INDIA: Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile Lobsang Sangay says his government is ready to negotiate with China 'anytime, anywhere' as he meets Tibetans on hunger strike in an anti-China protest

Record ID: 1373615

  • Title: INDIA: Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile Lobsang Sangay says his government is ready to negotiate with China 'anytime, anywhere' as he meets Tibetans on hunger strike in an anti-China protest
  • Date: 13th May 2011
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (MAY 12, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) CROWD GATHERED AT THE SITE OF A HUNGER STRIKE BY TIBETAN EXILES TIBETAN FLAGS BANNER READING 'INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE' THREE MEN ON HUNGER STRIKE SLEEPING TIBETAN LYING ON A BED ANOTHER TIBETAN ON HUNGER STRIKE PHOTOGRAPH OF TIBET'S SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE DALAI LAMA TIBETAN PRIME MINISTER-IN-EXILE, LOBSANG SANGAY, WALKING TIBETAN NATIONAL FLAG SANGAY MEETING ACTIVISTS ON HUNGER STRIKE 'DAY 18, 432 HOURS' WRITTEN WITH CHALK ON A BLACKBOARD SANGAY TALKING TO MEMBERS OF TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS SANGAY LOOKING TIBETAN MAN LOOKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOBSANG SANGAY, TIBETAN PRIME MINISTER-IN-EXILE, SAYING "From our side, our stand has been very clear. We are willing to negotiate with Chinese government anytime, anywhere. And what the stated policy of the Tibetan government in exile is genuine autonomy within China. Now after all the changes will be made as far as exile constitution is concerned. Then we will wait and see how the Chinese government reacts. From our side we are willing to negotiate anytime, anywhere." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOBSANG SANGAY, TIBETAN PRIME MINISTER-IN-EXILE, SAYING "His Holiness made magnanimous decision to devolve his political powers through elected leaders. It is not a question of replacing him. He is irreplaceable. He has led us brilliantly for the last 50 years and he will be a great source of inspiration for all us. What he expects from the elected leaders is to live up to his vision of secular democratic society and fulfil his expectation to be the spokesperson and to be the political face of the Tibetan people. I am committed to fulfilling his vision and expectation." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOBSANG SANGAY, TIBETAN PRIME MINISTER-IN-EXILE, SAYING "Number one priority for any Kalon Tripa, head of the administration, is to restore freedom in Tibet and to have His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to his rightful place in Lhasa that is the capital of Tibet. Then other priorities include -- to create awareness at international level and to seek the support and most important support will always be of India and Indian people." MEDIAPERSONS STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOBSANG SANGAY, TIBETAN PRIME MINISTER-IN-EXILE, SAYING: "On the one hand, what they are experiencing, by putting themselves at risk, pales in comparison to Tibetans who are suffering inside Tibet. Having said that, to go through days and days, it is the 18th day; without food is a tremendous risk that one is putting himself. So, I am here to show my solidarity and say Thank you on behalf of the Tibetan people and also to tell them we are with them." SANGAY TALKING TO ACTIVISTS ON STRIKE ONE OF THE THREE ACTIVISTS LOOKING TIBETAN FLAG SANGAY TALKING TO EXILED TIBETANS
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2011 20:51
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India, India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC99ZZUAEZJNP10YMXPQM39242
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The newly-elected Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, said on Thursday (May 12) that his government was ready to negotiate with China 'anytime, anywhere' on issue of Tibet's future provided their core demand of genuine autonomy was addressed.
    Sangay, who was elected prime minister last month, was in New Delhi to lend his support to Tibetan exiles who have been on a hunger strike for the past 18 days demanding withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Kirti monastery in Tibet.
    Sangay, who had earlier hinted that he could move beyond the Dalai Lama's "middle way" policy of negotiating for autonomy for Tibet from China is expected to bring in a more radical government-in-exile to challenge China after the Dalai Lama moved to relinquish his political role.
    "From our side, our stand has been very clear. We are willing to negotiate with Chinese government anytime, anywhere. And what the stated policy of the Tibetan government in exile is genuine autonomy within China. Now after all the changes will be made as far as exile constitution is concerned. Then we will wait and see how the Chinese government reacts. From our side we are willing to negotiate anytime, anywhere," said Sangay.
    Sangay said was committed to fulfilling the Dalai Lama's vision and expectations.
    "His Holiness made magnanimous decision to devolve his political powers through elected leaders. It is not a question of replacing him. He is irreplaceable. He has led us brilliantly for the last 50 years and he will be a great source of inspiration for all us. What he expects from the elected leaders is to live up to his vision of secular democratic society and fulfil his expectation to be the spokesperson and to be the political face of the Tibetan people. I am committed to fulfilling his vision and expectation," Sangay said.
    The handover of power will give the prime minister greater clout as the region seeks autonomy from China and could stave off a possible crisis of leadership in the event of the Dalai Lama's death.
    Sangay said his priority was to garner support for the Tibetan cause and help the Dalai Lama reach his homeland.
    "Number one priority for any Kalon Tripa, head of the administration, is to restore freedom in Tibet and to have His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to his rightful place in Lhasa that is the capital of Tibet. Then other priorities include -- to create awareness at international level and to seek the support and most important support will always be of India and Indian people," said Sangay.
    As a student in New Delhi, Sangay was a leader of the Tibetan Youth Congress, which demands complete independence. Born in a refugee settlement in India in 1968, Sangay won a Fulbright scholarship to Harvard where he earned a doctorate in law.
    He appealed to the members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, on a hunger strike to show their solidarity with the monks at the Kirti monastery, to break their fast as it was putting their health in danger.
    "On the one hand, what they are experiencing, by putting themselves at risk, pales in comparison to Tibetans who are suffering inside Tibet. Having said that, to go through days and days, it is the 18th day; without food is a tremendous risk that one is putting himself (at). So, I am here to show my solidarity and say Thank you on behalf of the Tibetan people and also to tell them we are with them," Sangay said.
    Tibetans have been demanding the withdrawal of Chinese troops from the monastery. They allege the monastery has been converted into a prison and garrison by China.
    The Chinese authorities reportedly conducted a raid on the monastery in Tibet's Ngaba region between March 16 to April 12, resulting in the death of at least two elderly persons and the arrest of more than 300 monks.
    According to media reports, Phuntsok, a 20-year-old monk, committed self-immolation in March to protest the Chinese troops' occupation of Kirti Monastery.
    Tibet has been under Chinese occupation ever since the Chinese army invaded it in 1950.
    An estimated 80,000 Tibetans, along with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had arrived in India in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising against the Chinese rule.
    END
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