Tibet: Authorities Defied As Tibetans Promote Cultural Security

Defying Chinese attempts to limit attendance at a meeting in Lithang, more than 5,000 monks, nuns and laypeople gathered for collective teachings and discussions on socio-cultural issues.

Below is an article published by Radio Free Asia:

Defying orders from Chinese authorities, more than 5,000 Tibetan monks, nuns, and laypeople gathered last week at a monastery in southwestern Sichuan province for talks to promote Tibetan cultural values and national unity, a Tibetan source living in India said.

The gathering—the fourth in a series of annual regional meetings—ran from July 15-24 [2011] and was held at Lithang Gonchen, the main monastery of Lithang county, in Sichuan’s Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Chinese authorities had at first attempted to limit the numbers of those attending, but finally declined to interfere, though security forces remained camped nearby throughout the event,  said Atruk Tseten, a member of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies in Tibet’s India-based exile government.

Along with religious discussions, participants heard talks relating to social and cultural issues, including the importance of preserving the Tibetan language and the unity of Tibetans living in Tibet’s traditional three provinces of U-Tsang, Kham, and Amdo—all now ruled by China.

“This had a great impact on the younger Tibetans attending, and helped to uphold their identity as Tibetans,” Atruk Tseten said, citing information gathered from local officials and participants in the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, monastery officials instructed Tibetan laypeople attending to speak only in Tibetan and to wear traditional Tibetan dress, and levied fines on those heard using Chinese words in conversation.

Meeting organizers also discouraged civilian officials in the Lithang county seat from entering the monastery grounds, saying, ‘We will be doing some things you won’t like,’ Atruk Tseten said.

‘And if you do come, wear proper Tibetan clothing, and speak only in Tibetan or keep quiet,’ Tseten said the officials were told.

Tseten noted that Lithang Gonchen, the monastery hosting this year’s meeting, had sent invitations to over 100 other monasteries—both in Kardze and in neighboring prefectures—to take part, and that from 40 to 50 of these had sent participants.

Told by Chinese authorities that “no more than 1,000” Tibetans would be allowed to gather, Tseten said, Lithang monastery organizers replied that the invitations had already been sent and that no one would be turned away.

And though authorities sought to prevent participation by monks from restive Kirti monastery, also in Kardze, a delegation from that monastery also attended, Tseten said.

Kirti, the scene of a self-immolation protest against Chinese rule and the forced removal by authorities of about 300 monks earlier this year, is facing an ongoing “patriotic education campaign” by Chinese security forces, according to India-based monks Losang Yeshe and Kanyag Tsering.

“The monastery is still occupied and under surveillance by police, army, and special police forces inside and out, restricting all activity and movement of the monks,” Yeshe and Tsering said.

“Kirti monk Donyo Dorje, 34, has been sentenced to three years in prison and is now in the Mianyang prison near Chengdu, Sichuan,” they said.

“Three other youths were sentenced and are imprisoned at Mianyang, but their names and other details about them are not known,” Yeshe and Tsering added

Dalai Lama and Obama Meet to Talk About Tibet

WASHINGTON — President Obama met privately with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, at the White House on Saturday, despite a warning from Beijing that the meeting would risk damaging relations between China and the United States.

Reflecting the diplomatic delicacy of the visit, the 44-minute meeting with the Dalai Lama — Mr. Obama’s second as president — was closed to the news media. China considers Tibet its territory and the Dalai Lama a separatist, although he favors self-rule rather than independence.

The Dalai Lama underscored that point in his conversation with Mr. Obama, according to a White House summary of the meeting. The White House statement also reflected the delicate balance Mr. Obama sought to strike, saying he expressed “strong support” for direct talks and a resolution between China and Tibet that protects both Tibetans’ rights and China’s claim to the territory. But Mr. Obama also “stressed the importance he attaches to building a U.S.-China cooperative partnership.”

“The president reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world,” the statement said. “He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China.”

The meeting came at a particularly delicate time as China, the largest creditor to the United States, has expressed concern about the risk of a default on American bonds if Mr. Obama and Republicans cannot break their impasse over raising the nation’s legal debt limit.

Beijing on Saturday reiterated its call for Mr. Obama to cancel the meeting, according to China’s official news agency, Xinhua. “The issue regarding Tibet concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we firmly oppose any foreign official to meet with the Dalai Lama in any form,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Mr. Obama declined to meet with the Dalai Lama in his first year as president, in October 2009, drawing international criticism as seeming to put economic interests with China ahead of human rights. The administration said the two would meet after Mr. Obama’s first trip a month later to China, where the United States was eager for Chinese cooperation in preventing nuclear proliferation in North Korea and Iran. Their introduction came the following February.

The Dalai Lama, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has lived in exile in India since 1959, when China repressed a Tibetan uprising. He was in Washington for a Buddhist celebration.

Kashag’s Statement on the Occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s
Seventy-Sixth Birthday Celebration

On this very auspicious occasion of the seventy-sixth birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Kashag, on behalf of all Tibetans in and outside Tibet, would like to offer our heartfelt greetings and at the same time single-mindedly beseech Your Holiness to remain with us to dispel the suffering of all human beings and especially to guide the Tibetans as long as possible.

