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Philosophy
Focus on Tibet
Independence or autonomy is
for the Tibetan people to decide
Move from process to principle
Unite Tibetans
Consistent and focused message to
the Chinese
Treat the disease, not the symptoms
Enlarge the Tibetans' circle
of support
International law supports
the Tibetan people's right to self-determination
Common ground with Chinese
Campaign that can persist beyond the
Dalai Lama
Appeal to wisdom and compassion
 Philosophy
We propose to turn the focus of the Tibet movement from
process (negotiations, economic pressure, satyagraha,
referendum, etc.) and outcome (independence, autonomy,
integration) to principle. There is a principle that
all Tibetans and their supporters are ready to endorse
– and that is self-determination for the Tibetans
inside Tibet. There is no need for anyone to change
his or her present stance. Those working for negotiations
can continue to work for negotiations, only changing
their emphasis slightly to stress that the goal is self-determination
for the Tibetans inside Tibet. Those working on economic
action campaigns can continue to do so, only emphasizing
that the pipeline, the IPO or the hydroelectric dam
is only a symptom. It is important to mitigate the symptoms
but it is equally important to attack the disease. And
the disease is Chinese oppression – the Chinese
control of the decision-making process in Tibet. The
underlying problem with the pipeline is that the Tibetans
did not decide for themselves if they wanted a pipeline
and what sort of pipeline it would be. When the Tibetans
decide, the development of oil reserves will take on
a very different complexion.
All of the campaigns can easily couch their messages
in terms of self-determination. The underlying problem
of the Panchen Lama’s detention is that the decision
was made by the Chinese. If the Tibetans were deciding,
of course it would not have happened. While we ask for
the release of the Panchen Lama, we can simultaneously
emphasize the need for self-determination for the Tibetan
people.
Similar arguments can be made for the human rights campaigns,
the religious rights campaigns, schools, development,
etc. If each campaign were to express its message in
terms of self-determination for the Tibetans, we would
be giving the Chinese and the world a consistent message
and driving directly toward the cure for the disease,
rather than treating the myriad of symptoms.
Self-determination as a unifying focus does more than
present a consistent message to the Chinese. It can
also unify the Tibetans. Self-determination makes it
clear that the argument between independence and autonomy,
between Rangzen and Middle Way, is not an argument among
Tibetan exiles, for they are not the ones who get to
make the decision. Impassioned arguments for independence
or autonomy are directed at the Tibetans inside Tibet,
for they are the ones who will decide through a process
of self-determination. Even the call for negotiations
focuses on who is the more legitimate spokesperson for
Tibet – Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan
government-in-exile or Beijing and the Chinese communist
party. The most legitimate thing is to let the Tibetan
people speak for themselves. This does not preclude
the possibility that the Tibetan people will choose
to have the Dalai Lama or the exile government speak
on their behalf.
Focusing on the Tibetans inside Tibet reminds us all
of our common goal. By focusing on the Tibetans inside
Tibet we focus on the true problem, not on the status
of the Dalai Lama or the exiles.
Focus on Tibet
We want to move the focus of the Tibet movement away
from Dharamsala and the Tibetans in exile and onto the
Tibetans inside Tibet. The Chinese have had recurring
success in their attempts to reduce the issue to the
Dalai Lama. Much of the world’s fascination with
Tibet centers on historical Tibet and the Shangri-la
myth, or on the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees
outside Tibet. The real issue is the plight of the Tibetan
people inside Tibet today and their right to economic,
cultural and political self-determination.
Independence
or autonomy is for the Tibetan people to decide
We want to direct the arguments for independence or
autonomy toward the people inside Tibet. The issue of
Tibet’s political future is not for those of us
outside Tibet to decide. It is for the Tibetans inside
Tibet to decide the final outcome. For the exiled Tibetans
and their supporters to debate these issues among themselves
serves only to divide and weaken the movement.
