TIBETAN ULLETI

Volume 12, Issue 4 july-august 2008

FOCUS

CTA’ S RESPONSES TO C HINESE GOVERNMENT ALLEGATIONS p 4



DOCUMENTATION

KALON T RIPA’S S TATEMENT ON ‘FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR T IBET’ p15

STATEMENT BY SPECIAL E NVOY OF HIS H OLINESS THE DALAI LAMA

p23



INTERVIEW DIIR KALON, KESANG Y. T AKLA p33 ‘Tibet’s Journey in Exile’ Unveiled

The Tibet Museum, DIIIR 2008 It vividly chronicles the rehabilitation It highlights the ongoing efforts of His Vee Enn Print -O-Pac, New Delhi and reconstruction of cultural, monastic Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Pages 136, Rs. 250 and educational institutions of Tibet in Tibetan Administration in finding a exile, followed by Tibetan people’s mutually beneficial solution of Tibet ‘Tibet’s Journey in Exile’, a pictorial efforts in preserving and promoting under the Middle-Way Approach. book, compiled by the Tibet Museum what the Chinese authorities have of the Department of Information and destroyed in Tibet. The pictorial book on Tibet aims to re- International Relations, showcases connect young Tibetans to their Tibet’s ancient cultural heritage and Establishment of schools, monasteries homeland and serve as a basic how its rich culture survives and is and cultural institutions have provided introduction to non-Tibetans to the sustained in exile. renewed opportunities for new land and people of Tibet. generations of Tibetans to study Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche Tibetan medicine and other disciplines To order the book contact: launched the book on the 73rd birthday of Tibet’s cultural and spiritual heritage Ms Tenzin Sangmo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 6 July . Tibet Museum 2008. The rebuilding works followed a Department of Information and gradual progress to the inception of a International Relations The book provides account of how cohesive democratic and functioning CTA, Gangchen Kyishong Tibetan culture flourished on the roof community that is able to look after all Dharamshala, India of the world for thousands of years and the needs of the Tibetan refugees, Tel: 91 (1892) 222510, 222457 became greatly enriched when including providing educational Buddhism was introduced to Tibet opportunities to coming generations of starting from the 7th century. Tibetans. CONTENTS www.tibet.net/en/tibbul

FOCUS 4 CTA’s response to Chinese government allegations Part-I TIBETAN 7 CTA’s response to Chinese government allegations Part-II BULLETIN Tibetan Bulletin is an official bi-monthly journal of the Central NEWS BRIEF Tibetan Administration of His 13 London Metropolitan University Denies Apology to Chinese Holiness the Dalai Lama. Authorities 14 His Holiness Exchanges Views on Tibet with Chinese Scholars 14 UN seeks whereabouts of the Panchen Lama and Tibetan detainees DOCUMENTATION 15 Kalon Tripa’s Statement on ‘Future Prospects for Tibet’ rd 21 The Kashag’s statement on His Holiness’ 73 Birthday Signed articles or quotations do not necessarily reflect the views of the 23 Statement by Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kasur Central Tibetan Administration. Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari Contributions are welcome and may be addressed to the editor, Tibetan 24 His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibet Issue Bulletin. However, the publisher regrets its inability to return unused articles unless they are accompanied by SPECIAL FEATURE: JULY EVENTS IN TIBET a self-addressed envelope with adequate 25 Chronological Details of Recent Events in Tibet postage. Tibetan Bulletin is distributed free of Source: Tibetan Solidarity Committee (www.stoptibetcrisis.org) charge. To subscribe please email the circulation manager or see page 31. ENVIRONMENT Guest Editor 31 Climate Change in Tibet and Its Consequences Tenzin Dickyi (Dhela) - Chokyi Layout & Design Dorje Tsering

INTERVIEW Circulation Manager Wangyal Lama 33 Interview with DIIR Kalon, Kesang Y. Takla Email: [email protected]

Tibetan Bulletin is published by:

Department of Information and REGULARS International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala- 176 215, ‘Tibet’s Journey in Exile’ Unveiled...... 2 H.P., India Tel: +91-1892-222510 / 222457 Contacts ...... 35 Vol. 12, Issue 4 July - August 2008 The Phurbu Dolma (Mrs.) Memorial Scholarship ...... 36 FOCUS CTA’s Response to Chinese Government Allegations: Part One 15 May 2008

Ever since peaceful protests erupted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to our handling of the Tibet issue. This has in Tibet, starting from 10 March, the Chinese brothers and sisters are his forced Beijing to make an attempt, Chinese government used the full attempt to “stir up more unrest in however feeble, to explain its actions force of its state media to fling a series Tibet.” The Chinese authorities said and policies to its own people. of allegations against the “Dalai on 9 April that “the Dalai Clique’s Clique”. These allegations range from statements also attempted to stir up The term TIBET here means the whole His Holiness the Dalai Lama hostility between ethnic groups in of Tibet known as Cholka-Sum (U- masterminding the recent Tibet protest Tibet and internationalize the so-called Tsang, Kham and Amdo). It includes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama making Tibet issue.” the present-day Chinese attempts to restore feudalism in Tibet. administrative areas of the so-called In fact, the war of words is so intense Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai This is the first in a series of responses from the Chinese side that they have Province, two Tibetan Autonomous by the Central Tibetan Administration already published a book called Lies Prefectures and one Tibetan (CTA) to these accusations. and Truth. The lies are all on the Autonomous County in Sichuan Tibetan side and the truth is with Province, one Tibetan Autonomous The Chinese translation of this Beijing. The book was launched on 4 Prefecture and one Tibetan response is available at: April in Beijing by Sanlian, a unit of Autonomous County in Gansu the China Publishing Group. The Province and one Tibetan www.xizang-zhiye.org publishers claim the publication of Lies Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan and Truth is the fastest ever in Province. The Tibetan translation is available at: publishing history. The book was www.tibet.net/tb/ Who Is Behind the Unrest in Tibet? commissioned on 27 March and Chinese Government’s Blaming and published on 3 April. The publisher of The Chinese government’s ongoing Shaming Game: PART ONE Sanlian, Zhang Weimin told China’s accusation that His Holiness the Dalai Lama organised the recent unrest in Since 10 March a series of massive CCTV that “We had to frame a Tibet is nothing new. Ever since the demonstrations rocked all over Tibet response to demonstrate our position. People’s Republic of China was 1. Beijing made several allegations. We worked to show the true state of established in 1949, the Chinese leaders Beijing accused “the Dalai clique of things to those unaware of the truth, developed a rich and well-known masterminding” these demonstrations. and to rebut the axe-grinding, tradition of blaming others for the Beijing said these demonstrations were misleading reports of the western disastrous consequences of their “violent” and organised by media.” wrong policies. In a democratic society, “terrorists,” and these demonstrations The book consists of previously wrong policies can always be checked were aimed at “splitting Tibet from the published articles. It regurgitates all and corrected by the ballot box. In motherland.” Premier Wen Jiabao told the official allegations of Beijing that China, because of the Chinese the international media on 18 March the “Dalai clique” is behind the current Communist Party’s monopoly of 2008 that his government had “ample unrest in Tibet. Lies and Truth is an political power, this is not possible. In facts and plenty of evidence to prove attempt to refute “the distortions” of order to maintain a semblance of that the recent riot in Lhasa was the western media in its reporting of legitimacy, the leaders of the day always organised, premeditated, masterminded the current problems in Tibet. The find a scapegoat. Not being able to find and incited by the Dalai Lama clique.” book contains a large section a scapegoat is to admit your failed Chinese officials claims these explaining the “major achievements in policies. Lord Action once commented demonstrations prove His Holiness the economic, cultural and social on the “undying penalty which history Dalai Lama’s advocacy of non-violence development” in Tibet. has the power to inflict on the wrong.” is just a lip service. China says It comes as no surprise that the Chinese Ultimately Lies and Truth is aimed at Dharamsala has become “the epicenter Communist Party believes, as Jasper the Chinese people. The sweep of the of lies” and “the government-in-exile Becker says, “its control over the past western media and the breadth of its has churned out groundless is the key to its future” and on its ability coverage of China’s Tibet headache fabrication since the riot in Lhasa.” to cover-up mistakes however big, have shaken the Chinese people’s faith depends on its survival. China claims that the appeals issued in their own government and its

4 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 FOCUS

Take the case of the greatest famine in Not Mao, but the Gang of Four, which from the post of the prime minister and China that took place between 1958 included his wife. Jiang Qing, Mao’s was kept under tight house arrest. But and 1961. About 30 million Chinese wife, during her trials, said, “I was the real victim of the brutal crackdown died of starvation during this period. Chairman Mao’s dog. Whoever he told was the Chinese people who deserve At the time, not a word of this man- me to bite, I bit.” Mao, as usual, went so much more than their leaders are made disaster was heard in the rest of unscathed. On the contrary, Deng able to give them in terms of respect, the world. This disaster was brought Xiaoping, who assumed supreme tolerance, human dignity and rights. about by Mao’s Three Red Flags, a power after Mao passed away in 1976, policy of transforming the whole said that Mao was 70 percent good and China is yet to give convincing organisational set-up into a military- 30 percent bad, despite the fact that accounts of the great famine from 1958 like institution that functions with a he himself was a prime victim of the to 1961, nor of the horrors of the sense of war-like urgency to attain campaign and his son was crippled Cultural Revolution and its brutal unrealistic industrial and agricultural because of the violence. suppression of the student protests in growth, so that China could march 1989. The Chinese people deserve an directly from a primarily agricultural- The question is, if the Chinese explanation for all this brutality. based to a full-fledged Communist and government is able to hide crimes of The same is true of China’s implacable industrial society. Faced with such enormity from their own people application of brute force to end unprecedented severe criticism from and the world, how much more capable Tibet’s current crisis. Neither blaming the ranks of his own leadership, Mao will they be to cover up their mistakes His Holiness the Dalai Lama nor using blamed the weather. He explained away and the suffering these mistakes cause force as a means to resolve China’s the deaths of 30 million human beings the people of Tibet? Tibet trouble is the correct way to by finger-pointing. The weather in handle the crisis. The seeds of the China was fine but not Mao’s policies. In 1987, 1988 and 1989, Lhasa was present crisis were sown when China Until recently, the world was no wiser. rocked by a series of demonstrations. These demonstrations were brutally reversed its relatively liberal policies In 1962, the 10th Panchen Lama crushed and martial law was imposed implemented in Tibet. submitted a 70,000 character petition in Lhasa in 1989. Once again the The Third Tibet Work Forum and the to the top Chinese leaders, including Chinese authorities pointed their Seeds of the Present Crisis Mao. In this document, the Panchen accusing fingers at His Holiness the From July 20 to 23, 1994, Beijing staged Lama described the real situation Dalai Lama. Similarly, China blamed the the Third Forum on work in Tibet, prevailing in each and every part of 1989 Tiananmen Square pro- which recommended the total Tibet. The Panchen Lama said that if democracy movement on “a few destruction of an entire civilization the situation was not improved it would reactionaries.” This event was the most flourishing on the Tibetan plateau for lead to the eradication of Tibetan momentous in modern China’s thousands of years. Buddhism and culture and to the troubled history. What began as a peaceful memorial demonstration elimination of the Tibetans as a distinct The Third Forum on Tibet was nationality. Instead of respecting this following the death of the popular reform leader Hu Yaobang turned into convened by the top Chinese courageous act and listening to the leadership and was presided over by Panchen Lama’s well-intentioned a massive pro-democracy movement. This movement in the heart of Beijing the then President Jiang Zemin. The criticism, Mao condemned him as a authorities have now enshrined this “reactionary feudal overlord” and his was supported by an upsurge of protests in most Chinese cities. Troops Work Forum as the most “important petition as “a poisoned arrow shot at strategic policy to rejuvenate Tibet” the Party.” The Panchen Lama spent of the People’s Liberation Army fired upon the crowd and the city came and have hailed its directives as the 14 years in solitary confinement and new manifesto for party work on the under house arrest. under martial law. During the crisis, a tearful Zhao Ziyang, premier then, met plateau. with the student leaders to end their To regain his leadership role, damaged The significance of the Third Work protest. The students did not have any badly by his Great Leap Forward and Forum lies in the fact that it overturned bad intention towards the Chinese Hundred Flowers campaign, Mao in the more liberal policies laid out for Communist Party. They wanted an end 1966 unleashed the horror of the Tibet’s “development” by the First and to corruption and democracy, freedom Cultural Revolution on the Chinese Second Work Forums held in 1980 and and human rights. But a divided party people. By 1976, the top and middle 1984. The first two work forums were leadership decided to meet their ranks of the Chinese leadership were initiated by the late Hu Yaobang, then demands with violence. This ended the decimated and the country was in Secretary General of the Chinese career of Zhao Ziyang. He was ousted chaos. Who was blamed for this mess? Communist Party. This liberal leader is

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 5 FOCUS credited with masterminding a series Lama in India. Campaigns like “Strike party is the real Buddha for the of measures to improve the social, Hard” and “Patriotic Re-education” Tibetans.” On His Holiness the Dalai economic and political conditions in unleashed in 1996, are aimed at Lama, Zhang Qingli said, “The Dalai is Tibet. The brief spell of liberalization crippling the rise of Tibetan Buddhism a devil with a human face but with a markedly improved the living which the authorities suspect is heart of a beast... Those who do not conditions of the majority of Tibetans weaning the loyalty of the Tibetan love their country are not qualified to and contributed to a more relaxed people away from the communist party be human beings.” On the Tibetan intellectual and social climate. and towards His Holiness the Dalai struggle for greater freedoms, Zhang Lama. Qingli said, “We are currently in an All these were reversed at the Third intensely bloody and fiery struggle Work Forum. The Third Work Forum One salient feature of the “Strike Hard” with the Dalai clique, a life-and-death policy recommendations contained campaign is how differently it is struggle with the enemy.” four key elements. China stepped up What Tibetans, Chinese and Foreign the scale of repression in Tibet. Scholars Think of the Tibet Situation External propaganda work was interpreted in China and Tibet. China’s escalated. The pace of economic “Strike Hard” campaigns started to China’s hard-line policy and the development in Tibet and its corollary weed out crime. Tibet’s version was abusive rhetoric accompanying it has of encouraging more Chinese settlers used as a political tool to eliminate failed disastrously and was made and businessmen to take advantage of those whom the authorities label amply clear by the recent month-long the economic boom on “the roof of the “splittists”. In Tibet, rather than demonstrations in Tibet. The top world” were also increased. combating crime, the authorities turn Chinese leaders have been informed a blind eye to this social disease in the that this hard-line policy is wrong by One main target of the current policy hope that it will erode the traditional no less a figure than Baba Phuntsok of repression is Tibetan Buddhism. morality of Tibetans and undermine Wangyal, the founder of the Tibetan Chinese leaders are increasingly Tibetan Buddhism. Communist Party, who played a key alarmed by the proliferation of role in cementing Chinese Communist monasteries and temples which the In fact, at a secret meeting held in rule in Tibet. In his letter of 29 October period of liberalization spawned December 1999 in Chengdu, capital of 2004 addressed to President Hu Jintao, throughout Tibet: they are seen as the Sichuan province, Chen Kuiyuan, the he wrote, “As far as how to solve the bastions of Tibetan nationalism. The hardliner Party Secretary of “TAR” Tibetan issue is concerned, since the authorities have set up “Democratic recommended to the Central Chinese fundamental nature of the question is Management Committees” to control Government that an all-out effort must absolutely related with domestic monasteries and nunneries and be made to eradicate Tibetan Buddhism matters, so under the premise established “Work Inspection Teams” and culture from the face of the earth regarding the sovereignty of the to supervise the “education” of monks so that no memory of them will be left nation, it is merely a demand for and nuns. in the minds of coming generations of meaningful autonomy and slight Tibetans- except as museum pieces. changes in the administrative division What appalls the Tibetan people is policy. In addition, as to the essence Chen Kuiyuan stated that the main China’s all-out war on Tibetan culture. and preconditions of this matter, every cause of instability is the existence of The leadership revived the old one of us can and should reach a the Dalai Lama and his Government- aphorisms once served up to the common understanding. With this as in-Exile in Dharamsala and these must Tibetan people to justify their policies a base, and after the Central be “uprooted”. He recommended that to destroy Tibetan Buddhism during Government and the Dalai Lama have Tibet, Tibetan people and Tibetan the Cultural Revolution. Bewildered reached a mutual understanding on the Buddhism - in other words, the very Tibetans were then told that just as principles regarding national name of Tibet- must be destroyed and there cannot be two suns in the sky, sovereignty, appropriate adjustments the “Tibet Autonomous Region” be so there could not be both Buddhism to the domestic administrative division merged with provinces like Sichuan. and socialism in Tibet. Inevitably policy and implementing the right to Buddhism had to give way to socialism. self-determination, both sides should Today Buddhism is once again being This total assault on Tibetan culture is heightened by comments made by officially declare in a political blatantly sublimated to Chinese state statement that friendly relations power. the current party secretary in Tibet. Zhang Qingli said, “The communist between them have been restored. Within such a friendly and harmonious A major thrust is underway to break party is like parents to the Tibetan environment, regarding the concrete the bond of loyalty between the clergy people and are always considerate formations, plans, and schedules for in Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai about what the children need. The