Today is a special day not only for the Tibetans but for people all over the world for whom a new champion of world peace was discovered. Taking this opportunity, the Kashag would like to offer our warm greetings to people all over world in general and particularly those who offer their support and stand in solidarity with Tibet and Tibetans. Throughout his entire life, His Holiness has been tirelessly working for the welfare of the Tibetan people and when Communist China violently annexed and occupied Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced to come into exile to protect Tibet and her rich cultural heritage, including the Buddha dharma. In exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama led more than 100,000 Tibetans and rehabilitating them in settlements and building various institutions to preserve Tibetan culture and religion. His Holiness has also established many schools where the younger generation of exile Tibetans can get opportunities to study both modern and traditional education. For over half a century, His Holiness the Dalai Lama widely travelled all over the world to speak and promote the principles of peace and compassion. As a result the Buddha dharma has spread to many parts of the globe and won the support of many people and nations, which helped sustain the issue of Tibet alive on the global forum. The just cause of Tibet has become an issue of interest and many stand in solidarity with Tibet. Moreover, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has abandoned the idea of victory for oneself and defeat for the other and initiated the principle of the Middle Way Approach to resolve the issue of Tibet, which has won overwhelming majority support from the Tibetans inside and in Diaspora. This has also led to an increasing number of truth- and peace-loving people and nations around the world to clearly see that the issue of Tibet is a just cause and that the Chinese Communist authorities’ position is wrong. In exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has also introduced democratic process with the establishment of democratic institutions such as the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, ratification of the Charter for Tibetans-in-Exile and the election of Kalon Tripa directly through popular people’s vote.

As the Tibetan people have more understanding of the democratic process and inculcate a higher level of democratic culture, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recently devolved all his powers to an elected Tibetan leadership, which was the first time that such a historic step has been taken in Tibetan history. These are some of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s innumerable and immense achievements. On this extraordinary day, the Kashag would wish to gratefully thank and remember the visionary steps that His Holiness the Dalai Lama took in the democratization of the Tibetan polity and devolving all his powers to the elected Tibetan leadership, which will represent the six million Tibetans living in and outside Tibet and has empowered the elected leaders to continue to work hard. His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s democratization of the Tibetan polity has given the Tibetans the opportunity to make the issue of Tibet more global and strengthened the legitimacy of the exile administration. However, a few people in our community, who are not satisfied with His Holiness the Dalai Lama devolving all his powers, still continue to criticize him without recognizing and respecting his tireless work for Tibet and the Tibetans. Taking democratic rights as an excuse, these people, who do not have to shoulder any responsibility and who are devoid of any principle and moral values, use their glib tongues to express their dissatisfaction. It is clear that these are aimed neither to improve the democratic culture nor for the welfare of society or for the improvement of Tibetan political discourse. And the fact that the society at large ignores these unjustified criticisms without challenging nor to responding to them is a sign that, perhaps, our collective merit is exhausted.

On this special occasion, the 13th Kashag nearing its completion of term of office would like to pay our respect to the Tibetan people and at the same time would like to remind you the following. At this time when important changes are taking place in Tibetan political system, the exile community by abandoning regionalism and sectarianism, and by following democratic principles took active part and succeeded in electing a well-qualified new Kalon Tripa with immense majority support. This is a matter of pride and happiness as it signifies the unity among the Tibetans and it shows their political maturity. The Kashag would like to urge the Tibetans to uphold their spirit and determination by not being deterred by these political changes and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s devolution of all his powers, and should further work hard to carry forward the empowerment of Tibetan polity. Regarding the Sino-Tibetan dialogue, we have made our stand clear through the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People and Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People. Thus from our side there is nothing new to add. However, it seems that the present leadership of the People’s Republic of China has no desire to give any meaningful consideration of our Memorandum and its Note. But from our side, we have a firm determination to continue the dialogue process. Moreover, we have already formulated a clear stand and a firm base to carry forward the dialogue in accordance with any future change that may take place in the People’s Republic of China. In our continued effort towards the welfare of exile Tibetans and specifically the education and the future direction of the younger generation, many programmes regarding further improvements of the settlements are being carried out and the Basic Education Policy was introduced. Though these may have produced some positive results, there are many other programmes where we have not   satisfactorily succeeded as we had wished. However, we have no regret on our part for we tried and worked our level best. The Central Tibetan Administration managed to overcome our critical financial problems and presently the administration is self-reliant in terms of its basic needs. Due to recent political situation in Nepal, the Central Tibetan Administration has not been able to provide necessary support or to look after the welfare of the Tibetans living there. We are also deeply concerned and yet helpless that the Representative could not be appointed nor the Tibetan Welfare Association was able to register.  Even our desperate efforts to relocate Tibetan in Nepal to other places in order to downsize the population was miserably failed. Of late we have appointed a Nepalese citizen as a voluntarily liaison for the Tibetans, and we hope that he can solve some of the immediate problems that Tibetans living there face. We request the Tibetans there to cooperate with him as and when needed in accordance with local situation. Since 2008, many brave and determined Tibetans in Tibet have carried out a series of non-violent campaigns. Particularly in the last few months, many people in Kirti Monastery and in several places including Kardze have selflessly taken part in peaceful protests. We stand in solidarity with them and pay our heartfelt tribute to them. And we pray for the immediate release of all those who are imprisoned and those who are being persecuted. As the immediate and the ultimate wellbeing of all Tibetan people depends upon His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his long life is the sole basis of the Tibetan people’s welfare. It is a matter of immense happiness for us that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has time and again accepted to have a long life. Furthermore, recently when the civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration presented a long-life offering, the state oracle envisaged that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was promised to live till the age of 113. However, the state oracle stated that it depends upon the deeds and conduct of the Tibetan people. Thus, the Kashag would like to urge all Tibetans to engage in actions that will not breach the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and at the same time to work hard in preserving our traditional values.

Finally, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the immediate fulfilment of all his wishes. May the just cause of Tibet prevail soon!

Note: This is the English translation. Should any discrepancy arise, the Tibetan version should be considered the final authority.

What China could learn from the Dalai Lama By Lobsang Sangay, Published: July 4

Wednesday, on his 76th birthday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be honored at Verizon Center by 11,000 people, including Arun Gandhi and Martin Luther King III, the grandson and son of the two stalwarts of nonviolence.

This spring, when people put their lives on the line for democracy during the Jasmine Revolution, with Col. Moammar Gaddafi still shedding blood to hold on to power in Libya, and despite impassioned appeals by Tibetans, the Dalai Lama devolved all his political power to democratically elected Tibetan leaders. That means that the Dalai Lama gave up his constitutional power to dismiss the Tibetan parliament, judiciary and executive; to sign or veto bills; to summon emergency meetings; and to appoint representatives and envoys abroad.

The decision of the 14th Dalai Lama to end the 400-year reign as the Tibetan people’s political leader shocked many Tibetans and the world at large. But this development was neither abrupt nor surprising.

In fact, it was a long time in coming.

For decades, the Dalai Lama had been quietly dismantling the traditional theocratic­aristocratic system of his position and preparing Tibetans for the day he would not be at the helm.

The Dalai Lama’s democratic changes began as early as 1954, with the establishment of a reform committee to exempt poor farmers and indigent Tibetans from heavy taxes. But the committee was disrupted by the invading forces of Communist China.

After Tibet was occupied, the Dalai Lama arrived in India in 1959. His vision of a secular democratic society began to be realized. In 1960, at the behest of the then-25-year-old Dalai Lama, Tibetans elected their first parliament; soon, Tibetan women were elected as representatives. Tibet’s first democratic constitution, adopted in 1963, included, at his insistence, a provision to allow for the impeachment of the Dalai Lama.

In 1991, amid the “Third Wave” of democracy, the Tibetan parliament was expanded and empowered to elect the cabinet, which had been the prerogative of the Dalai Lama as the head of state.

In 2001, on the eve of the “color revolutions” in Eastern Europe, the Dalai Lama declared himself semi-retired and introduced direct election of the head of the cabinet (known as Kalon Tripa, the position is equivalent to prime minister). Samdhong Rinpoche won with 90 percent of the votes.

This past March, after delegating all his political powers to elected leaders, the Dalai Lama rejected an appeal to stay on as the nominal head of state.

Tibet’s constitution, which guides primarily the exile administration, was ratified to reflect the new state of affairs. The Kalon Tripa, as the legitimate political leader of the administration, now signs bills into law, appoints representatives and envoys, and implements major policies.

This transition doubtless has been a source of anxiety for many Tibetans. This moment, however, also provides an opportunity to work toward a more secular, stronger and sustainable Tibetan freedom movement.

For Tibetans, this is uncharted territory. But there are indications that Tibetans are gearing up to accept the new challenges.

The Dalai Lama’s power transfer was accompanied by an unprecedented election on March 20, when Tibetans in 30 countries — from Asia to Europe to North America and beyond — cast ballots to elect a new Kalon Tripa and members of parliament. Tibetans in Tibet followed this historic election closely; the process demonstrated the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Tibetan people.

The election sent a clear message to Beijing that leadership of the Tibetan freedom movement has been entrusted to a younger generation that will build on the legacy and hard work of their elders over the past five decades.

The Dalai Lama’s retirement from politics also proves wrong the Chinese government’s propaganda that the Dalai Lama is not a religious figure but a politician.

It is a pity that the Chinese Communist Party is obsessed with the Dalai Lama’s political role and resorts to the blame game, when China’s primary concern should be the future of Tibet and its people.

Meanwhile, confusion abounds in Tibet about the Dalai Lama’s role thanks to the lack of information and transparency.

This moment poses a test for the authoritarian regime in China. Tibet has endured 50 years of rule by force. The current state of affairs in Tibet — undeclared martial law, with ongoing protests in Kirti and Kardze and a ban on tourists — shows that Beijing’s rule in Tibet has failed. Instead of hosting indicted war criminals such as Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in the Great Hall, Beijing’s leadership has a golden opportunity to prove its sincerity, garner good will and improve the image of China if it would, as the Dalai Lama devolved his political authority, devolve its power to Tibetans to resolve the issue of Tibet.

