Written by Laurence Brahm - Published by South China Morning Post on 03/14/2005

We will accept China’s authority if it preserves our culture, he says:

“This is the message I wish to deliver to China. I am not in favor of separation. Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China. It is an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China. Tibetan culture and Buddhism are part of Chinese culture.” – Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual Leader

The Dalai Lama has extended an olive branch to Beijing in a bid to resolve the decades-old political conflict over Tibetan independence.

The exiled spiritual leader appears to have given up any demand for Tibetan self-governance and is willing to accept Chinese rule so long as Tibet’s culture, spirituality and environment are preserved.

In an interview published exclusively in the South China Morning Post today, the Dalai Lama indicates he is relinquishing his half-a-century struggle for Tibet’s sovereignty in order to realize what he calls “broader interest’ to allow his people to savor the success of China’s rapid economic growth and accomplishments.

“We want modernization. So for our own interest, we are willing to be part of the People’s Republic of China, to have the PRC govern and guarantee to preserve our Tibetan culture, spirituality and our environment,” he said.

The Dalai Lama said that by dropping the sovereignty claim for Tibet, his people would be able to benefit from China’s economic achievements. This was in stark contrast to his previous stand, that Tibet should be a self-governing domestic and political entity under a type of “one country, two systems” arrangement.

“This is the message I wish to deliver to China,” he said. “I am not in favor of separation. Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China. It is an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China. Tibetan culture and Buddhism are part of Chinese culture.”

The Dalai Lama’s clear reference to the Chinese government, and Tibet being one of its autonomous regions, was tantamount to recognition of the Chinese Communist Party’s rule and acceptance of Tibet’s current status. His comments indicate he now seeks autonomy only on religious and cultural matters and not political, economic or diplomatic affairs.

The 69-year-old spiritual leader expressed hope that Tibet could help develop China’s “internal values” in the spiritual field through Buddhism, while the central government could expand “external values” through materialistic development such as economic and political governance. He denied his apparent climb down came out of desperation, and stressed that “it comes out of broader interest”.

He pointed to Europe as and example of such broader interest. “In the European Union, each [country] carries self-interest but what is more important is common interest. It is more important than individual sovereignty. Currency is the most potent symbol of individual sovereignty, but they are willing to give it up to dissolve into the common interest.”

However, the Dalai Lama’s change of heart has raised concerns of a growing rift between the moderates and the radicals within the government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala in northern India.

The Chinese government has insisted that the Dalai Lama, who field in 1959 after a failed uprising against Beijing, must accept that Tibet is an integral part of China and abandon his sovereignty fight. In recent years, the Dalai Lama has been increasingly accommodating in his political maneuverings, pursuing a “middle way” that would ensure autonomy rather than independence and leave China in control of Tibet’s foreign policy.

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented interview with Post columnist Laurence Brahm, the Beijing-recognized 11th Panchen Lama sent a message of harmony, calling on Tibetans overseas to contribute to their homeland’s economic development.

The teenage religious leader, who is rarely seen in public, said: “I wish Tibetan people here and living abroad to love their country and home town, and put their efforts into economic development to raise living standards and development in their homeland.”

Both lamas were disillusioned with developments in the west, pointing out the limitations materialism has in satisfying humanity, and the need for more spirituality.

The calls by both religious leaders could serve to create a rare window of opportunity for true dialogue to take place and speed up negotiations to pave the way for the homecoming of exiled Tibetans in the near future, analysts believe.

Laurence Brahm is a global activist, international mediator, political columnist and author. He is the leading advocate of a fresh development paradigm - The Himalayan Consensus - an innovative approach to development.

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