6 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 FOCUS unifying the Tibetan autonomous Wang Lixiong initiated the recent 12- Lama has always proposed a peaceful regions- including temporarily point statement on Tibet by 30 Chinese solution to Tibet issues and won the establishing a transitional consultative intellectuals. In fact, since the world’s recognition. With that in mind, department in order to assure the statement was first issued, many more the CCP has framed the Dalai Lama for united autonomy of its fundamental Chinese human rights and having carefully planned and stirred content and destination being environmental activists, writers and up the event.” Ruan Ming added, “This achieved - both sides should be scholars have signed up. The first is exactly how the CCP framed Zhao strategic, far-sighted and generous, point says, “At present, the one-sided Ziyang for the Tiananmen Massacre adhering to the brotherly propaganda of the official Chinese in 1989 and accused Zhao of ‘splitting relationship.” media is having the effect of stirring the Party and supporting unrest.’” up inter-ethnic animosity and Ruan Ming added, “The Dalai Lama Wang Lixiong, a Beijing-based writer, aggravating an already tense situation. already said he would resign if the reinforces Phuntsok Wangyal’s This is extremely detrimental to the unrest continued.” The Dalai Lama is argument. On 28 March 2008, his op- long-term goal of safeguarding influential globally and if he really ed piece appeared on The Wall Street national unity. We call for this to be retired, the CCP could greatly push and Journal. In this piece, he says that stopped.” label the Tibetans as terrorists like the China’s current anti-splittism struggle Xinjiang independence movement. is wrong. He says, “Having invested The second point says, “We support This will give the CCP an excuse to their careers in anti-splittism, these the Dalai Lama’s appeal for peace and ignore Tibetan appeals and further people cannot admit the idea is hope that the ethnic conflict can be repress them.” mistaken without losing face, and they dealt with according to the principles fear losing their own power and of goodwill, peace and non-violence. On 27 March 2008, more than 70 position as well.” We condemn any violent act against Tibetologists sent an open letter to innocent people, strongly urge the President Hu Jintao. In this letter, the Wang Lixiong says, “The most Chinese government to stop the scholars said, “As scholars engaged efficient route to peace in Tibet is violent suppression and appeal to the in Tibetan Studies, we are especially through the Dalai Lama, whose return Tibetan people likewise not to engage disturbed by what has been to Tibet would immediately alleviate a in violent activities.” The statement happening. The civilization we study number of problems. Much of the urges the Chinese government to hold is not simply a subject of academic current ill will, after all, is the direct direct talks with His Holiness the Dalai enquiry; it is the heritage of a living result of the Chinese government’s Lama to resolve the issue. people and one of the world’s great verbal attacks on the Dalai Lama, who, cultural legacies...The attribution of for Tibetan monks, has an Ruan Ming, a speechwriter for Hu the current unrest to the Dalai Lama incomparably lofty status. To demand Yaobang, former CCP General represents a reluctance on the part of that monks denounce him is about as Secretary, has a different take on the the Chinese government to practical as asking that they vilify their tense situation in Tibet. Ruan Ming, acknowledge and engage with policy own parents.” who lives in Taiwan told The Epoch failures that are surely the true cause Times on 26 March that “The Dalai of popular discontent.” CTA’s Response to Chinese Government Allegations: Part Two 26 May 2008

Ever since peaceful protests erupted response by the Central Tibetan Beijing’s and Tibetan Approaches to in Tibet, starting from 10 March, the Administration (CTA) to these Ethnic Tension Chinese government used the full accusations. force of its state media to fling a series Of deep concern to the Tibetan people of allegations against the “Dalai The Chinese translation of this is the Chinese authorities’ attempt to Clique”. These allegations range from response is available at www.xizang- turn on the anger of the Chinese people His Holiness the Dalai Lama zhiye.org on the Tibetans. China is playing a masterminding the recent Tibet protest dangerously irresponsible game by The Tibetan translation is available at to His Holiness the Dalai Lama making using the Tibet protests to fuel ethnic www.tibet.net/tb/ attempts to restore feudalism in Tibet. tension. The struggle of the Tibetan Chinese Nationalism, Ethnic Tension people is against the wrong policies This is the second in a series of and Olympic Games of Beijing. This struggle is not against

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 7 FOCUS

China both as a nation and culture or and other media that the bombing had in five areas. Agent provocateurs have against the Chinese people. The been intentional, not accidental, and infiltrated the ranks of Tibetan Tibetan people’s struggle is against supplied buses to transport protestors and indulged in violence to the policies aimed at Tibet’s total demonstrators to the U.S. embassy create deep rifts between Tibetans and assimilation within the Chinese and consulates across China. Anti- Chinese. The authorities’ relentless majority. The protests that rocked Japanese sentiments were whipped up demonization of His Holiness the Dalai Tibet recently and continue to rock are in 2004 and 2005 during the Asian Lama is hurting Tibetan sentiments. to convince the authorities to withdraw Football Cup matches in China and China’s brutal crackdown on the these policies and implement ones that over the Japanese textbook Tibetans is sowing the seeds of give greater freedoms for the Tibetan controversy. The precision with which complete distrust in the authorities. people. these protests have flared and just as The Chinese government’s suddenly died down led many inflammatory use of the media and On 28 March, His Holiness the Dalai observers to conclude Beijing’s hand biased reporting is creating more Lama issued an appeal to the Chinese in organizing them. Both nearly misunderstanding amongst the people. In this appeal, His Holiness backfired when the protestors shrilly Chinese people. The Chinese said, “The recent unrest has clearly started to criticise the authorities for government’s active encouragement of demonstrated the gravity of the being weak before the Americans and overseas Chinese students’ situation in Tibet and the urgent need the Japanese. Fareed Zakaria, editor of association to counter pro-Tibet to seek a peaceful and mutually Newsweek International, writes “In the protests with protests of their own is beneficial solution through dialogue. past, they have stoked anti-Japanese contributing to mutual suspicion. Even at this juncture, I have expressed and anti-American outbursts, only to my willingness to the Chinese panic that things were getting out of The responsibility of any government authorities to work together to bring control and then reverse course.” is to provide good governance, about peace and stability... Chinese including ensuring communal brothers and sisters - wherever you This biased reporting on the unrest in harmony. In fact, President Hu Jintao’s may be - with deep concern, I appeal Tibet and its negative effect on the stated goal is to create a harmonious to you to help dispel the Chinese public worries Chinese society in China. Crackdown and shrill misunderstanding between our two intellectuals. On 22 March, a group of denunciation do not contribute to communities. Moreover, I appeal to Chinese scholars, writers and human harmony. China’s hard-line action to you to help find a peaceful, lasting rights activists wrote a twelve-point resolve the issue of Tibet has created solution to the problem of Tibet letter. In the first point they said, “At the biggest rift between Tibetans and through dialogue in the spirit of present, the one-sided propaganda of Chinese. The crackdown, the understanding and accommodation.” the official Chinese media is having enforcement of the “patriotic re- the effect of stirring up inter-ethnic education” and the media focus on the Biased Chinese Media Reporting animosity and aggravating an already unrest in Tibet are undermining Creates Ethnic Tension tense situation. This is extremely President Hu Jintao’s establishment of detrimental to the long-term goal of a harmonious society. However, Beijing is using the full safeguarding national unity. We call might of its propaganda machinery to for such propaganda to be stopped.” In their fourth point, the group of convince the Chinese people that Chinese scholars say, “In our opinion, these protests are anti-Chinese. In a The second point says, “We support such Cultural Revolution-like language society where the citizens receive news the Dalai Lama’s appeal for peace, and as ‘the Dalai Lama is a jackal in and information from government- hope that the ethnic conflict can be Buddhist monk’s robes and an evil controlled media, this is stoking the dealt with according to the principles spirit with a human face and the heart fire of Chinese nationalism. Beijing has of goodwill, peace and non-violence. of a beast’ used by the Chinese played with this fire before. In 1999, We condemn any violent act against Communist Party leadership in the after the Belgrade Chinese embassy innocent people, strongly urge the Tibet Autonomous Region is of no bombing, China whipped up anti- Chinese government to stop violent help in easing the situation, nor is it American sentiments. China refused to repression and appeal to the Tibetan beneficial to the Chinese government’s accept President Clinton’s initial people likewise to not to engage in image. As the Chinese government is phone call to President Jiang Zemin to violent activities.” committed to integration into the apologise. The Chinese Communist international community, we maintain Party declared immediately after the In the case of Tibet, the Chinese that it should display a style of bombing through the People’s Daily authorities are stoking ethnic tension governing that conforms to the

8 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 FOCUS standards of modern civilization.” generated for the Tibetan people to Baba Phuntsok Wangyal, the founder stoke Chinese nationalism to bolster of the Tibetan Communist Party and a Zhang Boshu of the Chinese Academy the legitimacy of the Chinese senior figure in the Chinese leadership, of Social Sciences wrote a piece on Communist Party. has this answer. His answer is Tibet called “The Way to Resolve the contained in a book called Baba Tibet Issue.” Its English translation is Ever since the 1959 uprising, the Phuntsok Wangyal: Witness to Tibet’s posted on 9 May on Tibetan people’s struggle has been History compiled by Tenzin Losel, Jane www.chinadigitaltimes.net. In his peaceful. China cannot justify the use Perkins, Bhuchung D. Sonam and article, Zhang Bozhu writes, “Hu of force against a peaceful struggle to Tenzin Tsundue, published by Paljor Yaobang especially stressed: “Looking its own people or to the international Publications, Pvt. Ltd in 2007. The down on Tibetan history, language and community. The demonization of His book contains a biography of Baba art is totally wrong... Loving the Holiness the Dalai Lama, denouncing Phuntsok Wangyal and the three minority people is not a matter of empty some exile Tibetan organizations as letters he had sent to President Hu words. Their social customs and habits “terrorists” outfits and equating them Jintao in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In these must be respected. Respect their with Al-Qaeda and the armed struggle letters, Baba Phuntsok Wangyal says language, respect their history, and in Chechnya and infiltrating the ranks that there is a well-entrenched vested respect their culture. If you don’t do of the Tibetan people and trying to interest in the Chinese leaderships, that you are only speaking empty provoke them into violence are all who have built their careers on the words. Finally, Tibetan cadres should attempts to justify a violent response. struggle against separatism. Their manage Tibet. Within two years, careers will be blown away when the Tibetans should make up two-thirds The Chinese authorities know that issue of Tibet is resolved through or more of the cadres in Tibet. We have their hard-line policies have generated dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai been here for thirty years. We have this desperate reaction from the Lama. Baba Phuntsok Wangyal quotes completed our historical mission. Tibetans. Even then why are they still a popular saying in Tibet that “These Today there are 300,000 ethnic Han, pushing ever harder with all these people live on anti-separatism, are including military, in Tibet. How can elements of the harsh policies? promoted due to anti-separatism and that ever do? The above can be Regardless of the Tibetan people’s they hit the jackpot by anti- summarized in six characters cut taxes, clear distaste, the “patriotic re- separatism.” open up, and withdraw personnel”. education” campaign is being pushed These were the “emergency measures” harder on the Tibetans. Forcing In his 2004 letter to President Hu energetically promoted by Hu Yaobang Tibetans to publicly denounce His Jintao, Baba Phuntsok Wangyal to resolve the Tibet issue.’ Holiness the Dalai Lama, stomping on writes, “To summarise the above his photos, forcing monasteries to fly saying: ‘The longer the Dalai Lama the Chinese national flag and the keeps on staying abroad, and the official vilification campaign against bigger his influence, the more long- Why this hard-line Policy in the Face His Holiness the Dalai Lama have lasting the period of high ranks and of Its Clear Rejection by Tibetans forced many lay Tibetans and monks great wealth for those anti-separatist to refuse to participate in the groups; on the contrary, when the Dalai Despite these appeals from some of the campaign. Lama restores relations with the most respected citizens of China, why Central Government, these people will are the authorities intensifying and Premier Wen Jiabao during his recent be terrified, tense and lose their jobs.’ reinvigorating the very policies that visit to Laos urged His Holiness the The statement above is not at all far- have provoked this desperate reaction Dalai Lama to use his influence in Tibet fetched. With regard to the question from the Tibetan people? to calm the situation. Why is this of whether or not relations between the moderate approach and clear official Central Government and the Dalai There are three possible reasons. One admission of His Holiness the Dalai is to provoke the Tibetans into Lama can be restored, this is not only Lama’s influence on his people not related to shifts of political partiality, violence to justify the Chinese reflected in the policy implementation government’s own violent retaliation. resistance and even open objections in Tibet? And if the Chinese within the nation, but also to the The other is that the current authorities really wish for His Holiness propaganda blitz is to divert the relations of such and such people and the Dalai Lama to calm things down in groups and the advantages and attention of the Chinese people from Tibet, why is He not provided the their own pressing problems. The third disadvantages to them in terms of forum and channel to reach out to His economic interest.” is to use the protests in Tibet and the people in Tibet? huge international sympathy