Whatever happens, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has proven that he is a democrat.

The writer, until recently a senior fellow at Harvard Law School, will assume the post of Kalon Tripa on Aug. 8.

The legitimacy and role of the Central Tibetan Administration

Posted on 20 Juni 2011

by Kelsang Gyaltsen, Envoy of H. H. the Dalai Lama

Once again the small Tibetan world in exile seems to be torn apart by an emotional and political dispute over the devolution of the administrative and political powers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the democratically elected organs of the Tibetan Administration and over the change of the title of “Tibetan Government-in-Exile” in Tibetan language to “Central Tibetan Administration”. The tone of the debate is often agonizing, bitter and self-lacerative reflecting the self-pitying and self-dramatizing psyche of some of the debating Tibetans. This way, the discourse has so far been rather self-defeating and demoralizing than helping to clarify and better understand the issues involved.

The primary objective of these changes is to ensure the continuity of the Tibetan freedom struggle led by the Central Tibetan Administration. The changes demonstrate the political will and determination of the Tibetan leadership to continue the Tibetan freedom struggle as long as it takes by laying the ground and positioning itself in a way that allows it to function and operate in future in spite of any vicissitude in the international political environment. The devolution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s political powers to the democratically elected leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration is to be seen and understood as a demonstration of his faith in the political maturity and determination of the Tibetan people – especially the younger generation of Tibetans inside Tibet as well as in exile.

This is, I believe, the central message that the changes embody and the Tibetan leadership wishes to convey to Tibetans, the Chinese leadership and the international community.

This is clearly an initiative that demonstrates strength, self-confidence, determination and resourcefulness on the part of the Tibetan leadership. This spirit of steely political will and commitment to our freedom struggle is evident from the amendments to the Charter of the Tibetans in exile. The amendments make it clear that His Holiness will fully vest the Central Tibetan Administration and in particular its democratic leadership organs with the powers and responsibilities formerly held jointly by him and the Central Tibetan Administration to represent and serve the whole people of Tibet. The new preamble to the Charter underlines “safeguarding the continuity of the Central Tibetan Administration as the legitimate governing body and representative of the whole Tibetan people, in whom sovereignty resides”. It also enshrines Tibet’s position as a sovereign nation from the early 2nd century BC until the invasion by the People’s Republic of China in 1951, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s efforts in introducing democratic reforms after coming into exile in India since 1959.

Against this background there is absolutely no basis to contend that the Central Tibetan Administration has given up the mandate to represent the entire people of Tibet as a consequence of the recent changes. On the contrary, politically and legally the legitimacy of the Central Tibetan Administration to represent the Tibetan people has been strengthened by completing the process of democratization. Sovereignty resides with the people of Tibet. Consequently, the more complete the Tibetan authority is constituted by a free and fair democratic process the greater its legitimacy to represent the aspirations of the Tibetan people.

On arriving in exile in India in 1959 His Holiness the Dalai Lama stated that wherever he and his Kashag (Cabinet) are the people of Tibet will continue to consider them as their government and true representatives. His Holiness established the Central Tibetan Administration under the direction of his Kashag in order to actively pursue the cause of Tibet, to draw the attention of the world to the tragedy unfolding in Tibet and to seek the international community’s help in protecting the Tibetan people as well as to look after about 80’000 Tibetan refugees arriving in India.

The official name of this administration has been “The Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. Our official letter-head and seal display this description. In all our external relations we introduce ourselves as the Central Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We did not seek legal or political recognition as “the Tibetan Government-in-exile” as such confident that the Tibetan people regarded His Holiness and the Central Tibetan Administration as their government and true representatives, this being the continued source of legitimacy.

Right from the beginning of our exile it seems that it has been of great importance to His Holiness to make clear that he is not staking any claims to power and rule for himself and or his administration. The primary task of our exile has always been to seek justice for Tibet and to restore the basic rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people.

There is no serious dispute about the fact that the people of Tibet will continue to regard the Central Tibetan Administration as their true authority as long as the leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration has the blessing and full backing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama – irrespective of the recent changes. Only the people of Tibet can decide whom they consider and accept as their true representatives. Although Tibetans inside Tibet cannot vote in the democratic elections of the Central Tibetan Administration, they demonstrate their support and adherence to it in in many ways, despite the severe risks of doing so. If an individual Tibetan, living in freedom in exile, decides to consider the Central Tibetan Administration from now on as a non-governmental organisation because of the recent changes – this is his or her personal free choice and decision alone.

Every Tibetan with some sense of political awareness and responsibility knows that one of His Holiness’ political credos has always been: To hope for the best and to prepare for the worst. In the past decades of our freedom struggle the Tibetan people and the cause of Tibet have been served well by and have benefited immensely from this wise approach of His Holiness.

