late Friday, and a final consensus was to be decided on Saturday.
All groups stressed their support for the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader, who fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
He has recently expressed frustration over his "middle way" policy -- in which he tried to negotiate with China -- saying it had run its course.
"Everyone reaffirmed the Dalai Lama's leadership," said Thethorg, whose group lobbies for independence. "But people are ready to take responsibility.
"Whether for 'middle way' or independence, people are calling for a more vigorous movement."
China on Friday moved to preempt any decision the meeting might take, accusing the Dalai Lama of covertly campaigning for independence.
In a commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency, the Dalai Lama's insistence that he is only seeking autonomy for Tibet was again flatly rejected.
"Its purpose is to set up a 'half independent' or 'covertly independent' political entity controlled by the Dalai clique on one quarter of the Chinese territory," the commentary said of the Dalai Lama's approach.
"And when conditions are ripe, they will seek to realise 'complete Tibet independence.'"
Among those at the talks backing a pro-independence stance was Tendon Dahortsang, 28, European president of Tibetan Youth Association.
"It's clear that dialogue is not working," she said. "This meeting is a first important step for change. We can't wait for China to change. We have to push for it."
However the discussions in the hill town of Dharamshala have also seen strong support for continuing with the "middle way."
"The Dalai Lama's policy is practical," Jamyang Jinpa, a 29-year-old monk attending the meeting, told AFP.
Earlier this month, the Dalai Lama asked his followers for guidance on contact with China.
"I have to accept failure," he said on a visit to Japan. "Suppression (in Tibet) is increasing and I cannot pretend that everything is OK."
In March, protests against Chinese rule in the capital, Lhasa, erupted into violence which spread to other areas of western China with Tibetan populations.
Tibet's government-in-exile said more than 200 Tibetans were killed in a subsequent Chinese crackdown.
Ahead of this week's debates, 17,000 Tibetans still living in China were consulted, said the speaker of the government in exile.
The meeting has no policy-making power -- any recommendations would need the approval of the exiled Tibetan parliament -- but lawmakers have vowed to follow its lead.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Yoga forbidden for Muslims in Malaysia: officialAFP - 12 minutes ago
Blast kills 8 mourners at Pakistani funeralAP - 16 minutes ago
Nepal 'Buddha Boy' returns to jungleAFP - 32 minutes ago
Taxi drivers strike in southern ChinaAP - 42 minutes ago
Chinese social critic jailed for subversion: lawyerAFP - 53 minutes ago
Enlarge Photo
Tibetan exiles tackle future China policy
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Wall Street plunges again as panic spreads
Oil prices slump under $50 per barrel
New strain of deadly Ebola virus discovered
World stocks dive as panic spreads
Is superfood omega-3 keeping its promise?
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular