LONDON, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Heads of State and the international media
should be aware of the facts on the Tibet Issue in order to manage their
expectations over the proposed meeting between the Chinese government and the
top envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
While China recently announced that they would initiate a dialogue with
the top envoy to His Holiness shortly after a meeting with European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso, Heads of State should be aware that China has
always been a willing partner in negotiation with Tibet on all issues apart
from the question of territory and political independence. These issues
importantly include the protection of ancient and sacred Tibetan culture.
The probability of success from these renewed talks however should be
viewed as extremely low given the nature of the demands made by His Holiness
as part of 'Middle Way Approach' that seek to extend Tibetan political
governance to "all Tibetan inhabited areas" -- this includes the Tibet
Autonomous Region and two adjoining provinces that make up approximately
one-quarter of China, a land mass equivalent to the United Kingdom, Portugal,
Germany and Romania combined.
His Holiness has also told Reuters on April 10 that Tibetans should also
be in control of their own defense and foreign policy saying: "Tibet must have
real autonomy. That means deciding defense and foreign affairs and maybe some
other issues."
As recently written on Forbes.com by Louise Blouin MacBain, Chairman of
Louise Blouin Media and the Louise Blouin Foundation, these statements appear
to be inconsistent with more recent calls by His Holiness, who has previously
sought cultural, spiritual and environmental protections for Tibet. The
representatives of His Holiness have also provided a different description of
the Tibetan political demands, stating that their aims are for "meaningful
autonomy for the entire Tibetan populated area."
Since November 2007 the Louise Blouin Foundation (ltbfoundation.org) as
part of its Globalization Platform (creativeleadershipsummit.org) has taken an
active interest, as neutral party, in developing a collaborative solution for
the region.
In May 2008 Louise Blouin MacBain will be traveling to Beijing and Tibet
in order to develop a proposal towards Tibetan cultural preservation with the
Chinese government and Tibetan Autonomous Region Party representatives. Louise
Blouin MacBain sincerely hopes that His Holiness can also participate in this
dialogue and the full negotiation process.
Related Links:
Forbes.com: Reasonable Demands From the Dalai Lama - by Louise Blouin
MacBain
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/05/01/tibet-china-talks-oped-
cx_lbm_0501tibet.html (Due to length of URL, please copy and paste into
browser)
Forbes.com: Facing the Facts on Tibet (Part 1) - by Louise Blouin MacBain
http://www.forbes.com/home/markets/2008/04/10/tibet-china-macbain-oped-
cx_lbm_0411tibet.html (Due to length of URL, please copy and paste into
browser)
Forbes.com: A Message for Western Leaders (Part 2) - by Louise Blouin
MacBain
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/04/12/china-tibet-macbain-oped-
cx_lbm_0414tibetchina.html (Due to length of URL, please copy and paste into
browser)
The Dalai Lama's Demands - An interview with Louise Blouin MacBain - BBC
Asia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y9bH6H9WMk
Louise Blouin Foundation
http://www.ltbfoundation.org
Global Creative Leadership Summit and Globalization Platform
http://www.creativeleadershipsummit.org
SOURCE Louise Blouin Foundation
Mathew Kabatoff of Louise Blouin Foundation, +44-207-985-9600,
Mathew.kabatoff@ltbfoundation.org
