The cat's out of the bag - CTA China outreach set to stir up more trouble

[Ringo Starr]

As they say, a tiger will not change its stripes.

Just about a month ago, it was reported that the China desk of the Department of Information and International Relations ("DIIR") of the Central Tibetan Administration ("CTA"), had held its first workshop for its liaison officers to enhance its Chinese outreach campaign. The workshop focused on three main issues: why Tibetans need to reach out to Chinese; the level of coordination required with Chinese nationals; and how to reach out to Chinese nationals.

Source:
http://tibet.net/2016/11/diir-holds-first-workshop-to-enhance-chinese-outreach-campaign/


With negotiations between the Tibetan Government in Exile and China regarding autonomy or the Middle Way Approach stalled or rather a non-starter, some Tibetologists would have read the above news as a possible fresh new beginning for the Middle Way Approach.

Alas, it is now all clear that the Chinese the CTA were going to "approach" would neither be of help to the Middle Way Approach nor to America-China relations.

On December 2, 2016, Penpa Tsering, Office of Tibet ("OOT"), Washington DC met Initiatives for China, a grassroots organisation dedicated to advancing democracy in China. In that meeting, President Yang Jianli of Initiatives for China expressed his support and friendship for the Tibetan people and also discussed future collaborations with the Office of Tibet through cultural and intellectual exchanges. Members of the Initiatives for China present at the meeting include Chinese scholars, writers, reporters, lawyers, activists, and long time Tibet supporters.

Source:
http://tibet.net/2016/12/representative-penpa-tsering-discusses-tibet-with-chinese-democracy-activists/


Now that wasn't the only thing Penpa Tsering was up to. He was also at a hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China ("CECC") on December 8, 2016 which was a platform for US lawmakers and Chinese dissidents to ask President-Elect Trump to pressure Beijing on rights. Also at the hearing were Chinese dissidents and rights activists including Yang Jianli, Wei Jingsheng, Chen Guangcheng, Fu Xiqiu, and Rebiya Kadeer, along with Falun Gong practitioners and Wang Xiaoan, daughter of Chinese political prisoner Wang Zhiwen.

Source:
http://www.voanews.com/a/china-us-relations-trump-pressure-dissidents-branstad/3628824.html


CTA for democracy? Read this: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2771502-Rorhabacher-Letter.html


CTA for religious freedom? Read this: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/definitive-proof-of-the-ban-and-discrimination-against-dorje-shugde/


The trend is clear. The CTA is trying to collude with rights activists when they themselves have never respected rights. And they are also befriending democracy activists when they themselves had rigged the recently held elections.

Beware this tiger!

[grandmapele]

If Penpa Tsering is indicative of the CTA's stand, then there is no genuine wish on the CTA's side for dialogue with China. They are making it seem as though they are extending the laurel leave but are actually playing both sides. That is even more despicable than outright voicing their dissent. How very underhanded and sneaky.

It's thus true that one cannot expect a leopard to change its spots.

[SabS]

Wow! Sorry but that is such a stupid move, befriending and participating in the meetings of Chinese dissidents in America, to pressure China into giving way. Even a political dumb dumb like me knows it's the worst move ever. Now China may just harden up and stop any discussions. Penpa Tsering must be representing CTA in his position as the Speaker of CTA. It really shows how insincere CTA is, always hedging one way or the other. No courage nor wisdom to stick to what is right and see it through. Such shamefully bad representation of the Tibetans people.

How could CTA expect China to open up to them if they keep playing both sides? From the way things are being manipulated by CTA, I don't think the Dalai Lama will get his wish to return home anytime soon. Unless the average Tibetans decide to stand up for Government Officials that plan policies & strategies for the good of their people, not sell their hopes for power and greed.

Come to think of it, is the CTA actually sabotaging their own outreach program so as to remain in America's sponsorship list? This way, CTA shows the Dalai Lama that they had attempted to understand and reach out to China with the programs but at the same time ensuring it's failure by befriending & plotting with the Chinese dissidents. CTA's ministers are all safely provided for with big houses in America and thus comfortable to continue receiving monies to sustain their lifestyle. They failed their people by not elevating their living conditions for sustainability, just to maintain their "refugee" status. And then they throw in the illogical ban on Protector Dorje Shugden to divert their people's attention from the real issues plaguing them. My heart really goes out to the Tibetan people who had been fooled by their own Government for such a long time and still not seeing any solutions in their predicament. In the midst of it all, they had the ban of Dorje Shugden thrown in, separating families, friends, associates, etc. So much sufferings and pain for the greed and attachment of a few.

[Pema8]

Unfortunately there is still no end in the conflict with China to see. Instead of starting to get close to China, the Tibetan Government creates more and more problems for their people. Instead of looking how to collaborate with China in making the life of the Tibetans in Tibet better, the CTA apparently only wants to benefit from the refugee status. It has been so long, more than 50 years that Tibet has been lost - how long more does the CTA want to waste time on fighting.

May the nightmare of the Tibetan people end asap and may the Tibetan people be united and in harmony.