Tibetan exiles end meeting with call for more vigorous action

Nov 22, 2008, 10:01 GMT

New Delhi - Tibetan exiles ended a crucial meeting on their future in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala Saturday, agreeing to take a firmer stand in dealings with China, delegates said.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called the special meeting after admitting in October that his 'middle way' policy of securing greater autonomy for Tibetans within China had failed.

More than 600 Tibetan exiles attended the week-long meeting which saw intense discussions on whether there should be a shift of policy to advocate independence, a move which many of the younger generation advocated.

But others opposed to dropping the middle path, saying the move could result in losing international support.

The meeting, after an introductory session on Monday, had divided into sub-committees for the week-long discussions.

All 15 panels submitted their recommendations, to be made public Sunday, speaker of the Tibetan government-in exile Karma Choephel said.

The Dalai Lama, who stayed away from the meeting saying he did not want to influence discussions, is expected to brief the media on Sunday after studying the recommendations, one of his aides said.

'Everyone was determined to continue with the freedom struggle - though in different ways,' said Youdon Aukatsang, a member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

She said most delegates wanted a stronger stand with China, including deadlines, if the dialogue progressed.

The issue of a successor to the Dalai Lama was also reportedly discussed in the sub-committees. The 73-year-old monk suffered a bout of ill health and underwent surgery earlier in 2008.

'The meeting was a democratic exercise. It indicates a transition. the voices of all sections were heard,' Tenzin Choeding, a youth leader said.

Younger Tibetans had earlier expressed frustration in having to tone down their protests in the days leading up to the Beijing Olympics. Many of them were invited to attend the special meeting.

The northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala is the headquarters of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India with his followers in 1959, and the Tibetan government-in-exile. The government is not recognized by any nation.

There are more than 100,000 Tibetans living in exile, mostly in India and Nepal, while 6 million live in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and adjoining areas of China.

The Dalai Lama's representatives have so far held eight rounds of talks with the Chinese government.