Tibetans hopeful over new Chinese leadership

By IANS,

Dharamsala : The Tibetan parliament-in-exile Monday sounded an optimistic note on the new Chinese leadership of President Xi Jinping by asking Beijing to bring positive change in its policies in Tibet.


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In his opening remarks in the parliament, Speaker Penpa Tsering expressed concern over the lack of willingness on the part of previous Chinese government to address its policies in Tibet.

“The current crisis in Tibet will not end unless the Chinese leadership brings positive change in Tibet,” he said.

But Tsering hoped that the new Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping would resolve the problem of Tibet through finding truth from facts rather than engage in cover-up and blame-game.

“The time has come for the Chinese government to respond positively to the sincere overtures made by the Tibetan leadership towards resolving the issue of Tibet through dialogue,” he said, adding the Tibetan leadership remained committed to pursue the mutually-beneficial “middle-way” policy.

Blaming China for ongoing self-immolations in Tibet, the speaker said Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet “are the root causes leading to tragic self-immolation by Tibetans”.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), 107 Tibetans have self-immolated and 90 of them have died.

The common cry of all the self-immolators is that spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama be allowed to return to Tibet, which must be given autonomy and freedom of worship.

The 10-day budget session of the government-in-exile, based here, began Monday.

Xi Jinping March 14 became president of China, the world’s most populous and one of the most economically powerful nations, completing a once-in-a-decade crucial leadership change. He will also head its powerful military.

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