Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 10: Tibetan independence group, Tibetan National Congress (TNC) has strongly condemned five Tibetan organisations for publicly “welcoming” Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his expected visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit on September 12–13, accusing them of using a “language of honour and deference” towards the Chinese leader while Tibet remains under repressive Chinese colonial rule.
The statement titled “DICTATOR XI JINPING IS NOT WELCOME,” came a day after the Central Tibet (U-Tsang) Regional Association, Kham Regional Association, Amdo Regional Association, Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA), and Global Middle Way Movement held a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on September 8.
The organisations presented an open letter addressed to Xi as “His Excellency” and welcomed his visit, urging Beijing to resume meaningful dialogue on the Tibet issue under the Middle Way Approach. They also called on the Chinese leadership to use Xi’s visit as an opportunity to open a “new meaningful engagement” in Sino-Tibet relations.
The statement and the conciliatory language used in addressing Xi have since triggered considerable discussion and criticism online, with some Tibetan netizens questioning the decision to publicly “welcome” a Chinese leader while Tibetans inside occupied Tibet continue to face repression and political coercion.
The TNC argued that the language of welcome was fundamentally at odds with the political reality faced by Tibetans under brutal Chinese occupation. “Some of these organizations have rightly condemned this law but to condemn the policy while honoring its architect is politically incoherent and morally indefensible,” TNC stated, referring to China’s so-called “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law,” which the organisation labelled it as “Genocide Law.”
The organisation accused the Chinese government under Xi of intensifying efforts to suppress Tibetan identity through surveillance, political detention, religious restrictions, dissent-related prosecutions, and the colonial-style boarding schools.
The TNC further stated that Tibetans inside Tibet are subjected to compulsory displays of loyalty towards Xi under conditions of surveillance and fear, while those who resist Chinese colonial rule continue to bear significant personal consequences. “For those of us living in the free world, to voluntarily honor and welcome Xi is not diplomacy but a deliberate political choice,” the statement said, adding that such gestures “dishonor the courage, resistance, and sacrifice” of Tibetans inside occupied Tibet.
The statement highlighted the “recent sacrifice” of TNC NYNJ Chapter President Pawo Lobga Rangzen, whose final message called on fellow Tibetans to continue the struggle for independence. The TNC said the organisations’ decision to welcome Xi was particularly “unacceptable” in light of the late martyr’s death and the sacrifices of generations of Tibetans who have given their lives for freedom and independence. Invoking these sacrifices, the TNC said the political aspirations expressed by Tibetans who have resisted Chinese colonial rule should not be “rewritten, diminished, or surrendered for diplomatic convenience.”
The organisation also announced that its New York and New Jersey chapter plans to stage what it calls the “Rangzen Walk” on September 24, from the United Nations headquarters in New York to the White House in Washington, D.C., to coincide with Xi’s expected visit to the United States. The protest, it said, will carry the message that Tibet remains occupied and that Tibetans have the right to determine their own political future, including independence.
At the same time, the TNC acknowledged the right of Tibetan organisations and individuals to advocate the Middle Way Policy, which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet within the People’s Republic of China (PRC) rather than independence. However, it rejected any suggestion that advocacy of the Middle Way gives an organisation the authority to speak on behalf of all Tibetans.
“TNC respects the right of Tibetans to advocate the Middle Way Policy, but no organization has the right to speak for all Tibetans, declare that Tibetans do not seek independence, or erase it from our national struggle,” the statement said.
The TNC concluded its statement by drawing a distinction between dialogue and deference, arguing that engagement with Beijing need not entail political submission. “Dialogue does not require submission. Diplomacy does not require gratitude to an occupying power,” it said.
Every citizen of the world have a right to self determination and claim of . Where does self determination come from ? It’s natural , inherent property of life, every living being have and should have the right to decide about themselves .
How do we practise self determination ? It’s only thanks to our literacy that we are able to make educated statement. Therefore by increasing our education our chances for self determination also increase . I encourage every Tibetan person within or outside of greater Tibet to self educate. Children are vulnerable politicians. Please do not send your children to protests and hunger strikes 🙏 Increase literacy in law , support free think tank 🙏 among your native populace. Repetition of sutras and mantras won’t solve the problem. Calling each other bad names won’t stop the war waged upon us. In truth, for the truth , for independence – we need to stand up as sovereign thinkers knowledgeable of the law, your right to self determination as nation, as a country is legitimate and needs to be appealed for by means of law, not by fight, revenge or an argument . Proceed cautiously , following the meticulous logic of Nalanda pandits , do not repeat the same mistakes again and again . China has done a lot to support literacy and life standards in Tibet. WHY don’t you tell them the truth in Mandarin ? Would that not be the day of the Truth ? You say you want to win , this is the Truth . So do not embelish your situation for a moment. Boarding schools in China, India and everywhere else are about the “same bad”. In practical lives people face the same practical difficulties. Spiritual and wordly, you all want to use mobiles, trains, cars , airplanes and also , even occassionally read books in English. Please learn about everything from at least one more perspective than Tibetan. On this planet, we all are part of each other. Our history and cultures are intertwined. Say what matters the most that no one has said before 🙏 Do not repeat what someone else has said. Free thought was “banned” in most old world cultures and billions of humans of today are on the Way with learning to THINK and SPEAK for themselves , to practice their RIGHT to self determination. There is no other freedom than freedom of the mind. Bound by shackles of conflicts the true nature of Mind can not arise, quite like no pilgrim can walk safely on a highway. Please return to modesty , resilience and education. SATYAM EVAM JAYATE .
I totally agree with Tibetan National Congress’ condemnation of Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to India. Xi is a goddame bloody dictator . He is trying to wipe out Tibetans as a distinct group by forcing them to give up their language, religion and culture and assimilate as Chinese. To achieve this goal, one million Tibetan children have been forcibly taken away from their families and taken them to colonial boarding schools in China where they are indoctrinated as Chinese. Xi has pushed a nationwide campaign to force Tibetan Buddhism to align strictly with Communist Party values. China has also engaged in wide spread intensive exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources since the illegal occupation of the country. Environmental experts blame China for the recent devastating flood and land slides in Tibet and in Nepal. Because of China’s environmental destructions in Tibet the downstream countries are suffering and will suffer in the future. The world must warn China of its ruthless environmental destruction on the Roof of the world and also Water towers of the world.