Humanitarian Dream – Carry the Torch

To All Global Souls:

“Imagine the Dalai Lama carrying the Olympic torch past the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet – or anywhere else along the torch relay route. That is my dream, my vision. A vision that represents the Olympic spirit of peace and will instill hope for all people around the world.

On 08/08/08, the Olympic torch will reach Beijing to start the 2008 Olympics. On its journey around the planet, the torch will be taken to the top of Mount Everest. This will be the largest physical feat in the history of the torch. The opportunity to create the largest humanitarian act in the history of the torch also exists; having

His Holiness the Dalai Lama carry the Olympic torch. This act will fulfill the hopes and dreams in all believers of the power of peace through sport, while reaffirming the founding principles of the essence of the Olympic movement. Three years ago in an audience with His Holiness, I revealed this vision and he approved my efforts to accomplish the impossible through the pursuit of this dream.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the country that is the focal point of so much criticism going into these Olympic Games could also lay claim to giving hope to the world with this gesture during the Olympic truce.

I have been quietly planting the seeds of this humanitarian dream all over the world with corporate, civic and government leaders for several years. Everyone I have shared the idea with has warmly embraced it. To dream the impossible dream and see it in reality is now facing moral courage versus shareholder value. Now is the time for people to unite so the tears of hope and the joy of laughter will water the seeds which have been planted, enabling them to grow. The collective consciousness represented by this petition can be the tipping point of hope.

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream; a dream we dream together is reality” (Yoko Ono). So to all of you that are longing to see a conflict symbolic of the history of man begin to be resolved in the setting of the Olympics, speak out and sign the petition. Let the International Olympic Committee the sponsors and the Beijing Organizing committee of the 2008 Olympic Games hear our united voice”.

Love Forever,
Steve Varon, Farmer of Hope

Beijing ‘to talk to Dalai aides’

Chinese officials will hold talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives, state media say, in the first meeting since rioting broke out in Tibet last month.

Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying a meeting would take place “in coming days”.

A spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader welcomed the offer of talks.

Beijing has consistently blamed what it termed a “Dalai clique” for fomenting unrest in Tibetan areas of China – an allegation he has strenuously denied.

The Dalai Lama insists he has no political role and played no part in the protests.

Olympics demand

Xinhua quoted an unnamed official as saying the government had taken into account “requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks”.

“The relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai’s private representative in the coming days,” the official said.

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Pro-Tibet protests blight the Olympic torch relay

But the official added that the Dalai Lama would need to “take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China”.

This included putting a stop to “plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks”.

The Dalai Lama’s spokesman, Tenzin Takla, told the BBC he had received no official notification from the Chinese government of its desire to meet.

China has held talks with the Dali Lama’s representatives before, though meetings have rarely resulted in any progress.

According to Mr Takla, the last round was held in June and July last year in Beijing.

He added that the Dalai Lama had been “making efforts to reach out to the Chinese people and the Chinese leadership” since last month’s protests.

‘Room for dialogue’

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country has been targeted by nationalist Chinese protesters angered by pro-Tibet rallies in Paris, welcomed the prospect of talks.

TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territory Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century 1950: China launched a military assault Opposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959 Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India

“The resumption of dialogue carries some real hope,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Beijing hailed the announcement as a “very positive development”.

And EU commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso, who earlier discussed Tibet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, said he was “very happy”.

“If the concern of the Dalai Lama is… respect of cultural identity, religious identity and autonomy inside China, I believe there’s real room for a dialogue,” he said.

Rallies began in the main Tibetan city of Lhasa on 10 March, led by Buddhist monks.

Over the following week protests spread and became violent – particularly in Lhasa where ethnic Chinese were targeted and shops were burnt down.

Beijing cracked down on the protesters with force, sending in hundreds of troops to regain control of the restive areas.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7366500.stm

Published: 2008/04/25 13:06:18 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

China and Tibet

By lchxian - Foreign doctor. Chinese, born in Malaysia. Educated in Malaysia, Belfast, Sydney.

