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

CLICK BELOW TO SEE TIBETAN HEROES PROFILES
http://www.freetibetanheroes.org

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.

EU High Representative Lady Ashton expresses concern on Kirti Monastery situation

[Wednesday, 18 May 2011, 2:03 p.m.]

BRUSSELS: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, Lady Ashton, has expressed concern over the situation at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba region of Tibet in her letter to MEP Provera who had called on her last month urging to promptly condemn the crackdown in order to prevent further human rights violations in Tibet.

“I am very much concerned by the reports of deaths, beatings and mass detentions of monks at the monastery. The European Union Delegation in Beijing has attempted to gather facts concerning this incident, but has been unable to do so as it appears that the Chinese authorities have sealed off the monastery and all foreigners have been expelled from the area. The delegation will nevertheless continue to attempt to obtain more information about the situation on the ground,” she said.

“The European Union has repeatedly urged the Chinese authorities to allow Tibetans to exercise their religious, educational and cultural rights,” EU High Representative further noted.

“The European Union will raise the situation at Kirti monastery in its future contacts with the Chinese authorities, and will urge them to refrain from the use of force in dealing with the situation at Kirti monastery and to allow Tibetans to exercise their cultural and religious rights without hindrance,” Lady Ashton said.

Kirti Monastery in Ngaba region has been under undeclared martial law situation since 16 March following to the self-immolation of Phuntsog, a 21- year- old monk from the monastery in protest against the Chinese Government’s repression. Two elderly Tibetans have died as a direct result of severe beatings by Chinese police as they, along with other senior citizens attempted to stop Chinese police from taking around 300 monks to an undisclosed location. A wave of arrest has taken place in the recent days.

Kashag Congratulates Kalon Tripa-Elect Dr Lobsang Sangay

Thursday, 28 April

Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche and his cabinet colleagues have congratulated Dr Lobsang Sangay on being elected as the next Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration.

DHARAMSHALA: In a congratulatory message, Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche said: “I and my fellow members of the Kashag would like to extend our congratulations to Dr Lobsang Sangay for winning the election with an overwhelming majority.”

“As the present change in leadership coincides with a significant transition in the exile polity, we place great hope and feel at ease to have a young, educated, honest and determined new Kalon Tripa,” Kalon Tripa said.

“We wish him success in all future endeavours and at the same time extend our felicitations,” he added.

Dr Lobsang Sangay, a senior fellow of Harvard University, won 27,051 votes (55 percent) in the final round of polling held on 20 March. Out of 83,990 registered voters, 49,184 cast their ballots.

Dr Sangay will take charge as the new Kalon Tripa after the incumbent Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche’s five-year tenure ends on 14 August 2011.

In 2001 the Tibetan parliament, on the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, amended the Charter of the Tibetans in Exile to provide for direct election of the Kalon Tripa (Chairman of the Cabinet) by the exile populace. The Kalon Tripa, in turn, nominates the other Kalons (cabinet members), and seeks the parliament’s approval for their appointment.

“I view my election as an affirmation of the far-sighted policies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and another important step towards the realization of his vision of a truly democratic Tibetan society. I believe the success of the recent Kalon Tripa and Chitue elections and the active participation of the Tibetans in the elections is a significant moral victory,” Dr Sangay said after winning the election.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation and extend my deepest support to the people in Tibet who continue to show tremendous courage even in the most difficult of situations. Our hearts and minds are steadfastly with them,” he said.

“I urge every Tibetan and friends of Tibet to join me in our common cause to alleviate the suffering of Tibetans in occupied Tibet and to return His Holiness to his rightful place in the Potala Palace,” he added.

Why Doesn’t the China-appointed Panchen Lama Speak Out?

Bhuchung K Tsering

http://weblog.savetibet.org

April 25, 2011

Today is the 22nd birthday of the Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who has continued to remain under virtual detention somewhere in  China since 1995. He disappeared when he was a six year old child and if and when he is released he will be a man denied of his normal childhood upbringing.