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 9 FOCUS

Baba Phuntsok Wangyal’s analysis is those who question the authorities’ China today. Communism has been echoed by Jing Huang, currently a handling of Tibet.” swept away from China and yet the visiting fellow at the University of Chinese Communist Party survives Singapore’s East Asian Institute. He All this leads us to believe that China’s and flourishes. In his piece, Why told Simon Elegant of Time that there Tibet policy has been hijacked by the China’s Burning Mad, posted on 24 is “a huge bulwark of entrenched hardliners in the leadership who want April 2008, Simon Elegant of Time officials (in the United Front Work a Final Solution to the Tibetan writes, “Having effectively abandoned Department, the Public Security Question by using all the might the Marxist-Leninists ideology that Bureau, Foreign Affairs, the Religious available to them to crush the Tibetan was once the bedrock, China’s Affairs department, the Communist people. The hardliners, more than the Communist Party now draws its Party in Tibet, the Minority Affairs national interests of China and the mandate to govern from two sources - department being the main culprits) Chinese people, are pursuing their economic growth and nationalist who have spent decades shouting hard-line policy to protect their careers pride.” In his book, China’s New about ‘splittism’ and not only can and their private interests. Nationalism, Peter Hays Gries writes, imagine any other approach but would “In 1994, Xiao Gongqing, an The present crisis in Tibet has become feel it was a threat to their iron rice outspoken neo-conservative useful to the Chinese authorities to bowls or livelihoods, which of course intellectual advocated the use of distract the Chinese people from their it would be. Thus, Huang says, you nationalism derived from Confucianism very pressing problems. The growing have essentially the entire Chinese to fill the ideological void opened by social unrest in China is stoked by establishment that administers Tibet the collapse of communism.” Jayshree rampant corruption, growing opposed to a compromise solution that Bajoria of the Council on Foreign inequality between the rich and poor would inevitably not only have to Relations, writes, “After the collapse and rising prices. At the same time, acknowledge that the policies that of the Soviet Union, the opening of there is a growing aspiration for they have pursued in Tibet for the last the Chinese economy by Deng freedom and democracy in China. 20 years are a failure but would likely Xiaoping and the pro-democracy China’s Tibet distraction is being used cost them their jobs.” protests of 1989, nationalism was once to its full advantage by the authorities again revived by the Chinese Willy Lam, writing for Jamestown to make the Chinese public forget, even Communist Party (CCP), say experts.” Foundation, says “As police in various momentarily, the daily burden under cities were issuing warnings to which grind and its longing for Gries writes, “Lacking the procedural protestors outside Carrefour freedom. legitimacy accorded to democratically supermarkets last Saturday and elected governments and facing the After the first tidal wave of anti- Sunday, the Hu Jintao Administration collapse of communist ideology, the foreign and anti-Tibetan people passed has intensified efforts to suppress and CCP is increasingly dependent on its away on the Internet, a more sober contain the ‘splittists’ in Tibet and nationalist credentials to rule.” In an assessment of the situation in Tibet is Xinjiang - and using nationalist editorial in April 2008, the International re-surfacing among Chinese bloggers sentiments to help achieve its goal. As Herald Tribune notes that “stripped of and Internet-users. There are many the nation is being swept by a tidal Maoism as its guiding light, the CCP Chinese who are fed up with the wave of ‘patriotism’ if not xenophobia, has fallen back on nationalism as government blasting away about Tibet liberal intellectuals who had earlier societal glue.” every day. They say Tibet is implored Beijing to consider everywhere, on TV, radio and in conciliatory policies toward the two Jayshree Bajoria of the Council on newspapers. The public cannot escape autonomous regions no longer dare Foreign Relations quotes Kenneth G. and get respite from the government’s raise their voice for fear of being Lieberthal of the University of onslaught on Tibet even for a minute. labeled traitors.” Willy Lam, whose Michigan as saying, nationalistic Many Chinese wonder what the reason piece is called Beijing Intensifies’ protests are a combination of genuine behind this is. People’s War ‘against’ Splittism ‘as popular outrage and government Nationalism Rears Its Head’, was manipulation to let protest grow, which China’s Tibet distraction has also often helps the Chinese government’s posted on Jamestown Foundation’s become useful for the Chinese website on 29 April. He quotes an bargaining position as that incident is communist Party to stoke Chinese negotiated with the offending party. editor of a Beijing-based magazine who nationalism and thus bolster the wishes to remain anonymous as party’s legitimacy. The need to do In order to shore up public support for saying, “The CCP has used the handy these flows from the paradox that is its right to rule, the CCP is portraying weapon called nationalism to silence

10 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 FOCUS the Tibet protests as anti-China. The an op-ed piece in April in the Los happening in future, the government CCP also portrays the international Angeles Times and reprinted in the must abide by the freedom of religious support and sympathy and the Indian Express on 21 April. She was belief and the freedom of speech extensive media coverage of the events the one who tried to mediate between explicitly enshrined in the Chinese in Tibet as an international anti-China protesting Chinese students and Tibet Constitution, thereby allowing the force. The government’s obsessive protesters and was vilified by the Tibetan people fully to express their and distorted coverage of the Olympic Chinese side. She writes, “Trying to grievances and hopes, and permitting torch relay and the accompanying mediate between Chinese and pro- citizens of all nationalities freely to protests have provoked anti-foreign Tibetan campus protesters, I was criticise and make suggestions sentiments in China, including the caught in the middle and vilified and regarding the government’s boycott of French products. Writes Wu threatened by the Chinese. After the nationality policies.” Zhong, China editor of protest, the intimidation went online www.atimes.com on 23 April, “Amid and I began receiving threatening The twelfth and last point in their letter increasingly growing nationalism, the phone calls. Then it got worse - my is “We hold that we must eliminate few Chinese - such as CCTV anchor parents in China were also threatened animosity and bring about national Bai Yansong and China Youth Daily’s and forced to go into hiding.” reconciliation, not continue to increase photo editor He Yanguang - who were divisions between nationalities. A brave enough to criticize the boycott “Back in my dorm room, I logged into country that wishes to avoid the as ‘irrational’ and harmful to Chinese the Duke Chinese Students and partition of its territory must first avoid interests, have been bombarded with Scholars Association (DCSSA) divisions among its nationalities. accusations by angry bloggers.” Mr. Website to see what people were Therefore, we appeal to the leaders of B. Raman, a former additional secretary saying. Qian Fangzhou, an officer of our country to hold direct dialogue in the cabinet secretariat of the DCSSA, was gloating, ‘We really with the Dalai Lama. We hope that the government of India, writing in showed them our colours!.’” Chinese and Tibetan people will do www.saag.org on 20 April, says, “It is away with the misunderstandings “I posted a letter in response, learnt that the protests inside China between them, develop their explaining that I don’t support Tibetan as well as abroad are being sponsored interactions with each other, and independence, as some accused me of, and directed by the Ministry of Public achieve unity. Government but that I do support Tibetan freedom Security, which is China’s internal departments as much popular as well as Chinese freedom. The next intelligence and security agency.” organizations and religious figures morning, a storm was raging online. should make great efforts towards this In Tibet, there is a talk of waging a Photographs of me had been posted goal.” “people’s war” against the Tibetan on the Internet with the words protestors. No individual Chinese have “Traitor!” printed across my forehead. Sabotaging or Helping the Beijing stepped forward to lead this war, but Then I saw something really alarming Olympic Games the authorities are coming upon the where both of my parent’s citizen ID One major and consistent accusation detained protesters with violence and numbers had been posted. This the Beijing authorities hurl at His ferocity unheard since the days of the information could only have come from Holiness the Dalai Lama is that he is Cultural Revolution. Protesters are the Chinese police.” sabotaging the Beijing Summer shot dead and those who are arrested “I saw detailed directions to my Olympics. They cite the outbursts of are beaten and tortured. Monasteries parent’ home in China, accompanied the Tibetan people’s anger in the where protests have taken place are by calls for people to go there and streets of towns and villages sealed off and deprived of food and teach “this shameless dog” a lesson. throughout Tibet and the protests that drinking water. Bodies of those shot It was then that I realized how serious have dogged the torch relay as dead are taken away so as to prevent this had become. My phone rang with evidence of His Holiness the Dalai local Tibetans from knowing the cause callers making threats against my life. Lama’s involvement in this. of death. Tibet has been turned into a I talked to my mom and she said she war zone. and my dad were going into hiding Far from sabotaging the Beijing Olympics, His Holiness the Dalai Lama Chinese Support for Dialogue and because they were getting death even before China was awarded the Inter-ethnic Harmony threats, too.” 2008 Olympics Games supported the Grace Wang, a student at Duke In their twelve-point letter, the group right of Beijing to host the Games. His University in the United States, wrote of Chinese scholars write, “In order to Holiness the Dalai Lama during his prevent similar incidents from visit to Salt Lake City in the United

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 11 FOCUS

States in May 2001 stated that he China should prove herself a good successive action plans and supported China’s bid for the Games host by providing these freedoms. resolutions is with the TSG movement. in 2008 if it promoted human rights in Therefore, besides sending their In fact, at the Prague TSG conference the country. His Holiness said he also athletes, the international community concerns were raised about the wanted to know what the feelings of should remind the Chinese government appropriateness of the CTA organising the Chinese people were on the Games. of these issues. I have come to know the TSG conferences. This concern He also wanted to know what the that many parliaments, individuals and was put to the vote. The majority of feelings of the human rights groups non-governmental organisations the participants wanted the CTA to were. His Holiness said, “I would like around the globe are undertaking a continue to organise subsequent TSG to know their opinion. If they feel this number of activities in view of the conferences. event taking place in China would help opportunity that exists for China to to change, then I would support it,” make a positive change. I admire their Apart from facilitating these according to the CNN report of 11 May sincerity. I would like to state conferences, the role of the CTA is to 2001. emphatically that it will be very explain the CTA’s policies and seek the important to observe the period participants’ support for the Middle- We believe that His Holiness the Dalai following the conclusion of the Games. Way Approach, which seeks to ensure Lama’s endorsement of Beijing helped The Olympic Games no doubt will meaningful autonomy for all Tibetans China win the bid when the IOC chose greatly impact the minds of the Chinese under a single Tibetan administration. the host city in Moscow on 13 July people. The world should, therefore, This was done by Kalon Tripa, 2001. CNN report of 15 May 2001 says, explore ways of investing their Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, both “The Beijing bid received a major boost collective energies in producing a at the Prague and Brussels last week when the Dalai Lama, the continuous positive change inside conferences. The Special Envoy of His exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader, said China even after the Olympics have Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Lodi China ‘deserves to be the Olympic come to an end.” Gyari, updated the participants on the host.’” progress of the talks between the In the aftermath of the largest protests Chinese and the Tibetan sides. When the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Tibet and the brutal crackdown on were awarded to China, His Holiness the protestors, followed by strident The Chinese media also said that Paula the Dalai Lama publicly welcomed this calls for the boycott of the Beijing Dobriansky, the special co-ordinator development and said he had always Olympic Games, His Holiness for Tibetan affairs in the State supported Beijing’s bid. His Holiness commented that a boycott was too Department, attended the 5th the Dalai Lama said that the same time radical and said that there should not International Tibet Support Group that it is the right of individuals and be any boycott. Conference. She did not attend the organizations to use the Games to conference. This is a clear case of the peacefully highlight the gross human Another accusation hurled by the Chinese media spreading rights violations going on in China in Chinese authorities is that the Central disinformation. the hope that these violations would Tibetan Administration plotted to be eliminated. sabotage the Beijing Olympic Games The proceedings of all these at the 5th International Tibet Support conferences were transparent. The In his 10 March 2008 statement, His Group (TSG) Conference held in May opening and closing ceremonies of Holiness explains his position on the 2007 in Brussels. these conferences were open to the Olympic Games in China in detail. His international media, which included Holiness said, “This year, the Chinese It is a fact that all the TSG conferences reporters from Xinhua. At the time, the people are proudly and eagerly were organised by the Central Tibetan Xinhua reporters did not file any report awaiting the opening of the Olympic Administration since the first that says the “splittists were plotting Games. I have, from the very conference in 1990. Particularly from to sabotage the Beijing Olympic beginning, supported the idea that the second conference in Bonn in 1996, Games.” China should be granted the the Central Tibetan Administration did opportunity to host the Olympic it in collaboration with the Friedrich- *The third and fourth series of Games. Since such international Naumann Foundation. In all these responses to the Chinese allegations sporting events and especially the conferences, both the CTA and the are available at www.tibet.net/en/ Olympics uphold the principles of FNF acted as facilitators. The agenda prelease/2008/260708.html and freedom of speech, freedom of for the conferences were set by the www.tibet.net/en/prelease/2008/ expression, equality and friendship, TSGs and the ownership of the 170608.html respectively.

12 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 N E W S B R I E F S

London Metropolitan University Denies Apology to Chinese Authorities

In a letter circulated to the media, the “The Vice Chancellor of London The university had then issued the London Metropolitan University has Metropolitan University, Brian Roper, following statement to the media: confirmed that their vice-chancellor did recently met with representatives of the not say sorry to the Chinese authorities Embassy of the People’s Republic of “The University extended an invitation for awarding an honorary doctorate to China in the UK. to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to deliver a Roscoe Lecture several years ago. During that meeting, he expressed regret at any unhappiness that had been The Roscoe Lecture series provides a caused to Chinese people by the recent forum for distinguished international award of an honorary doctorate to the guests to speak on the subject of Dalai Lama. It was not the university’s citizenship. intention to cause any such unhappiness. “As is the tradition at JMU, and in recognition of his Nobel peace prize, His London Metropolitan University has not Holiness will be given an Honorary and will not be apologising for the award Fellowship - two years ago Joseph of an honorary doctorate to His Holiness Rotblatt was honoured in the same way His Holiness the Dalai Lama (C) with the framed after delivering a Roscoe Lecture. This Honorary Doctorate certificate flanked by Vicethe Dalai Lama. Nor will we be retracting Chancellor Brian Roper and Chair of the Board ofthe award.” is an academic lecture NOT a political Governors Peter Anwyl (Photo by Ian Cumming/ rally and the University has no intention Office of Tibet, London) Mr. Tsering Tashi, the London-based of embarrassing the Chinese His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Representative of His Holiness the Dalai government.” controversy came to the surface on Lama said that from the LMU statement it Tuesday after the China Daily, a is clear that the vice-chancellor when “It is one of the stated values of the mouthpiece of the Chinese communist approached by the representatives of the University to ?question accepted views government in a report headlined Chinese Embassy had expressed “regrets” and to defend independence of thought “London school regrets honoring Dalai if the event had caused “unhappiness” to - the Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Lama” said that Mr. Brian Roper, vice- the “Chinese people” and not expressed Brown, has reassured the Chinese chancellor of the university, had any regret for having awarded the honorary Ambassador personally that a lecture of “recently apologized for bestowing an doctorate to His Holiness. this nature is part of normal University honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama business and contacts between JMU and after the move drew intense criticism from Because of how the authoritarian Chinese Chinese representatives remain cordial.” a number of Chinese.” government regularly manipulate facts and tries to bring pressure on anything Yesterday, a concerned Tibetologist from Canada emailed to the Office of Tibet to When the Office of Tibet, London, and that displeases it, the world has know the truth behind the China Daily many others drew the attention of the increasingly come to realise the report relating the London Metropolitan Vice-Chancellor and the University to the importance of differentiating the Chinese University and concluded his email with China Daily report, which totally regime or government from the Chinese the sentence, “I doubted if the University contradicted the warmth with which His people, who themselves do not enjoy had made apology?”. From the LMU Holiness the Dalai Lama was received by genuine human rights and free speech. statement, it is clear the university had the LMU teaching faculty, students and About the recent honorary doctorate not. guests during the 20th May event that award, a report in the London Metropolitan University website received positive and extensive coverage Whilst it may take some time for the www.londonmet.ac.uk states: “London in the British as well as the world media, current Chinese regime to have the Met conferred the Doctorate on His they were informed that what the vice- courage to face the truth and shun the Holiness in recognition of his chancellor has said was not accurately suspicion of so-called foreign outstanding achievements in promoting reported. interference, it is encouraging to note peace globally as well as for his that more and more Chinese people inspirational spiritual guidance and What had actually happened is that through better awareness and leadership.” representatives of the Chinese Embassy information are joining the worldwide here had requested for a meeting with It may be recalled that in 2004 when the show of respect for His Holiness the the vice-chancellor and during that Liverpool John Moores University Dalai Lama and even supporting the recent meeting he had “expressed regret” awarded an Honorary Fellowship to His Tibetan people’s aspiration for genuine at any unhappiness that had been Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Chinese human rights and freedoms, which, in caused to the Chinese people by the Embassy at the time had also tried to put practical terms, they too aspire. awarding of the honorary doctorate to a lot of pressure to have the honor His Holiness. The statement issued to withdrawn but without much success. Report by Office of Tibet, London the media by the London Metropolitan University states:

JULY-AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 13 N E W S B R I E F S

His Holiness Exchanges Views on Tibet with Chinese Scholars His Holiness the Dalai Lama exchanged Speaking on his belief on the oneness Responding to a question on the Chinese views with Chinese scholars-based in US of humanity despite apparent government’s denunciation campaign, on the situation in Tibet and way differences, His Holiness said we are His Holiness said the denouncement of forward on finding a mutually physically and mentally same. His him by the Chinese authorities is not satisfactory solution for the Tibetan Holiness said: “Many of the problems really a problem, adding, that even issue within the framework of the in today’s world are man-made and arise though the Chinese may try to demonise constitution of the People’s Republic of due to too much emphasis on secondary him, he is still a simple Buddhist monk. China. issues like religion, race, etc.,” “We do However, the Chinese authorities’ this forgetting the basic humanity in all forcing the Tibetan people to denounce His Holiness met with seven Chinese of us,” he added. him was a problem, which His Holiness scholars working in universities and said “a violation of the Tibetan people’s other academic institutions-based in US His Holiness said he considered himself human rights and their religious in Aspen Institute, Colorado, on 26 July. a Marxist as he admired its socio- freedom”. The meeting is part of an initiative of economic theory, but he was against the The Brookings Institute based in totalitarian thinking. His Holiness further His Holiness said he was saddened that Washington, D.C. said he identified himself as a liberal and the Chinese people did not have the democratic socialist. opportunity to know the true picture and Tibetan officials, including Kalon Tripa thus they may assume that the Dalai Samdhong Rinpoche, Special Envoy His Holiness also talked about today’s Lama is a bad person. Lodi Gyari Gyaltsen, Chhime R. globalised world and said the new reality Chhoekyapa, secretary to His Holiness is that the concept of “we” and “they” Following the public talk, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tashi Wangdi, are no longer valid. had a view of the sand Mandala and representative of the office of Tibet, New butter sculpture that were part of the York, Lobsang Nyandak, representative In terms of leadership qualities His symposium on the celebration of designate, Tsewang Phuntso, liaison Holiness said honesty, truthfulness, Tibetan culture. His Holiness led a brief officer, and Bhuchung K Tsering, transparency, openness and vision are prayer session in front of the Mandala. member of task force attended the essential qualities for today’s leaders. In the afternoon, His Holiness attended meeting. a private reception in the residence of Following his formal remarks, His Mr. Richard Blum, member of the Board Following the meeting with the Chinese Holiness answered some questions of Trustees of The Brookings Institution scholars, His Holiness addressed a posed in advance by the public. and thereafter left for the airport to leave packed house on “Value-based United States from Denver. leadership and Universal Responsibility”. UN seeks whereabouts of the Panchen Lama and Tibetan detainees