Being a Buddhist and a Chinese, the relationship between China and Tibet is close to my heart. It is indeed very distressing hearing stories of Tibetan Monks being beaten up, even more distressing to see supposedly pro-Tibetan protesters disrupting the Beijing Olympic Torch relay.

The China-Tibet issue is more than merely about China and Tibet. Many other parties try to exert their influence, hoping to achieve their personal goals.

The English media often talk about Chinese “invasion” of Tibet in 1950. However, it often fail to point out that, Tibet was part of China back in 1700s during the Qing Dynasty. In fact, in the late 1700s, Nepalese Gurkha invaded Tibet, the Chinese Qianlong Emperor’s army together with local Tibetan troops were called upon to defend Tibet, which is part of China. Without Qianlong’s army, Tibetan history could have been very different.

The western world cannot be seen as a neutral party in China Tibet issue. In the recent history, The western imperial power have been using all kind of lies and excuses to achieve their ambition. The “weapon of mass destruction”; the invasion and destruction of Iraq was one such example.

In the early 1900s, the British and Russian competed for supremacy in Central Asia, Tibet was the jewel to be captured in this conflict. British forces invaded Tibet in 1903, it was reported that the British soldiers mowed down the Tibetans with machine guns as they fled. With this recent history in mind, can we trust that the Western world does not have ulterior motive when they interfere in China’s internal affair?

Promoting independence of Tibet from China is infringing China’s sovereignty. Tibet is part of China, just like Scotland is part of United Kingdom. If China start supporting Scottish Separatist movement, I am sure UK will be really unhappy too. Separatist movement are not well tolerated throughout history, just look at Ester Rising (1916) in Ireland, many civilians were killed, 15 separatist leaders were executed, 3000 political prisoners were put behind bars by the British. Unfortunately, the reality is suppression of separatist movements are equally harsh all over the world.

On the other hand, I hope China would start to see Dalai Lama as part of the solution rather than problem in China-Tibet relationship. Dalai Lama is not seeking independence for Tibet; His Holiness is seeking preservation of Tibetan Culture and religion. Dalai Lama had openly appeal for non-violence and encourage Tibetan to co-exist with the ethnics Chinese. He understand that for Tibet to progress economically, Tibet is better off being part of China.

Hopefully the people of Tibet would follow the advice of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Non-violence and co-existence. Violence and instability in that region will not benefit Tibet or China. May China show restrained and compassion when dealing with China-Tibet relationship.

May we all have wisdom to see beyond what is reported by the media. May we all have more compassion. May peace prevail.

Related Post

http://chenghiang.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/buddhist-monks-and-myanmar/

http://chenghiang.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/change-the-world/

http://chenghiang.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/18/ (Bush Care)

Related Friends Blogs

http://tinlala.wordpress.com/events-whats-on-now/vigil-for-tibetans/

http://kayteakatykt.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C4921A13CDA96AAC!3690.entry#trackback

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_unrest_in_Tibet

http://www.tibet.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Nationalism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Liberation_Army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separatism

Originally posted at: http://chenghiang.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/china-and-tibet/#comment-334

Monks Disrupt Media Tour in China

Buddhist monks waving a Tibetan flag interrupted a government-managed media tour in the city of Xiahe in the Chinese province of Gansu on Wednesday.

By JIM YARDLEY and JAKE HOOKER

Published: April 10, 2008

BEIJING — China suffered another unexpected public relations setback on Wednesday when Buddhist monks interrupted a government-managed news media tour in western China by waving a Tibetan flag and protesting that the authorities were depriving them of their human rights.

The disruption, in Xiahe, a city in Gansu Province, was the second in which monks had upstaged government efforts to control foreign media tours of Tibetan areas.

Last month, several monks in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, risked official punishment when they made an emotional appeal to foreign journalists inside the Jokhang Monastery, one of the city’s holiest shrines.

