Prime Minister-Elect of Tibetan Government-in-Exile: 'Tibet is Under an Illegal Occupation…'; Resolving the Tibet Issue is Also in India's National Interest'

Harvard scholar Lobsang Sangay was recently elected as Kalon Tripa (prime minister) of the Tibetan government-in-exile, which functions from its headquarters in Dharamsala, the northern Indian town. His election follows a decision by the His Holiness Dalai Lama to relinquish his temporal powers to the Tibetan parliament.

Lobsang Sangay, who studied both in India and the United States, has been elected to the post of the Tibetan prime minister at a time of China's growing role in South Asia, for example the stationing of Chinese troops in Pakistani Kashmir, bolstering of China-Pakistan military and economic ties, and military competitiveness between China and India.

In an interview published by the website of Indian weekly magazine "Outlook," Sangay spoke about the challenges before him. He also noted that that until 1959, the border between India and Tibet was known as the Tibet-India border, not as the China-India border, in an apparent reference to the growing defense rivalry with India. "For example," he said, "the expenses incurred in the defense of border is really high. Before 1959, there was a border between India and Tibet, and there was no requirement for such kind of huge defense budget. Now, India has to do so because of China's occupation of Tibet."

Following are excerpts from the interview:[1]

"The Biggest Challenge will Be How to Resolve the Issue of Tibet So that Tibetan Identity and Dignity will be Recognized… by the Chinese Government"

Q: "How did Tibet enter your consciousness?"

Lobsang Sangay: "My father was a freedom fighter; on my mother's side one uncle went to fight against the Chinese Red Army. Since he never returned, we all assume he was killed. I admire what my father and my maternal uncle did, even though it was a losing battle. My father always talked about his experience as a guerrilla force member – the battles he fought, about friends who were wounded. It was his dream that he'd die in Tibet. He went back twice in the 1980s. But he wanted to return to Tibet in freedom. That didn't happen because he passed away in 2004…"

Q: "Considering you don't have prior administrative or political experience, why did you decide to run for the post of prime minister?"

Lobsang Sangay: "The way the process works is different - newspapers, websites, individuals nominate candidates. In most of the nominations my name came up. Since I had always talked about the importance of democracy, I thought, 'I have been given this choice, this platform, why don't I participate to strengthen the democratic process?' I introduced Indian/American style campaigning. The traditional norm was: 'Well, I won't stand for this position, but if you vote for me then I will serve.' But I went to people and shared my ideas. They voted for me knowing fully well that I didn't have administrative experience.

"But they know that I have a law degree, I'm familiar with the ins-and-outs of Dharamsala, I've travelled internationally to advocate for Tibet, and I have dealt with Chinese students and scholars at Harvard University for the last 15 years, and I'm familiar with India and its people. I travelled extensively in India from Karnataka to Arunachal Pradesh and from Laddakh to Darjeeling. It seems people thought I had all the necessary qualifications needed to be the Kalon Tripa (prime minister)."

Q: "As the newly elected prime minister, you are taking on a political role previously played by the Dalai Lama, who has been an international symbol of the Tibetan movement. Will it be difficult to emerge from his shadow?"

Lobsang Sangay: "His Holiness the Dalai Lama truly believes in democracy and has made efforts all along to separate religion from politics. This time he made the final separation so that the elected head of the government becomes the political face and representative of the Tibetan people. So what the Dalai Lama has assigned me to do is to fulfill his vision of a secular democratic society, to which I am committed."

Q: "What will be your biggest challenge?"

Lobsang Sangay: "The biggest challenge will be how to resolve the issue of Tibet so that Tibetan identity and dignity will be recognized and respected by the Chinese government. The official policy is to seek genuine autonomy within the framework of the Chinese constitution and persuade the Chinese government to move away from its hardline policy and implement a moderate, liberal policy for Tibet and the Tibetan people, and to see the Dalai Lama as a genuine partner in peace who can strengthen harmony and stability that the Chinese government thinks is paramount in China."

"Tibetans Inside and Outside are Divided Not by Choice, but by Force; We are One Family and We Stand for One Issue – to Restore Freedom in Tibet"

Q: "Do you think it is time to rethink the Dalai Lama's 'middle way' approach – or genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution – which hasn't yielded results?"

Lobsang Sangay: "The 'middle way' approach is the official policy of the Tibetan government-in-exile; so I have to implement it. Only the Tibetan parliament sets the policy, I implement it. If the parliament decides to re-evaluate the policy, I will have to act accordingly."

Q: "Since you have never lived in Tibet, how will you strengthen the bond between Tibetans – those in exile and those still living in China – and their leadership?"

