チベットNOW＠ルンタ

2008年11月17日

待ちに待った特別大会議が始まる。「真の自治メモランダム」

今日午前９時半から「チベット代表特別大会議」が始まった。

インド各地のキャンプからはもとより、世界中に散らばっているチベット人たちがそれぞれの地区、組織、団体の代表としてダラムサラに集まってきた。
総勢６００人。
中には代表としてではなく特別枠で自前で参加している人もいる。

TCVホールの桟敷席は代表団、二回バルコニーはすべて報道陣が陣取っていました。
音響には少々問題が残るが、なかなか使いかってのよいホールだ（自画自賛）。

まずはじめに法王の大きなお写真を掲げて、議会議長、首相をはじめとする大臣たちが国旗とともに入場する。
次に全員が起立して国家斉唱。
チベットの国のためにこれまで命を落とした人々、特に今年３月以降の犠牲者を弔うために一分間の黙祷。

その後議会議長カルマ・チュペル氏と首相サムドゥ・リンポチェの基調演説があった。
これで、会議の開会式は終了。

参加者は午後から１５の部会に分かれて議論をはじめた。
部会ごとに特別の議題が課されているわけではなく、議題は一つ「これからのチベットの進むべき道は？」であります。
どの部会に所属すべきかは、くじ引きで決められ、其々の部会ごとに議長、副議長を選出し、２１日には部会ごとにまとめられた意見が集約され、２２日に法王に報告すべき最終的結論を出す、というプログラムです。

開会式の後、議会議長と副議長が記者会見をおこなった。

その中で興味深かったことを一つだけ。
内閣はこの会議を前にして、独自にチベット内部にからの意見を聞き、それを集約したという。（どうやってやれたのか！？）
何と、ウツァン、カム、アムドから１７０００人の意見を聞くことができたという。

結果は：
１、どんな道であろうとダライラマ法王様のお決めになった道に従う。８０００人
２、独立路線に変更すべきだ。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　５０００人
３、中道路線のまま。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２０００人
４、その他、　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２０００人
とのこと。
１が３と同じと取ると２：１で中道派が多数意見ということになる。
１は意見なしに等しいとすれば、独立派が二倍半ということになる。
うううんんん、、、
何とも言えない。

会議の前後にはホールの前の広場がチベット要人の久しぶりの挨拶場、その中をインタビューを取ろうとするメディアが走り回ったりして壮観でした。
私も懐かしい昔の知り合いや元大臣などに沢山会いました。
しかし一様に政府関係者は自分の意見は控えるように、という内閣からの指示に従い、肝心な点についてはノーコメントでした。
政府はことのほか、この会議は民主的なものであり、政府はいかなる干渉も影響力も与えようとはしていないのだ、ということを示そうとしていました。
例えば、現大臣は各部会に参加することはできるが、意見を言うことは禁止されているといいます。
独立派の批判をさけるためでもあろう。

一人だけ変わった人に話を聞きました。
私は初対面ですが、RFA等によく登場する人として知っていたのです。
彼、ロプサン・センゲ氏はハーバード大学で法律を学び今も研究員としてハーバードにいる。
チベット人知識人の筆頭格の一人です。
彼は会議へのコメントとして、

「今度の会議で何が決定されるかというより、歴史的に見てこれが大きな転換点になる可能性は強いだろう。つまり、政治的権力が法王から大幅に民衆の手に移されるであろうということだが。
これが法王の大きな狙いでもあると思う。」

「そのまま中道という人たちは新しく提案することも少ないだろうし、準備もそこそこであろう。それに比べ、独立派の方はこの会議のために相当準備をしていると思う。だから、方向として独立派の力が増すことは間違いないであろう」

と、語っておられました。

会議のレポートは今日はこれまで。

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

参考として、以下に昨日記者会見場で渡された、中国政府に提出したという「真の自治に関する覚書」の英文を掲載します。

法王と亡命政府がこれまで主張していた「真の自治」の内容が要約ですがはっきりと理解されることでしょう。
大事な資料と思いTibet Net–phayul.comから転載します。
http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=23234&article=Press+Briefing+of+the+Tibetan+Envoys+-+Summarised+Memorandum
この要求に対し、中国は「これは分離主義者の言い分だ。中国共産党に対する挑戦だ！」と言ったそうです。