The outburst on Wednesday occurred as authorities guided reporters through the Labrang Monastery. The tour was the first officially approved visit to Xiahe by foreign reporters since monks and other Tibetans in the city clashed with the police last month. During the tour, about 15 monks rushed out, waving a Tibetan flag, and approached a group of about 20 Chinese and foreign reporters.

“The Dalai Lama has to come back to Tibet,” one monk said, according to Reuters, which was invited on the tour. “We are not asking for Tibetan independence; we are just asking for human rights. We have no human rights now.”

Several monks draped their heads in robes, Reuters reported, possibly in an attempt to conceal their identities and avoid later punishment. They also said that local authorities were holding other monks and that armed plainclothes security officers were posted around the city.

The issue of Tibet continues to create a domestic political crisis and international public relations disaster for China. Tibet and other regions were rocked by anti-Chinese riots last month, and China is facing increasing criticism over its human rights record as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in August.

This week, protesters angry about China’s record on human rights disrupted the international Olympic torch relay as it passed through London and Paris, while San Francisco on Wednesday girded for a major confrontation with protesters during the only leg of the tour in the United States.

International leaders, including President Bush, have called on China’s ruling Communist Party to meet with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and begin a dialogue on resolving the Tibetan situation. On Wednesday, the Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, used a speech at Peking University in Beijing to raise human rights concerns about Tibet.

“Australia, like most other countries, recognizes China’s sovereignty over Tibet, but we also believe it is necessary to recognize there are significant human rights problems in Tibet,” said Mr. Rudd, a fluent Mandarin speaker, according to accounts in the Australian news media.

But, as yet, China has shown few signs of softening its tough accusations against the Dalai Lama and continues to blame a “Dalai clique” for the riots and protests that erupted March 14 in Lhasa. This week, state media disputed a list of Tibetan victims released by the Tibetan government in exile, saying that many of the names could not be proved to exist.

China’s state media are filled with reports defending China’s policies toward Tibet, even as many Tibetans and analysts partly trace the roots of last month’s violence to failed government policies.

The press tour of Xiahe was organized by Beijing authorities, which invited only selected media organizations. The government used the same invitation-only strategy during the Lhasa tour, overruling objections from uninvited news organizations in the name of security concerns. The New York Times sought to be included in both tours, but was not invited.

At a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Champa Phuntsok, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region’s government, continued the campaign against the Dalai Lama, accusing the spiritual leader of telling “lies to instigate antagonism between various ethnic groups and to cheat the international community.”

Champa Phuntsok also said that the protests in London and Paris proved that the Dalai Lama was not sincere in achieving reconciliation with the Chinese government.

“I believe Tibetans are a good, simple people who know how to be grateful,” he said. The chairman, himself Tibetan, said seeing images of overseas Tibetan protesters made him ashamed.

He told reporters that the monks who protested to foreign reporters last month in Lhasa would not be punished, despite assertions by monks that the government is doing just that. “We simply do not punish or execute monks for telling a different version,” he said. “Of course, their version is untrue.”

Chinese public security officials announced that security would be increased for the Chinese stage of the Olympic torch relay, which begins May 4 and continues until Aug. 8, when the flame is scheduled to arrive in Beijing for the Olympic opening ceremony.

The Ministry of Public Security issued a notice on its Web site calling on all local police departments to “guarantee” security work in order to assure a smooth procession of the torch through China, according to state media reports.

state media reports.

The Dalai Lama Should Carry the Torch

By Jigme Duntak

I was discussing a few issues concerning the Dalai Lama on a China related discussion board when one of the posters made an remark about the notion of the Dalai Lama escorting the Olympic flame.

I thought this was a very interesting and notion, and the more I thought about it the better and more beneficial it sounded for both peoples. The Dalai Lama has already repeatedly said that he supports the Olympics in China and that he believes China deserves to host it. However many Chinese are still not bought by this rhetoric. By putting action behind his words the Dalai Lama can show to the world, and in particular the Chinese nationals, that he is sincere in his support for the Beijing Olympics. In doing this the Dalai Lama can obtain a greater goal which is to win Chinese support which in turn will make him more trustworthy in the eyes of the Chinese people and therefore making his advocacy for only true autonomy in Tibet more sincere.

