Cable Viewer http://213.251.145.96/cable/2008/06/08NEWDELHI1795.

html

Viewing cable 08NEWDELHI1795, TIBETAN YOUTH SEE POTHOLES IN THE MIDDLE PAT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as
them with others. See also the FAQs

Reference ID Created Released Classification Ori

08NEWDELHI1795 2008-06-30 10:10 2010-12-16 21:09 CONFIDENTIAL Em

VZCZCXRO6216
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHVC
DE RUEHNE #1795/01 1821026
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301026Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2444
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 1746
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2425
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

Monday, 30 June 2008, 10:26

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001795
Currently released so far... SIPDIS
1818 / 251,287 EO 12958 DECL: 06/30/2018
TAGS PGOV, PREL, PREF, PHUM, SOCI, CH, IN
Articles SUBJECT: TIBETAN YOUTH SEE POTHOLES IN THE MIDDLE PATH -
PART 1 OF A STATUS REPORT ON TIBETAN REFUGEES IN INDIA
Brazil REF: A. NEW DELHI 1483 B. NEW DELHI 3617 C. NEW DELHI 1476
Sri Lanka NEW DELHI 00001795 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (B an
United Kingdom ¶1. (C) Summary. A May visit to six Tibetan settlements across north
Sweden northeastern India underscores concerns that frustrated and dissatisf
Editorial youth and concurrent Indian separatist movements could pose serious p
United States the future viability of Tibetan settlements. A widening generational
Latin America Tibetan leaders unable to resolve growing dissatisfaction among young
led by the influential Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC). Settlement leade
Bengal reluctantly discussed intimidation and extortion of Tibetans b
Browse latest releases separatist movements, feebly dismissing the threats as “neighborly” i
Tibetan participation in events organized by pro-Gorkaland radicals -
2010/12/19 forced or not -- could jeopardize relations between the Tibetan commu
2010/12/18 their Indian hosts. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) will nee
2010/12/17 these issues or the Government of India (GOI) may address them instea
Summary.
2010/12/16 ¶2. (SBU) This is the first in a three-part series assessing the Tibe
2010/12/15 situation in India. Kathmandu’s Regional Refugee Coordinator, New Del
2010/12/14 and Kolkata POL FSN visited New Delhi, Dharamsala and remote Tibetan
2010/12/13 in West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. These reports distill
meetings with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), refugee recep
2010/12/12 centers, GOI and CTA administered schools, settlement officers, monas
2010/12/11 officials, health workers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the
2010/12/10 Youth Congress (TYC), and GOI liaisons with the Tibetan settlements.
2010/12/09 PolOffs subsequently met with Delhi-based human rights activists. The
2010/12/08 of this series, Part I, details increasing dissatisfaction among Tibe
and the potential consequences for the Tibetan community in India; Pa
2010/12/07 examines the settlements’ relations with neighboring local population
2010/12/06 separatist movements in West Bengal and the Northeast; and Part III a
2010/12/05 settlements’ socio-economic situation. This three-part series reflect
2010/12/04 collaboration between Embassy New Delhi, Consulate Kolkata and Embass
TYC’s “Imprudent” Strategy
2010/12/03 --------------------------
2010/12/02 ¶3. (SBU) With few professional opportunities and growing impatience
2010/12/01 Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way,” young Tibetans expressed frustration with
2010/11/30 prospects. These frustrations are articulated regularly by the TYC, w
advocates complete independence from People’s Republic of China (PRC)
2010/11/29 has 30,000 members in 83 chapters worldwide. The chapters vary widely
2010/11/28 degrees of organization and activism, with the chapters in New Delhi,

1 von 3 20.12.10 13:23

Cable Viewer http://213.251.145.96/cable/2008/06/08NEWDELHI1795.html

Browse by creation
date
66 72 75 79 86 88
89 90 00 01 02 03
04 05 06 07 08 09
10

Browse by origin
A B C D F G
H I J K L M
N O P Q R S
T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag
A B C D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P Q R
S T U V W X
Y Z

Browse by
classification

CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
SECRET
SECRET//NOFORN
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR
OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Community
resources

Follow us on Twitter
Check our Reddit
Twitter this
Digg this page

courage is contagious

and some western capitals constituting a well-organized and influential force.

