August 8 is traditionally regarded as an auspicious day in Chinese culture. In 2008, the Beijing Summer Olympics opened to much fanfare and celebration on this day. In 2011, the focus shifts to Dharamsala, India, where August 8 witnessed the inauguration of the Tibetan Kalon Tripa, the new Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration, a.k.a. the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. It was a day for rejoicing, pride, promise and commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, and autonomy for which the Tibetan people have long struggled.
The inauguration took place at the Tsug-la Khang Temple in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Some 3000 people crowded into the Temple, with overflow attendees spilling out on to the roof and into nearby buildings. This was surely an event not to be missed! A group of 100 or so sat in the gallery to view the proceedings, including a delegation of Chinese led by Dr Yang Jianli of Initiatives for China. The attendance of the Chinese delegation represented the importance of solidarity between the Chinese and Tibetan democratic movements. Initiatives for China was invited to the gallery based on its long-standing belief in the principles of non-violence in effecting democratic change within China. Further, Dr. Yang and the new Prime Minister, Lobsang Sangay, were colleagues and student activists together at Harvard University in the United States.
The crowd inside the Temple, boisterous and joyful, settled in to listen to the new Prime Minister’s inaugural speech. He spoke quietly but firmly, the totality of dedication to his cause evident in every word. His speech was a commitment to carry forward the policies of the Dalai Lama, and a pledge to his people to continue the struggle for their freedom above all else. “I am not here as a result of my personal achievement but as a result of the hard work and sacrifices made by the elder generations in Tibet and in exile. Today, I pledge to carry on and build upon this great legacy of our elders. I pledge to you, my fellow Tibetans, to strengthen and sustain our movement until freedom is restored in Tibet, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to our homeland.” 
With regards to the Chinese, he made it very clear that the struggle was not directed against the Chinese people, but rather against the hardliners in the Chinese government who seek to destroy Tibetan culture and deny Tibetans the right to live as a free and autonomous people within China. “Our struggle is against hard-line policies of the Chinese regime in Tibet,” he affirmed. “Our struggle is against those who would deny freedom, justice, dignity, and the very identity of Tibetan People. Chinese authorities and our Chinese friends alike must realize that grievances of Tibetan people are many and genuine.” Dr Sangay reiterated his commitment to the principles of nonviolence and expressed his willingness to negotiate with the Chinese government. “We believe in a peaceful resolution for Tibet, which means a peaceful process and peaceful dialogue. We are also willing to negotiate with the Chinese government anytime, anywhere.”
The next day, as the inaugural festivities continued, in speaking to the audience Dr YANG Jianli also addressed the issue of the Chinese leadership. He called on Chinese leaders to engage in dialogue with the new Prime Minister, to visit Dharamsala and see for themselves how Tibetans live freely in harmony and stability within their own autonomous society there, and to allow the Tibetan people within China the same opportunities to do so. “To the leaders of China,” Dr. Yang said in his speech “I understand your worry about stability. But please come and see for yourselves the Tibetan community in exile here. It is very stable and harmonious under democracy. The Tibetan community in Tibet will also be stable and harmonious under democracy and genuine autonomy. So will any community back in China. Now that the Dalai Lama issue has disappeared—for His Holiness is no longer holding any political power in the exiled Tibetan community, nor pursuing any political power or status in China—I think you have no choice but to face the Tibetan issue and open dialogue with Lobsang Sangay. If you say Lobsang Sangay cannot serve in such a capacity because the Tibetans in Tibet did not participate in the election, then we say fine! Please let the Tibetans in Tibet freely elect their representative for you to dialogue with.” These words were extremely well-received by the audience.
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Later in the day, the Chinese delegation traveled to the Tibetan Children’s Village where Dr Yang met for the first time a young boy whom he had been sponsoring. What a cute little guy he was! At 7 years old, he spoke a little bit of English and nodded his head vigorously when addressed by his new friends. He made such an impression that another member of the delegation, An qi, decided on the spot to sponsor two Village children of her own.
The Children’s Village offers Tibetan education to children of refugees, teaching Tibetan language, reading and writing skills in an effort to help preserve their cultural identity and heritage in preparation for the day when they may return to their Tibetan homeland within China as a proud and autonomous people, self-governed and independent within Chinese society.
Tibet is fortunate that its cause is known world-wide. Thanks to the stature of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, high profile celebrities such as Richard Gere who champion the cause, and the support of democratic nations and political entities all over the world, Free Tibet is a rallying cry by which we recognize that China’s treatment of Tibet as simply a province of China itself is simply wrong. Tibetans themselves have proved China wrong by their resilience in maintaining their heritage as a people. With the Kalon Tripa now established as their political leader, Tibet has taken a great step along the arduous path of restoring its sovereignty, autonomy and dignity. We all look forward to the day when ‘freedom is restored in Tibet, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to his homeland.’