This seems to be the perfect opportunity for the Dalai Lama to show his sincere willingness to create an autonomous Tibet within China. The Olympics are a culmination of Chinese national pride, by actively supporting this event I really believe the Dalai Lama would make huge strides in extinguishing the bitterness many Chinese have towards the Dalai Lama especially with the recent portrayal by the Chinese media of the “Dalai Clique” having masterminded the violence in Tibet last month.

If the Chinese government refuses the Dalai Lamas offering to escort or carry the torch then I truly think the world, especially the Chinese people, will see with certainty that it is the Chinese government who is not allowing for anything productive to develop between the Tibetans and Han Chinese peoples. Therefore even if a genuine offering to escort or carry the torch by the Dalai Lama is turned down by the Chinese government the message will still resonate with the Chinese people that the extended arm of the Dalai Lama on the Chinese peoples’ own accord was rejected by their own government.

What an excellent feat that could be achieved by using the Olympics politically for its true meaning in creating unity and peace between people rather then the divisiveness and animosity we’ve seen projected by the Tibetan and Chinese people towards each other in the last month! What better image could be imagined and what better bridge could be built between the Tibetan and Han Chinese peoples then the thought of the Dalai Lama carrying the torch into Tibet?

Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to All Tibetans

While extending my warm greetings to all the Tibetans in Tibet, I would like to share some of my thoughts.