良くよく内容を吟味してみてください。

Press Briefing of the Tibetan Envoys – Summarised Memorandum

TibetNet[Sunday, November 16, 2008 21:43]

SUMMARY OF THE MEMORANDUM ON GENUINE AUTONOMY FOR THE TIBETAN PEOPLE

INTRODUCTION

Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at a press briefing at the Lhakpa Tsering hall, Department of Information and International Relations, November 16, 2008, phayul photo/Tenzin Dasel
During the seventh round of talks in Beijing on 1 and 2 July 2008, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, Mr. Du Qinglin, explicitly invited suggestions from His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the stability and development of Tibet. The Executive Vice Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, Mr. Zhu Weiqun, further said they would like to hear our views on the degree or form of autonomy we are seeking as well as on all aspects of regional autonomy within the scope of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Accordingly, during the recent eighth round of talks we presented the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People to the vice Chairman, Mr. Du Qinglin and held extensive discussions with our Chinese counterparts on November 4th and 5th in Beijing.

In recent days the Central United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party has issued statements about our talks in Beijing and in particular about the content of the memorandum we have presented to them. These Chinese statements distort the position and proposal we have outlined in our paper. In order to enable the public, concerned governments, parliamentarians, non-governmental organisations and individuals to gain a comprehensive and full understanding of the Tibetan position on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people, we are releasing today the memorandum.

Our memorandum puts forth our position on genuine autonomy and how the specific needs of the Tibetan nationality for autonomy and self-government can be met through application of the principles on autonomy of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, as we understand them. On this basis, His Holiness the Dalai Lama felt confident that the basic needs of the Tibetan nationality can be met through genuine autonomy within the PRC.

SUMMARY OF THE MEMORANDUM

The Constitution of the PRC contains fundamental principles on autonomy and self-government whose objectives are compatible with the needs and aspirations of the Tibetans. Regional national autonomy is aimed at opposing both the oppression and the separation of nationalities by rejecting both Han chauvinism and local nationalism. It is intended to ensure the protection of the culture and the identity of minority nationalities by empowering them to become masters of their own affairs.

To a very considerable extent Tibetan needs can be met within the constitutional principles on autonomy. On several points, the Constitution gives significant discretionary powers to state organs in decision-making and on the operation of the system of autonomy. These discretionary powers can be exercised to facilitate genuine autonomy for Tibetans in ways that would respond to the uniqueness of the Tibetan situation. Given good will on both sides, outstanding problems can be resolved within the constitutional principles on autonomy. In this way national unity and stability and harmonious relations between the Tibetan and other nationalities will be established.

TIBETAN ASPIRATIONS

Tibetans have a rich and distinct history, culture and spiritual tradition all of which form valuable parts of the heritage of humanity. Not only do Tibetans wish to preserve their own heritage, which they cherish, but equally they wish to further develop their culture and spiritual life and knowledge in ways that are particularly suited to the needs and conditions of humanity in the 21st century.

As a part of the multi-national state of the PRC, Tibetans can benefit greatly from the rapid economic and scientific development the country is experiencing. While wanting to actively participate and contribute to this development, we want to ensure that this happens without the people losing their Tibetan identity, culture and core values and without putting the distinct and fragile environment of the Tibetan plateau, to which Tibetans are indigenous, at risk.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commitment to seek a solution for the Tibetan people within the PRC is clear and unambiguous. This position is in full compliance and agreement with paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s statement in which he emphasised that except for independence all other issues could be resolved through dialogue. Whereas, we are committed, therefore, to fully respect the territorial integrity of the PRC, we expect the Central Government to recognise and fully respect the integrity of the Tibetan nationality and its right to exercise genuine autonomy within the PRC. We believe that this is the basis for resolving the differences between us and promoting unity, stability and harmony among nationalities.

