Kathmandu, 27 July (H.S.): Chinese pressure on the Nepalese government has had a significant impact, with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan government-in-exile led by the Dalai Lama, deciding not to send its official representatives to an international conference on Tibetan studies scheduled to be held in Kathmandu. The CTA, headquartered in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India, has decided not to participate officially in the 17th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS), which will be held in Kathmandu from August 23 to 29.

The CTA had initially planned to send five representatives from its think tank, the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), to the conference. The proposed delegation included TPI Director Dawa Tsering along with researchers Dr Chewang Dorjee, Dr Tsering Dolma, Dr Karma Tenzing Dalya and Dr Rigmon Tsering Samdhuk. Penpa Tsering is currently the President (Sikyong) of the Central Tibetan Administration.

According to a senior security official, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song met Nepal's Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai on July 20 and expressed concern over the planned formal participation of certain CTA representatives in the conference. The official said, The ambassador did not ask Nepal to stop the conference, but he expressed concerns that it could become a platform for anti-China rhetoric. To avoid placing additional pressure on the Nepalese government and to ensure the conference proceeds smoothly, the CTA appears to have decided against sending its official delegation.

Under a decision taken by the CTA on July 21, although it will not participate officially, representatives who have already registered for the event may still attend in their personal capacity. Another security official said, Respecting Nepal's foreign policy and to avoid creating an uncomfortable situation, the CTA formally decided during its July 21 meeting in Dharamshala not to participate officially. However, it has indicated that Tibetan scholars and experts may attend the conference as private individuals.

Nepal will host the International Association for Tibetan Studies conference for the first time. Previously, the event has been held in Asia only in Japan in 1989 and Mongolia in 2013. According to the IATS website, Kathmandu University's Himalayan Center for Asian Studies and the Centre for Buddhist Studies – Rangjung Yeshe Institute are the local co-organisers of this year's conference.

The conference is being coordinated by Himalayan Center Director Dr Sagar Sharma and Thomas Doctor. According to Dr Sharma, all preparations are being carried out in coordination with government agencies and security authorities. He said, Kathmandu University is the local organiser of the conference, and we are working closely with government bodies to ensure all arrangements are in place. Hosting such a prestigious global academic conference in Kathmandu is a matter of pride. Since it is purely an academic event, there should be no issues.

Interestingly, despite China's concerns, nearly 100 participants from China are expected to attend the conference. According to the organisers, more than 700 delegates from 39 countries have registered, with the largest contingent—around 150 participants—coming from the United States. China has the second-largest representation. Scholars from Lhasa, Sichuan, Qinghai and Beijing, as well as researchers from Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, are scheduled to participate.

Representatives from the China Tibetology Research Center, along with delegates from Buddhist monasteries and research institutions in India, Taiwan and Japan, will also attend the conference. The inaugural session will be held on August 23 at Kathmandu University's Dhulikhel campus, while around 70 panel discussions are scheduled to take place at the Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu.

The International Association for Tibetan Studies is recognised as a global organisation of researchers, university professors, historians, linguists, theologians and sociologists specialising in Tibetan studies. Its primary objective is to promote scholarly research related to Tibet. China, however, considers the involvement of the Central Tibetan Administration or political activities linked to the Dalai Lama in international conferences related to Tibet as a challenge to its sovereignty over the Tibet Autonomous Region.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar