The Times of India

Editorial, Tuesday 28 April 1998

The self-immolation by a hunger-striking Tibetan activist on the day China's top general arrived in India was obviously intended to focus international attention on the Tibetan issue. Fasting Tibetan activists -- who, on the 48th day of their protest, were forcibly moved to hospital have been demanding a UN special envoy to facilitate a peaceful settlement of the Tibet issue and a UN-supervised plebiscite to determine the status of the region. The hunger-striker's fiery protest comes in the wake of Beijing's decision to release the prominent dissident, Wang Dan, and just before US President Bill Clinton is due to visit China. Though the US has appointed a coordinator for Tibet, there has been a perceptible relaxation of American pressure on China in regard to human rights, as was evident from the voting on the issue before the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. It is difficult to assess how far the ambiguous signals emanating from Washington have tended to fan the embers of Tibetan nationalism and raise u

nreal expectations. Further complicating the issue is the fact that self-immolation enjoys a certain legitimacy as a form of protest, both among Buddhist monks (in Vietnam, for example) and among the fanatical followers of personality cults in some parts of India.

The Dalai Lama has been a major moderating and restraining influence on the Tibetan population in India, and at this crucial juncture his healing touch is called for more than ever. New Delhi need not feel unduly apologetic about this tragedy happening at the time of the visit of China's army chief. The Chinese are known to make a virtue of pragmatism and do not allow sentimentality to come in the way of business. The 1979 Chinese invasion of Vietnam took place when Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as foreign minister, was visiting China; and a thermonuclear test was conducted in China during President Venkataraman's visit there. India's policy on Tibet has been consistent since 1954. While acknowledging Chinese sovereignty, India is of the view that Tibet should have adequate autonomy. This is not something new for China since it has accepted the principle of `one country, two systems' in respect of Hong Kong and is prepared to extend the same to Taiwan. Tibet is concerned particularly with its cultural and ethnic

autonomy. The Dalai Lama has repeatedly emphasised his willingness to

open discussions with Beijing on the issue of autonomy and does not insist on

independence. While the Indian government has scrupulously adhered to the principle of non-interference in China's internal affairs there can be no denying the sympathy the Tibetan people command in India. Such sympathy is not restricted to the present defence minister, Mr George Fernandes, who perhaps in a breach of protocol and in line with his long record of being an eloquent champion of human rights, chose to give public expression to his feelings. While the government has to deal delicately with the possible fallout of this self-immolation, the Tibetan issue has to be considered in the light of the rise of ethnonationalism the world over and the ambivalent role of the US in fanning the human rights issue only to compromise on it for commercial and political gains.