BASIC NEEDS OF TIBETANS

Subject Matters of Self-government
1) Language
2) Culture
3) Religion
4) Education
5) Environmental Protection
6) Utilisation of Natural Resources
7) Economic Development and Trade
8) Public health
9) Public Security
10) Regulation on population migration
11) Cultural, educational and religious exchanges with other countries

RESPECT FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE TIBETAN NATIONALITY

Tibetans belong to one minority nationality regardless of the current administrative divisions. The integrity of the Tibetan nationality must be respected. That is the spirit, the intent and the principle underlying the constitutional concept of national regional autonomy as well as the principle of equality of nationalities.

There is no dispute about the fact that Tibetans share the same language, culture, spiritual tradition, core values and customs, that they belong to the same ethnic group and that they have a strong sense of common identity. Tibetans share a common history and despite periods of political or administrative divisions, Tibetans continuously remained united by their religion, culture, education, language, way of life and by their unique high plateau environment.

The Tibetan nationality lives in one contiguous area on the Tibetan plateau, which they have inhabited for millennia and to which they are therefore indigenous. For purposes of the constitutional principles of national regional autonomy Tibetans in the PRC in fact live as a single nationality all over the Tibetan plateau.

In order for the Tibetan nationality to develop and flourish with its distinct identity, culture and spiritual tradition through the exercise of self-government on the above mentioned basic Tibetan needs, the entire community, comprising all the areas currently designated by the PRC as Tibetan autonomous areas, should be under one single administrative entity. The current administrative divisions, by which Tibetan communities are ruled and administered under different provinces and regions of the PRC, foments fragmentation, promotes unequal development, and weakens the ability of the Tibetan nationality to protect and promote its common cultural, spiritual and ethnic identity. Rather than respecting the integrity of the nationality, this policy promotes its fragmentation and disregards the spirit of autonomy.

THE NATURE AND STRUCTURE OF THE AUTONOMY

The exercise of genuine autonomy would include the right of Tibetans to create their own regional government and government institutions and processes that are best suited to their needs and characteristics. It would require that the People’s Congress of the autonomous region have the power to legislate on all matters within the competencies of the region and that other organs of the autonomous government have the power to execute and administer decisions autonomously. Autonomy also entails representation and meaningful participation in national decision-making in the Central Government. Processes for effective consultation and close cooperation or joint decision-making between the Central Government and the regional government on areas of common interest also need to be in place for the autonomy to be effective.

A crucial element of genuine autonomy is the guarantee the Constitution or other laws provide that powers and responsibilities allocated to the autonomous region cannot be unilaterally abrogated or changed. This means that neither the Central Government nor the autonomous region’s government should be able, without the consent of the other, to change the basic features of the autonomy.

Implementation of genuine autonomy, for example, requires clear divisions of powers and responsibilities between the Central Government and the government of the autonomous region with respect to subject matter competency. Currently there is no such clarity and the scope of legislative powers of autonomous regions is both uncertain and severely restricted. Thus, whereas the Constitution intends to recognise the special need for autonomous regions to legislate on many matters that affect them, the requirements of Article 116 for prior approval at the highest level of the Central Government – by the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress (NPC) – inhibit the implementation of this principle of autonomy. In reality, it is only autonomous regional congresses that expressly require such approval, while the congresses of ordinary (not autonomous) provinces of the PRC do not need prior permission and merely report the passage of regulations to the Standing Committee of the NPC “for the record” (Article 100).

The exercise of autonomy is further subject to a considerable number of laws and regulations, according to Article 115 of the Constitution. Certain laws effectively restrict the autonomy of the autonomous region, while others are not always consistent with one another. The result is that the exact scope of the autonomy is unclear and is not fixed, since it is unilaterally changed with the enactment of laws and regulations at higher levels of the state, and even by changes in policy. There is also no adequate process for consultation or for settling differences that arise between the organs of the Central Government and of the regional government with respect to the scope and exercise of autonomy. In practice, the resulting uncertainty limits the initiative of regional authorities and impedes the exercise of genuine autonomy by Tibetans today.

Dharamsala, 16 Nov. 2008