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The Middle Way Approach - A Solution for the Tibetan Issue / Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapato these initiatives, along with the imposition of martial law in March 1989 andthe deterioration of the situation in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama feltcompelled to state in 1991 that his Strasbourg Proposal had become ineffectual.His Holiness the Dalai Lama nevertheless has maintained his commitment to theMiddle-Way Approach.The fundamental principle underlying the concept of national regionalautonomy is to preserve and protect a minority nationality’s identity, language,customs, traditions and culture in a multi-national state based on equality andcooperation. The Chinese constitution provides for the establishment of organs ofself-government where the national minorities live in concentrated communitiesin order for them to exercise the power of autonomy. In conformity with thisprinciple, the White Paper on Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet (May 2004),states that minority nationalities are “arbiters of their own destiny and masters oftheir own affairs”.Memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan peopleThe Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People wasprepared in response to the suggestion from the Chinese central governmentmade at the seventh round of talks between the envoys of His Holiness the DalaiLama and the Chinese leaders in July 2008.However, Beijing’s reactions and main criticisms of the Memorandum appearto be based not on the merits of the proposal that was officially presented to it,but on earlier proposals that were made public, as well as other statements madeat different times and in different contexts.The Memorandum explicitly states that the genuine autonomy sought by HisHoliness the Dalai Lama for the Tibetan people is to be accommodated withinthe framework of the constitution and its principles on autonomy, not outside of it.The proposals contained in the Memorandum in no way imply a denial ofthe authority of the National People’s Congress (NPC) or other organs of theChinese central government. As stated in the Memorandum, the proposal fullyrespects the hierarchical differences between the central government and itsorgans, including the NPC, and the autonomous government of Tibet.377