INTERVIEW WITH TSETEN NORBU, PRESIDENT OF THE TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS
The Tibetan Youth Congress is a worldwide organization of Tibetans united in a common struggle for the restoration of complete independence for the whole of Tibet, which includes the traditional three Provinces of U-Tsang, Do-toe and Do-med. An independent organization, with a written constitution and its own plans and programs, TYC has emerged as the largest and most active non-governmental organization of Tibetans in exile. It has more than 13,000 members.
In the aftermath of the Hunger Strike Unto Death and the self-immolation of Thupten Ngodup the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is playing a game of catch-up. Everyone is working hard to organize and make sense of the recent events, deal with the by-products of these events (new projects like how to insure that the promises made by other countries are kept) as well as working on future activities to maintain the momentum that has been created.
Tseten Norbu, TYC President, shared with us TYC's reasoning for organizing this years hunger strike.
NORBU: I think we need to go to the year 1959 when our parents and grandparents came as refugees to countries like India, Nepal and Bhutan. At that time, all the Tibetans who crossed the border and took refuge in the neighboring countries primarily wanted to go back to a free Tibet one day. They were only going to be refugees for the time being and fight back in whatever way they could but, at that time, nobody was prepared or knew how they were going to do this. That was a problem. All they had was the determination in their mind that they are going back to Tibet in a free society. That was their promise, their dream, there hope. That is why we are here now. All the Tibetans should try to find this root cause of why we are here. That is also a point all of our Tibet supporters should think about. I have been here for the last three years, and quite often there are supporters--we have a lot of supporters and that's very good--but, unfortunately sometimes, they tell us or give advice of what we need to do or what we should do. I think that is not fair. We Tibetans need to find our own way. Find our goal and fight for that. We have a lot of weaknesses, of course, but we should make a strategy of our own and on that basis all the supporters should support us.
Everybody has read that the situation inside of Tibet is getting worse day by day. If this situation continues for another one or two decades then Tibet will not be a place of interest to the Tibetans in the future because by that time it will be full of Chinese. Even if it is democratically organized there will be a Chinese president, Chinese prime minister. The thing is that we need to do it quick. We need to do it within the lifetime of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. On the other hand, here in Tibetan society, we refugees seem to be a little bit more relaxed. Today in Tibetan society we are quite well off compared to the 1959, 60's and early 70's society. We are economically, educationally, socially--in every aspect we are more well off. Tibetans seem to be forgetting the main goal of why we are here. So that is why you don't have in the last 15, 20 years that much political activity. This inactivity has given time and energy for the Tibetans to do petty political things. It's very unfortunate to be quarrelling among ourselves, but this is a by product of inactivity. So, we decided to create a movement where every Tibetan can be involved emotionally, physically, economically, socially, in whatever way they can contribute. This is why we did this hunger strike.
ITIM: What was it about this particular hunger strike that inspired so many Tibetans to suddenly step up?
NORBU: I think this was a very frank and fundamental expression of the will of the Tibetan people. They felt there was very little political activity, and Tibetan people were all looking for an opportunity. We gave them the opportunity.
ITIM: There has been a lot of sensitivity among the Tibetans about speaking their personal opinions. Many are sensitive about appearing to be going against His Holiness.
NORBU: We proved that wrong. I have often said there is a misunderstanding among intellectuals within the Tibetan community and outside. It is quite often reported in the western media that we have democracy, but really whatever the Tibetan Government In Exile (TGIE) or His Holiness The Dalai Lama says is followed. There is very little regard for the public opinion. So, this time, I think, this might have been shattered because the six participants had written individually to His Holiness requesting Him to pardon them and not to issue any directives to end the hunger strike. They have clearly said in the petition to His Holiness that being an ordinary Tibetan, this is the smallest thing they can do, so do not interfere. We appealed to His Holiness, and His Holiness acted on the wishes of the people. This is a very clear and new indication that any Tibetan who really wants to do something for their country can do.
ITIM: For many years His Holiness has asked Tibetans to take personal reponsibility. This looks like a milestone (the hunger strike) in empowering the Tibetan community. Do you feel that the Tibetans viewed this program and their behavior as respect for His Holiness not disrespect?
NORBU: Yes, and at the same time, the Tibetan people have given a clear message that they want more programs. I think the Tibetan government and Tibetan parliment, and everybody should think in this way to bring more programs. That is the situation we are in. We want our leaders to tell us what to do. Not the other way. Usually, we have the problem of people saying don't do this. If you do this we will get a problem or this is against the law or there will be difficulties from the Indian government, etc.
ITIM: Some support groups were disappointed that the hunger strike was ended and were unsure about what kind of assurances TYC received and what is being done to ensure that the assurances are kept.
TYC: We mentioned clearly that we received letters from Norway, Poland, Costa Rica etc. saying that they would try their best to try and raise the issue of Tibet in bilatral, mulitlateral and UN forums. Then there were countries that don't want to be named at this time, but stated that once the issue is on the agenda they will support it. Also, many parlimentarians from all over said that they will do what they can in their own governments to put more pressure on the UN. Everybody asked for more time to do their homework. So, when they said they are ready to support, but they need more time we said thank you and we will give you time.
ITIM: Has TYC set some criteria as to what they want to see happen?
NORBU: Not exactly.This is also our time to do our homework. At this time, not only are we working with the Tibetan government and parliment, but we also have to study how to work with the other governments and the NGOs. For example, before the hunger strike ended, the Austrailian parliment and Austrailian support group ATC thought of collecting all of the parlimentarians around the world who support the Tibetan independence movement. After suspending the hunger strike I called them and I told them to do that. They will concentrate to give shape to that. We also need to coordinate our representatives in these countries with their governments and embassies. In the coming 3 to 5 months we will try to bring shape to all of this.
ITIM: What are your feelings about President Clinton going to China in June?
NORBU: Personally, I don't expect much. In last three or four years, the human rights issue that has been raised by the United Nations, United States and European Union has not been confirming to human rights. Sometimes I say individual rights. They fight only for one person. If one political prisoner is released then the American government is satisfied. I think they are setting a wrong precedent and I think this will backfire. If you go to the fundamentals of the United Nations and other democratic set ups and the Universal Declarations of Human Rights, all these things are the products of western politics and western society. If the UN, guided by the United States and western countries, can not safe guard these principles and fundamental objectives, then ultimately you are going to lose. I think the clearest example is the nuclear problem here in Asia. Everyone knew that there were nuclear technologies in Asia, but a convention was set before 1968 saying that only five countries are nuclear. Yet other countries have it, and if you don't recognize that, you are not in good terms or being honest about these things. They know there is something and they say there is nothing, so now you get all these problems.
ITIM: So you don't expect Clinton to do much in the way of the Tibet issue when he is in China, and you do not expect him to enforce the principles of the UN and democracy?
NORBU: I personally don't feel that Clinton will press that much. I have a very bad experience that during the Hunger Stike we never got a single letter from Gregory Craig (the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Affairs) and this is very strange. The only explaination that they can give us that they cannot keep in contact with our organization because we are not a part of the Tibetan government. Through the TGIE we got one letter but it was addressed to the TGIE even though TYC ran the program. If a special coordinator created for Tibet cannot even address the Tibetans then it is useless. If he cannot write one letter then what is the use of a special envoy on Tibet? So I don't think there will be much positive.
ITIM: Clinton's perpective is that his constructive engagement will go along way to resolving the problems in Asia.
NORBU: That is what they say, but in the last few years not a single Tibetan political prisoner has been released. Since the constructive engagement not a single one.
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