Reportage – 2008

No headway in talks, Dalai Lama envoys disappointed

The two envoys of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, addressing a press conference after holding the seventh round of talks with Chinese leaders on 1 and 2 July. Gyari said he was disappointed at not making headway on the status of Tibet after the latest round of talks. [ click here for print size   3.3M ]

DHARAMSHALA, India, 5 July 2008 — The two envoys of the Dalai Lama returned to Dharamshala after making no headway during the seventh round of talks with Chinese officials on 1 and 2 July in Beijing.

"We felt disappointed that the Chinese officials are not willing to take the movement forward," said Lodi Gyari, the special envoy of the Dalai Lama, based in Washington DC.

"There is a growing perception that the whole tactic of the Chinese government is to stall for time. We are starting to following this school of thought," Gyari said.

The envoys met with Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, on 1 July, and had a day-long discussion with Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice Minister Sithar on July 2, 2008.

The envoys explained the Dalai Lama's basic approach in resolving the Tibetan issue, and denied the allegations against him that he instigated the recent riots in Tibet and is trying to sabotage the Olympics Games.

The envoys also rejected the Chinese attempt to label the Tibetan Youth Congress as a violent and terrorist organization.

"We have reiterated to our counterparts that the issue at hand is the welfare of the Tibetan people, and is not about the personal status and affairs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama or that of the Tibetans in exile," Gyari said.

"In the course of our discussion, we were compelled to convey to our counterparts that in the absence of serious and sincere commitment on their part, the continuation of the present dialogue process would serve no purpose," they said.

"The issue of Tibet has become an issue of great international concern. We had hoped that the Chinese leadership would reciprocate our efforts by taking tangible steps during this round."

"On the contrary ... the Chinese side even failed to agree to our proposal of issuing a joint statement with the aim of committing both parties to the dialogue process," Gyari said.

Since Beijing is obsessed with the smooth conclusion of the Olympics, the envoys didn't feel the atmosphere was conducive to dialogue, and they agreed with the Chinese officials to meet again in October.

"China will have to prove their sincerity in October," Gyari said.