Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - <b>TIBETAN PARLIAMENTARY AND POLICY RESEARCH CENTRE (TPPRC)</b><br>

Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - TIBETAN PARLIAMENTARY AND POLICY RESEARCH CENTRE (TPPRC)
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TIBETAN PARLIAMENTARY AND POLICY RESEARCH CENTRE (TPPRC)

The Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation's partnership with the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile) the highest legislative body, focuses on strengthen the process of democratization initiated by the Dalai Lama, in the exile community, as well as to offer political consultancy to the second line of leadership after the Dalai Lama, and to carry out programmes aimed at decision and opinion makers in India.

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TIBETAN PARLIAMENTARY AND POLICY RESEARCH CENTRE (TPPRC)

Against the background of strengthening human rights, the rule of law, and democratic institutions and the protection of minorities, the Foundation entered into cooperation with the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, or the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) in 1991, to establish a joint project - Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC). The non-violent struggle waged by Tibetans and its supporters underlines these Liberal beliefs, supporting the Tibet movement thus is important to us.

Tibet, as many of you might know, was an independent nation at the time of invasion by the armies of the People’s Republic of China in 1950. The invasion for the incorporation of Tibet within the fold of China through physical force is an act of clear aggression and in violation of international law. Gross human rights violations have been inflicted on the Tibetans and which continue till today. The very existence of their culture is at stake as fundamental rights such as the right to free expression and to practice religion are not granted to the Tibetans, arbitrary detentions and executions are common, nor are Tibetans given equal rights towards economic development and to education, health and housing. In 1959 after a failed uprising, the Dalai Lama along with some 75,000 Tibetans fled to India, where they were granted asylum by the Government of India headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

One of the first tasks the Dalai Lama embarked upon arrival in India, was to set up the government of Tibet in exile and to undertake activities which would help regain Tibet’s freedom. Their desire is to return to an autonomous Tibet, where Tibetans can genuinely have self-governance, and be able to live in freedom and dignity, and be allowed to freely practice and preserve their religion and culture and be able to engage in political, social and economic sphere of life, as spelled by out by the Dalai Lama in his Strasbourg Proposal of 1988. The Dalai Lama nor his administration seek independence from China, on the contrary what they seek is genuine autonomy within the frame work of China. The objective here, being, to achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of Tibet that secures the basic rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people while safeguarding the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China at the same time. The Tibetan’s movement for genuine autonomy is based on truth, justice and non-violence.

Today, the worldwide Tibet movement for the realisation of genuine autonomy for the six million Tibetans has evolved into one of the exceptional international coalition movements in the world, sincere to the universal values of truth, justice and freedom and to the spirit of non-violence and rapprochement. By supporting the Tibet cause one does not in any manner become "anti-Chinese" or for that matter "pro-Tibet" rather one is simply - "pro-truth".

The very intrinsic nature of the Tibet movement calls for a long drawn out struggle, an international campaign, where immediate and forthcoming results are often not immediately evident, making it frustrating, but, at the same time making it even more of a worthy cause to work for. Since international bodies, governments and other institutions have failed to give effect to their resolutions, and compounded by world's silence, and where economic considerations continue to override humanitarian concerns, it is up to political organisations like the Friedrich-Naumann- Foundation to join the international movement in support of Tibet to develop long term strategies which will contribute to the development of democracy, strengthen the idea of human rights and social justice.

Objectives

The Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre TPPRC, was established with the aim :

To promote the Political agenda of the Tibetan administration;
To promote the political image of the Tibetan administration;
To strengthen the democratic process and institutionalisation of democracy among the Tibetan people;
To strengthen the non-violent nature of the Tibetan movement;
To assist the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (ATPD) in particular, as well as other relevant departments of the Tibetan administration to prepare social, economic and political development plans for the future aspirations of the Tibetan People;
To analyse the situation of countries directly concerned with the identity of the Tibetan people, to examine developments in their socio-economic and political context and to bring matters of concern in the international arena to the notice of the ATPD.

Activities in cooperation with Friedrich Naumann Foundation

Although the immediate 'success' of activities carried out by TPPRC cannot always be 'measured' it has strongly contributed in several ways and at many levels of the Tibetan administration as well as to the Tibetan Diaspora at large. TPPRC's role in strengthening the Tibetan parliament as well as the Local Assemblies is for all to see. Political consultancies, input, on vital issues for the administration on self-determination, autonomy are on going. Especially on the issue of autonomy where intense workshops are aimed to broaden and deepen the understanding amongst the Tibetan parliamentarians as well as civil servants, on the autonomous options available to them for future Tibet. Revitalising the All India Parliamentary Forum of Tibet was also a major contribution to get support from Indian parliamentarians as well as to bring the Tibet issue back into the Indian parliament after a gap of around 14 years.

Activities of TPPRC can broadly be classified into three categories :

Programmes for the Tibetan Diaspora

Organise workshops, seminars, lectures, group discussions, and panel dialogues (sometimes in collaboration with regional and international academic and cultural organisations) on current issues of national and international importance and publishing the output of its activities in the form of proceedings, monographs and books
Forming working groups on policy matters, recommendations of which are forwarded to the Tibetan Parliament and the Cabinet for information and consideration
Research on policies for future Tibet
Undertake studies of the history, culture, arts, economy, social, political and legal institutions of the Tibetan people
Workshops for members of the ATPD on subjects such as public accountability, constitutional systems and parliamentary procedures, and precepts and practices of parliamentary democracy
Workshops for community leaders, NGOs, representatives from schools and local assemblies in order to update their political perceptions about Tibet in the context of the global scenario; training and orientation courses on various topics of importance to the community in exile, as well as leadership training, communication skills for the NGOs

Programmes for the Indian target group

Programmes aimed at informing and lobbying members of the Indian parliament
Strengthening the All India Parliamentary Forum for Tibet
Organise workshops, seminars, lectures, panel dialogues, colloquia (sometimes in collaboration with regional and international academic and cultural organisations) on current issues of national and international importance and publishing the output of its activities in the form of proceedings, monographs and books
Organise roundtable discussion with opinion makers

Programmes for the International Community

Organise overseas study tours for Tibetan officials and members of parliament
Organise visits of international Parliamentarians to Dharamsala
Organise International parliamentary convention on Tibet

Contact
Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC)
H-10, 2nd Floor
Lajpat Nagar III
New Delhi 110 024
India

Tel. +91 11 2691 0569, 2691 0578, 5159 1454
Fax +91 11 5159 1553

Email: tpprc@vsnl.com

Contact Person: Mr. Penpa Tsering

Website: under construction