Lobsang Sangay: "Tibetans inside and outside are divided not by choice, but by force. We are one family and we stand for one issue – to restore freedom in Tibet. Interactions between Tibetans inside Tibet and outside it are quite frequent. Thousands of Tibetans have fled to India and continue to do so even today. They communicate back and forth. For example, the DVDs of our Kalon Tripa debate were widely watched inside Tibet.

"I was recently told that two songs have been composed on my campaign theme on the day of my victory. Tibetans inside Tibet have also gone to monasteries to light butter lamps, offer incense, and prayers for the success of the elections. We are in solidarity because we are Tibetans first and foremost and Tibet is in our hearts."

Q: Are you disappointed with India's Tibet policy?"

Lobsang Sangay: "India has done heavy lifting as far as Tibet is concerned. They have provided us humanitarian assistance and moral support for all these years for which Tibetans unanimously will always say, 'we are very, very grateful.' Having said that, we'd like to see the Indian government being stronger on the Tibet issue and to treat it as an important national issue, addressing which will also address security issues for India.

"For example, the expenses incurred in the defense of borders is really high. Before 1959, there was a border between India and Tibet, and there was no requirement for such kind of huge defense budget. Now, India has to do so because of China's occupation of Tibet. We appeal to the Indian people that resolving the Tibet issue is also in India's national interest."

"If You Talk of Legality, Tibet is Under an Illegal Occupation; As for My Election, I have Received Democratic Legitimacy of the Tibetan People"

Q: "What's the message in the Chinese government denunciation of your election as a 'political show'?"

Lobsang Sangay: "They go overboard, call it illegal and things like that. If you talk of legality, Tibet is under an illegal occupation. As for my election, I have received democratic legitimacy of the Tibetan people. In contrast, Tibet [as ruled by China] doesn't have democracy, doesn't have freedom, so there is no legitimacy there.

"The party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region has always been Chinese, never a Tibetan. Their labels are only to distract from the reality of great achievement made by the central Tibet administration which is democratic, whereas Chinese rule in Tibet isn't."

Q: "Have you received congratulatory messages from the executive head of any country, particularly India, the U.S., and Europe?"

Lobsang Sangay: "Not yet. But I have received some congratulatory remarks from some parties and organizations."

Q: "No country officially recognizes the Tibetan government-in-exile in part for fear of annoying China. What can you do to change that?"

Lobsang Sangay: "If you look at any freedom struggle, there are phases. I am sure Mahatma Gandhi, when he was leading the Indian freedom movement; Nelson Mandela, when he spent 27 years inside prison; and Martin Luther King Jr., when he was leading marches in Alabama and Selma and Montgomery, I am sure there were lots of times when it was quite frustrating. But that is part of the struggle.

"Ours is also a struggle. Recognition and semi-recognition is part of the process and we have to continue to keep marching forward with the hope that one day Tibetans will be recognized as distinct people entitled to their own rights and freedom."

"Under International Law, the Status of Tibet could Be Argued as an Independent Nation and the UN General Assembly Resolution of 1961 has Stated So"

Q: "The Tibetan youth, who are quite angry with the older leadership, want to see their struggle taken to a logical end. What for you is that logical end?"

Lobsang Sangay: "The official policy is to seek genuine autonomy within the framework of the Chinese constitution. So, the logical end for me is that if China is a country with rule of law, which they say they are, then they should implement the laws which provide genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

"Having said that, I do acknowledge that under international law, the status of Tibet could be argued as an independent nation and the UN General Assembly resolution of 1961 has stated so."

Q: "Do you think the institution of the Dalai Lama has run its course?"

Lobsang Sangay: "The institution of the Dalai Lama will continue as our spiritual leader. He's very healthy. We do believe he will live very long and will be able to return to Tibet during his lifetime. As for the 15th Dalai Lama, His Holiness has shared some ideas of reincarnation, one of which was that one (he) could support his own successor during his lifetime. I support that idea.

"Having said that, I will support any process the Dalai Lama advises us, because he is the ultimate authority on who the 15th Dalai Lama should be and where he or she will be born. He has categorically stated that the idea of reincarnation is to fulfill the mission of the present Dalai Lama, which means if he passes away in exile, it's logical to be (re-)born in exile to continue the mission from where he left."

Q: "You are travelling to Dharamsala later in May. What's going to be your No. 1 priority once you get there?"

Lobsang Sangay: "Number one priority is to restore freedom in Tibet, but domestically the number one priority is to improve the education system for the Tibetan people to provide them good education [in exile]. I am what I am today mainly because of education. I want to inspire younger generations to focus on education and encourage parents to be partners in improving education. As the head of the Tibetan government I will provide facilities and funding necessary to create hundreds of Tibetan professionals so that they can be effective leaders in the Tibetan movement."