The TYC’s mission statement (posted online) declares that one of its main
objectives is “to struggle for the rightful independence of Tibet even at the
cost of one’s life.” Accordingly, while the group pledges support to the Dalai
Lama, its published objectives conflict with the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way, which
promotes Tibetan autonomy within the PRC. The TYC has coordinated the most
dramatic anti-China protests, including scaling the walls of the Chinese embassy
in New Delhi four times in the past eight months (October 12,2007 and March 12,
March 21, and April 21 in 2008) and mobilizing over 25,000 protesters to converge
upon the capital in August 2007 (Reftels). XXXXXXXXXXXX emphasized that the
group’s handbook instructs members “never to raise a fist” and explained that the
activities are designed only to embarrass India’s northern neighbor. The TYC is
proud that it has succeeded in attracting Chinese ire -- revealing that China
feels threatened by the TYC. XXXXXXXXXXXX also emphasized the TYC’s other role
-- that of a “CTA watchdog,” promoting democratization, monitoring the socio-
economic situation in the settlements, and directing CTA attention to vulnerable
communities. With evident self-satisfaction, he noted that over the past decade,
the TYC had parted ways with the CTA, comparing the relationship to a parent
(CTA) who cannot come to terms with the child’s (TYC) maturation.
¶4. (C) Older Tibetan leaders regard the TYC’s activities as
NEW DELHI 00001795 002.2 OF 003
imprudent. XXXXXXXXXXXX worries that if Tibet’s status is not resolved during the
Dalai Lama’s lifetime, the youth movement could become “more radical and
dangerous” and predicted that “the debate over future strategy could fracture the
Tibetan community.” XXXXXXXXXXXX fears that the TYC is escalating radicalization
of the Tibetan youth and that TYC leadership XXXXXXXXXXXX is purposefully
antagonizing the GOI in an effort to garner international media attention. After
the TYC-coordinated storming of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, the PRC has
2 von 3 increased pressure on the GOI to control the Tibetan refugee population. The GOI 20.12.10 13:23
responded by restricting settlement activity in several states and increasing the
rates of arrests and detentions of Tibetan activists (Reftels). (Comment:
XXXXXXXXXXXX End Comment.)
¶5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX dismissed the potential consequences of irritating the GOI,
which has tolerated most demonstrations, arguing that supporters praise the TYC’s
Cable Viewer http://213.251.145.96/cable/2008/06/08NEWDELHI1795.html

NEW DELHI 00001795 003.2 OF 003

options for the youth, but have yet to successfully formulate a strategy.
XXXXXXXXXXXX stated that the CTA plans to educate and empower the youth, yet
neither he (nor any other community leader) could specify any new programs to
achieve this goal. Miao’s settlement officer, incidentally the most dynamic
leader among those interviewed, reported that the sole takeaway from a conference
dedicated to the generational divide was that the CTA organize more “tea parties”
to speak informally with younger Tibetans. The leaders are genuinely distressed
about the younger generation and recognize that they must concentrate on
alternative income strategies; however, they may need -- and have said they would
welcome -- outside assistance to create more diverse opportunities beyond
traditional Tibetan crafts and agriculture.
Comment - Tibetans Concerned, but No New Strategies
--------------------------------------------- ------
¶9. (C) Tibetan leaders in India understand the gravity of the youths’ growing
frustration, yet thus far they have not been able to produce a strategy to
counter the youth’s growing impatience politically, with Middle Way moderates,
and limited economic prospects. Many Tibetans interviewed expressed concern that
if there is no movement to resolve the Tibetans’ long exile and if economic
opportunities likewise remain stagnant, frustration could propel Tibetan youths
toward more radical actions. End Comment. DAVISON

3 von 3 20.12.10 13:23