CHAIRMAN'S NOTE
December 2007 - January 2008
We are coming to the end of 2007 and the issue of Tibet has gained lot of publicity this year. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has put much work during his travels all around the world, including New Zealand. He has met many Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of many countries this year, much to the displeasure of China who is always trying to discredit His Holiness' image, without much success. When is the Chinese government going to learn that she cannot bully everyone? China tries to get away with it, criticizing government officials who meet His Holiness, saying that by meeting him, they are unfriendly toward Chinese people and their trade will suffer. If China ever carries out her threat, she will have no nation to trade with as His Holiness has met most of the government officials around the world. The Highlight of 2007 would have to be the awarding of Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by the United States President George Bush in the Capitol grounds in Washington on 17th October.
One of the most disturbing pieces of news of 2007 would have to be that of the athiest Chinese government's new policy on reincarnation of Tibetan high lamas. It states "all the reincarnation applications must be submitted to the religious affairs department of the S.A.R.A, and the state council respectively, for approval in accordance with fame and influence of the living Buddha in the religious circle." This is of course bypassing centuries-old Tibetan traditions and it undermines the very foundation of Tibet Buddhism. What China is trying to do is to ultimately control the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as they doing with His Holiness the Panchen Lama. We know they will never succeed in that as the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be the choice of the Tibetan people alone. His Holiness has always stated that if the people of Tibet want to hold on to the institution of Dalai Lama, then he will be back. Where he reincarnates depends on when he leaves this earth. If he leaves this earth in exile, then His reincarnation will be born in exile, to continue his work, which is left undone by the previous life.
In recent months His Holiness mentioned that he might choose His reincarnation before he passes away by involving various religious heads to decide who should be next Dalai Lama, which has sent a very strong message to China, that this issue is a Tibetan religious issue and is nothing to do with a communist government of China. His Holiness' Private Office said: "His main reason for doing this is based on his belief that the institution of the Dalai Lama exists primarily to serve the Tibetan people and for the benefit of Tibetan Buddhism, and that changing circumstances call for flexibility in achieving this aim."
Information just received is that "Many people in Lhasa are living under house-arrest conditions. They have been warned not to visit temples, burn incense in public place or go on "kora" walks around the Potala, Jhokhang, etc. They have even been told not to go to restauraunts etc. as they will be filmed and arrested if they do or say anything "unpatriotic" and some have to call in from their home phones daily to report they are at home and not engaging in "any situations" [It]seems rather than improving human rights conditions prior to the Olympics they are increasing repression to test how far they can go before IOC or the outside world will complain. I left with a feeling of despair for the Tibetan people."
Team Tibet: Thank you to all our members who have ordered their T-Shirts. Please wear them wherever you go, especially to sporting events to show your support for Team Tibet and also it will become a talking point. We still have shirts available in Medium, Large and Extra Large; please talk to your friends and families about it. When the Freedom Torch Relay comes to New Zealand in June 2008, you will be able to wear the T-shirts for the relay. Please check with your local branch for more information. It will be great if all FOT members and their family come out in force during the relay to show your support for the JUST CAUSE.
Human Rights Day 10th December 2007: Thank you to all those members who participated in a demonstration outside Chinese Embassy in Wellington and the Chinese Consulate in Auckland. The Chinese Government have been sent a strong message that the Tibetan issue will not go away and they must face the fact that they must solve this issue peacefully with His Holiness' representatives. The eyes of the world will be on her during the 2008 Olympics and China must show the world that promise she made to the IOC, that she will improve her human rights policy in Tibet and China
As this is the last newsletter of this year, may I take this opportunity to thank all our members for your support for the JUST CAUSE and would like to wish you all Compliments of the Season. Those who are going on holiday please drive to live.
Best wishes and Tashi Delek
Thuten Kesang
National Chairman