1. Since March 10 this year, we have witnessed protests and demonstrations in almost all parts of Tibet, even in a few cities in Mainland China by students, which are the outburst of long pent-up physical and mental anguish of the Tibetans and the feeling of deep resentment against the suppression of the rights of Tibetan people, lack of religious freedom and for trying to distort the truth at every occasion, such as saying that Tibetans look towards the Chinese Communist Party as the “Living Buddha”, is an ultra leftist statement and smacks of Han chauvinism. I am very much saddened and concerned by the use of arms to suppress the peaceful demonstrations of Tibetan people’s aspirations that have resulted in unrest in Tibet, causing many deaths, and much more causalities, detention, and injury. Such suppression and suffering are very unfortunate and tragic which will reduce any compassionate person to tears. I, however, feel helpless in the face of these tragic incidents.
2. I pray for all the Tibetans as well as Chinese who have lost their lives during the current crisis.
3. The recent protests all over Tibet have not only contradicted but also shattered the People Republic of China’s propaganda that except for a few “reactionaries”, the majority of Tibetans enjoy a prosperous and contented life. These protests have made it very clear that Tibetans in the three provinces of Tibet, U-tsang, Kham and Amdo, harbor the same aspirations and hopes. These protests have also conveyed to the world that the Tibet issue can no longer be neglected. These protests highlight the need to find a way to resolve the issue through “finding truth from facts”. The courage and determination of those Tibetans who have, for the greater interests of Tibetan people, demonstrated their deep anguish and hopes by risking everything is very commendable as the world community has acknowledged and supported the spirit of these Tibetans.
4. I deeply appreciate the acts of many Tibetan government employees and Communist Party cadres who have, without losing their Tibetan identity, shown grit and sense of what is right during the present crisis. In future, I would appeal to the Tibetan Party cadres and government employees not to look always for their personal benefit, but to work for safeguarding the larger interests of Tibet by reporting the real sentiments of the Tibetan people to their superiors in the Party and try to give unbiased guidance to the Tibetan people.
5. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, Nobel Laureates, Parliamentarians, and concerned citizens from every part of the world have been sending clear and strong messages to the Chinese leadership to stop the present ongoing harsh crackdown against the Tibetan people. They have all been encouraging the Chinese government to follow a path where a mutually beneficial solution could be reached. We should create an opportunity for their efforts to bring out positive results. I know you are being provoked at every level but it is important to stick to our non-violent practice.
6. The Chinese authorities have been making false allegations against myself and the Central Tibetan Administration for instigating and orchestrating the recent events in Tibet. These allegations are totally untrue. I have made repeated appeals for an independent and respected international body to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. I am sure this independent body will uncover the truth. If the People’s Republic of China has any basis and proof of evidence to back their allegations, they need to disclose these to the world. Just making allegations is not enough.
7. For the future of Tibet, I have decided to find a solution within the framework of the People’s Republic of China. Since 1974, I have sincerely remained steadfast to the mutually beneficial Middle-Way Approach. The whole world knows this. The Middle-Way Approach means that all Tibetans must be governed by similar administration that enjoys meaningful National Regional Autonomy and all the provisions in it, self-rule and full decision-making, except for matters concerning foreign relations and national defense. However, I have said it from the beginning that the Tibetans in Tibet have the right to make the final decision for the future of Tibet.
8. The hosting of the Olympic games this year is a matter of great pride to the 1.2 billion Chinese people. I have from the very beginning supported the holding of these Games in Beijing. My position on this remains unchanged. I feel the Tibetans should not cause any hindrance to the Games. It is the legitimate right of every Tibetan to struggle for their freedoms and rights. On the other hand, it will be futile and not helpful to anyone if we do something that will create hatred in the minds of the Chinese people. On the contrary, we need to foster trust and respect in our hearts in order to create a harmonious society, as this cannot be built on the basis of force and intimidation.
9. Our struggle is with a few in the leadership of the People’s Republic of China and not with the Chinese people. Therefore we should never cause misunderstanding or do something that will hurt the Chinese people. Even during this difficult situation, many Chinese intellectuals, writers and lawyers in Mainland China and other parts of the world have sympathized and shown us their solidarity by issuing statements, writing articles and offering pledges of support that is overwhelming. I have recently issued an appeal to the Chinese people all over the world on 28^th March, which I hope you will hear and read.
10. If the present situation in Tibet continues, I am very much concerned that the Chinese government will unleash more force and increase the suppression of Tibetan people. Because of my moral obligation and responsibility to the Tibetan people, I have repeatedly asked the concerned leadership of the PRC to immediately stop their suppression in all parts of Tibet and withdraw its armed police and troops. If this brings result, I would also advise the Tibetans to stop all the current protests.
11. I want to urge my fellow Tibetans who live in freedom outside Tibet to be extra vigilant as they voice their feelings on the developments in Tibet. We should not engage in any action that could be even remotely interpreted as violent. Even under the most provocative of situations we must not allow our most precious and deeply held values to be compromised. I firmly believe that we will achieve success through our non-violent path. We must be wise to understand where the unprecedented affection and support for our cause stems from.
12. As Tibet is currently virtually closed and no international media is allowed there, I doubt my message will reach the Tibetans in Tibet. But I hope through media and by word of mouth, it will be passed on to the majority of you.
13. Finally, I want to reiterate and appeal once again to Tibetans to practice non-violence and not waver from this path, however serious the situation might be.

The Dalai Lama

Dharamsala

April 6, 2008

(N.B. Translated from the Tibetan original) http://www.dalailama.com/news.222.htm

Should the Dalai Lama step down from politics?

See Article: Electing a New Dalai Lama

In this article by exiled Tibetan writer and activist Jamyang Norbu, the issue of the Dalai Lama’s political role is discussed. He believes that the Dalai Lama should modify his role to that of a constitutional monarchy comparable to that of the King of Thailand’s. Jamyang explains that in this way “His Holiness need not be burdened with the routine problems of government or with the unpleasant squabbles and strife of political life, but still retain a constitutional role to advise perhaps even arbitrate, in the case of a major national crisis.”

“The system we have now can in no way be regarded as a genuine democracy. The closest thing I can think of is Nepal’s former “panchayat” democracy. You can also quite safely compare it to those “managed” or “guided” democracies that you find in Russia, Zimbabwe, and other places in the third world.“

Jamyang also believes that by giving full political power to the Tibetan people, this would in fact help in dealing with the eventual absence of the Dalai Lama by maintaining the hope and unity of Tibetans and averting a possible breakdown of the governmental system.