It is no news to people with an interest in China that Beijing has been demonstrating in recent time that it won’t be shy about playing hardball to safeguard what it claims to be its “core national interest”. China watchers attest to a reawakened resolve on the part of the Chinese leadership to do whatever it takes to defend “core interests” such as their claims regarding Taiwan and Tibet. The Central Party School strategist, Gong Li, is quoted as saying “Beijing should not yield a single inch as far as Taiwan and Tibet are concerned”. It is an open secret that China uses coercive diplomacy on other countries to assert its position. A good example is, among a growing number of other cases and signs, of the use and impact of China’s coercive diplomacy are Nepal’s recent policies towards our compatriots in that country. It is common knowledge that the acceptance and adherence to the principle of “One China Policy” is a precondition by China for the resumption of diplomatic relations with any government in the world.

Looking ahead and taking precautionary measures with the aim to coping with any political vicissitudes in the future is an act of responsible and prudent political leadership.

Far from appeasing China these initiatives by His Holiness represent a number of new challenges to the Chinese leadership. First of all they dismember the basic tenets of the Chinese justification propaganda narrative of “liberation”, as well as of their claim that the Dalai Lama is bent on the “restoration of feudal theocracy” and they bring into question their calculations on the issue of reincarnation. On a more practical and concrete political level His Holiness the Dalai Lama is once again making unambiguously clear that he has no personal demands to make to the Chinese leadership. He is putting the rights and welfare of the Tibetan people right in the forefront of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue. He is making clear that the fundamental issue that needs to be resolved is the faithful implementation of genuine autonomy that will enable the Tibetan people to govern themselves in accordance with their own genius and needs.

By devolving his political powers His Holiness is once again emphasising that his engagement for the cause of Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming certain personal rights or political positions, nor in order to stake claims for the Tibetan administration in exile. Once a satisfactory agreement with China is reached, the Central Tibetan Administration will be dissolved and it is the Tibetans in Tibet who should carry the main responsibility of administering Tibet.

Even after the amendments of the Charter the political mandate of the Central Tibetan Administration continues to be to serve the people of Tibet by acting as the free voice of our captive nation and representing the people’s aspirations in the wider world. In contrast to the Chinese Communist Party, it makes clear beyond any doubt that the Central Tibetan Administration is not seeking power to rule over Tibet. The sole task and purpose of the Central Tibetan Administration is no more and no less than to lead the struggle for the rights of the Tibetan people to freely determine their own affairs and to live in freedom and dignity in the land of snow that is our home.

The change of the title in Tibetan of our Administration only reemphasises this basic position of the Central Tibetan Administration without renouncing the legitimacy of representing the voice and aspiration of the people of Tibet

Auckland University students discuss 60 years of Chinese emancipation of Tibet

Tenzin Sangmo (Auckland)

Last week China celebrated sixty years of peaceful liberation in Tibet which saw the Chinese national flag flying high in front of the Potala Palace in a flag raising ceremony with a crowd of around 5,000 people joining in for the Chinese national anthem. The historic date of 23/05/1951 marked a ‘special date that opened a new chapter in Tibet’s history’, according to Xinhua.

Just days before that, more than 4000 kilometres away in Beijing, a seminar on ‘Commemoration of the 69^th Anniversary of the Peaceful Libaration of Tibet’ was held at China Tibetology Research Center (CTRC) with over 60 Tibet experts and scholars partaking in discussions on the Sino Tibetan Agreement also known as the 17 Point Agreement ushering a new era of liberation, abolishing serfdom in the region.

In this context, The Auckland University Students Association (AUSA) brought the discussion to students and others alike at the University of Auckland, Auckland. Tibet activist and Representative of HH the Dalai Lama in New Zealand Thuten Kesang was invited to speak at the event by Ben Smith, International Affairs Co-Ordinator AUSA which took place 18:00 01/06/11. The talk was attended by Chinese students, local Tibetans and others with a keen interest in the subject matter.

Thuten Kesang who also founded the Friends of Tibet, NZ in 1986 along with a few friends spoke in length about Tibet’s history and maintained that the Tibetan people’s grievance was not with the Chinese people but with the government in power.

The 17 Point Agreement he said was signed by the five member Tibetan delegation in 1951 under coercion and threat to person. That the Dalai Lama and the Kashag then tried to live within the structure of the Agreement but increasing military crackdown and violation of its terms led to His escape to India and the subsequent denunciation of the Agreement and the struggle for independence arose. This was the policy until the late 1970’s where China’s Deng Xiaoping met the Dalai Lama’s brother Gyalo Dhondup in February 1979 and said “The door is opened for negotiations as long as we don’t speak about independence. Everything else is negotiable”. All the Tibetan people want is to be able to live in peace, to preserve their identity and culture which is withering rapidly. He alleged that he wanted to go live in Tibet as a Tibetan and not as a Chinese.

Thuten Kesang went on to add that if anyone, Tibetans should be the first to celebrate the supposed liberation of ancient Tibet from serfdom and not China who goes to extreme lengths announcing to the world and spending huge amounts of money to prove just how great China’s rule in Tibet has been.

On being asked by a Chinese student what he thought the mainstream Chinese population’s view on Tibet was, he replied, “I think it is what is taught to them today; that Tibet is a part of China.” He said he always looks forward to discussions with Chinese students who study overseas and that they should make an attempt to study Tibetan history and take advantage of the resources that are available to them as opposed to ones who don’t enjoy the same freedom in China.

“Just be open minded and learn about things, that is why you are here to learn and that is why I am here to educate you. So that you can go back and have an open mind”.

