Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche being re-elected to hold the Prime Minister’s office for a second time with a landslide victory comes as no surprise to many Tibetans, but in a rare interview to Tibetan World’s Tenzin Nyima and Tenzin Pema Chakshar, the Prime Minister says that to him, the election results were indeed ‘unexpected’. In this Tibetan World exclusive, the Prime Minister reiterates that he would continue to follow the Middle Way Approach, adding also that the Tibetan movement has a clearer direction than it did five years ago and negating the international media’s view that the Tibetan movement has suddenly lost direction.     

Tibetan World: Rinpoche, how do you feel about the election results? Did you expect such an overwhelming majority?
Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa): I was amazed when I heard the results of the election. I had a greater majority supporting me in this election than I did in the first election and I really don’t know how that happened. As I mentioned in an earlier interview, I had been hoping for an alternative leadership headed particularly by someone who is young, educated and energetic, by a Tibetan who could represent the younger generation of the Tibetan Diaspora.
I was surprised more so because I won the election with a huge majority despite taking quite a few unpopular decisions in my first term. I was under the impression that I would not be re-elected and that even if I was, it would be with a much lesser majority than I enjoyed previously.
So, the election results were really unexpected.

Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche with HH the 14th Dalai Lama Photo: Tenzin Choejor

TW: What, in your opinion, could have been the reason behind your winning the election with such a big majority?
PM: I think that the majority of the people, in their heart of hearts, support the Middle Way Approach and the policies of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the parliament. So, I view this election result as a grass root support for the government’s policies and not as a personal support for me. It was more of a support for the policies that I was pursuing and the programs I had been undertaking, during the last five years.

TW: In your first term, you did much to alleviate unemployment and undertook various projects to ensure the viability of Tibetan settlements. How much do you think you have achieved with those projects? And, would you continue with these projects and if so, would they still be priority for you in your second term too?
PM: Yes! This is not ‘the’ priority but this is one of the high priorities. When I look at the programs that we had undertaken to alleviate the problem of unemployment, it is not very discouraging.
Of course, it is not at the peak of solving the problem, but if I view it from what these programs have achieved, it is clear that the measures taken by NGOs and various departments, were able to achieve good employment for quite a number of young people. But if I view it from the number of unemployed people in our community, then it has not been very effective.
However, there is no denying that the program itself can benefit a good number of people and as a result, I will continue this program as one of my priorities.

TW: Are there any new priorities and projects you have in mind that you want your government to accomplish in this term?
PM: There may be new policies that might come to the fore under different circumstances but at this moment, I am not thinking of any new initiatives.
For me, I view this new second-term as an opportunity to implement the various initiatives I had started in my first term as Kalon Tripa and translate these into real action. I have to devote my time to ensuring that whatever initiatives I had started in my first term turn into reality and grow.

TW: I remember you spoke about your government’s work and attempts to improve the CTA’s financial prospects in 2004; and from this year’s budget, it does indeed appear like your government has delivered. However, you also spoke about your desire to see that the Tibetan community and the Tibetan government-in-exile becomes independent of the sponsorship money from the west. How soon do you fathom it will be before this comes even close to reality?
PM: Firstly, during my first term we were able to achieve a surplus budget without any cost cuts from our budget and repay the entire money that was loaned in our finance department. I think these can definitely be viewed as achievements and it gives us satisfaction.
Getting to your question, at this moment we accept grants and aid from any agencies that remain completely free of any conditions; so, therefore we do not object to anyone accepting financial assistance. It is very difficult to reach a state where we can completely ignore any outside donor but even if a time comes when there would be no foreign aid, the departments and the settlements will not collapse. That will be achieved in the next five years.

TW: Going back to your re-election as PM ... Tell us who you have nominated to constitute your Cabinet and under what portfolios?
PM: (Laughs) It is too early to answer that question. I shall have to wait till September 30, when the next session of the parliamentarians begin; it is only then that I will propose the names of my new colleagues. However, I am yet to make up my mind.

TW: Are you thinking of increasing the number of Kalons?
PM: I haven’t thought of anything yet. I may increase or decrease the number of Kalons. Even if I do increase the number of Kalons, I might have to eventually reduce it if the Parliament becomes strict.

TW: While selecting your Ministers, what’s a more important criterion to you, Ministers - who will toe your line of thought or rather head a Cabinet that represents the ‘Cholka-Sum’ or the entire Tibetan population?
PM: Both! As a Cabinet, we have to bear the collective responsibility. Therefore, the people who are in the Cabinet should be like-minded, but by this, I don’t mean that there should not be any difference in opinions. However, what I do mean is that with regard to their principles and ideologies, they should be like-minded people. And secondly, the Cabinet must also represent some traditions of the Tibetan community.
Therefore, I should look at both these criterions.

TW: Rinpoche, you have always maintained that even in your second term, you could continue to follow the same China policy that you adopted when you first started out. Do you still maintain that? And, with regard to China, what steps do you plan to undertake to solve the Tibetan issue, in your second term as Prime Minister?
PM: In the last four years, five rounds of dialogue have taken place during which time a number of things have become clear for both sides. Now we know where we can and where we cannot compromise. We are also aware of the different kind of means that are most effective. So, I am looking forward to the sixth round of talks.
I will definitely continue to pursue the Middle Way Policy consistently and persistently in the future too, but with more effort. 