Move from process to principle
We want to move the focus from process to principle.
The discussion today is about process. Rangzen, Middle
Way, Satyagraha, referendum – these are all about
specific processes (resistance, negotiations, civil
disobedience, democratic voting) for achieving specific
outcomes (independence, autonomy, harmony, exercise
of self-determination). The principle of self-determination
is the right of the Tibetan people to decide for themselves
their own economic, cultural and political future. This
principle is fundamental to the entire Tibet movement.
Unite Tibetans
We want to find an issue that can unite Tibetans. The
controversy between independence and autonomy has been
bitter and divisive. Rather than argue among ourselves
about the final outcome, or the process that can bring
freedom to Tibet, wouldn’t it be better to agree
on the principle that unites us all – self-determination
for the Tibetan people? Self-determination provides
a common ground for the Tibetans in exile, especially
for those who feel marginalized by the Middle Way.
Consistent
and focused message to the Chinese
We want to present a consistent and focused message
to the Chinese, and to the world, that strikes at the
root of all of Tibet’s problems. The separate
campaigns regarding political and religious prisoners,
pipelines, railways, recognizing reincarnations, human
rights, etc. present a bewildering array of demands
upon the Chinese. If instead we couch every campaign
in the overriding issue of self-determination, it makes
it clear to Beijing that the answer is not to free a
prisoner or modify an IPO. Instead the answer is a fundamental
restructuring of the political and economic process
to allow the Tibetans more influence and control of
the affairs that are so immediate and important to them.
We want to focus the message on the end goal –
self-determination for the Tibetan people.
Treat the disease, not the symptoms
There has been an alarming transition in the Tibet movement
in recent years. Instead of focusing on the greater
issue of foreign occupation, imperialism and oppression,
the movement has turned to focusing on individual instances
or manifestations of oppression. Rather than challenge
the Chinese government’s right to make these decisions
(regarding a hydroelectric plant, incarcerating religious
leaders, population relocation, etc.), we are tacitly
acceding to their authority and constraining ourselves
to trying to influence the implementation. It is not
a bad thing to make the best of a bad situation, but
we should simultaneously challenge the greater evil.
Enlarge the Tibetans' circle of support
The Tibet movement will be successful only if it expands
its circle of supporters. We believe that it requires
a principle, not a process, to galvanize new support.
A principle like liberty, freedom, justice, or self-determination
inspires. For those who already support Tibet, the issue
is process – how best to implement freedom. But
for those who are uninitiated, a message restricted
to process leaves them uncertain about the matters of
dispute and the justice of the cause.
International
law supports the Tibetan people's right to self-determination
The United Nations, the International Commission of
Jurists and many others have recognized the legal right
of the Tibetan people to self-determination. Self-determination
will provide the U.S. and the European Union, and other
international bodies, a stronger foundation to support
the Tibetan cause. No state has been willing to recognize
the Tibet government-in-exile or Tibetan independence.
But states are willing to speak out in support of democracy
and self-determination.
Common ground with Chinese
Self-determination is an issue where Tibetans have common
ground with oppressed or disaffected Chinese. It provides
a way of bringing the two peoples together. By recognizing
their mutual rights to self-determination, they may
best learn to accommodate their differences. Self-determination
is a common goal for Tibetans and the Chinese democracy
movement.
Campaign that can persist beyond
the Dalai Lama
We want a campaign that can persist beyond His Holiness.
The Dalai Lama has been creating a process for the transition
of power and leadership that is democratic and responsive
to the Tibetan people in exile. We want to add to that
process a principle that can transcend his presence.
If the movement is focused on the Dalai Lama, and his
role as negotiator, then the movement falters in his
absence.
Appeal to wisdom and compassion
Self-determination for the Tibetan people has consistently
been supported by the wisdom of the United Nations,
the International Commission of Jurists and other respected
bodies worldwide. The principle of self-determination
appeals to the compassionate nature that resides in
all people.
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