New Delhi: In an exclusive interaction with ETV Bharat, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, former Deputy Speaker Tibetan Parliament in Exile, said, “Historically Tibet was not part of China but when Tibet was occupied by the Chinese Communist during the Maoist regime and now for the last 62 years, Tibet is completely under the Chinese government rule. In 1979 Deng Xiaoping –the Chinese leader mentioned that they were ready to resolve the Tibet issue. His Holiness Dalai Lama is willing to resolve the Tibet issue through dialogue and negotiation but now we are not asking for complete independence, we are asking for self-determination.
Even in the United Nation, in the year 1959-1961, five resolutions have been passed. The final decision of the Tibetan issues are only in the hands of the Tibetan community which is self-ruled and self-determination and that resolution has been adopted by the United Nations. Therefore, we are asking for the same thing i.e. self-governed- self-ruled and self-determination". From 2009-2010, we were able to resume the dialogue and the memorandum has been already submitted to the representatives of the Chinese leader by his holiness in Beijing in the year 2010, he said.
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"After the Xi Jinping regime until today, unfortunately, we are not able to resume the dialogue again. It is a deadlock situation but whenever China gets pressurized by the international community, they always say they are ready to resolve the Tibet issue. Therefore, we are waiting and it is now in the hands of the Chinese leaders especially Xi Jinping politburo as to how much they are willing to resolve the Tibetan issue”, he pointed.
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"If the Chinese feel that Tibet is important to them then they should resolve the Tibet issue. For China to become a global power the country needs to resolve not only the Tibet issue but 55 minority communities are suffering under the present Chinese Communist regime. Now, Xinjiang issue is also being highlighted. Once the Manchurians used to rule China but now they are nearly extinct", Phuntsok added. Therefore, to preserve the Tibetan culture, tradition, heritage and language, we are asking to resolve the Tibetan issue, he stated.