Questions from the audience further included if Tibet was a feudal system, something which is still highly debated if Tibet did constitute that or if farmhands who worked on land owned by the rich and aristocrats were serfs.

The evening then concluded with Thuten Kesang briefing what Friends of Tibet (FoT) NZ does and what they stand for. He said it was a good way for those who didn’t know about Tibet to get acquainted with its history and the current struggle. He also encouraged everyone present to spread the word and to, “talk to people about Tibet, then my being here has served its purpose”.

FoT NZ: https://www.friends-of-tibet.org.nz

Obama Administration testimony on Tibet,

June 2  2011

Testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary Dr. Daniel B. Baer For the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “Religious Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights in Asia: Status of Implementation of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, Block Burmese JADE Act and North Korean Human Rights Act” June 2, 2011

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for inviting me today. It’s my pleasure to be able to testify today on religious freedom, democracy and human rights as embodied in the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002. On behalf of Undersecretary of State Maria Otero, the Administration’s Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, I can tell you that the Department of State is aggressively implementing the provisions of the Act.

The Administration’s goals are twofold: to promote a substantive dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives, and to help sustain Tibet’s unique religious, linguistic, and cultural heritages. The Administration at all levels – from the President, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary Otero, Assistant Secretaries Campbell and Posner, to myself – has urged the Chinese Government to engage in a dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama that will achieve results. We remind the Chinese government that the vast majority of Tibetans advocate non-violent solutions to Tibetan issues and genuine autonomy – not independence or sovereignty – in order to preserve Tibet’s unique culture, religion and its fragile environment. Regrettably, the Chinese government has not engaged in a substantive dialogue with the Tibetans since January 2010.

The U.S. government believes that the Dalai Lama can be a constructive partner for China as it deals with the challenge of overcoming continuing tensions in Tibetan areas. The Dalai Lama’s views are widely reflected within Tibetan society, and command the respect of the vast majority of Tibetans. His consistent advocacy of non-violence is an important factor in reaching an eventual lasting solution.

China’s engagement with the Dalai Lama or his representatives to resolve problems facing Tibetans is in the interests of the Chinese government and the Tibetan people. We believe failure to address these problems could lead to greater tensions inside China and could be an impediment to China’s social and economic development.

Another critical avenue for implementing the Act is our support for non- governmental organizations that work in Tibet and assist Tibetan refugees in the region. Both the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) support cultural and linguistic preservation, sustainable development and environmental preservation in Tibet and Tibetan majority areas, as well as Tibetan refugee communities in other countries, through numerous programs. In addition, the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration continues its long-standing support for Tibetan refugees through ongoing support to non-governmental organizations as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In fiscal year 2010, $3.5 million was provided to support reception services, education, healthcare, and water and sanitation for Tibetan refugees in South Asia, including new arrivals from China.

Under Secretary Otero recently visited our programs in India and Nepal where we assist Tibetan refugees, and where we are actively seeking ways to strengthen Tibetan refugee settlements.

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s India Mission expects to issue an award for a new $2 million, two-year program to support Tibetan settlements in India, Nepal, and Bhutan in July 2011. The new program will support the development of organic agriculture for selected Tibetan settlements in India, Nepal, and Bhutan; and build a workforce among Tibetan youth remaining in the settlements. USAID anticipates the program will result in increased economic opportunities which will encourage youth to remain in the settlements, strengthen community ties, and preserve cultural and linguistic traditions.

We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in China and in particular in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas. Recent regulations restricting Tibetan language education, strict controls over the practice of Tibetan Buddhism and the arrests of prominent non-political Tibetans reflect the difficult human rights situation there today.

Religious restrictions in Tibetan areas have dramatically worsened in recent years. Discriminatory religious policies exacerbated tensions between Han Chinese and Tibetan Buddhists and triggered the 2008 riots that claimed the lives of Han and Tibetan civilians and police officers. Chinese authorities control Tibet’s monasteries, including the number of monks and nuns and interfere in the process of recognizing reincarnate lamas. Monks and nuns are forced to attend regular political “patriotic education” sessions which sometimes include forced denunciations of the Dalai Lama. . Reports state that as many as 300 monks were forcibly removed from Kirti again in April of this year, and paramilitary forces still have the monastery on lockdown. To date, we have no further information about the welfare and whereabouts of those monks that were removed.

The effects of China’s Tibet policies are well-documented in the separate Tibet sections of the State Department’s 2010 International Religious Freedom Report and the 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in China, released by Secretary Clinton on April 8. Our reports state clearly that the Chinese government represses freedom of speech, religion, association and movement within Tibet and routinely commits serious human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings and detentions, arbitrary arrests and torture. Our reports also reference the forcible return of three Tibetans to China from Nepal in June 2010, the first confirmed case of forcible return of Tibetans from Nepal since 2003.

The Administration’s engagement on human rights issues in Tibet is high- level and consistent. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have spoken on these points directly to Chinese officials many times, including to President Hu during his January 2011 visit to Washington.  The President and Secretary Clinton met with the Dalai Lama in February 2010, and the Secretary raised Tibetan issues directly and at length during the 2010 and 2011 Strategic and Economic Dialogues with China. Undersecretary Otero has met with the Dalai Lama four times since October 2009, and with his special envoy, Lodi Gyari, nine times in the past twelve months. Other senior officials have engaged Mr. Gyari as well.