“…the promise of a true democratic Tibet will be an effective repudiation of repeated Chinese propaganda claims that Tibetan independence would mean a reversion to theocratic feudalism”

“…the early and effective implementation of a genuine democratic process in our exile-society becomes a clear proof to the Tibetan people of the Dalai Lama’s absolute sincerity in his commitment to democracy for Tibet”.

Jamyang believes that there are many Tibetans who wish to make their marks on Tibetan politics and make a difference in their society but he believes they are marginalized by the lack of the ability to truly effectuate change due to the lack of real power within the government. By giving real power to the Tibetan Government in Exile he believes this will help bolster the ranks of it’s current demoralized officials, who largely leave in large numbers to emigrate to the West.

“…the Kashag (the advisory board of the Tibetan government-in-exile) and the Assembly are marginalized in terms of real political power and have no meaningful role in formulation of national policy”.

The Tibetan people’s strong criticism of the current Tibetan government while praising the Dalai Lama is also said by Jamyang to be linked to the administration disregard by foreign officials who instead choose to deal directly with the Dalai Lama.

“Gradually the government has become marginalized and even Beijing has managed to add to this with its so-called “negotiation” that has created the impression that the Tibet issue is nothing but a personal matter of the Dalai Lama’s return”.

“…[during] the Gold Medal ceremony at Washington DC, it was observed that some front-row seats at the function were reserved for heads of Dharma centres in the West, such as Sogyal Rimpoche and Nyarakhentul Rimpoche. The Tibetans involved in the organizing had not even bothered to issue an invitation to the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, who I understand was finally instructed by Parliament to attend, and just managed to do so at the last minute.”

“If the Tibetan Parliament and Kashag continually become sidelined and trivialized, then the government-in-exile will almost certainly collapse when His Holiness is not with us. The only way for it to survive and even gain legitimacy and authority is if Tibetan people all over the world feel they have a direct stake in its formation and operation, and also feel that their participation in the process is necessary, meaningful, and will bring about genuine results. Such an outcome can only be realized through a multi-party based democracy. Such a system, because of the role of a standing legitimate opposition, will also produce accountability and when required, change. No other system will be able to keep the Tibetans united when His Holiness is not with us.”

See Article: As Dalai Lama gains, Tibetans lose

In this article by Claude Arpi, an expert on Tibetan history, Arpi writes that as the Dalai Lama is recognized with international awards and honorary citizen awards, Tibetans in Tibet are further oppressed by harsher measures by the Chinese government which are directly in retaliation of these awards.

“When the Dalai Lama received the Gold Medal in the Washington, the Chinese authorities, recalling the massive demonstrations of 1987, deployed the PAP in several strategic monasteries. Another incident of shooting at Tibetans fleeing to Nepal through the Nangpa Pass was reported on October 18; nine have gone missing and four were arrested from the original group of 46 Tibetans.”

See Article: Dalai Lama must balance politics, spiritual role

In this article the authors write about how the Dalai Lama “must balance the concerns of a wary Indian government – which hosts his government in exile – and the desperation that Tibetans in China have expressed through their recent unrest”. The Dalai Lama also must “as a Buddhist monk, match his words and actions in the worldly political arena with the nonviolent philosophy at the heart of his spiritual practice”.

“What the Dalai Lama is currently doing is walking a tightrope,” says Srikanth Kondapalli, a Tibet expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

That balancing act, adds John Bellezza, a Tibet scholar who knows the Dalai Lama, is made all the harder because “his temporal and spiritual leadership don’t always harmonize as well as they might. Many of his difficulties are due to the underlying tensions he feels between the two hats that he wears.”

For now, however, the Dalai Lama “is the only unifying force” capable of delivering any kind of agreement with Beijing, says Baker. “If he disappears,” he says, “all the pent-up frustrations will arise in ways that no one will have the moral authority to control any longer.”

See Article: China Needs the Dalai Lama
In this article by professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies Robert Thurman, The Dalai Lama is said to be vital to the Chinese government if they wish to solve the current problems in Tibet.

