Exploring concerns of Tibetans refugees in India with the Tibetan Centre of Conflict Resolution
In April this year (2010) Dr Mark Owen travelled to Dharamsala in North India, home of the Tibetan exiled leader the Dalai Lama, to finalise the details of a research project being developed in partnership between the Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace and the Tibetan Centre of Conflict Resolution.
The proposed project will run for approximately two years and will seek to understand better the growing frustrations and anxieties in Tibetan exile communities in India due to the ongoing uncertainty over the future status of Tibet, and the lack of productive dialogue between the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Chinese administration. The project will also build on ground breaking work previously undertaken by the Tibetan Centre of Conflict Resolution into formulating forms of conflict prevention and resolution which draw on western theories and methods, and Buddhist ethics and principles.
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Dr Mark Owen with Research Officer Sonam Wangchuk (left) and the Director of the Tibetan Centre of Conflict Resolution Mr Karma Lekshey
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Karma Leksmey Director of the Tibetan Centre of Conflict Resolution said “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace and hope the project will contribute directly to a peaceful solution of the ongoing problems in Tibet”. Dr Owen has spent significant periods of time working in Tibetan communities in India, and has particular interest in Buddhist methods of conflict resolution, Chinese and Indian politics. “We believe this project has particular relevance and significance at this time. The strategic importance of India in South East Asia and its relationship with China means that anticipating and understanding the likelihood and potential for future unrest and violence in this region is of utmost importance”.