NEW DELHI: Tibetan Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) in exile Lobsang Sangay on Saturday called for a stronger endorsement of non-violent methods by the international community. Sangay said that the projection of the recent armed uprisings in west Asia may send out the wrong idea to other similarly marginalised groups fighting against oppression.
"If non-violence is the right thing to do, we ought to be supported by the international community. Paradoxically, what you read about in the newspapers or watch on television in recent times, for example, in Syria, is the 'freedom fighters' of Syrian democracy. The media projects them as freedom fighters and heroes and they get all the support.Tibetans have been democratic and non-violent for the last so many decades, how come we don't receive similar support and attention? This is a test for the international community. Whether we get support or not is secondary because we are committed to democracy and non-violence. But if we send a message to other marginalised groups and other refugee communities around the world," said Sangay. The Tibetan PM in exile was speaking at the first annual lecture of the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents. This was post the conclusion of the recent four-day long Tibetan "campaign for solidarity" in the capital.
Sangay was elected the Tibetan Kalon Tripa in April 2011. It was the very same year that the Dalai Lama renounced his formal, political role in the Tibetan struggle, and chose instead to remain only the spiritual leader.
Speaking about the " future of Tibet" Sangay said it would be a secular state, with the Indian model of secularism. "The Tibetan community has Muslims and Christians. The government already represents all religions and even non-religions," said Sangay who was born and brought up in Darjeeling.
Crediting the model of the Indian democracy and the constitution which was used as a model for the Tibetan government in exile, Sangay also went on to offer a few recommendations as a good "chela" to the "guru", since the general elections in India are around the corner. He recalled the time right before the 2011 elections, describing how he and his opponent shared a cab together from Dharamshala to Delhi, shared a hotel room together in the capital, participated in political debates, and then went back to having meals together, even exchanging campaign tips. "We are still friends and exchange emails. As a good chela of the Indian democracy, I would like to make a few recommendations to our guru. Whoever wins the elections, we wish they remain friends," said Sangay.
International community must support non-violent methods: Lobsang Sangay
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International community must support non-violent methods: Lobsang Sangay
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International community must support non-violent methods: Lobsang Sangay
