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Tibetan exiles back Dalai Lama
Sydney Morning Herald - November 24, 2008
Matt Wade, New Delhi – Exiled Tibetan leaders have voted to break off long-running talks with the Chinese Government but resisted calls to adopt a more inflammatory stance on the future of their disputed homeland.
A conclave of more than 500 exiled Tibetan clerics, politicians and activists in the Indian hill station of Dharamsala has endorsed the "middle way" policy of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, which acknowledges Chinese sovereignty over Tibet and demands autonomy rather than complete independence.
However, meeting participants warned that unless progress is made towards autonomy the movement would take a harder line. "The majority were for a continuation of the 'middle way' policy of compromise with Chinese authorities," the speaker of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Karma Chophel, said at the conclusion of the five-day meeting.
"But quite a number said if the 'middle way' did not produce any results in the near future, then the people will be forced to switch the policy to complete independence or a demand for self-determination."
The Dalai Lama did not take part but addressed the group yesterday, urging them to find "innovative ways" to sustain the Tibetan people. "My trust in Chinese officials has become thinner and thinner," he said. "In the next 20 years, if we are not careful in our actions and planning, then there is great danger to the Tibetan community."
The Dalai Lama has been admitted to hospital twice since August and has signalled a desire to take a lower profile. On a recent tour of Japan he said he had to "accept failure" for his strategy's lack of success. But the conclave strongly endorsed his leadership and urged him not to retire. It also reiterated its commitment to non-violent struggle.
China occupied Tibet in 1951 and the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India eight years later.
In March riots inside Tibet were brutally put down by Chinese security forces. But talks that resumed in the aftermath of the uprising have been fruitless.
Earlier this month a proposal for "genuine autonomy" put forward by the Dalai Lama's envoys was flatly rejected by Beijing. As a result, the lama called last week's conclave of exiled Tibetan leaders in Dharamsala to canvass views on the future of the worldwide Tibetan movement.
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