Aba Ama

The news of Obama's senior advisor -led- delegation's unexpected visit to Dharamsala sends a mixed signal of support and suspicion to Tibetans and Tibetan supporters.
The naive ones might have hoped or conjured the image of a positive outcome or breakthrough. The smart ones start to question the intent of this high level delegation to Tibetan exile's capital Dharamsala. Sino Tibetan analyist and researcher Tsering Topgyal said in a recent interview," when I first heard the delegtation's trip to Dharamsala, I grew more suspicious about the intent of such a highprofile visit. Then my suspicions were soon confirmed, that delegation went to Dharamsala to convey President OBAMA' rationale not to meet the Dalai Lama prior to his departure for China". While Tibetan peoples might have a high regard for such a visit, the matter of fact is Obama downplayed the significance of his meeting with Tibet's Godking by sending an emissary to Dharamsala.He has put America/s interest before Tibetan interest.

Sino Tibetan expert Tsering Topgyal commented this clandestine visit to Tibetan exile headquarter is an exercise of "damage control". Tibet issue and particularly the Dalai Lama is very popular in the west with huge supporters among lawmakers, celebrities and masses. President Obama sends the delegation and also formally announced the appointment of state department's special coordinator for Tibet, in an effort to save face for the Tibetan people and also shun criticism from his opponents for his decision to delay meeting with the Dalai lama.
A Tibetan living in Beligium echoes similar thoughts, and argued that Obama would be in an advantegeous position to meet with the Chinese leaders and discuss on Tibet issues, preferablly after his meeting with the Tibetan leader, not after. He even opined that the current US government is weaker and spinless in addressing the core Tibetan issue, as comparing to previous U.S goveernment. This lucklaster response from the Obama administration on Tibet issue is for the hope of gaining more economic concession or probably caving in to pressure from China not to meet the Dalai Lama. Obama's priorities is to save U.S from this economic recession, which can possibly act as a catalyst for his second term in office.

In a Wall Street Journal editorial, Obama was chided for this depature unlike his predecessor, who in the first four months in office, meet with Tibetan spiritual and political leader the Dalai Lama. Obama has been in office for 8 months, and yet no sign of immediate meeting with the holyman. Obama might think shunning the Dalai Lama is a smart move, but if the west free world do not speak up for religious rights then who else will?
Exile Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche lamented that the West is adopting "a police of appeasent" with China including the U.S. This rare criticism from the democratically elected Tibetan leader might suggest the angst of Tibetan people and frustration of Western nation's conciliotory approch with China.