Apologies to all; the major news of the month is—as continues to be the custom in our society—a state secret. Although our parliament, the Assembly of the Tibetan Peopl’s Deputies, is now vested with the power to give final approval or disapproval to any plan concerning the Tibetan nations, the reality seems to be somewhat less glorious.
But let’s begin at the beginning. Last month we talkied about a commission of enquiry formed to investigate the difference of opinion on the future status of Tibet between the Dalai lama’s two elder brothers, Thubten J. Norbu and Gyalo Thondup. Both brothers were in Dharasmsala in May to answer question from the commission, and apparently the investigation is now oever. However, the result, as I said, is a state secret and, some say, will be made known during the next session of the parliament, in July.
And now for the plot within the plot. Remember, Thondup had temporarily resigned from his ministerial post until the investigation was over? What follows is not corroborated by official sources. But several sources close to the parliament and the cabinet—as opposed to just bazaar gossip—have revealed enough information to make one suspect that something strange is going on…once again. From Delhi, Thondup apparently rang up the Dalai Lama, who as at that time visiting Australia, to inform him that the Chinese ambassador has suggested that, while in temparary resignation, he should visit Peking. The Dalai Lama, instead of giving him the green or the red signal, told him to inform the cabinet and follow its decision.
Thondup had a meeting with the cabinet, but what happened after that is not very clear. Unsubstantiated rumours abound. Some say Thondup is in Peking as a representative of the the cabinet; some say he is there in his private capacity; while others maintain he didn’t go to Peking at all. But, for the time being, none of these details are all that important.
What is important is the manner in which the parliament, which enjoys so much power on paper, was bypassed so casually in a matter of national importance. The most important resolution adopted by the parliament in its last session was to struggle for full independence and to have nothing to do with the present Chinese leadership unless there are strong reasons to believe that they’ve had a change of mind, and that only after discussing the issue fully on the floor.
Of course close observers of the Tibetan scene can see that the Chinese ambassador’s suggestion to Thondup, if taken up, was intended to give the impression that it would appear that he was sent there by a desperate Dalai Lama to work out new grounds for conciliation. It is even possible that it was the ambassador who suggested that Thondup bypassed the cabinet and the parliament and get direct Ok from the Dalai Lama. No ordinary Tibetan can just pick up the phone and talk to the Dalai Lama half way across the world—or even in the same city. And Thondup is at the moment an ordiary Tibetan. Except, of course, he happens to be a brother of the Dalai Lama.
SO, don’t you see? The Chinese still haven’t given up on presenting the Tibetan issue as a mere internal disagreement between the Dalai Lama family and the Chinese rulers.
In the past Thondup was very useful in helping open a channel of communicaton between Dharamsala and Peking. That way Dharamsala could discover exactly how far the Chinese are willing to go to accommodate the Tibetan aspirations. But now it is clear that they never were and never intend to have any interest in Tibetan aspirations. The only thing they are interested in is to win over the Dalai Lama to their side, and to hell with Tibet.
To preempt any further Chinese move in this direction, it is perhaps time now to restrict appointment of the relatives of the Dalai Lama to non-political departments of the Tibetan government. Needless to say it will have to be done publicly and not in secret. If nothing else, it will force the Mandarins to reveal what other cards they have up their long sleeves.
But let’s begin at the beginning. Last month we talkied about a commission of enquiry formed to investigate the difference of opinion on the future status of Tibet between the Dalai lama’s two elder brothers, Thubten J. Norbu and Gyalo Thondup. Both brothers were in Dharasmsala in May to answer question from the commission, and apparently the investigation is now oever. However, the result, as I said, is a state secret and, some say, will be made known during the next session of the parliament, in July.
And now for the plot within the plot. Remember, Thondup had temporarily resigned from his ministerial post until the investigation was over? What follows is not corroborated by official sources. But several sources close to the parliament and the cabinet—as opposed to just bazaar gossip—have revealed enough information to make one suspect that something strange is going on…once again. From Delhi, Thondup apparently rang up the Dalai Lama, who as at that time visiting Australia, to inform him that the Chinese ambassador has suggested that, while in temparary resignation, he should visit Peking. The Dalai Lama, instead of giving him the green or the red signal, told him to inform the cabinet and follow its decision.
Thondup had a meeting with the cabinet, but what happened after that is not very clear. Unsubstantiated rumours abound. Some say Thondup is in Peking as a representative of the the cabinet; some say he is there in his private capacity; while others maintain he didn’t go to Peking at all. But, for the time being, none of these details are all that important.
What is important is the manner in which the parliament, which enjoys so much power on paper, was bypassed so casually in a matter of national importance. The most important resolution adopted by the parliament in its last session was to struggle for full independence and to have nothing to do with the present Chinese leadership unless there are strong reasons to believe that they’ve had a change of mind, and that only after discussing the issue fully on the floor.
Of course close observers of the Tibetan scene can see that the Chinese ambassador’s suggestion to Thondup, if taken up, was intended to give the impression that it would appear that he was sent there by a desperate Dalai Lama to work out new grounds for conciliation. It is even possible that it was the ambassador who suggested that Thondup bypassed the cabinet and the parliament and get direct Ok from the Dalai Lama. No ordinary Tibetan can just pick up the phone and talk to the Dalai Lama half way across the world—or even in the same city. And Thondup is at the moment an ordiary Tibetan. Except, of course, he happens to be a brother of the Dalai Lama.
SO, don’t you see? The Chinese still haven’t given up on presenting the Tibetan issue as a mere internal disagreement between the Dalai Lama family and the Chinese rulers.
In the past Thondup was very useful in helping open a channel of communicaton between Dharamsala and Peking. That way Dharamsala could discover exactly how far the Chinese are willing to go to accommodate the Tibetan aspirations. But now it is clear that they never were and never intend to have any interest in Tibetan aspirations. The only thing they are interested in is to win over the Dalai Lama to their side, and to hell with Tibet.
To preempt any further Chinese move in this direction, it is perhaps time now to restrict appointment of the relatives of the Dalai Lama to non-political departments of the Tibetan government. Needless to say it will have to be done publicly and not in secret. If nothing else, it will force the Mandarins to reveal what other cards they have up their long sleeves.
posted by editorla at
9:07 PM
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