During the April 2011 Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing, Assistant Secretary Posner and I raised our concerns about China’s counterproductive policies in Tibetan areas of China, reiterated our call for a resumption of dialogue, and raised specific cases. We were joined in that effort by then-Ambassador Huntsman, who visited the Tibetan Autonomous Region in September 2010. The U.S. Mission in China has made visiting Tibetan areas and engaging on human rights and religious freedom in Tibetan areas a top priority. While in Beijing in April, we met with United Front Work Department, which handles Tibet policy for the Chinese Government, and pressed the Chinese to set a date with Lodi Gyari for the next round of talks. We also met with Minister Wang Zuo’an [WONG ZHUO AHN] from the State Administration of Religious Affairs. Separately, we provided to Chinese authorities a comprehensive list of individuals from across China who have been arrested or are missing; that list included many Tibetans, including six cases that we specifically mentioned in our meetings.

Our goals – to promote a substantive dialogue between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama, and to help sustain Tibet’s unique religious, linguistic and cultural heritages – are designed to further the intent of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 and create a more stable and more prosperous Tibet where Chinese authorities recognize and foster internationally recognized human rights. In furtherance of our goals, we have, since 2005, made the establishment of a consulate in Lhasa a priority. We continue to press the Chinese government to answer our request, while we reiterate our long-standing interest in regular and comprehensive access to Tibetan areas for international diplomats, journalists and non-governmental organizations. The State Department offers Tibetan language

courses at our Foreign Service Institute and our staff at Consulate General Chengdu includes Tibetan speaking staff. In addition, we are working to translate our human rights and religious freedom reports into the Tibetan language. These measures reflect the Administration’s continuing commitment to fully and effectively implement the Act, so that Tibet’s unique culture and environment are preserved and allowed to prosper in the 21st century.

Tibetans Implore His Holiness to Assume the Role of Ceremonial Head of State

[Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 7:57 p.m.]

from: www.tibet.net

DHARAMSHALA: The landmark Tibetan National General Meeting which successfully concluded today unanimously approved a proposal to beseech His Holiness the Dalai Lama to assume the role of ceremonial head of state.

The 4-day meeting attended by Tibetans across the world deliberated the draft amendments to the Charter on the devolution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s political and administrative powers to the democratically elected Tibetan leadership.

The meeting also endorsed a proposal to request His Holiness to accept the inclusion of the new Preamble and responsibilities assigned to him in Article 1 in case if he turns down the proposal on his ceremonial role. The Article 1 makes him the protector and symbol of the Tibetan nation.

The two proposals will be presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 25 May. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will address the delegates on the same day.

The meeting also discussed other amendments to the Charter, which include the executive powers assigned to His Holiness in Article 19. The 9 provisions under Article 19 would be pass on to the Kashag and the Parliament.

The Parliament will meet for a special session from 26 – 28 May to give its approval to the amendments.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama then ratify the Charter.

In his closing remarks, Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, said the general meeting has sent a very strong signal to the Chinese government that the Tibetan people are united on the fundamental issues of Tibet.

He underscored that the newly elected Kalon Tripa and the new members of Parliament will have even greater responsibilities to shoulder in the near future.

Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche delivered his closing statement on an auspicious note by announcing the prophesy of the State Oracle of Tibet, Nechung, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama would live up to 113 years. His Holiness will live up to the predicted age if the Tibetan people could successfully maintain morality, unity and enhance their collective merit, Kalon Tripa told the delegates.

Over 418 delegates representing Tibetan communities living across the world, including Asia, the United States, Europe and Russia, participated in the meeting.

Tenzin D. Sewo
P. O. Box
CH-8036 Zurich
Tel/Fax +41 43 536 29 09

Tibetan Youth Congress calls off Indefinite Hunger Strike

by Tsewang Rangzen

on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 7:00pm

The Tibetan Youth Congress decided 25 days ago to embark on an indefinite hunger strike aimed at highlighting the grave situation in Kirti monastery and the situation of the political prisoners in Tibet. We also made specific demands in relation to the same at the time. Our demands included:

Immediate withdrawal of the “patriotic re-education” campaign and Chinese troops from Kirti Monastery and to unconditionally release all political prisoners including those arrested recently from Ngaba.

Access for Tibetan Youth Congress delegation to assess the situation of political prisoners inside Tibet.

We appeal world governments and non-governmental organizations to recognize and support the historical status and struggle of Tibet as an Independent nation.

Since we began this hunger strike campaign, we have continued to receive pleas from inside Tibet, indeed from Ngaba region itself – where Kirti monastery is located – requesting us to end our hunger strike. They convey that, “Under the Chinese occupation in Tibet, aside from ordinary Tibetans who are consistently oppressed, the intellectuals, artists and writers are equally targeted if not worse. Given such circumstances, Tibetans in the free world should not jeopardize their lives and should stay healthy and call off this hunger strike.” These requests – sent from our brothers and sisters inside our occupied homeland and from the Tibetans in exile all over the world– touched us deeply.

