Dharamshala: Samndhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of Tibet's government in exile, said yesterday (14th October) that the next round of talks, tenth in the series held since 2002, are likely to take place in the recent future.
Hindustan Times newspaper quoted the Tibetan Prime Minister as saying "We have made full preparations for talks with China, which could be held anytime," in its Thursday's edition. However, Rinpoche was cautious saying "it is for them to decide the venue and time for talks".
Indications are that Tibetan delegates have stepped up efforts "through private channels to pursue Chinese leaders to engage in a dialogue" according to Hindustan Times.
Nine previous rounds of talks have been held so far between Chinese and Tibetan delegates, nevertheless, no concrete or positive results have been produced thus far. The last bout of talks took place in Beijing in January 2010, 15 months after the 8th session took place.
Two-time PM, Rinpoche heads the task force constituted by the Tibetan government-in-exile to assist the Dalai Lama's talks on Tibet with China. The Tibetan side has stated that this time compared to the previous times they have "proposed to work jointly with the Communist government to improve situation inside the China-administered Tibet", the paper said.
"Talks would primarily focus around 13-point charter of demands submitted to the Chinese counterparts during the eight rounds of talks," said a member of the Tibetan delegation to China who requested not to be named by the Hindustan Times. The paper also stated that the Tibetan administration would submit a letter at these talks for clearing the doubts raised during the time of the ninth talks.
During the eighth round of talks two years ago China had rejected the Tibetan people's memorandum for genuine autonomy. The memorandum discussed Tibet's position on genuine autonomy and how the specific needs of the Tibetan nationality for autonomy and self-government could be met through application of the principles on autonomy of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. It was met with derision, as the Communist leaders accused it of a demand for ‘half-independence' and ‘disguised independence' or ‘covert independence'."
The Tibetan side maintains that the articles of the proposed memorandum were prepared in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of People's Republic of China and its laws on national regional autonomy. However, it resulted in a unsuccessful round of talks and an even large divide between Chinese and Tibetan officials.
