Final Document of the 2009 Sino-Tibetan Conference ‘Finding Common Ground’
website: www.tibet-china-conference.org
Watch Kunleng TV – Finding Common Ground (Tibetan)
Final Document of the 2009 Sino-Tibetan Conference ‘Finding Common Ground’
Geneva, 8 August: A Sino-Tibetan conference ‘Finding Common Ground’ was held in Geneva from 6−8 August 2009 attended by Chinese and Tibetan scholars, educators, writers and human rights advocates. The aims of the conference are to inform the Chinese people and the international community that Tibetan culture and way of life are gravely endangered and that the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people are seriously being violated by the Chinese regime. In addition, the conference aims to outline effective measures to support the Tibetan people in their struggle to regain their freedom and to sustain and promote its unique culture. In this way, the conference will also respond to the heartfelt remarks made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in His opening address.
Based on these aims, the conference has reached the following common positions:
I. Fundamental Values and Principles
The universal values established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which include freedom, democracy, rule of law, human rights, equality and coexistence of multiple cultures, are the fundamental spiritual values and principles that the conference has followed.
II. The Origin and Nature of the Tibetan Issue
1. The root cause of the Tibetan issue is not a conflict between the Chinese people and the Tibetan people, but rather the autocratic rule of the People’s Republic of China in Tibet and its cultural genocide in Tibet.
2. The Beijing government’s claim that ‘Tibet has always been a part of China’ is factually incorrect.
3. Tibetan culture, religion, language and way of life are on the verge of extinction.
4. The Tibetan people have been deprived of their fundamental human rights including the rights to national self-determination, political participation and religious belief.
5. The official media of the Chinese government distorts the nature of the Tibetan issue and incites confrontation between the two peoples.
III. Ways Towards Resolving the Tibetan Issue
1. Respect the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people, including the right to political participation and the right of religious freedom and belief.
2. The resolution of the Tibetan issue is closely related to the democratization of China.
3. The Chinese people should engage in a critical reflection on Han chauvinism and fully respect Tibetan culture and way of life.
4. The Chinese government must comply with the principle of the rule of law.
5. The undeniable right of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return to his homeland must be respected.
IV. Recommendations to the Tibetan Government in Exile
1. To establish Sino-Tibetan friendship associations, Sino-Tibetan forums and civil society organizations across the world in order to promote cultural exchange and emotional ties between the two peoples.
2. To establish a research institute for Chinese and Tibetan scholars to promote the study of Tibetan history and culture for the purpose of recovering historical facts.
3. To adopt measures to counteract the blockage of information on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the monopoly on Tibetan issues by the Chinese regime, which would facilitate access to independent information for the Chinese people and the international community.
4. To create favorable conditions for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to promote his values to the Chinese community as a contribution to the renewal of spiritual values amongst the Chinese people.
The common wish of this Sino-Tibetan conference is for the Tibetan people to regain freedom and to prevent the extinction of Tibetan culture. We share a fundamental belief: freedom is the highest value; Tibetan culture is a precious treasure among the many cultures of humanity. Without freedom for Tibet, there will be no freedom for China. The extinction of Tibetan culture would not only be a tragedy for the Tibetan people, but would be a disgrace for the Chinese people and an irreplaceable loss for the whole of humanity.
Participants of the Geneva Sino-Tibetan Conference 8 August 2009
A full documentation of the conference is available at: www.tibet-china-conference.org
The Tibetan translation is available here at www.tibettimes.net
2009年日内瓦汉藏会议共识
由世界各地华人和藏人学者、专家、作家以及人权活动人士，从2009年八月六日至八日，在日内瓦举行以寻求共同点为目标的研讨会。这次会议的宗旨是为了让国际社会和华人世界进一步认识到，西藏文化处于危机之中；藏人的生活方式处于危机之中；藏人的基本人权正受到政治强权的摧残，从而必须为藏人获得自由，为具有伟大精神价值的西藏文化能够延续下去，找到有效办法，这也正是达赖喇嘛尊者对本次会议的由衷期待。
基于上述宗旨，本次会议达成以下共识：
一，基本价值与原则
由联合国人权宣言所确立的普世价值，即自由、民主、法治、人权、平等、多元文化共存等，乃是本次会议所遵循的基本精神价值与原则。
二，西藏问题的根源与本质
1.
当代西藏问题的根源，不在于藏汉两个民族的冲突，而是中华人民共和国政府对西藏实施的专制统治和文化上的种族灭绝。
2.
中华人民共和国政府所宣称的“西藏自古以来是中国的一部分”与历史事实不符。
3.
西藏的文化，宗教，语言和生活方式面临被灭绝的危机。
4.
藏人的民族自治权，政治选择权，宗教信仰的权利，言论自由权利等基本人权都受到剥夺。
5.
中华人民共和国政府所控制的官方媒体，歪曲西藏问题的实质，挑动汉藏民族的对立。
三，西藏问题的解决之路
1.
必须尊重藏人的基本人权，包括政治选择权和宗教信仰权。
2.
西藏问题的解决与中国的民主化息息相关。
3.
华人应该对大汉沙文主义进行反省，尊重藏人的文化和生活方式。
4.
要求中国政府落实法治原则。
5.
与会者高度尊重达赖喇嘛尊者的“中间道路”。
6.
达赖喇嘛尊者返回家园的神圣权利是不可剥夺的。
四，给流亡政府的具体建议
1.
在全球范围内，广泛建立汉藏协会，汉藏论坛等民间团体，以促进汉藏两族之间的文化和情感交流。
2.
建立由汉藏两族学者共同组成的西藏历史文化研究中心，以还原历史真相。
3.
采取措施，突破对西藏问题和达赖喇嘛尊者的各种信息封锁与垄断，让海内外华人以及国际社会了解西藏问题真相和达赖喇嘛尊者的真实愿望。
4.
创造条件，以便达赖喇嘛尊者有更多的机会向各界华人宣讲他的价值理念，为华人的精神重建提供机会。
此次汉藏会议的共同愿望是：让藏人获得自由，避免西藏文化被灭绝的命运。我们有一个基本的信念：自由乃是最高价值，西藏文化是人类多元文化中的瑰宝；没有西藏的自由，就没有中国的自由；西藏文化被灭绝不仅是藏人的悲剧，也是华人的耻辱，更是人类不可弥补的精神损失。
日内瓦汉藏会议全体代表
2009年8月8日
