While the swearing-in ceremony at the courtyard of the Tsughlakahang temple at Dharamsala on Monday marked a big change in Tibetan's 'polity', Lobsang Sangay, soon after being administered oath of office of Tibetan Prime Minister, offered the olive branch to China.
Harvard researcher Sangay says that he was ready to resume talks with China for resolution of the 50-year-old Tibetan issue.
Forty three-year old senior fellow of Harvard Law School Sangay took over the reins of the government from former Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche.
Rimpoche had held the post of Prime Minister for 10 years in two five-year terms. Sangay said results of this election should send a clear message to the hardliners in the Chinese government that Tibetan leadership is far from fizzling out.
“We are democracy that will only grow stronger in years ahead. And we are here to stay,” Sangay said. Making clear that China was not the enemy of Tibetans Sangay said their struggle was not against Chinese people or China as a country but was against hard- line policies of Chinese regime in Tibet.
“Our struggle is against those who would deny freedom, justice, dignity and the very identity of Tibetan People,” Says Sangay.
{{/usCountry}}“Our struggle is against those who would deny freedom, justice, dignity and the very identity of Tibetan People,” Says Sangay.
{{/usCountry}}“Chinese authorities and our Chinese friends alike must realize that grievances of Tibetan people are many and genuine,” Sangay added.
Giving priority to the education of Tibetan people Sangay said it was the beacon that will light the future of Tibet.
“We will strive to reach 10,000 professionals among 150,000 in exile and appeal to Tibetans inside Tibet to reach 100,000 in the next two decades,” Sangay said.
Expressing concerns over ‘existing situation inside the China administered Tibet Lobsang Sangay said ongoing political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization and environmental destruction in occupied Tibet is unacceptable.
After assuming the office of Tibetan Prime Minister, Sangay said he was hopeful of returning to the homeland and would felicitate any kind of talk China wants.
Insisting on taking forward the Sin0- Tibet dialogue Sangay said if Chinese authorities are interested in talking to only The Dalai Lama’s envoy then he would facilitate the talks and if China wants to talk to directly to him, he was also ready for that.
“We have to end the colonial mindset of China and we have gone to the extent we could,” Sangay said.
Terming his new duty as painful Sangay said earlier he had only felt the pain of six million Tibetans but now he would have to take decisions for the Tibetan people who are facing the suppression.
Resolving to restore freedom for Tibet and return of The Dalai Lama to the Tibet Sangay said though he had never been allowed to set foot in Tibet, Tibet was in his heart each and every day.
“I Proud to be born a Tibetan and will be proud to die as one. While I live, I am determined to fight for our freedom. Together we will ensure the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, reunite our people, and restore freedom for Tibet,” Sangay said.
Meanwhile Tibetan Spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama who was presiding over the oath ceremony expressed happiness saying that his initiative to democratize Tibetan political system has been achieved.
“I am feeling happy to see that my relentless efforts to democratize polity have been achieved,” said The Dalai Lama.