The United Nations’ Committee against cases and why? It further said “In view of The UN’s independent body also sought Torture (CAT), an independent body of allegations that lawyers who offered to information on any investigations into experts has asked China to provide a complete defend Tibetan protesters were warned that those deaths and whether there will be a list of all Tibetan detained following the March they would have their professional licenses transparent public inquiry into a number 2008 demonstration in Tibet. suspended if they attempted to do so, of deaths in connection with the unrest please clarify what counsel was provided in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and The Committee also sought information and whether the defendants were permitted neighboring prefectures and counties. on the whereabouts of Gendun Choekyi to meet with that counsel in private, in Concerning administrative detention for Nyima, the six-year-old boy identified by advance of their trials.” re-education through labor, the His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the 11th committee sought information on other Panchen Lama, disappeared on 17 May The experts also questioned why a administrative detention centers as well 1995. The Chinese government later detainee does not have the right to as on persons detained under the 1997 admitted to holding the boy and his access to an independent doctor during Law on Administrative Penalties. family in “protective custody”. pretrial detention or after conviction. During the UN Human Right session in This request also includes information They also sought information from China November 2008, China’s fourth periodic on their current location, convictions, about the 30 Tibetans who were sentenced report is schedule to review by the etc. The independent body of experts between three years to life imprisonment. Committee. Tibetan NGOs will submit a monitors the implementation of the UN’s The experts asked China to clarify the basis shadow report on China’s violation of Convention against Torture and Other of the sentences and how many cases the convention’s articles. China as a Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment involved confessions from the defendants. signatory of the convention is obliged or Punishment by its State parties. And whether the Tibetans had to submit its report to the Committee opportunities to appeal against the verdicts every four year on how the rights are The experts questioned China about what and if independent review or oversight being implemented. the secret regulations were applied in these board were assigned to these cases.

14 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 DOCUMENTATION Kalon Tripa’s Statement on ‘Future Prospects for Tibet’

ranges. Whether the Sanskrit word Buddhist culture of India of the time. “Bhota” is derived from Tibetan word Although Tibet emerged as strong and “Bhod” or vice versa, both has a powerful nation until the mid-9th similarity of pronunciation. In the century, it gradually disintegrated and Buddha’s teachings Tibet was referred remained without a common ruler or as “land of snow in the north” (Uttara central government for nearly three centuries. However, there was no major Himpradesh). Vedic Rishis also called obstacle in the advancement of religion it “Trivishtab”. Whatever the case, and culture. By the start of 13th Tibet is situated on a high plateau with century Tibet was invaded by Genghis Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche clean air and is a source of major rivers Khan and remained under Mongol delivers a keynote address on the of Asia. Tibet has a vast land with small control for more than 50 years. ‘Future Prospects for Tibet’ at the India population and remained economically Gradually China also came under International Centre in New Delhi on self-reliant on the basis of need. Mongol rule. Monday, 16 June 2008/Photo:Phayul Archeological surveys revealed the Online Website In 1260s Mongol emperor Kublai Khan evidence of human existence in Tibet Dharamsala: Kalon Tripa Prof. of the Yuan Dynasty of China offered since the primitive age. However, Samdhong Rinpoche, head of the three Cholkas (provinces) to Drogon Tibetan civilization received added Kashag of the Central Tibetan Choegyal Phagpa, which restored strength in the 6th century and reached Administration delivered a keynote Tibetan sovereignty to the Tibetans. its peak in the 8th century. Tibet also address on the ‘Future Prospects for Since then to 1640, though Sakya, emerged as a powerful nation with a Tibet’ at the India International Centre Phagdru, Ringpung and Tsangpa strong military in Asia. in New Delhi on 16 June. fought each other to rule Tibet, there was no foreign invasion. In 1640s Tibetan ethnicity is distinct compared The lecture was convened by Dalip Mongol tribal leader Gushri Khan to other people in the region. Tibetan Mehta, the former ambassador of India invaded whole of Tibet and offered it features resemble a mix of Aryan and to Bhutan and Trustee of the to the Great Fifth Dalai Lama to rule in Mongolian races. Foundation for Universal 1642. Thus was founded the Gaden Phodrang Government of Tibet. Since Responsibility of His Holiness the All Tibetans use the same language. then it has now been 366 years. Later Dalai Lama. Though there are different local on the Gaden Phodrang Government dialects, but after the invention of the Around thirty people, including could not protect its Eastern borders. script and grammar in the 7th century, officials serving in the Indian As a result China gradually started all Tibetans use one language that is government, retired officials and encroaching and finally divided it into based on four vowels and thirty senior correspondents attended the “inner Tibet” and “outer Tibet”. consonants. It is a rich language with lecture. the capacity to convey all Sanskrit Since the commencement of Priest- The full text of the statement follows: terms accurately. Considering the time Patron relationship between China and duration and population, the Tibetan Tibet starting from Choegyal Phagpa, Outline of Kalon Tripa Prof. language has richest and highest though there were many ups and Samdhong Rinpoche’s Talk on Middle- quality of literary output in the world downs in the relationship but the outer Way Approach to Indian Dignitaries both in terms of translation and structure of the Priest-Patron at the India International Centre, New original composition. A large number relationship remained unchanged. Delhi 16 June 2008. of ancient Indian texts are now After the founding of the Gaden available only in the Tibetan language. Phodrang Government, the Manchu Since the Tibetan script and grammar Emperor invited the Fifth Dalai Lama Tibet: Its Early History are invented based on Sanskrit it to China. This enhanced the Priest- belongs to the Indian language family. Tibet, widely known as a “land Patron relationship between the two. At first, it was purely a religious surrounded by snow mountains,” is After the advent of Buddhism in the relationship between the Priest, the situated on the roof of the world 7th century, Tibetan culture and teacher and the Patron, the student. surrounded from all directions by snow civilisation flourished widely and This relationship was devoid of any mountains such as the Himalayan quickly. These originate from the

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 15 DOCUMENTATION political overtones. However, in the order to dispel these doubts, the great uprising on 10 March 1959. On the passage of time, this relationship was Thirteenth Dalai Lama reiterated the night of 17 March, His Holiness the misinterpreted in many different ways status of Tibetan independence in 1913. Dalai Lama disguised as a common man in order to achieve political advantage. escaped from Norbulingka and During the Sixth and Seventh Dalai After Chinese Revolution eventually sought asylum in India. Lamas, due to internal rivalry within Soon after the establishment of Tibetan leaders, coupled with Mongol On 31 March 1959, after reaching the Communist rule in China in 1949, interference etc, Tibetans were Indian border, the Government of India Chinese army started invading Tibetan compelled to seek help from the received His Holiness the Dalai Lama territories. The PRC considered the Manchu Emperors. In particular, by offering him asylum. On 17 April ‘liberation’ of Tibet and Taiwan of the during the Gorkha War by the end of 1959 at Tezpur, during his first meeting utmost urgency. Within a year Chinese 17th century Tibetans were forced to with the international media, His invasion reached Chamdo. It was seek military help from the Manchus, Holiness the Dalai Lama renounced the termed as “forceful liberation”. Later which gradually paved the way for 17-Point Agreement based on two on, Tibet was brought under Chinese many unpleasant incidents such as reasons. The two reasons were that the rule when the Tibetan delegation, involvement of political interference in agreement was signed under duress consisting of Ngapoi, the Governor of the Priest-Patron relationship. and that the Chinese central Chamdo who was held as prisoner of government themselves had Recent Developments war together with his aides, and the deliberately violated all the clauses of others who were sent from Tibet to the agreement. Since then His In the 19th century, British government China, were forced to sign the 17-Point Holiness the Dalai Lama declared to tried several times to reach out to Tibet Agreement on 23 May 1951 under the strive for the revival of the Tibetan through China under various pretexts. pretext of negotiations. It was termed independence. This policy was However none of these endeavors as “peaceful liberation”. This is quite followed till 1979. were successful. Finally, in 1904 the similar to the occupation of India by British army entered Tibet and signed the British as explained by Mahatma Nature of Tibetan Struggle a ceasefire treaty with the Tibetans. Gandhi in Hind Swaraj, Chapter 7. Similarly, later Chinese attacks on Tibet Since 1959, after seeking asylum in were repulsed by the Tibetans on their His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the India,His Holiness the Dalai Lama has own. At the Shimla Convention and the Tibetan government has sincerely tried been striving hard to resolve the Agreement of 1913/14 and during the to implement the agreement since Tibetan issue by implementing wide- subsequent events thereafter, the under the given national and ranging programmes. However, British government engaged directly international situation there was no different people see the nature of with Tibet to sign treaty when it served other options available at that point Tibetan struggle differently. their purpose and they accepted of time. Moreover, His Holiness the a) Not a political ideological conflict Chinese suzerainty over Tibet when Dalai Lama returned Lhasa with dealing directly with Tibet did not confidence trusting the words of senior Chinese leaders of Party, State Some people think Tibetan struggle is serve their interests. Due to these self- a struggle between different political contradictory positions of British and the Army, including Mao, when he met them during his visit to China ideologies and interprets Tibetan government, the status of Tibet uprisings of the early 1950s and 60s as remained unclear on the international in 1954/55. However, unrest started unfolding in the Eastern Tibetan an uprising against Communism. Some level. However, the demarcation of the people extend their support to Tibet present Indo-Tibetan border, which is regions of Kham and Amdo around 1956. In addition, after the completion based on this reason. However, this is at present followed by the government not the truth. As long as the Tibetans of India, was made between the British of road connection between Beijing- Lhasa facilitating faster mobilisation of are happy and contented, ideologies and Tibetans and there was no do not matter to them. Moreover, Chinese participation. army and military equipments, local Chinese officials deliberately violated certain aspects of Marxism appeal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It was the weakness of the Tibetan the agreement by making the situation even more critical. His Holiness the leadership of not being able to assert b) Not an ethnic conflict Tibetan sovereignty and the failure to Dalai Lama’s appeal to the central be a member of the League of Nations leadership, including Mao, were left Some identify our struggle as an ethnic and subsequently the United Nations. unanswered. Finally there was a threat conflict between the Tibetans and Han Nevertheless, both the Chinese and to the life of His Holiness the Dalai Chinese. Many even attempt to make British had collectively tried to create Lama and Tibetans in Lhasa were it into an ethnic conflict. But the confusion at international level. In compelled to carry out peaceful

16 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 DOCUMENTATION

Tibetans and Chinese have lived Preservation of this tradition, which is more commonly used in reference to together as neighbors since time of immense value to all living beings, philosophy. Going to extremes is immemorial by helping each other like is the true nature of our struggle. If we divergence from the truth and there is brothers. Especially after the read carefully the definition of a need to have middle-way in every commencement of the Priest-Patron “civilisation” as explained in Hind field. relationship in the 13th century, most Swaraj by Mahatma Gandhi, then one of the Chinese Buddhists became can exactly identify the true nature of In this case when we use the word followers of Tibetan lineage of the Tibetan struggle. “middle-way” in reference to policy, Buddhism. There were times when the the two extremes are 1) to seek two sides fought wars. But these wars Community that preserves Buddhist separation from China and 2) to remain were few and scattered and for short tradition should be a non-violent within China under present condition. periods. For most of the time the two society and there is a need to create The essence of the Middle-Way sides remained amicably and even non-violent environment for such Approach is to seek meaningful today there is no hatred between the society. Therefore the broad vision to national regional autonomy status to Tibetans and Chinese. transform Tibet into a zone of non- all Tibetans as provided under the violence was suggested. Need for constitution of PRC by avoiding these c) Not a power struggle consistency between means and ends two extremes. is not only highlighted in Buddhist Some suspect the Tibetan struggle is philosophy, but Mahatma Gandhi also Why Middle-Way Approach? one of power struggle. The Chinese emphasized on this point. To conform side has unleashed a massive our means and ends we strive to adopt Since Tibet is a country which has propaganda campaign to misinterpret only non-violent means. As a result remained independent for a long the Tibetan struggle as an attempt to the Tibetan movement at present is period, what are the reasons for revive the old system of governance. free from violence. upholding the Middle-Way Approach Nothing is farther from truth. His instead of restoring independence? Holiness the Dalai Lama and the exile There are opposite ways of looking to administration have never thought of our struggle from the two sides. The a) Given the realities of the present holding power in future Tibet. Not Chinese consider us their enemy and global scenario, it is absolutely even in our dreams. our struggle as struggle for victory necessary for us to be pragmatic and and defeat and life and death. But we realistic in formulating any policy to His Holiness the Dalai Lama has view the authorities of People’s conform to these realities. declared time and again that He will Republic of China (PRC) as our b) Even if Tibet became independent not hold any political or institutional potential friends and our struggle as and lived as a neighbour of China, it position the moment Tibetan issue is win-win to both sides. We do not will face unavoidable encroachment in resolved for once and all. The officials struggle for the victory of oneself and the fields of politics, economy and of the exile administration will also not defeat of the opponent. aspire for political authority in Tibet. social matters. They will lead the life of the common Undoubtedly, the Tibet problem is a c) Since Tibet is land-locked and people. Therefore, the issue between direct result of a larger scheme of situated on a high plateau, it has to us is how to rule the people and not modern power struggle among the rely on others to meet its needs. who will rule. nations, continents and civilisations. Therefore, it is difficult to keep our d) On the positive side if we remain d) True nature of Tibetan struggle movement away from the larger with the PRC, this will be helpful for conflict. But we are happy that under our modern material development. Then, what is the true nature of Tibetan the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai issue? It is an issue between truth and Lama we are able to protect ourselves e) Under the present global scenario false, justice and injustice. In other until now from becoming tools of the when there is a loosening of the nation- words, it is an issue of difference in bigger powers. state ideology, there is a trend towards approach to fulfill one’s duty. Tibetans greater unions, like the European are not struggling for their rights but Etymological Meaning of Middle-Way Union. to perform their special duty towards universal responsibility. The precious The Lord Buddha first used the word f) This will make it less inconvenient Buddhist tradition of all the yanas, “middle-way” in his first sermon. It for friendly nations like India to extent including vajra-yana, originated from refers to the middle which avoids two their support. the great land of India is today not extremes. At first it was used in available in any other part of the world. reference to ethics but later on it was g) Since the PRC’s constitution

