Genuine autonomy can improve soured Sino-Tibet relations: Lobsang Sangay

New Delhi [India], Oct 30 (ANI): The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on Monday asserted that the Tibetan leadership was considering resolving its strained relationship with Beijing through a process of dialogue.
During the release of a report titled 'Tibet was never a part of China but the middle way approach remains a viable solution', which focused on the escalating Chinese aggression and worsening of human rights situation in Tibet, CTA president Lobsang Sangay called for urgent need of improvement in the lives of Tibetans.
He also highlighted that resistance against the colonial repression had reached an unprecedented high. "The situation in Tibet is grave and very serious because Tibetan people are repressed. Hence, scores of protests are taking place in Tibet. Recently, 152 burned themselves. So, in the Freedom of Index of 2016 and 2017, Tibet was listed as the second least free region after Syria. An international organisation 'Reporters without Borders', on the basis of interviews of journalists in Beijing, say that for a journalist, it’s more difficult to get access to Tibet compared to North Korea. So you can see the situation of Tibet is grim," Sangay elucidated.
While Tibet has been perennially struggling to achieve self-determination, China, which has been accused of imposing severe restrictions on the flow of information, and resorted to extreme handedness in stifling the free voice of media, has often presented a biased narrative of Tibet on the global platform.
In order to establish a strategic advantage over other countries in the South Asian region, especially India, China has occupied the region militarily. Today, the Tibetan leadership demands nothing more than basic fundamental rights for its people and a life of dignity.
Sangay said, "This report clearly says that Tibet was an independent country and it was never part of China. But what we seek is genuine autonomy as per the Chinese laws. So that is the proposal we have. But at the same time, we described the current situation in Tibet where religious freedom, environmental disruption and social discrimination is taking place."
Incidentally, the event on Monday was held at a time when China was holding the fifth World Buddhist Forum in Fujian province, which according to the CTA, was systematic, a diabolic Chinese effort to woo Buddhists across the globe.
Sangay, while emphasising the brute force being used by Chinese establishment, urged Beijing to allow people to practice their culture.
"Genuine autonomy means that as per the Chinese constitution, so many rights are provided to Tibetan people but in reality, those rights are not given to them. For example, Tibetans should be encouraged to use Tibetan language. Tibetans do not use Tibetan language as the medium of instruction in school. They are also discouraged from using Tibetan language as the medium of instruction at the university level, at the middle school level and the high school level. That’s the clear violation of Chinese constitution and Chinese laws," he added.
Despite several efforts made in the past, the Tibetan government-in-exile has failed to gain much traction in the international arena. However, a resolute leadership with an extensive plan is all set to reach out to major international players this time to get its decades-long grievances heard and a comprehensive human rights report is one such step in that direction.  (ANI)