As a way of recalling the role of this institution in modern Tibetan history, I read some of the published public talks given by the previous Panchen Lama this morning. As is well known he has been vocal and openly critical of both Tibetans as well as the Chinese government on matters of preservation of Tibetan religious and cultural identity.  He may have voiced the Chinese official rhetoric but he has also shown that being a “good citizen” of the People’s Republic of China does not mean one should deny one’s Tibetan heritage or be denied of the same by the Chinese authorities.

I also thought of the other 22 year old individual who is part of this matrix.  He is of course Gyaltsen Norbu, the Chinese Government appointed Panchen Lama. In 2010 his position was formally politicized by the Chinese

authorities when they appointed him to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee.  Continuous efforts are being made by various organs of the Chinese Government to project Gyaltsen Norbu as the face of the contented Tibetans in today’s China . But as I wrote on March 4, 2010, “Truth be told, as of now he does not enjoy the confidence nor the reverence of the Tibetan people (the Chinese government knows this and so is constantly trying to find ways to impress the Tibetan people, including highlighting his tri-lingual capabilities) no matter how many photos and videos that the authorities may show of Tibetan people revering him. Spiritual faith comes from the heart and not through arranged photo ops. Therefore, the jury is out on which direction he is heading. This is also a challenge to Beijing .”

As I re-read this piece, I had this thought:  If Gyaltsen Norbu is a Tibetan Buddhist leader and has been provided with the necessary spiritual upbringing for the past nearly two decades or so, instead of mouthing political

rhetoric, why is he not addressing the issue of Tibetan religion, culture and way of life, as the previous Panchen Lama used to do?   In fact, leaving aside Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s spiritual identity, why is Gyaltsen Norbu not reprimanding the authorities for denying an innocent Tibetan Buddhist a normal upbringing? I am quite sure that the 10th Panchen Lama would have done it.

The International Campaign for Tibet’s press statement today has rightly pointed out that the “enforced disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, is a continuous crime being committed by the People’s Republic of China” as defined in the UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and that this “is a continuous crime until the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person becomes known.” This is a challenge that China will continue to face.

But this is also a challenge to Gyaltsen Norbu, too. The fundamental reason why a Tibetan Buddhist leader chooses to be reborn is to work for his spiritual community and to further the work of the previous incarnation. Is Gyaltsen Norbu able to live up to the expectation of the institution to which he has been thrust by the Chinese political system

APPEAL from His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The current situation prevailing at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in northeastern Tibet is extremely grim because of the stand-off between the Chinese military forces and the local Tibetans. The monastery, housing approximately 2500 monks, is completely surrounded by Chinese armed forces, who at one point prevented vital food and other supplies from entering the monastic compound.
The local Tibetans fearing that this siege on Kirti Monastery is a prelude to large scale detention of the monks have surrounded the soldiers blockading the monastery and have filled the roads so as to prevent Chinese trucks and vehicles either entering or leaving Kirti.
The local Chinese blockade of Kirti Monastery began on 16 March 2011, when a young Tibetan monk at the monastery tragically set himself on fire as a way of observing the third anniversary of the widespread peaceful protests that shook Tibet in 2008. Instead of putting out the flames, the police beat the young monk which was one of the causes of his tragic death. This act created huge resentment among the monks, which resulted in this massive blockade of Kirti Monastery.
I am very concerned that this situation if allowed to go on may become explosive with catastrophic consequences for the Tibetans in Ngaba.
In view of this I urge both the monks and the lay Tibetans of the area not to do anything that might be used as a pretext by the local authorities to massively crackdown on them.
I also strongly urge the international community, the governments around the world, and the international non-governmental organizations, to persuade the Chinese leadership to exercise restraint in handling this situation.
For the past six decades, using force as the principle means in dealing with the problems in Tibet has only deepened the grievances and resentment of the Tibetan people. I, therefore, appeal to the Chinese leadership to adopt a realistic approach and to address the genuine grievances of the Tibetans with courage and wisdom and to restrain from using force in handling this situation.
The Dalai Lama
April 15, 2011