Twenty-five days after we began our hunger strike, our demands are not yet met. The situation continues to be grave. This is not surprising. Those who have harshly and heartlessly oppressed our people in Tibet for the last over fifty years, and continue to detain and torture anyone they suspect of supporting the just yearning for a free Tibet, cannot be expected to act otherwise.

Our campaign has received overwhelming support and encouragement from Tibetans, friends of Tibet and supporters all over the world particularly by various officials from Embassies and High Commission. We had the current Kalon Tripa Professor Samdhong Rinpoche call on the hunger strikers as well as the Kalon Tripa-elect, Dr, Lobsang Sangay la and Kalon and Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, Mr. Tempa Tsering la. A message from His Holiness conveyed by the Kalon Tripa expressed concern regarding the health of the hunger strikers and the letter from the Kashag stated that “the campaign has already generated ample attention, solidarity and support and requested the strike be called off”.

Today we had a prestigious visit to the site of the hunger strike headed by Ms Anne Vaughier Chatterjee, Attache, European Union Delegation to India, officials from various Embassies and High Commission such as UK, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Poland who firmly requested that this hunger strike be called off due to the deteriorating health of the executive members and .

They also handed us a letter signed by members of the European Parliament including, Heidi Hautala, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Laszlo Tokes, MEP Vice-President of the EP responsible for religious dialogue, Edward McMillan-Scott, MEP Vice-President of the EP responsible for human rights and democracy and Gagriele Albertini, MEP Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

It said, “We the members of the European Parliament are fully committed to defending human rights in the world and understand your demands and fully support your ongoing peaceful struggle against the oppression of the Chinese government…” “…In the light of the above, we hereby reiterate our commitment to keep the issue of Tibet high on our agenda. We also believe that it would be of vital importance to send EU delegation as well as support independent journalists enter the region…”

In view of staunch requests from the delegation of European Union and their assurance for a continued support for Tibet in particular the issue at Ngaba Kirti Monastery coupled with pleas from our brothers and sisters inside Tibet, we have decided to indefinitely call off the hunger strike today. With a very heavy heart and tears in our eyes, the Tibetan Youth Congress calls off this fast however, we pledge that we will not cease to fight for a Free Tibet. If anything, our resolve today is even stronger than it was 25 days ago. We thank the many people in Tibet, in India and all over the world, who offered support to us in this hunger strike and support the just cause of Tibet.

—
Asia Regional Coordinator
International Tibet Network
Jogiwara Road, P.O. Mcleod Ganj – 176 219
Distt Kangra, Dharamsala
H.P. INDIA

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Why the Dalai Lama Matters to Americans?

Bhuchung K. Tsering

Home

May 18, 2011

One of the privileged opportunities that I have when working for the International Campaign for Tibet is being deputed to assist in the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United States. In the Tibetan spiritual context, it is not only an honor but a blessing for me to be anywhere close to His Holiness and to be able to see and hear him on a daily basis. This is an opportunity that many Tibetan people, particularly those in Tibet today, can only dream about.

His Holiness just finished a very meaningful visit to California, Minnesota, Texas, Arkansas and New Jersey, about which you can read on www. dalailama.com or www.tibet.net.

While his religious stature is certainly a draw, it is the simplicity of his messages that seem to resonate well with people at all levels of American society. During this visit, the audience at his public talks, who constituted students, educators, scientists, politicians, all reacted positively to his call for just being a good human being. Even journalists, who are bound to be skeptics, took the opportunity of a press meet in Newark, New Jersey, to virtually get his advice on how to cope with the social problems in their countries, be it Mexico or Japan. His call for the promotion of inner values or secular ethics in the wholesome development of an individual has now become a serious topic of research by major American educational institutions.

His message of optimism with the youth of the 21st century is something that will continue to impact American society. At a time when many Americans take their lives for granted in this country, with all its amenities and freedoms and only have a pessimistic view of the country, the Dalai Lama encourages them, as he did at different places during this visit, to take a broader view and to count their blessings. I thought his sharing of his own personal experience, which he did a couple of times, was particularly effective. His statement “At 16, I lost my freedom, at 24 I lost my country” brought a sense of reality quite a few times during this visit.

His view that all individuals, whether an ordinary person or a leader, are the same at the fundamental human level is not just preaching but a way of life for him. He exemplified this during his trip, whether it was meeting a 11-year old boy reporter at a press meet in Minneapolis, President George W. Bush in Dallas, a security guard at the stadium in Fayetteville, or Martin Luther King II, the son of Martin Luther King Jr., in Newark.

His Holiness also displayed his ability to appreciate the simple joys of life during this visit. In Fayetteville, his hotel was on the campus of the University of Arkansas. At few occasions, he took the time to let the people there know that he greatly enjoyed the large trees nearby and the early morning singing by birds in the trees.

During this visit, the Dalai Lama discussed topics ranging from secular ethics to healing to democracy to peace. But most of all, he reminded the American people to appreciate their situation and to find positive meanings in their lives. I think this is why the American people feel the Dalai Lama still matters.