Dharamsala TWA committee halts operations over Central TWA’s welcome for Xi
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 13 Oct: The executive committee of the 15th Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (RTWA) in Dharamsala has suspended all official operations and returned its uniforms and local office keys to the Central Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA), citing fundamental objections to an open letter welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his visit to India for the BRICS summit.
The letter was jointly issued by the TWA and four other Tibetan organisations at a press conference in New Delhi on 8 September.
In a statement published on Facebook on 13 October, the regional committee condemned the central leadership’s decision to extend formal courtesy and a welcoming reception to a president responsible for the occupation of Tibet, the deaths of more than a million Tibetans, and ongoing efforts to eradicate the Tibetan language and culture. The committee described such deference as inappropriate and deeply misaligned with the Tibetan cause, while questioning whether the Central TWA executive committee had conducted proper internal deliberations or reached a genuine consensus before issuing the letter.
According to the statement, the regional committee decided to cease its organisational work only after extensive efforts to resolve the matter internally proved unsuccessful. Between 11 September and 24 September, regional representatives visited the central headquarters five times, including twice on 18 Sept., seeking clarification and urging the leadership to address the controversy internally without causing further divisions within the Tibetan exile community.
Although the central executive committee provided a written response on 24 September, the regional committee said it lacked clarity and offered no concrete resolution. Subsequent requests for the Central TWA president to issue a public clarification went unanswered, while the leadership continued to defend its decision on social media. With no resolution reached between the regional and central bodies, the regional committee stated that it was left with no alternative but to suspend all official activities.
Reaffirming its political position, the regional committee said it had consistently upheld the TWA’s established support for the Middle Way Approach, which seeks a negotiated settlement providing meaningful autonomy for Tibetans and protecting their identity, language, culture and religion within the People’s Republic of China. However, the committee said it could not accept the tone and manner in which the central leadership welcomed Xi in the organisation’s name.
The controversy stems from a joint open letter issued on 8 Sept. by the Central TWA and four other Dharamshala-based organisations: the Central Tibet (U-Tsang) Regional Association, Dhotoe Regional Association, Dhomay Regional Association and the GTPM for the Middle Way Approach. Addressed to “His Excellency Xi Jinping,” the letter welcomed his visit to India for the BRICS summit, expressed support for stronger relations between China and India, and urged Beijing to resume dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration without preconditions.
Despite relinquishing its administrative responsibilities and ceasing its official duties, the outgoing committee said it would continue to oversee and complete the construction of a memorial at Lhagyal Ri in Dharamsala to honour Tibetan Martyr Lobga Rangzen.
The statement concluded by criticising the central leadership’s treatment of younger members. Although senior leaders regularly encourage young women to take on responsibilities at general assemblies, the committee said those who serve with genuine dedication are consistently denied recognition and respect, a pattern it described as deeply demoralising for young activists in the movement.
