The Tibetan community’s Special Meeting in Dharamsala, India has concluded. The 600 delegates from around the Tibetan exile community, including a number of very recent refugees, have voted to continue with the Dalai’ Lama’s Middle Way posture towards China, but called for a re-evaluation if China continues to be non-responsive. Rangzen, or independence, — the position advocated by Students for a Free Tibet and myself — was included as something would specifically be evaluated if China does not show willingness to work with the Dalai Lama on meaningful autonomy.

Lhadon Tethong of Students for a Free Tibet and Tenzin Choeying of SFT India have penned an op-ed in The Indian Express on the outcome of the meeting and how it represents a big step forward for the Tibetan exile community.

Some observers have described this outcome as a blow to those of us advocating independence, but we don’t see it that way. As Tibetan youth leaders who participated in this historic meeting, we see this as a first step toward fundamental change. We understand, in spite of our impatience, that it is going to take some time to move the Tibetan establishment and public, long been committed to this approach. We were encouraged to see senior ministers and employees of the Tibetan Government in exile openly exchanging ideas with delegates representing the grassroots from far-flung Tibetan communities and NGOs. Many of us participated in passionate debates with respect for each other’s differing views. And in the end, we felt refreshed by the openness of the discussions.

To anyone who knows the recent history of Tibetan exile society and the often painful divisions that have occurred around the question of independence versus autonomy, this meeting was a very positive sign. The ultimate success of our movement depends on the creation of a vibrant democratic society that brings out the best in every individual — and that is exactly what we witnessed in Dharamsala last week.

Many who attended this meeting argued that Independence is the most strategic goal for our movement. We believe that the Middle Way approach is too heavily dependent on the cooperation of the Chinese government to succeed. We don’t believe the current government in China is capable of giving Tibetans any measure of freedom because its sole interest is to maintain power and Tibetans have proven time and time again that they challenge the authority of Beijing even at the worst of times. While our analysis reflects a very obvious political difference with the Dalai Lama’s chosen path, we felt that our voices were heard and our opinions respected. We were witnessing the emergence of a democratic Tibetan society, and though it is not perfect yet, it is certainly light years ahead of China’s one party dictatorship.Ultimately, two opinions gained unanimous support within the meeting’s subgroups: that the Tibetan government should adopt a more aggressive, less conciliatory approach toward the Chinese government and that our movement should remain nonviolent.

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As Tibetan youth, we have sincerely responded to the Dalai Lama’s calls for new ideas to help end the suffering of our brothers and sisters across the Himalayas. We are ready to take responsibility for our political destiny and commit ourselves to a political solution, no matter how many years or decades it may take.

We believe that this meeting lays the foundation for realising this vision. And though we have not yet reached the point of fundamental change in the position or approach of the Tibetan government, this was a major step in the right direction — one that signals the beginning of a new era in our struggle.

I’m very happy that people I know who were at the meeting (Lhadon, Choeying, Tenzin Dorjee, & Jamyang Norbu, among others in all likelihood) have reported that they are happy with the outcome. Previous reports and statements I’d seen coming from the Special Meeting, including efforts by some Tibetans there to abdicate the responsibility given to them by the Dalai Lama to craft their peoples’ way forward, was deeply troubling. But if some of the Tibetan independence movements youngest and brightest leaders, people who are the leading advocates for Rangzen in the world, say that this was a good step forward, then I have to agree with them.

With that in mind, it’s time for the Tibetan exile community to open there eyes and begin to prepare themselves to the reality that China is not going to change, at least not under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. As this reality continues to set in, it will be up to the exile community to come back to this resolution and move beyond the Middle Path and return to the moral mandate that is Rangzen.