“the Nobel Laureate, the living Gandhi, and the apostle of nonviolence, intelligent dialogue, and unbending hope. He has all along continued to offer them the open hand of friendship, aiming to find a solution that will be satisfying for China as well as for Tibet. It’s time, now, for President Hu Jintao to reach out and welcome his help”.

Discussion:

Should the Dalai Lama step down from politics?

Would the granting of real political powers to the Tibetan government:

1. Entice more Tibetans to get involved in their own government?
2. Repudiate Chinese propaganda claims that Tibetan independence would mean a reversion to theocratic feudalism?
3. Eliminate the Chinese oppressive reactionary measures against the Tibetan people in Tibet whenever the Dalai Lama is given praise through awards by various countries?
4. Allow the policies of the Tibetan people to reflect the will of the Tibetan people through democratic process and representation?
5. Help the Tibetan government in possibly being recognized in international politics? (See Article: Reflections on a political solution)
6. Diminish the Dalai Lama’s abilities to help the Chinese government and Tibetan people in finding a solution to the problems of Tibet and its people?

Dalai Lama holds key to peace in Tibet

By ERIC MARGOLIS, TORONTO SUN

The latest Tibetan rebellion against Chinese rule has captured world sympathy and horribly embarrassed China’s government just as Beijing has been pulling out all the stops preparing for its summer Olympic extravaganza.

But is there anything the world community can do besides issuing more platitudes?First, some questions.

Is Tibet historically part of China, as Beijing claims? Yes and no. Tibet was spiritually linked to China from about 1370 in a “priest-ruler” relationship. Tibet’s Lamaist Buddhist theocracy recognized the ultimate temporal power of China’s emperor, while the emperor recognized Lhasa’s spiritual primacy and total autonomy. Lhasa became the Vatican for the Mongol Empire and its successor, China’s Ming Empire.

In 1913, while China was in chaos, Tibet, backed by the British Empire, declared independence. So it remained until October 1950, when the People’s Army invaded Tibet and declared it “reunited” to China. A year earlier, Chinese troops had invaded and crushed the independent Republic of East Turkistan — today called Xinjiang — whose Turkic-Mongol Uighurs, long fought Chinese rule and Han Chinese immigration.

The world laments for the fashionable cause of Tibetans, but utterly ignores their northern neighbours, the Uighurs. After 2001, the Bush administration even branded Muslim Uighur resistance movements as “terrorists.”

Second, the true number of Tibetans. China has obscured census figures. When I met with the Dalai Lama, who inspired my book, War at the Top of the World — which is in part about Tibet — he told me there were over seven million Tibetans. About three million are in Tibet proper, and the rest in the neighbouring Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai, to which protests spread this week.

A primary cause of the Tibetan “intifada” is continuing settlement of Han Chinese. After what I call “ethnic inundation,” ethnic Chinese settlers now outnumber Tibetans. The same process of inundation occurred in Inner Mongolia, whose people are ethnically close to Tibetans.

Ironically, China condemns Israel for colonizing the West Bank with Jewish settlers while China does the same thing in Tibet.

MODERNIZATION

But China also has uplifted Tibet from frightful poverty and superstition, brought education, hospitals, electricity, roads, and ended widespread serfdom. Last year, a remarkable new high altitude rail line linked Lhasa to Beijing.

When I last visited Tibet, people came up and begged me with tears in their eyes for a photo of their beloved exiled Dalai Lama. Beijing furiously brands him a “splittist.” I saw anti-Chinese demonstrations in Lhasa, and regiments of Chinese paramilitary police and soldiers. Resistance has simmered for decades. Now, the pot has boiled over.

In contrast to past heavy-handed repression, China has been fairly restrained so far in suppressing the rebellion. The uprising seems to be abating, but if it gets out of hand, China will use much more force.

Another danger: China’s giant rival, India, would dearly like to drive China from the strategic Tibetan Plateau, which looms over northern India. China has built a score of air and missile bases in Tibet threatening India. Growing unrest could tempt India to back Tibetan resistance. So might the U.S. China would react with fury.

