But what Tibetans are fighting for autonomy? The Dalia Llama representing the remnants of the theocratic ruling class? Even he doesnt fight, he blathers on to the media to pressure 'Western' public opinion to restore the theocracy.

Of course we must defend Tibet against China's oppression, but as to whether we will see the prospect of a genuine Tibetan independence movement emerging separated from wider class struggles in China, I remain unconvinced.

What I am saying is that it is much more likely that a socialist revolution will take place in China which will open the way for Tibetan self-determination, than an independence movement in Tibet will generate mass popular support.

The reasons for this are that the extreme contradictions China is undergoing between the rapidly growing working class and the imperialist exploiters with the bureaucracy in the middle, opens up the prospect of huge class battles that will carry over into Tibet, pushing Tibetan workers into class alliances against the remnants of the theocratic ruling class who will side with imperialism and the Chinese bureaucracy rather than face a socialist revolution.

But if I am wrong, and a mass popular movement does develop in Tibet separated from the class struggles that arise in China, then of course we would support it in order to prove to Tibetan workers that is is international working class struggle and not the Tibetan ruling class that will win genuine independence.

The struggle for national independence is in essence a class question because only the mass of workers and poor peasants can actually defeat imperialism and other forms of national oppression to win the liberation of national peoples.