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 17 DOCUMENTATION sufficiently provides national regional independence when an opportunity for situation in China and the world at autonomy provisions, this aspiration negotiation arose. large. To this effect, the Assembly of is legitimate and within the Chinese Tibetan People’s Deputies adopted a constitution and it can be achieved. In China, the turmoil of the Great Leap unanimous resolution on 18 Forward and Cultural Revolution came September of 1997 and informed His i) Many areas of Kham and Amdo were to an end. Post - Mao China witnessed Holiness the Dalai Lama. Responding gradually separated from Tibetan major political changes. Deng to this, His Holiness the Dalai Lama sovereignty. In 1951 when Tibet lost Xiaoping informed His Holiness the said in his 10 March Statement of 1998: its independence, Tibetan territory was Dalai Lama through his elder brother “..I continue to believe that my already reduced to the size of the Mr. Gyalo Thondup, who was ‘Middle-Way Approach’ is the most present day so-called Tibet stationed in Hong Kong, to consider realistic and pragmatic course to Autonomous Region (TAR). Even if we returning home and declared that resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully. managed to restore independence, it “except independence” all other issues This approach meets the vital needs is unlikely to extent beyond the can be resolved through negotiation. of the Tibetan people while ensuring territory of the present so-called TAR. This has paved the way for new era of the unity and stability of the People’s Since more than fifty percent of relationship between the Tibetans and Republic of China. I will, therefore, Tibetan population lives outside of Chinese. Since His Holiness the Dalai continue to pursue this course of this area, it is impossible to achieve Lama has already formulated a policy approach with full commitment and the unification of all Tibetans. There of Middle-Way Approach it was easy make earnest efforts to reach out to are many other such reasons. for Him to respond immediately. the Chinese leadership...” Based on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s The reason why His Holiness the Dalai However, during the course of guidance, this policy was, hence, Lama chose autonomy as the objective contacts substantial negotiations were adopted through highest decision- of the Tibetan struggle is quite similar delayed without any concrete result. making process of democratic system to Gandhi’s choice of “self-rule; Similarly there was a shift in the views by taking into account the opinion of Swaraj’’ instead of “independence”. of Chinese leaders. Therefore, in order the Tibetan people both in exile and Gandhi’s article “Independence versus to clarify the background and inside Tibet and a unanimous Swaraj” published on 12 January 1928 framework of negotiation, His resolution passed by the Assembly of has been the supreme guiding light for Holiness the Dalai Lama issued the Tibetan People’s Deputies. us in our path. Five-Point Peace Plan in 1987. In his Strasbourg Proposal of 1988, His Renewal of Direct Contacts Detractors of Middle-Way Approach Holiness the Dalai Lama outlined the may think this as surrendering of the detailed framework for autonomy. But Since the renewal of direct contacts in Tibetan people’s legitimate right. If we the Chinese termed it as semi- 2002, the Chinese side has expressed look at Chapter 4 of Gandhi’s Hind independence or independence in deep suspicions and doubts Swaraj titled “What is Swaraj?” then disguise. Since China has rejected concerning the Five-Point Peace Plan one can clearly see our aspiration. To these proposals, there was no further and Strasbourg Proposal. In order to safe time I will not quote here. discussion on this and gradually the dispel these suspicions it was documents became somewhat like explained that Five-Point Peace Plan Formation of Middle-Way Approach ineffective. Contacts between the two is a future vision for the benefit of sides broke off in 1994. entire humanity, including Chinese and Around 1968, under changing national Tibetans, irrespective of the and international situation, it was clear Thereafter in 1996 and 1997 His resolution to the Tibetan issue. The to us that restoring Tibetan Holiness the Dalai Lama proposed that Preamble and other explanations of the independence was difficult and the Tibetan people should decide on the Strasbourg proposal are not a part of means to resolve the Tibetan issue best possible way of realizing the cause the discussion agenda. The framework through autonomy was suggested. of Tibet through a referendum. for autonomy that was outlined in the Since then series of discussions and Accordingly, a preliminary opinion poll text is only a proposal and not an consultations were held. Especially was conducted in which more than ultimate decision. To avoid suspicion after internal consultations with the 64% of the Tibetan people expressed from both sides on the proposal for Kashag, Speaker and Deputy Speaker that there was no need to hold a negotiations, envoys have, in a in mid-1970s, the basis for the Middle- referendum, and that they would nutshell, explained our aspiration for Way Approach was established by support the Middle-Way Approach, or implementation of the provision of formulating a new policy to seek whatever decisions His Holiness the national regional autonomy enshrined meaningful autonomy instead of Dalai Lama takes from time to time, in in the PRC constitution in its entirety accordance with the changing political in both letter and spirit. His Holiness

18 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 DOCUMENTATION the Dalai Lama has also explained it have been established among the in accordance with the need of the several times. In his address to the 4th nationalities and will continue to be areas. World Parliamentarians’ Convention strengthened. In the struggle to on Tibet, 18 November 2005, His safeguard the unity of the Article 117 and 118 explains provisions Holiness the Dalai Lama said, nationalities, it is necessary to combat of autonomy in the field of economy big-nation chauvinism, mainly Han and financial development. “Basically, we are not seeking chauvinism, and to combat local Article 119 provides autonomous independence and everybody knows national chauvinism. The State will do provisions in educational, scientific, that. What we are seeking is genuine, its utmost to promote the common cultural, public health and physical meaningful autonomy within the prosperity of all the nationalities.” framework of the constitution of the culture affairs. People’s Republic of China.” Similarly article 4 of the Chapter 1 Article 120 explains provision of states, Similarly on 10 March Statement of autonomy to organise local public 2006, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “All nationalities in the People’s security forces for the maintenance of Republic of China are equal. The State public order. “I have stated time and again that I do protects the lawful rights and interests Article 121 explains provision to use not wish to seek Tibet’s separation of the minority nationalities and local language of the area as an official from China, but that I will seek its upholds and develops a relationship language. Similarly article 134 of future within the framework of the of equality, unity and mutual Section 7 on Judiciary provides Chinese constitution. Anyone who assistance among all of China’s provisions to use local language in has heard this statement would realise, nationalities. Discrimination against judicial proceedings. unless his or her view of reality is and oppression of any nationality are clouded by suspicion, that my demand prohibited; any act which undermines Preamble of National Regional for genuine self-rule does not amount the unity of the nationalities or Autonomy Law (NRA Law) states, to a demand for separation.” instigates division is prohibited. “Regional national autonomy means Provisions of Autonomy in the PRC The State assists areas inhabited by that the minority nationalities, under Constitution minority nationalities in accelerating unified state leadership, practice their economic and cultural regional autonomy in areas where they Since China is a multi-national state, development according to the the reason behind adopting provisions live in concentrated communities and characteristic and needs of the various set up organs of self-government for of national regional autonomy in the minority nationalities. constitution of the PRC is because it the exercise of power of autonomy. Regional national autonomy embodies was impossible to achieve equality and Regional autonomy is practiced in the state’s full respect for and unity among nationalities without areas where people of minority guarantee of the right of the minority abandoning both Han chauvinism and nationalities live in concentrated nationalities to administer their local nationalism. It was said, to ensure communities; in these areas organs of internal affairs and its adherence to the equality and unity among nationalities self-government are established to principle of equality, unity and the policy of national regional exercise the power of autonomy. All common prosperity for all its autonomy was formulated based on national autonomy areas are integral nationalities.” nationality policy of Marxist-Leninism parts of the People’s Republic of China. by criticising exploitation of minority Article 10 of Chapter 1 on General nationals in the past by previous All nationalities have the freedom to Principles of NRA Law guarantees the Emperors and the nationalist use and develop their own spoken and freedom to use and develop one’s own government, which caused the written language and to preserve or spoken and written language and to separation of nationalities. reform their own folkways and preserve one’s own folkways and customs.” Preamble of the PRC constitution customs. states, Article 112 to 122 of Section 6 of the Article 11 clearly guarantees freedom constitution explains in detail organs of religion. “The People’s Republic of China is a of national regional autonomy. unitary multi-national State created Similarly ariticle 19 of Chapter 3 jointly by the people of all its Article 116 empowers local people’s provides provision to adopt autonomy nationalities. Socialist relations of congress of the national regional regulations. equality, unity and mutual assistance autonomy areas to enact regulations

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 19 DOCUMENTATION

Article 20 provides rights to not to provided under the provisions of history, Tibetans were ruled by the implement resolution, decision, national regional autonomy to all early Kings as well as during the order or instruction of a state organ Tibetans. early period of Sakya reign. at a higher level if it does not suit Moreover, PRC considers Tibetan the conditions of the autonomous PRC’s Concerns and Differences in nationality as one of the 55 minority areas. Opinion nationalities, it is imperative that Tibetans come under one single Since 2002, six rounds of meetings Article 43 provides provision to work administration. If Tibetan nationality were held. Though we have time and out measures for control of the does not come under one single again clearly explained our transient population. administration then this will be aspirations of Middle-Way tantamount to a policy of ‘’Divide Approach, they still do not Likewise there are sufficient and Rule” as practiced by the past understand or prefer not to provisions to ensure self-rule and imperialist regimes. Especially, this understand. Though there are many autonomy in terms of culture, aspiration is not a new aspiration. differences in opinion, it comes economy, usage of natural During the signing of 17-Point down to two main points. Firstly resources, taxation, trade, health, Agreement, the Tibetan delegation difference on history and secondly public security and education. raised the unification of the Tibetan regarding the unification of nationality. The Chinese side Moreover article 31 of the Tibetans. responded by saying that the time constitution provides provision to was not yet ripe but the idea of establish special administrative The Chinese side insists that His unification of the Tibetan nationality regions when necessary. This Holiness the Dalai Lama accept Tibet was appropriate. This was again essentially provides that accept was part of China from a historical discussed during the meeting on the foreign relations and national point of view. Tibetan side has establishment of the Preparatory defence, all other affairs are left explained that is not true. Therefore, Committee of the TAR and a special under the domain of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not committee to make a detailed plan was administration of regional autonomy. in a position to accept it. Chinese appointed under the leadership of concern is that if we do not accept senior Communist Party cadre, If these provisions of constitution Tibet as a part of China from past Sangye Yeshi (Tian Bao). However, and autonomy law are implemented history, then liberation of 1951 will due to ultra-leftist policy this could in true spirit it will ensure the welfare be considered as invasion and the not materialize. Similarly there are of Tibetan people and the protection present Chinese rule of Tibet will be many incidents where the boundaries of Tibet’s unique culture, religion, viewed as illegal occupation. His of the provinces are altered according tradition and language. It will further Holiness the Dalai Lama sees that no to the needs of the time. In the future enable Tibetans to perform their nation today has remained the same too boundaries can be altered. universal responsibility. However, at as its past history and this will never present, unfortunately it is a make the present status illegitimate. Though Chinese side has unleashed universal fact that none of these Tibet will naturally become a massive propaganda to project that provisions are implemented in all legitimate part of China the moment His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Tibetan autonomous region, Tibetans have voluntarily decided to demanding a “greater Tibet” and prefectures and counties. remain as a part of the PRC. For such “high degree autonomy”, but in a thing to happen, His Holiness the All Tibetans lived together on the reality Tibetans are one single Dalai Lama has repeatedly agreed to Tibetan plateau since time nationality and it cannot be divided work on this. immemorial, sharing the same into greater or smaller parts. Our aspiration is to implement the religion, culture, language, customs, Similarly the Chinese side supports provisions of national regional geographical location and their position by saying that united autonomy as enshrined in the PRC livelihood, and if the PRC truly Tibet has never happened in history constitution. Apart from that we have accepts Tibetan nationality as one and it will be impossible to change never talked about high degree or low of the 55 minority nationalities of the boundaries of the present degree autonomy. We see that these China as they already claim, one provinces. To this we explained that differences can be resolved if PRC cannot divide them into different since time immemorial the Tibetans leadership possesses political will. parts or designate them into inner or lived together in concentrated and outer region and smaller or greater. compacted groups and not It is essential to implement self-rule scattered. For larger period of the

20 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 DOCUMENTATION The Statement of the Kashag on the Occasion of the 73rd Birthday Celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama On this very special occasion of the China at great personal risks. These under the leadership of the highest 73rd birthday celebration of His have not only reflected the inner Tibetan legislative body - the Tibetan Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Kashag strength and unity of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Under its guidance, of the Central Tibetan Administration people, but have also demonstrated most of the campaigns or activities - on behalf of the Tibetans in and before the international community the undertaken by the Tibetan diasporic outside Tibet, as well as all of his fact that the Tibetan struggle will community were not only effective, followers across the world - makes its continue generation after generation. but were also carried out in a manner obeisance to His Holiness and prays It is indeed a source of great that reveals the unity of the Tibetan that he may live for hundreds of aeons encouragement for us Tibetans that all people. Therefore, the Kashag would as the true protector and saviour of the justice-and peace-loving like to express its appreciation to all humanity, plagued with the “Five governments and peoples across the those who are involved in these Degenerations, or Impurities” of this globe have been showing their activities. Similarly, as we have Samsaric world. support to, and solidarity with, the reiterated to the Solidarity Committee, Tibetan people. Today, while once these mass movements or activities, While remembering the great services again expressing our sincere aimed at the realisation of the cause of that His Holiness has been making to appreciation to all the Tibetan people Tibet, must be continued for a long time the people living in this age of “Five in Tibet for making great sacrifices for to come. And for this, peaceful Degenerations”, the Kashag would like the common cause of Tibet, the demonstrations and sloganeering to implore him to continue to shower Kashag would like to inform them that alone will not suffice; it is important his compassion and loving kindness their sacrifices will never go in vain. It for us to come out with numerous on all humanity, and particularly on the will, certainly, achieve a great result constructive programmes or actions. people of his adopted Land of Snows, that will be of universal benefit. The Kashag believes that the time has until they are all led to the path of come for us to give a serious thought enlightenment. The recent peaceful protests that over it. The Kashag would like to, rocked the plateau of Tibet were In our previous statement on this very however, emphasise that whatever brutally crushed by the Chinese occasion, the Kashag emphasised the actions the Tibetans in and outside government, leading to many need for enhancing the Tibetan Tibet may initiate, the nature and form thousands of Tibetan people being people’s collective merit and of these actions must not go against arbitrarily arrested, incarcerated, strengthening the power of non- the principle of non-violence as well beaten, injured and killed. This is not violent principle. The Kashag also as the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai only a cause of great disappointment emphasised that we cannot afford to Lama. This is to reiterate that if for us Tibetans, but has also brought lose heart, or be lethargic, in our anybody - be it an organisation or an to the fore the ugly face of China’s struggle towards the resolution of the individual person - undertakes any Tibet policy. We are, moreover, greatly issue of Tibet - even if this struggle activities that go against the advice of concerned about what fate will befall were to drag on for hundreds of years. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the on the Tibetan people in the future. The Kashag, in particular, suggested Kashag will express its all-out Therefore, the Kashag would like to 11-point constructive programmes or opposition to it. For, we recognise that appeal to all the governments and actions to be undertaken by the these activities will not, in any way, peoples of the world that they should Tibetans in general, and the exiled help resolve the issue of Tibet. - while supporting the Tibetans inside Tibetans in particular. While Tibet as before - continue to urge, or Even during the most critical times in reiterating all these points, the Kashag impress upon, the leaders of the the wake of the recent protests in would like to emphatically urge all People’s Republic of China to exercise Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was Tibetans to not only heed these utmost restraint. kind enough to send a personal important requests, but also put them communication to Hu Jintao, the into real practice. In a crisis situation like this, it is president of the People’s Republic of important for all the exiled Tibetans to Since 10 March this year, in all the China. To save Tibet from the crisis initiate solidarity actions that are both three traditional provinces of Tibet, situation it is facing, he also proper and law-abiding. As such, on Tibetans have been courageously dispatched his envoys to Shenzhen (4 the request of the Kashag, the Tibetan protesting against the ultra-leftist May 2008) for an informal discussion Solidarity Committee has been set up policies of the People’s Republic of with the concerned officials of the