TW: The Chinese Information Center recently released a paper by Yedor on His Holiness’s ‘Middle-way Approach’ and our government’s demand for ‘real-autonomy’ for the Tibetan people. I’m sure you’re aware of that article but having read that, don’t you think the Tibetan government is expecting way too much from the Chinese government and our negotiations with them?
PM: Whenever any negotiations take place, both sides always try to maintain the impression that it is impossible to come to an agreement. We have to understand the ways of politics and as a result, this does not come as a surprise for me. Also, we must not forget the fact that we have already heard from them much more than what has been expressed in the article by Yedor. So, this is definitely expected and we have to face this kind of position that they have taken and argue our position just as well, with the same fervour and using the same strategy. Once we do that, we will see the results.

TW: How do you view the Golmud-Lhasa Railway line– destructive development or development?
PM: The word ‘development’ is very vague. That is not a development, it is a growth. Growth and development have to be different from our viewpoint. We have to wait and see how it will sustain itself and how it will be used by PRC authorities. Only then we will be able to make comments. At the moment, I am just watching.

TW: The world media is today talking about the Tibetan struggle as though it has suddenly lost direction, this on account of the fact that the Tibetan government advocates the Middle-way Approach and the Tibetan Youth Congress’ continuing call for complete independence; some of the best examples could be that of Pankaj Mishra’s article in the New York Times and Sophie Mc’Neill’s documentary film titled ‘Trouble In Exile’ (in which you were also interviewed). What do you have to say about these developments? Do you also hold the view that the Tibetan struggle has become directionless or do you think this is simply a case of misinterpretation of the real situation?
PM: This is only a misinterpretation of the Tibetan situation and an exaggeration on the part of the media.
My friend, Mr. Mishra, is a very good writer, no doubt, but it is not necessary that he has a deep understanding of international politics. The Tibetan struggle now has a specific direction and that direction is clearer than it was five years ago. Now we know very clearly what our ‘goal’ is and what ‘direction’ we are moving towards. The Tibetan Government in Exile is following that ‘direction’ wholeheartedly.
In a democratic society, there are bound to be different sets of opinions and we welcome these different opinions. Having different opinions in a democratic society should not be interpreted as a loss of direction; that would be entirely misinterpretation.
If everyone should move in one direction then it would become like the People’s Republic of China. In every democratic country, including India there are different opinions and political ideas expressed and that is good for the society and for the people. Similarly, in the Tibetan community, we have the Tibetan Youth Congress; they should pursue their own ideologies and we must welcome them. We should not try to make the entire Tibetan Diaspora as one monolithic ideology follower, because if we do so, then the cultural, ideological and approach diversity will be lost.
As a result, I am happy to have different kind of alternative choices even though the government has before it a very clear direction. It is definitely not a case of the Tibetan issue or movement having lost direction. 

TW: Chinese President Hu Jintao’s maiden visit to India is likely any time this year. In the past, your government has been asking Tibetans to scale down their level of protests and demonstrations against the Chinese government. During the Chinese President’s visit will you continue to ask Tibetans to scale down the level of protests or not to protest at all?
PM: I will not ask them to scale down the level of demonstrations but I would appeal to them not to demonstrate at all because protests staged against the Chinese visiting-dignitaries does not help the cause of Tibet. On the contrary, it only serves to irritate and mislead them. So, therefore my appeal to the Tibetan populous will be clear.
However, I am not sure if Hu Jintao will be able to visit India this year or not. He was supposed to visit India in the month of July but that did not happen. So, lets wait and see about his visit.

TW: Your government’s policy of asking the Tibetan people and activists to not be critical of the Chinese government – Well, what purpose has it served on the Chinese negotiations front?
PM: I don’t ask Tibetans to not be critical of the Chinese government. I only asked that they not demonstrate before the Chinese authorities, with the sole purpose of embarrassing and irritating the Chinese government.
I have, also, always maintained that demonstrations always bring about some kind of anger and are seen as a violent expression of your thoughts. Thus, it brings disrespect to the Chinese dignitaries on a personal level.
So, these are the kind of things that we have been and that we are asking the public not to do; we never asked that they stop being critical of the Chinese government, after all, we cannot appreciate all the Chinese policies. 

TW: Considering the fact that NGO’s like the Tibetan Youth Congress continue to hold mass protests against the Chinese leadership, irrespective of what your government advises, do you see any point in continuing with this plea to scale down protests?
PM: It is my responsibility to appeal to them and it is their wisdom to do decide, I cannot do anything beyond making repeated appeals to them. Whether it is proper or not proper, I cannot answer. You should ask their leadership. They might be having their own reason about how it is proper or how it is useful.

TW: In a recent interview to an Indian national newspaper, you spoke about the Tibetan youth and described them in ways that may only have hurt their sentiments, or at least a few of them may have been offended by those statements. But that apart, do you really feel the need to generalise your opinion of the Tibetan youth? If so, what is it that we, Tibetans, are doing wrong for our youth to be laidback and lacking the necessary zeal?
PM: I do not remember any particular interview but whenever I go a function, mediapersons ask me random questions and many times they do not report accurately.
If there is any statement that has hurt anyone’s sentiments, then I regret that. I never meant to disrespect or hurt anybody. 

TW: Going back again to your re-election - Considering the fact that this large percentage of votes indicate an approval by the Tibetan people of all that you have done while serving as Prime Minister in the last five years, do you now feel pressured to prove yourself again and be able to repeat history a second time round?
PM: Of course! It is really a very big responsibility that I have been entrusted with for the second time. And, I feel the love and expectations of the voters and that really is quite a pressure for me. So, I feel the need to and will have to live up to their expectations.

TW: Is there anything I may have missed out on or is there anything that you’d like to add?
PM: No! I don’t have anything in my mind at this time. You have asked a wide range of questions. Thank you very much!