Global Times and Tibetan Religious Sentiments
Bhuchung K. Tsering

Home

April 18, 2011
When Global Times first began publication I had hopes that it signalled the beginning of a process in China that could encourage an alternative view, other than that of the Chinese Government. Even though financed and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, initial contents of the newspaper gave the indication that it would not be mere official propaganda mouthpiece. I have particularly been following its coverage of news relating to Tibet and sensed that it was making efforts to see the other side of the picture, too. Unfortunately, Global Times has now turned out to be just another old wine in a new bottle. I guess the winners in this are only those foreign and domestic consultants who have financially benefited from advising China into making Global Times a vehicle of its soft power outreach and then turning it into yet another propaganda machine. Global Times has failed its readers.
Just take the Global Times editorial today (April 18, 11) headlined “Confrontation under religious auspices” relating to the developments at the Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Kirti in Amdo (located in Sichuan Province ). (see ICT’s reports on the ongoing situation at Kirti Monastery) Rather than looking at the complexity of the development that led to unrest in the monastery, which includes a self-immolation by a monk there, editorial merely puts the issue as being The Chinese police intervened to control lamas that had stirred up trouble.” How convenient and shallow it is to describe Chinese security force’s virtual transformation of the historical monastery into a prison and the clampdown that continues as I write this. Of course, if there is trouble and that trouble is caused by illegal activities then the Chinese police have the right to intervene, is the thought process that the newspaper would like its readers to have.
That is the stream of justification in the rest of the story.
The first sentence of this news report seems to indicate that it has been provoked by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message issued on April 15,2011 regarding the situation in Kirti Monastery. I really wonder whether the individuals who were tasked with writing the editorial have seen the entire text of the Dalai Lama’s message. This is because his message only advises the monastic community and the people there to exercise restraint saying, “I urge both the monks and the lay Tibetans of the area not to do anything that might be used as a pretext by the local authorities to massively crackdown on them.” Secondly, His Holiness called on the international community “to persuade the Chinese leadership to exercise restraint in handling this situation.”
May be the following sentence in the Dalai Lama’s message struck a nerve. “For the past six decades, using force as the principle means in dealing with the problems in Tibet has only deepened the grievances and resentment of the Tibetan people. I, therefore, appeal to the Chinese leadership to adopt a realistic approach and to address the genuine grievances of the Tibetans with courage and wisdom and to restrain from using force in handling this situation.”
For its entire political claim over Tibet, the various actions by the Chinese authorities indicate that they treat Tibetan religion and culture as something “foreign” and not worthy of respect and reverence. China has no qualms in seeking recourse for “hurting the sentiments of the Chinese people” when foreigners indulge in actions that may impinge on the PRC’s interest. But when it comes to respecting the religious sentiments of the Tibetan people, Chinese security forces can throw caution to the wind, enter religious institutions on a whim and hold hostage the entire monastic community denying them even food and water, without even appearing to investigate into the issue first.
Rather than recognizing the international community’s concern as an indication of China’s increasing global role that comes with the expectation of global responsibility, the editorial puts its foot in its mouth by saying, “the troublemakers and their foreign supporters must be aware that the involvement of religious people in secular politics is not welcome.” Pray, are they talking about the man they have selected as the Panchen Lama or what? May be we should refresh Global Time’s memory by drawing its attention to its issue of March 1, 10, which had a story that said, “The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu was among 13 people who on Sunday be came new members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top advisory body.”
Global Times then simplifies the Tibetan issue by saying, “every problem in Tibet is caused by a few lamas, who have betrayed and stained the Buddhist concept of peace. However, they seem to have forgotten that they are still citizens of the People’s Republic of China. The law will not make concessions to them.”
Actually, actions like the one that is going on in the Kirti Tibetan Buddhist monastery are clear proof that Chinese authorities do not seem to regard the Tibetan people as being equal citizens of the People’s Republic of China.
While keeping aside the condescending reference to “concessions” or even distorting the name of the monastery by calling it “ Aba Gulden Temple,” Global Times should see if Tibetans really enjoy the rights guaranteed to them by China ‘s own Constitution and the Law on Regional National Autonomy.