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 21 DOCUMENTATION

People’s Republic of China. As agreed As far as His Holiness the Dalai Lama People’s Republic of China are being during this informal meeting, the and the Tibetan diasporic community implemented in Tibet. This, we consider, seventh round of the Sino-Tibetan are concerned, we have made every is a positive step in the present moment dialogue was held in Beijing for two possible effort towards the or circumstances. We will make our days from 1 to 2 July 2008. continuation of the dialogue process preparations for the next round of talks, Unfortunately, the seventh round of and the creation of conducive keeping in view not just the statements talks - as we have suspected from the environment for it. We have also made coming out from the People’s Republic very beginning - did not at all go in greatest efforts - even during the most of China, but also the way they conduct accordance with our hopes and difficult period of the recent unrest in themselves with us. expectations. Moreover, the Chinese Tibet - to restore stability, and to government has indulged in a selfish alleviate the sufferings of the Tibetans However, as we have already act of spewing one-sided propaganda living, there. If the Chinese side is emphasised many times before, the main on Tibet. Greatly disturbed by these sincere about the current process of issue of contention between China and negative developments, we are engagement, then it must lend us a Tibet is only the welfare of the six million doubtful, more than ever before, helping hand in creating a conducive Tibetan people. It is not at all related to whether the leaders of the People’s environment for dialogue between the the personal status of His Holiness the Republic of China have the two sides. Therefore, the Kashag would Dalai Lama; nor is it related to the status determination and sincerity to work like to urge the leaders of the People’s of a few Tibetans who are close to him. towards achieving a reconciliation on Republic of China to do the following, We would like to once again make it the issue of Tibet. so that stability and harmony could be very categorical that concerning them, restored in Tibet: we do not have a single issue to be It is universally known that His discussed with the People’s Republic • Stop immediately all acts of Holiness the Dalai Lama - being an of China. repressing, beating, torturing, arresting undisputed champion of global peace and incarcerating Tibetan people for - would not agree to, or support, In May this year, Sichuan province of peacefully expressing their views; violence in any form. It is also a the People’s Republic of China have universal knowledge that he has been hit by earthquake, causing • Conducting excessive, or rather always pursued a mutually beneficial enormous sufferings to millions of extreme, political “education” among Middle-Way policy of seeking a Chinese and Tibetans living in that part the Tibetan clergy and making undue, solution to the Tibet issue within the of the world. With heavy heart, we or unnecessary, interference in religious constitutional framework of the express our deep condolences to all of affairs should be stopped immediately. People’s Republic of China and that them. As a way of expressing our For, these are the root cause of he has consistently supported China’s solidarity with the quake victims, we instability in the monasteries and hosting of the Olympic Games. the Tibetan exiles - led by His Holiness nunneries; and Therefore, to demand that His Holiness the Dalai Lama - have been able to should not support - or rather stop make our share of contribution by • Stop immediately all those activities - initiating - activities aimed at separating organising prayer meetings and making carried out in the name of progress and Tibet from China, creating violence, and donations toward relief activities development - which harm the land and sabotaging the Olympic Games is not a through various channels. environment of Tibet. Excessive statement that a person with sound exploitation of natural resources, Finally, we pray for the long life of His state of mind makes. Even a child would changing forcefully the traditional know this fact. Therefore, we do not Holiness the Dalai Lama and for an lifestyles of the Tibetan peasants and immediate end to the sufferings of find it necessary to respond, or offer nomads, as well as the policy of those Tibetans who are facing Chinese our explanations, to these statements. flooding Tibet with non-Tibetan His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle- suppression and torture. May the truth migrants, etc., should also be stopped of the issue of Tibet prevail soon! Way policy is a transparent policy that immediately. is still being pursued without The Kashag undergoing a slightest changes. Under During the latest, seventh round of this right policy, we will unswervingly talks, both sides agreed to hold the 6 July 2008 pursue these three commitments of not eighth round of talks before the end of seeking separation, not engaging in October, this year. During that time - it N.B. This is an English translation of the violence, and availing of the was also agreed - both sides will original statement in Tibetan. If there is any opportunities at hand to find a solution deliberate on how the provisions of the difference between this and the Tibetan to the issue of Tibet through dialogue. National Regional Autonomy as version, plesae treat the latter as enshrined in the constitution of the authoritative and final.

22 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 DOCUMENTATION Statement by Special Envoy Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari

Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and I unbiased and independent research on legitimacy the Chinese side even failed accompanied by senior aides Sonam issues such as the history of Tibet, to agree to our proposal of issuing a N. Dagpo, Bhuchung K. Tsering, both which will contribute to a better joint statement with the aim of members of the Task Force on Sino- understanding of the different committing both parties to the dialogue Tibetan Negotiations, and Jigmey perceptions. process. Passang from the Secretariat of the While the Chinese side finally seems Tibetan Task Force, visited Beijing We had a day-long discussion with to have realized that their allegations from June 30 to July 3, 2008. Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun against His Holiness for instigating the and Vice Minister Sithar on July 2, 2008. recent events in Tibet and in sabotaging the Olympics Games have This meeting took place at a crucial become untenable, they are now urging time in our relationship. The recent His Holiness not to support violence, events in Tibet clearly demonstrated terrorism, and sabotaging the the Tibetan people’s genuine and Olympics. We stated in the strongest deep-rooted discontentment with the possible terms that no one needs to People’s Republic of China’s policies. urge us on this as His Holiness and The urgent need for serious and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy the Tibetan struggle are universally sincere efforts to address this issue Lodi Gyari (R) and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen acknowledged and appreciated for during a press conference in Dharamsala, with courage and vision in the interest consistently rejecting and opposing Saturday, 5 June 2008 (Photo by Tenzin Dasel of stability, unity and harmony of all such acts. While the Tibetan Youth / Phayul) nationalities of the PRC is obvious. In Congress does not support the Middle addition even though His Holiness the Way Approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is seeking a Dalai Lama and stands for We met with Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman solution to the issue of Tibet within independence of Tibet, we of the Chinese People’s Political the PRC, it is a fact that it has become categorically rejected the Chinese Consultative Conference and Minister an issue of great international concern. attempt to label it as a violent and of the Central United Front Work In this context, we had hoped that the terrorist organization. His Holiness Department, on July 1, 2008. This was Chinese leadership would reciprocate has repeatedly and clearly stated our first meeting with Minister Du who had taken over the present post after the 17th Party Congress. He gave us a brief overview of China’s domestic and international situation as well as on China’s policy on Tibet. We took the opportunity to explain His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s basic approach in resolving the issue of Tibet and also expressed our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan.

We visited the China’s Centre for Tibetan Studies and were received by Director Lhakpa Phuntsok and Deputy Director Zhu Xiaoming. We had a good discussion with the scholars who Special Envoy Lodi Gyari (second from left) and Kelsang Gyaltsen (far left) during there briefed us about their research meeting on July 1st with Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative projects. We appreciated the work of Conference and Minister of the Central United Front Work Department. the scholars in various fields and had our efforts by taking tangible steps publicly he is not seeking separation the opportunity to emphasize the during this round. On the contrary, due and independence of Tibet. importance of scholars engaging in to their excessive concern about

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 23 DOCUMENTATION

Throughout our talks we have Tibetans in exile. In the course of our We briefed His Holiness the Dalai reiterated to our counterparts that the discussions we were compelled to Lama today. We also briefed Speaker issue at hand is the welfare of the candidly convey to our counterparts Karma Chophel and the Deputy Tibetan people and is not about the that in the absence of serious and Speaker Dolma Gyari this morning. personal status and affairs of His sincere commitment on their part the On our arrival in Dharamsala on July Holiness the Dalai Lama or that of the continuation of the present dialogue 4 we briefed Kalon Tripa Samdhong process would serve no purpose. Rinpoche.

The Chinese side expressed the view We thank our host the Central United that the dialogue process has been Front Work Department of the Chinese productive and that we need to keep Communist Party for its hospitality in mind that a half-a-century-old and assistance. issue of great complexity, cannot be resolved in a matter of years. Dharamsala, Guided by the Tibetan leadership’s 5 July , 2008 policy of engagement, we agreed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Envoys Lodi with our counterparts to have the Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen and their team next round of discussions in October in discussion with Executive Vice Minister and discussed some points that Zhu Weiqun and Vice Minister Sithar with could serve as the basis of the their team on July 2, 2008 in Beijing agenda. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibet Issue Message by His Holiness In the light of recent news reports government. We would also like to make the Dalai Lama on the quoting Chinese officials that the issue it clear, especially to our Chinese of Tibet is only about the person of His brothers and sisters that Tibetans, Beijing Olympics Holiness the Dalai Lama, we would like including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, do to take this opportunity to clarify once not even dream of restoring the old society again that the issue of Tibet concerns that prevailed in Tibet before 1959. As a I would like to offer my greetings to the future of six million Tibetans in Tibet matter of fact, democracy was introduced and not His Holiness the Dalai Lama. in the exile Tibetan community in 1960 the People’s Republic of China,the through election of representatives to the organizers and the athletes In fact, when the Chinese Government Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies participating in the forthcoming made a five-point proposal in 1981 which (Parliament in exile). Olympic Games in Beijing. included that “the Dalai Lama will enjoy Right from the time of China’s the same political status and living Since 2001, Tibetans in exile have an application to hold the Olympic conditions as he had before 1959”, His elected political leadership and His games,I have supported China’s right Holiness categorically made it clear to Holiness considers himself in semi- to host the Games. This is a moment the Chinese leadership that the issue at retirement. However, he will continue stake was the well-being of six million fullfill his life-long commitment to of great pride to the 1.3 billion Tibetans, and he personally had nothing promote human values and religious Chinese people. These Games should to ask of the Central Chinese harmony. contribute to promoting the Olympic government. spirit of friendship,openness and Following the resumption of talks with peace. His Holiness has stated right from 1969 the Chinese government in 2002, His onwards that even the continuation of Holiness’ envoys have also conveyed I send my prayers and good wishes the institution of the Dalai Lama is for at every meeting that the issue is about for the success of this event. the Tibetan people to decide. the well-being of the Tibetan people and In 1992 His Holiness declared that once not of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. we are able to return to Tibet with DALAI LAMA Press Release issued by Chhime R. meaningful autonomy, he will not play Chhoekyapa, Secretary to His Holiness any role in the future government of 6 August 2008 the Dalai Lama on 18 July , 2008. Tibet, let alone seek the Dalai Lama’s traditional political position in the

24 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 SPECIAL FEATURE Chronological Details of Recent Events in Tibet

July Press Releases of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, edited by Tenzin Dickyi

July 01, 2008 According to a confirmed report, monks personnel in March, has been released of Genden Samdup Ling monastery in recently. He too was treated inhumanely Four monks of Tarmo Monastery in Driru Khangmar, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, in the prison with torture and beatings. (Ch: Biru) County, Nagchu (Nagu) prevented a contingent of local county A monk of Drepung Monastery, a former Prefecture were arrested on their way to officials and security personnel from prisoner had earlier served 13 years of Lhasa. Arrested monks are Ngawang raiding the quarters of five other monks jail term in Drapchi prison. He was Gyaltsen (age 42), the abbot and the who had been arrested earlier for arrested in 1991. President of the Democratic staging peaceful protest in Karze. Management Committee of the Many other former Tibetan political Monastery, and his administrative Three monks from Nubsur Monastery prisoners had to undergo similar colleagues, Ngawang Jampa (around in Serta (Ch: Seda) County staged a treatment of arrest and beatings at the 40), Ngawang Sangye (38) and Kalsang peaceful demonstration on June 28 at hands of the Chinese authorities in the Lochok (20). around 2:30 p.m. local time. The monks, aftermath of the March incident. Tulku Gendun, Sashi and Gyachuk Earlier in March and April, Tarmo Wangchuk were immediately arrested by Among the 50 odd nuns of Pang Ri-na Monastery received a contingent of the security personnel. Nunnery in Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County Chinese work team asking the monks to who were earlier arrested following a denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A monk named Ngawang Palsang has peaceful protest, four of them have been Ngawang Gyaltsen had then resisted reportedly died following a heart attack released, a source has said. The the campaign by insisting that, as a in prison sometime in May. Reports remaining nuns continue to be detained Buddhist, it was ethically unjustifiable suggest that Ngawang Palsang was in Dar-tsedo (Ch: Kangding) and are for the monks to condemn their root subjected to brutal and mistreatment by subjected to political indoctrination, guru. He also demanded from the the prison officials and more often said the source. authorities to invite His Holiness the threatened with torturous treatment that Dalai Lama back to Tibet. The abbot was led to his ultimate heart failure. Ngawang July 03, 2008 then joined by all the monks of the Palsang was born in Taktse County monastery compelling the work team to under Lhasa municipality, TAR and he More than 300 Nuns Expelled from return but with a stern warning that the used to be monk at Lo Monastery. He their Nunnery fate of the monastery would be decided was earlier imprisoned for six years after According to a relevant source, more later in the month of July when another his arrest in 1993 on charges of political than three hundred nuns were expelled contingent of work team arrive. The activities. At the time of his re-arrest, on 27 June 2008 from Samtenling arrest is most probably related to the he was studying Tibetan medicine at Nunnery (Ch: Watag Nunnery) in Tehor above incident. Lhasa Mentsee-khang (Tibetan Township, Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County, Medicine and Astrological Institute in Karze (Ch: Ganzi) TAP. The expelled The authorities alleged that these Lhasa). After his death, the police nuns were arrested and beaten monks had embarked on the journey [to returned his is corpse was returned to mercilessly by the Chinese armed forces Lhasa] in violation of the monastery’s his family. regulation without taking proper leave, for planning a peaceful demonstration but their arrest have already been Similarly, Pasang (alias Tenzin Namgyal), in their support of another fellow nun, planned due to the above incident and a monk of Phagmo Monastery in Taktse, Tsering Tso, who was arrested on 8 June the reason cited by the authorities are Lhasa was also arbitrarily arrested in for her peaceful demonstration. just an excuse, sources have added. It March. After sustaining severe torture Urgyen Lhamo and Guru have is yet not known where these four and maltreatment in the prison, he was disappeared since 8 June demonstration. monks are being held. released in an appalling state of health. However, Chinese authorities deny their Tenzin Namgyal is also a former Tibetan detention. July 02, 2008 political prisoner who was sentenced for six years in Drapchi prison following Tibetan prisoner dies of heart attack On 18 June 2008, at around 11 AM, his arrest in August 1993. and monks prevent authorities from Ngawang Phuntsok, age 32 from Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze TAP ransacking their quarters Another former prisoner, who was also protested in front of the Karze Police arrested by the Chinese security

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 25 SPECIAL FEATURE

District County. Chinese military beat were stolen from the monks. Similarly, Samtenling Nunnery, who are still under him with iron and electric rods and Drepung and Ramoche faced similar Chinese detention for their affiliation in thereby arrested. robbery. a peaceful demonstration. On July 2, Palden Nyendak was called in at Drakgo Yangzom, age 31, Poewang (Pemo), age Around 4:30 AM on April 16 at Police Station. During his interrogation, 27 and Lhamo, age 29 from Yae Tseg Taktsang Ratoe Monastery in Nyethang he was abashedly chastised by Chinese Nunnery were beaten mercilessly for Township, Chushul (Ch: Chushui) armies for the poor up-bringing of his protesting and were arrested. County, Lhasa, Armed police descended two daughters. and forced every monk to wait out on On 26 June 2008, more than 100 Chinese the courtyard while armies along with July 08, 2008 military with the guns and rifle Chinese military raided every room. unexpectedly came to Drakar Nunnery Phone lines in the Taktsang Ratoe Disparagement of Tibetans and in Trehor Township, Karze County. Monastery have been cut off. restriction on Annual Horse Race Drakar nunnery was then surrounded festival by armed forces and Tsering Wangchuk On April 3 in Tongkor Monastery in was arrested. Zithang County, Karze, Chinese armed Reliable sources have confirmed about police raided every room and imposition of unannounced curfew on July 05, 2008 confiscated all valuable gadgets. July 5 in Lithang (Ch: Litang) County of Similarly, on March 28 at Kirti Monastery Karze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous China Continues to Rob Tibetans’ (the main cathedral) in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture in Sichuan province. The day Wealth and Possessions County, 700 monk’s quarters were marking the eve of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday saw massive Since March, Chinese government has raided. Approximately over 1, 200, 000 Yuan value of possessions were stolen. deployment of troops and armed security raided countless private homes, personnel and clampdown on the monasteries, and monks’ local July 07, 2008 movements of the Tibetan people was residence. During the raids, Chinese imposed that evening around 8 p.m. work teams, militaries and armies have Tight Restriction Increases on His local time, extending to three days. pillaged myriad of personal items that Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday in Those found to defy the orders were are both extremely costly and valuable. Tibet warned of dire consequences including shoot at sight. On June 11, 2008 in Sey Monastery in According to a reliable source, on His Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Chinese Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday on The Tibetans living in the nearby military made a forced entry into each July 6, 2008, Chinese authorities counties of Nyagchukha (Ch:Yia jiang), monk’s resident hall where a thorough increased their clampdown on the entire Bapa (Ch: Batang) and Nyagrong (Ch: search of each room took place and Tibetan plateau. The enormity of Xing Long) were all barred from entering confiscated all electronic gadgets. yesterday’s restriction involved Lithang County. The government has countless numbers of military also ordered to cancel the annual horse On April 19 at Minthang Monastery in deployment; stern scrutiny on every racing festival that is usually celebrated Minthang Township, Chigdril (Ch: Tibetan; restaurants, stores and guest during this time of year in Lithang Jiuzhi) County, all valued items and house force to remain closed, County. Lithang County has been under electronic gadgets were seized. particularly in Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) heavy military presence since August 1 On April 18, at Rongpo Monastery in County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) Prefecture. last year, when Rungye Adrak had Rebgong (Ch: Tongren) County, Tibetans have been prohibited from staged an anti-government protest. The countless Tibetans from the area were gathering in groups; and the sangsol presence of the security personnel in arrested. Specifically on April 17, performance (the auspicious burning the county has relatively increased this Choenying Gyatso of Rongpo incense ritual) was banned. year and many of them, according to Monastery was arrested. From his room, sources, are attired in the local Tibetan Two foreigners who came to Drakgo approximately 23, 000 Yuan worth of dresses so as to hide their identities. Monastery yesterday were denied entry possessions was stolen. inside the Monastery. The two In Rebkong (Ch: Tongren) County, On April 18, Chinese armed police and foreigners were pulled and dragged out Tibetans chose not to celebrate this military, in approximately 40 huge of the monastery. year’s annual picnic as sign of solidarity trucks, unexpectedly arrived at Sera with those Tibetans killed and injured On July 3, 2008, Palden Nyendak, age Monastery (North of Lhasa) and raided during the Chinese crackdown in the 60, was found dead. Palden Nyendak each monk’s room. Countless monks aftermath of widespread freedom was the father of Tsering Tsomo and were arrested and innumerable goods protests in the region as well as in Urgen Lhamo, two nuns of Wa-tag

