Tibetan exiles agree to continue 'middle path'

[November 22, 2008]  DHARMSALA, India (AP) -- Hundreds of Tibetan leaders agreed Saturday to continue to follow the Dalai Lama's "middle path" of compromise with China, capping a rare meeting to discuss how to advance their struggle for freedom.

Tibetans from all over the world flocked to Dharmsala, home to the Dalai Lama and the self-declared government-in-exile, for the weeklong meeting. They debated whether to continue with the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader's "middle path" that seeks substantial local autonomy for Tibet, or else to call for independence for the Himalayan region.

"The majority is supporting the middle way," said Youdon Aukatsang, a member of the Tibetan parliament.

She said the stance will be reviewed at some point in the future if China persists in not granting the region autonomy.

"We want the option for self determination or independence to be open," she said.

The delegates also recommended that Tibetan leaders stop sending delegates to meet with Chinese officials "until we are convinced China is serious about negotiating and so far China is not serious," Sonamtopga, 57, who only goes by one name.

"We are not saying end the dialogue but the formal negotiations must stop now, at least until they invite us," Aukatsang said. "We did our best and the Chinese have not responded favorably."

Participants had said the meeting was unlikely to result in a dramatic break with the Dalai Lama's approach. A number of delegates called for taking a harder line against China, but the consensus seemed to hew toward a more conservative strategy.

As a result, the meeting has become a dress rehearsal in democracy as the Tibetans try to formulate a plan without the guidance of "His Holiness," a man they view as closer to a god than a mere leader.

The delegates "reaffirmed that they will follow the Dalai Lama in whatever path he deems most appropriate," said Tenzin Tethong, a former prime minister of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile.

The Tibetan parliament, which convenes in March, must approve the agreements reached in the meeting, Tethong said.

The Dalai Lama was expected to address the delegates Sunday.

Many Tibetans said the opportunity to present their own opinions was a liberating experience that they hoped would lead to more open discussions.

"We really need to think for ourselves and be independent," said Tenzin Nyesang, 28, of Boston. "People are being very receptive. This meeting was very peaceful."

For its part, China has made clear that it has no plans to relent against Tibet.

On Friday, China launched a new verbal attack, making clear it would not yield in its hard-line approach toward Tibet.

"The Dalai Lama's "so-called 'middle way' is a naked expression of 'Tibet independence' aimed at nakedly spreading the despicable plot of opposing the tide of history," said an editorial in the official Tibet Daily newspaper.

While China allowed former British and Portuguese colonies to retain their limited democratic governance even after returning to Chinese sovereignty in the late 1990s, they have refused to offer the same concessions to Tibet.

"Any acts to harm or change Tibet's current basic political system are in diametric opposition to our country's constitution and law," the editorial said in what appeared to be a signal to the exile leaders gathered in Dharmsala.

[Associated Press; By SAM DOLNICK]

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