So what can the world do? The EU calls for boycotting the Olympic opening ceremonies. Others demand trade sanctions.

OVERT ACTIONS

Such overt actions won’t work. China will never voluntarily relinquish control of Tibet. No one is going to tell China what to do.

The best solution is the Dalai Lama’s: Beijing restores the old “priest-ruler” relationship. Tibet recognizes China’s political mastery, China accepts Tibet’s real internal autonomy, ceases Han immigration, and allows the Dalai Lama to return.

As globalization plays an ever larger role in China’s economy, it needs to protect its good image abroad. Stomping on Tibet is counterproductive.

Beijing should respond with patience, and accord the Dalai Lama, a fierce pacifist and great soul, the same reverence and respect as did the Mongol and Ming emperors. The world needs to press China to do so, but discreetly, and with tact.

Discussion on a Possible Election of the Next Dalai Lama

Jamyang Norbu’s article, The Jewel in the Ballot Box: Electing a New Dalai Lama (see article), brings up many good questions on the nature and problems of a possible election of a new Dalai Lama.

I thought it would be interesting to post these questions to get some opinions from readers:

1. Should the system of selecting the Dalai Lama’s incarnation change?
2. Is the announcement of a possible election of the next Dalai Lama a strategic move by the Dalai Lama in order to counter the Chinese government’s announcement of its intention to control the reincarnation process of Lamas?
3. If there is an election, should it be: open to all Tibetans to vote, inclusive to a college of Lama’s (like the election manner of the Catholic Pope), or by the selection of the current Dalai Lama himself?
4. “Would the candidates be restricted to the Gelukpa church, or could candidates from other sects apply. In that case could a Bonpo be allowed to join the race?” (Since the Dalai Lama is the traditional head of the Gelukpa)
5. How can we have an open and forthright national discussion about the candidates if they are high lamas or holy people? “If you made a critical remark about one of the candidates then you would be hurting the religious sentiments of that candidate’s disciples or followers and they would definitely respond with energy if not violence.”
6. Will an election overlook many wise, reclusive and saintly kinds of lamas who would not want to involve themselves in such an election?
7. Does an election of the next Dalai Lama remove the sanctity of the reincarnation?
8. Would an election promote sectarian clashes or divisiveness among Tibetans?

Feel free to answer any of these raised questions with any of your views and thoughts.

Sincerity of the Honorary Citizenships

As I mentioned in my last post, last Monday I attended a public talk by Tashi Wangdi. At the end of the talk there was a question period where I asked how sincere he felt the awarding of the honorary citizenship to the Dalai Lama was, by both Canada and the United States or could there perhaps be political motives behind the awarding?

He replied that he believed that the awarding by both Canada and the US was sincere because both awards were voted in by the members of each respective house of representatives and not by the government itself.

However I don’t think one can determine for sure that the honorary citizenship is truly sincere by reason that it was a collective decision by a countries’ parliament or congress. For example during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, members of the US congress voted for the funding of Afghan forces in order to help Afghanistan fight the Soviet invasion. When the Afghans had finally defeated the Soviets, these same members who voted for the funding of Afghanistan were then nowhere to be seen in the funding to help rebuild Afghanistan after years of war had completely destroyed the country. Therefore would you deem the US congress’s funding of the Afghan forces as a sincere gesture to help Afghanistan, or was it a politically motivated maneuver in order to confront the Soviets? It would seem like the latter since we see afterwards that the funding for the rebuilding of Afghanistan was deemed nowhere near as important as the funding to fight the Soviets.

In this same way is the awarding of the honorary citizenship by both Canada and the US completely sincere or is it a method in which some of these representatives can: confront China, or give the impression that they are helping the Tibetan cause, or maybe even a photo opportunity with the Dalai Lama? Have these representatives of both respective governments collectively done enough  (in the same manner the award was collectively voted for) in order for us to truly and surely believe that their actions are collectively sincere towards the Tibetan cause?