26 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 SPECIAL FEATURE memory of thousands of Chinese killed, Gephel (aka Gendun 19) and Sashi (21) July 10, 2008 injured and deprived of following the from Nubsur Monastery in Serta (Ch: May earthquake in Sichuan province. Seda) County. The next day on June 29, Arbitrary Arrest of three monks and at the wee hours (around 4 a.m.) expulsion of a Disciplinarian July 09, 2008 thousands of armed police raided the Nubsur Monastery. About half of the According to confirmed information, Govt. oppression claims four Tibetan armed police broke into the quarters of three monks hailing from Larung Gar lives while Serta rise in protest Yingchuk and Sashi, pillaging and Buddhist Institute in Serta (Ch: Seda) destroying whatever came their way. The County, Karze TAP, Sichuan province According to reliable sources, a senior quarters were razed to dust. The armed were arrested on July 8 while they were monk of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba (Ch: police also stormed in Gephel’s quarter in Chengdu. No reason, whatsoever, has Aba) County died on July 6 due to and robbed his precious belongings and been given for their arrest as of yet. excessive pressure by the Chinese destroyed all other articles including authorities. The monk identified as The monks, Taphun (or Tashi Phuntsok, religious texts. It is estimated that Jampel Gyatso, aged 70 had been a aged 44), Ngachung (37) and Gudrak properties worth 20 thousand Yuans patient of high blood pressure and whose age cannot be confirmed, were have been destroyed during the raid, stress, which was exacerbated by all long time students in the Larung Gar including the quarters. Even the timbers immense pressure the authorities Buddhist Institute in Serta county. The from the rubbles were not spared and exerted upon him following the monks have also served the Institute at taken to the county headquarters by the expulsion of all the monks below the age various capacities, the source has authorities. of 18 years old and the launch of added. Taphun and Ngachung are “patriotic education” campaign in the A Tibetan youth injured after the nephews of the late Khenpo Jigme monastery. The expulsion of younger Chinese security personnel opened fire Phuntsok, the founder of the Larung Gar monks had led the monastery almost during the Lhasa protest had died Buddhist Institute. Gudrak is the third vacant, which the authorities did not around end of June notwithstanding the monk arrested in the group. Their want for fear of public criticism. treatments to save him. The youth whereabouts remain unknown. Therefore, the authorities ordered the identified as Anu (38) was a resident of In Karze County, authorities have return of all the monks by July 5 to the Paljor Rabten Khang quarter in Lhasa stripped of a senior monk of Karze monastery, or otherwise they warned the and his parents were Rabgyal and Monastery from his post. The reason monks would be arrested from their Tsetan (both expired). homes. These pressures from the for Ngodup Phuntsok’s expulsion from authorities lead to deterioration of the Another Tibetan called Namlang, who his post is attributed to the fact that the health condition of Jampel Gyatso, and sustained multiples injuries following Disciplinarian had been instrumental in he passed away days later. his arrest and beatings in the prison has collecting donations, conducting prayer died in May. Namlang was arrested while sessions etc. in solidarity to and for Earlier in Kirti Dongri Monastery under participating in the peaceful appealing other monks to dedicate their Ngaba County, another monk called demonstration in March in Phenpo and prayers to the hundreds of Tibetans Lobsang Tsultrim committed suicide on had been denied initial medical killed, thousands injured and arrested July 3 for unable to bear the pressures assistance, which deteriorated his due to Chinese government’s of “patriotic education” campaign that condition. He was later treated in the crackdown on the Tibetan people after was launched for the second time in this county hospital but to no avail. Namlang widespread protests in Tibet. He had monastery. Before his death, Lobsang is from dZong Shol village in Phenpo also defied the Chinese authorities to Tsultrim had expressed his anguish at Lhundrup County and was 42 years old. hoist Red flag over the monastery and the impending patriotic education He is survived by his wife, two children rejected the authorities’ call to sign campaign and complained about its aged 8 and 15 years respectively and denunciation of His Holiness the Dalai severity. His elder brother found his his grandmother, 82 years old. Lama. body hanging in a wood-store of the monastery just five minutes after he left Conditions of two other Tibetans from He had told the authorities during the the quarter. Lobsang Tsultrim is from the same county, who were injured forced signature campaign that there is Meu Ruma Village in Ngaba County. His during the above protest are said to be no one in the monastery who does not father’s name is Palkho and he was only critical with little hope of recuperation. have faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 16 years old. One of them belongs to Loba Toe village He had then warned the authorities’ that while other is from Ding village, both in their action would cause widespread In our July 2 release we had reported Phenpo Lhundrup County. dissension and that Tibetans in Karze about the arrest of three monks namely would revolt to the last man, if they Yingchuk (aka Gyachuk Wangchuk, 18), forcibly fly the flag or ask the monks to denounce the Dalai Lama. JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 27 SPECIAL FEATURE

July 11, 2008 unknown as of now. forces arrived at Togden Monastery in Amdo Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County to Tibetan arrested for conveying Earlier on April 16, Chinese security intensify the restrictions already grievances people in Siling (Ch: Xining), Qinghai imposed earlier. Officials announced Province had surreptitiously arrested that those monks who had left the The State-run Xinhua News Agency Kalsang Tsundu, Konchok Samten, monastery during the patriotic today cited Tibetan Autonomous Jimpa Gyatso and Lobsang Tsering, all reeducation campaign must return back. Region (TAR) executive vice-chairman monks of Je Kumbum Monastery. They It is also reported that on the pretext of Pema Thinlay as saying that the TAR were subjected to prolong interrogation laying new electrical wires, the security Public Security Bureau had arrested and coupled with constant beatings after forces have installed surveillance detained 953 people in connection with they were taken to Siling city, where they cameras to monitor the activities of the the March 14 incident. Among them were detained without any formal monks in the monastery’s main were 362 people who surrendered charges or explanation of their crime. assembly hall. In March, Lama Kyab and themselves to the authorities. The After much efforts by the monks, Je Trinkho were arrested from this executive vice chairman told that 116 Kumbum Monastery monks were finally monastery but the whereabouts still people are still being investigated for released on May 15 but the authorities remain unknown. their roles in the incident. The chairman confiscated some of their belongings. gave these figures as a follow up to the In Lhasa, a Tibetan resident called 42 Tibetans who have already been There are deep apprehensions about the Thupten has been arrested from his sentenced by the court. However, whereabouts and fate of around 30 home on July 10 on alleged ground of during a press conference on June 20, monks from Gyalshoe Bhenkar involvement in political activities. the executive vice chairman of TAR, Monastery in Bhenkar village, Diru (Ch: Thupten is forty years old, originally Pema Thinlay had told that 1157 people Biru) County in Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) from Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, near with minor offences were released and Prefecture under TAR. These monks had Dhargye Monastery. another 116 remained to be prosecuted. been temporarily living in Drepung There are fundamental contradictions in Monastery and pursuing Buddhist A latest report indicated the transfer of these two statements. If there have been studies there during the March protest around 10 monks from a monastery in only 953 people detained following the in Lhasa. No one knows where these Karze TAP who had been arrested in incident, then how could there be release monks had been taken to and whether early July to a prison in Sangyip, near of 1157 and 116 yet to be prosecuted? If they are living or dead. Lhasa. Among the arrested were monks both these figures of 953 and 1157 were Tenzin Soepa, Nyima Tashi and Gelek. to be believed as detained in TAR, then July 14, 2008 They are monks of Kathok Monastery it should be at least 2110 people arrested in Karze but no detailed information is in TAR alone? Tibetans in Tibet continue to suffer yet available. arrest, torture and killing: According to confirmed report, Palden July 17, 2008 Chodak and Nyidor, both residents of Within these past four months Tibetans Nyinmo shang in Palbar (Ch: Bianba) in Tibet had to undergo unthinkable Unfair trial and a suicide of compulsion County under Chamdo (Ch: Qamdo) suffering at the hands of Chinese Prefecture, were arrested in the first week authorities simply for expressing their According to confirmed information, the of July for expressing their grievances opinion in a peaceful manner that led to Ngapa (Ch: Aba) Prefecture People’s of Tibetan people in front of the local violent crackdown resulting in more than Middle Court, on July 10 awarded a officials. The two had expressed their five thousand Tibetans arrested, sentence ranging from 13 years to life resentment over presence of large hundreds killed and thousands critically imprisonment to three monks. The number of ethnic Han Chinese in the injured. Cases of arrests, killings and monks, Kelba (23), Terzoed (25) and region working as security personnel torture still continue. With regard to Tsekho (27) were sentenced to life and govt. officials. They had demanded number of peaceful protests so far, the imprisonment, 15 years and 13 years work for Tibetans. Chinese government officially claimed respectively. All the three monks hailed that more than one hundred and fifty from Ngame Lota Township of Ngaba Two days before, a monk named Choejor protests (both large and small scale) were County. The court alleged that the (24) of Gyalshoe Bhenkar Monastery and recorded in Karze Province (Ch: Ganzi) monks were found guilty of looting, his elder brother Dorje Tashi (28), both alone until July 3 2008 which makes an burning and smashing during March 16 from Nyinmo shang in Palbar County average of 1.30 protests a day. demonstrations in Ngaba. Without any were unexpectedly arrested on the right or opportunity to an independent charges of passing information to outside July 16, 2008 lawyer to represent them, it is entirely a world. Their whereabouts remain case of enforced judgment. It is still On July 12, a team of Chinese security

28 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 SPECIAL FEATURE unknown where the monks have been clash on July 18 between the security Earlier on June 26, four monks from imprisoned after the court’s ruling. forces and the monks of Zogchen Trewo Pal Ngagyur Khedrup Norsang Monastery in Derge (Ch: Dege) County Ling monastery in Migyag, Dadho On June 29, four Tibetans including under Karze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan township, Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County Tsegyal Palbastsang was arrested in Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan staged a peaceful demonstration in Genang, Jomda (Ch: Jiangda) County in province. Dadho township and distributed leaflets Chamdo (Ch: Qamdo) Tibetan demanding Tibetan independence, Autonomous Prefecture of TAR. The The large contingents of Chinese Long Life for His Holiness the Dalai local Tibetans therefore initiated a military who have been camping in the Lama etc, and also shouted slogans. The campaign for their release on June 31 Zogchen Monastery since March 10 four monks are Khepa, Thinlay Dorje, but the Chinese security arrested this year, taking un-due advantage of Rinchen Dorje and Gonpo successfully another 32 Tibetans. Until the last report, their deployment had been resorting to escaped after their protest and are except for seven Tibetans, all have been reckless hunting spree in the nearby believed to be hiding in the nearby released. The seven Tibetan still in jungles and mountains, which the local mountains. custody are Tsegyal Pelbartsang (74), Tibetan nomads of Beyul Demo Jong Jamyang Tsering Momotsang (46), (aka Zogchen Rudham Lung) regard as July 21, 2008 Angyok (41), Palchen (38), Tsering (22), sacred and place of holy abode. The Chokdup (21) and Sonam Dhargyal (39). soldiers even dressed themselves up in Two Derge Monastery Monks Killed Due to his old age, the prison officials Tibetan dresses to prevent from being in Chamdo refused to accept Tsegyal exposed. At least two monks of Derge Gonchen Pelbartsang. Similarly, despite his failing in Derge (Ch: Dege) County have health condition, Sonam Dhargyal is still Since these actions are opposed to reportedly been killed on July 12 when held in custody. No information is Tibetan customs and ethics and is the Chinese armed police opened fired available on the whereabouts and where moreover, breach of the local laws, a on unarmed crowd of monks during a the other arrested Tibetans are local Tibetan lama of Rudham Lung who scuffle over an annual ritual Cham dance incarcerated. The reason behind the had been in retreat tried to dissuade the festival, which the authorities forcibly initial arrest of four Tibetans is attributed soldiers from hunting, but was treated stopped, some sources have reported. to a protest that the local Tibetans had with severe beatings to the point of Details of the incident are yet planned to stage after harvesting the losing his life. unavailable. caterpillar fungus (Yartsa Gunbu), An unconfirmed report stated a blast in which, however, may have leaked. Only July 18 around 3 in the afternoon, monks of Zogchen Monastery went to the Derge Gonchen monastery left A monk named Trangma of Drapa the County headquarter to file a unknown number of monk dead and Yangden Monastery in Minyag complaint. The monks were threatened some injured. It could not be however township in Nyagchu (Ch: Yajiang) for complaining and in an ensuing confirmed whether the two incidents, of County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) TAP melee, the Chinese officials opened fire firing and explosion, occurred reportedly committed suicide on June at the crowd of monks hitting number simultaneously or by which incidents 18 for not being able to bear the pressure of monks including Thromtha Khenpo the two monks were killed. Nonetheless, of denouncing His Holiness the Dalai Tsering Sangpo, the incumbent Lopon sources have confirmed the death of Lama. The Chinese authorities had (master/Acharya) of the monastery. around forty year’s old monk named launched a campaign of denunciation Many of the monks have had their legs Delok and another monk in his 20’s by of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and had and arms fractured. It is yet unknown the name of Gyaltsen. Among those ordered to fly the Red Star over the whether there have been any fatality. injured, a monk named Passang along monastery. The monk had, before his The situation remains tense with huge with three others whose conditions are death, opined that it would be spiritually Chinese security presence. Zogchen said to be critical. Sources have further improper and defilement of his spiritual Monastery has over 800 monks in its informed that the blast was a powerful vows to denounce His Holiness and had two branches. one. Chinese authorities in the region declared instead to cut his life short. have imposed severe restrictions and In Karze Tibetan Autonomous have imposed prohibition on the July 19, 2008 Prefecture, where monks and nuns of assembly of more than two persons. Trehor Chokri Monastery, Ngango Chinese authorities shoot at monks of Nunnery and Kharser Nunnery, all in On June 15, in Kanlho (Ch: Gannan) Zogchen Monastery in Derge Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County, staged a Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, series of peaceful protests earlier and People’s Middle Court announced its Many monks, according to reliable later had left their monasteries defying ruling on three Tibetans for their sources, have been injured following a the patriotic reeducation campaign. participation in the peaceful protests of

