The Berlin Conference - a responsese The Berlin Conference has not evoked much interest on the Vigil but these are our comments. Tibet Vigil endorses all the peripheral clauses of the statement and the 16 actions for TSG’s although calling for the UN to implement its own resolutions on Tibet seems a bit of an omission. We note that the TSG actions are reliant on increased Direct Action so we wait hopefully to see if that happens. However we do regard as limited in vision the main message of the conference that the Tibetan Government will try to negotiate with China with two conditions, that it will do so for three years and that it will seek Tibetan self-government. To commit to trying for three years assumes a static world where other world factors including China’s treatment of Tibet remain unchanged. And why mention self-government? As there is disagreement over the issues of Tibetan independence versus self-government wouldn’t it have been simpler to make the UN referendum of Tibetans in Tibet on Tibet the main aim? This would allow the Tibetan people decide the issue, while at the same time leaving the door for negotiation with China open. Shouldn’t the Tibetan Government seek to keep all sections of Tibet support together? As this is not the case the likelihood is that the independence movement will split away as a frustrated consequence. They may make little progress if their actions are not endorsed by the Dalai Lama, and by inference the world press and governments. This may mean an increase of Tibetan suffering. It therefore becomes all the more imperative that we in the freer world step up direct non-violent actions to campaign for ethical world policies on Tibet. In the UK this means having a unified policy of what is required from the UK Government and then following a course of lobbying backed by Direct Action. A conscious decision is needed to initiate this, rather than the current situation where our actions are largely reactive. Tibet Vigil remains committed to The Dalai Lama’s non-violence campaign (in which term we include fasting). Tibet Vigil attendees differ a great deal as to whether they see a dark or light future for Tibet, or whether they think independence or self-government is a likely outcome. The majority do campaign for an independent Tibet because it is believed that this is the best way to bring about any improvement in Tibet’s situation. Here on the Vigil we share a common desire to protest at the present situation in Tibet and wish to stand up and be counted and are thus unlikely to fall out over the question of independence versus self-government.