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 29 SPECIAL FEATURE

March in Machu (Ch: Maqu) County. had been cleansed (of separatist forces). July 26, 2008 They were arrested on April 11. Lama In the event of permanently closing Kyab has been sentenced for 15 years, down the monastery, all the monks would Drepung Monastery: Still under Khechok (30) for 13 years and Konchok have to leave the monastery, which Critical Situation (16) for 12 years respectively. would then be confiscated by the state, According to a reliable source, the authorities have stated. In Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, the Chinese monasteries in all over Tibet are under security forces have arrested two With only less than three weeks for strict control particularly those brothers, Lobsang (20) and Dorjee (30) the Summer Olympics to go, China monasteries, which were involved in the for staging a peaceful protest on June has stepped up restrictions in whole recent peaceful demonstration. The 11 at around 2 .pm. Dorje sustained a of Tibet with particular Chinese authority still imposes patriotic bullet to his feet. intensification of restrictions and education in those monasteries thereby surveillance on the Tibetan people creating immense misery to the monks Similarly, two other Tibetans named living in Beijing and elsewhere in and nuns. The Chinese Government Tashi Dorje from Lagang teng Mainland China. Tibetan officials states that all monasteries in and around village and Thupten Phuntsok from and students living in the Chinese Lhasa are open to general public but in Phukyul Nang village under Karze capital and adjacent areas are under reality, Drepung Monastery is still (Ch: Ganzi) County were arrested by strict security observation with many closed. Nechung Monastery located the Chinese security people in June of them ordered to leave the capital. below Dreprung Monastery in Lhasa is on charges of staging a This is a clear case of the innate surrounded by Chinese armies, which demonstration earlier. distrust that the Chinese leaders makes general public difficult to walk have of Tibetan people. nearby the monasteries let alone entering July 22, 2008 those. The movements of monks in both In a daring effort, a young Tibetan monk, Drepung and Nechung Monasteries are China maneuver Tibetan Versus whose identity could not be confirmed closely watched and checked that it is Tibetan except for his monastery, staged a lone impossible to obtain information about demonstration in front of the Karze the situation of those monks. In a bizarre case of mounting surveillance County’s Armed Police office on July 15. over the monasteries, sources have The police fired at least three bullets On June 13, 2008, the Chinese police reported about China’s exploitation of (rubber bullet) rendering the monk officers in Tewo County, Kham Province Tibetan officials versus Tibetan monks. unconscious and was thus captured, have arrested Tsewang Rigzin, 55, living The new drive has recently been tossed into a police van and taken away. in Barzi Shang, Tewo District for his launched in Drakgo Monastery in Karze The monk is said to be a monk of Langna involvement in the recent protest in (Ch: Ganzi) County which requires the Monastery of Yarto Rongpatsa village Tewo District. prominent county and township level in Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County. officials to monitor and indoctrinate the In recent information, on May 15, 2008, high ranking lamas and abbots of the July 24, 2008 a Tibetan named Sogyal, aged 35 from monastery while more than 120 low level Gardo Shang in Markham area has Tibetan officials have been mobilized to Authorities Destroy Retreat Centre and staged a peaceful demonstration. A monitor the activities of the general Confiscate Religious Artifacts similar protest was staged in the monks as well as to politically educate beginning of June this year by a them. According to the new edict, if any According to a reliable source, Tsezin, Tibetan nomad called Gyurmey monks are found guilty of disobeying a Tibetan Yogi who had spent many Wangdak living in that same district. and participating in the protests, the years retreating in mount Wutai Shan, Both of them were arrested and responsible Tibetan official will have to in China had built around ten new detained in Markham District prison bear the brunt of expulsion from service. retreat huts with the monetary but later transferred to Chamdo District This new drive has thus placed both the contribution of one hundred thousand Prison. officials and monks under immense Yuan from one of his patrons around a pressure of distress and anxiety. decade ago and was named Pema Gon. These huts were particularly built to The new drive further decreed that the alleviate the sufferings of other Source: Tibetan Solidarity Committee. monastery would face closure, either retreating monks who faced problem Press Release Archives. July 01 through permanently or temporarily, if more than of shelter. July 26, 2008. Available at 30% of the monks were found www.stoptibetcrisis.org. participating in the protests even after it

30 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 E N V I R O N M E N T Climate Change in Tibet and Its Consequences By Chokyi Tibet is warming at a rate faster than the continuous days of wind and dusts, a that Tibet’s glaciers could disappear rest of the world. The Tibetan plateau 20-year record high. In June of the same within the next 100 years. 5 has already witnessed a dramatic rise in year, most areas in Ngari reported an The glacial melt has resulted in the destabilization of surrounding hillsides and landslides have become increasingly frequent. In 2005, a massive landslide in the Ngari Prefecture formed a natural dam, blocking Pareechu, a tributary of the Sutlej River. Fearing flooding from this dam even caused major concerns among those living along the river in Himachal Pradesh, India. 6

Five years earlier, on June 10, 2000, Yidwong Tsangpo (Ch:Yigongzangbo), a tributary of Yarlung Tsangpo flooded resulting in the deaths of 30 people and the disappearance of more than 100 others. The flood also had disastrous effects in the five districts of Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern India where 50,000 people were left homeless and more than 20 big bridges and other infrastructure were damaged. The total economic loss was estimated at more than 1 billion rupees (22.9 million USD). 7

Recently, the collapse of Amnye Machen glaciers has also been reported.8 O n e massive collapse, in particular, occurred in March 2004. Ice, boulders and snow avalanched down the mountain into the Chu Ngon River (Ch: Qingshui River), forming a natural dam. In July 2005, the AMNYE MACHEN GLACIER PHOTO CREDIT: GREEN PEACE, 2004 dam broke and the ensuing glacial-lake temperature since the early 1970s, long average temperature increase of 1 to 2 outburst flood dramatically affected the before signs of global warming were degree Celsius and average decrease in land and the people living downstream. 9 widely recognized. 1 precipitation by 20 to 90 percent. Other abnormal weather phenomena have also The Yellow River (Tib: Machu), on which According to a new study by the Tibet occurred in Gertse county, where one some 300 million people in China depend, Meteorological Bureau, the annual snowstorm continued for 20 hours, the is also quickly drying up. It has failed to temperature in the Tibet Autonomous longest snowfall in the past 13 years, and reach the Yellow Sea many times.10 Region (TAR) is rising at a rate of 0.3 11 cm of snowfall was recorded. 3 Likewise in 2006, the Yangtze River (Tib: degrees Celsius every ten years, more Drichu), that serves approximately 500 than twice the world average. 2 Many Tibetan glaciers are also melting million people along its course, had the due to increase in average temperatures lowest water level in its upper reaches Tibet, in recent years, has also been of the region.4 In the past 40 years, since 1920. 1 1 experiencing other disturbing weather Tibet’s glaciers have shrunk by 6,600 phenomena such as snowstorms and square kilometers, and are currently A study indicates that the permafrost windstorms. In 2007, Ngari prefecture in melting at an estimated rate of 7 percent base area in the source region of the Western Tibet experienced nineeach year. As a result, the UN has warned Yellow River is moving upwards. The

JULY-AUGUST 2007 TIBETAN BULLETIN 31 E N V I R O N M E N T base of permafrost has climbed up by steps to curb global warming. Climate Change on the Yellow 50-70m as compare to the figures from River Source Region the 1970s and 1990s.12 According to 1 3 I b i d Greenpeace, an environmental organization, there are significant carbon *Chokyi is a researcher at the stores in permafrost layers, particularly Environmental and Development in the form of methane (CH4), which Desk, DIIR. Further research on the A Personal Request by could be released if the permafrost melts, topic is being conducted and the final Kalon Tripa further contributing to global warming. 1 3 report will be published later this year.

Permafrost degeneration is also thought to damage grasslands by gradually Dear Friends, reducing moisture content in the soil. 1 “Roof of the World” Testifies You might have seen the Appeal Early Global Warming, by Wang issued by the Tibetan Solidarity According to the 2007 Jiaquan on June 21, 2007 Committee to request all Tibetans, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 2 Tibet is warming at twice global Tibet Support Groups and peace- Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment average, 14:48 24 July 2007, loving people of the world to observe Report, communities whose livelihoods NewScientist.com news service a 12-hour symbolic fasting and prayer are highly dependent on natural 3 Ngari prefecture in Tibet sees on 30th August 2008 for world peace resources are among the most vulnerable more abnormal weather and, particularly, for the departed to climate change. Approximately 80 phenomena in 2007 souls of the Tibetan people in recent percent of Tibetans, mostly nomads and 11 January 2008, Xinhua’s China months in Tibet. The appeal also re- farmers, live in rural areas and their Economic Information Service commits ourselves to the path of non- livelihood depends primarily on the 4 A disaster in the making, China’s violence. The objectives and how to grasslands where their livestock graze. shrinking glaciers pose a huge observe the fasting are mentioned in Tibetans are, therefore, very vulnerable threat to the country’s stretched to climate change. water supplies. By Clifford detail in the appeal. If you have not Coonan, The Independent,received the appeal as yet, please visit Due to its unique geographical location November 18, 2006 our official website www.tibet.net and and high altitude, Tibet faces rapid 5 i b i d www.stoptibetcrisis.org. changes in its weather patterns and 6 A Country deluged by VK Joshi, ecosystems unlike the rest of the world. December 3, 2006 We consider this as extremely The very survival of millions of people 7 Approach to mountain hazards in important non-violent action taken by and thousands of plant and animal Tibet, China, Chengdu Institute Tibetans under the leadership of His species in Tibet and neighboring of Mountain Hazards andHoliness the Dalai Lama in a very countries depend on Tibetan water Environment, Chinese Academy critical period for Tibet, particularly resources. The impact of climate change of Sciences & Ministry of Water the post-Olympic period. I personally on the Tibetan headwaters raises real Conservancy, Chengdu 610041, request you and your organization to concerns for millions of downstream Sichuan, China kindly participate in this fast and water users. Lack of communication and 8Yellow River at Risk, Anprayer and encourage many other treaties between countries situated Assessment of the Impacts of people to join us in this effort to upstream and downstream along the Climate Change on the Yellow reduce our own defilements and to same rivers has led to flash floods River Source Region create wisdom and compassion in the ravaging human settlements in recent 9 i b i d minds of the oppressor. I believe you years. It is therefore very important that 10China’s Water Shortage Could will cooperate us in this non-violent information on cross-boundary issues Shake World Food Security, by action. like water be shared among the effected Lester R. Brown and Brian Halweil countries. Furthermore, it would be 11 Climate Change and the Right to With my warm personal greetings, beneficial to both Tibetans and the world Development. Himalayan Glacial community to make the Tibetan Plateau Melting and the Future ofYour sincerely, an exploitation-free international Development on the Tibetan observatory zone like Antarctica to Plateau. By Kishan Khoday, conduct surveys and collect data on UNDP, May 7 2007 Samdhong Rinpoche changes in climate and the ecosystem. 12Yellow River at Risk, An KALON TRIPA The data collected thereafter should be Assessment of the Impacts of disseminated worldwide in order to take

32 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY-AUGUST 2007 I N T E R V I E W

AN INTERVIEW WITH DIIR KALON

In an exclusive interview, DIIR Kalon, Kesang Y. Takla reflects on the widespread protests inside Tibet, talks about the difficulties in getting information from inside Tibet; the general attitude towards the Tibetan struggle around the world; and where her optimism level stands today...

1. It has been four months since the As the result of the events in Tibet, 4. The Seventh round of talks in the wide spread protests began on the followed by the tremendous amount of Sino-Tibetan dialogue was just Tibetan plateau. Looking back, interests from the international media, held last week and the envoys what are some of your immediate the Department of Information and have expressed their thoughts? International Relations (DIIR) has also disappointments with their been extremely busy dealing with Chinese counterparts. Do you The widespread protests in Tibet since continued questions and interviews. We truly think that China was 10th March have drawn the attention and have also been very busy disseminating genuine in their attempt for the conscience of the world on the difficult our official statements. On request, I dialogue? Or was this just plight of the Tibetan people. This has have traveled to seven European another People’s Republic of also shown the Chinese authorities that countries and Japan to give talks, take China’s gimmick to show the they need to listen to the grievances of interviews and answer questions from world (just weeks before the the Tibetan people and deal with this governments, parliaments and the Tibet Olympics) that they are engaging problem through meaningful negotiation support groups who are very concerned in “dialogue” with His Holiness with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s about the situation in Tibet. Our the Dalai Lama’s envoys? representatives for genuine autonomy Minister for Health also traveled to some for Tibetans. of the South Asian countries to respond The tone of the Chinese government in the same way as I did. Our other statements and continuous accusations 2. What is biggest challenge in members of the Kashag also traveled to against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and getting information from inside different parts of India to brief the what appears like the increase of brutal Tibet? How widely has the Tibetan public and to urge them about strategies in Tibet make it very difficult information been disseminated? the importance of non-violence and our to feel very positive about their Middle way Approach. commitment to having a meaningful The biggest challenge in getting dialogue. However, since they have information from inside Tibet is the Apart from that, our Department was agreed to have the eighth rounds of inaccessibility due to tight control from also kept very busy with continued dialogues with our envoys in October, the Chinese authorities. In March and questions through the internet and we will have to wait and see what the early April, information was available telephone calls. outcome is. In this respect, the world from international media and through governments are also waiting to see if, some eyewitness accounts. However, 3. From your extensive travel abroad this time, China will show genuine once the authorities got rid of the tourists in the recent months, what are willingness and commitment to resolving and took away every access to the your assessments on the general the Tibet problem through proper international media, it was more difficult attitude towards the Tibetan negotiation with His Holiness the Dalai to get information. Moreover, the struggle by various governments Lama’s representatives. telephone and mobile lines have all been and respective leaders? controlled in Tibet. Despite these 5. Some world leaders such as extreme controls, some information All are very sympathetic and concerned French President, Sarkozy, who keeps coming through, but it is difficult about the plight of the Tibetans in Tibet. had initially stated that they to get the exact details. Information on Many continue to urge China to use would attend the Olympics the brutal policies and treatments of restraint in their treatment of Tibetans ceremony if China would improve Tibetans are still not available to the free and believe that China should start a its handling of the unrest in Tibet. world in spite of continued urges from meaningful and substantive dialogue Now recently, Sarkozy stated that various governments, parliaments, and with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s he will be attending the opening public, who are very concerned about representatives for finding a resolution ceremony of the Olympics. the situation in Tibet. to the Tibet problem.

JULY - AUGUST 2008 TIBETAN BULLETIN 33 I N T E R V I E W

Has PRC’s gimmick of “dialogue” (PRC) has been engaging in happens to be scheduled for August worked to win the hearts and massive propaganda campaign to 2008 and as we all know, that is only a minds of some influential world blame the His Holiness the Dalai sports event and we are not against leaders? Lama for stirring up the unrest in the Beijing Olympic Games. However, Tibet and furthermore, the PRC many governments and the Olympics I do not think that the PRC’s gimmick of have attempted to stir up ethnic organizing committee believed that dialogue has won the hearts and minds tensions. How has the Central granting China the opportunity to host of the influential world leaders. However, Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Olympics in Beijing will help China I am aware that many expected more from particularly DIIR, been improve human rights and free access the recent seventh rounds of talks with responding to their propagandas? to press. Unfortunately, that has not our envoys, especially, since the happened. Instead, the world saw the Chinese authorities publicly stated that It is regretful that instead of sincerely gross violations and brutal policies they are ready to have the seventh addressing the problems in Tibet, the taking place in Tibet. rounds of talks. Specifically, China’s Chinese government continues to resort President Hu Jintao in Japan said that to massive propaganda campaigns to Subsequently, China will host the “our attitude toward contacts and blame His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Olympic Games in Beijing with the consultation with the Dalai Lama is However, they must remember that the knowledge that their success and serious [and] we hope the contact [will] rest of the world can see and think. acknowledgement from the world will yield positive results.” I believe that it is Unlike China, the outside world has depend on how the Chinese now in China’s interest to prove to the freedom to see, hear and know the truth. government treats the Tibetan people world that they will keep to their These massive propaganda campaigns and reponds at the 8th round of talks commitment to act responsibly in dealing from China will only affect them and with His Holiness’s envoys in October. with the Tibet issue. Therefore, the world further shows their insincerity and will watch China with concern and dishonesty. This only harms China’s Finally to answer your question on interest, and see what the outcome of image and will not help in their efforts to where my optimism level stands today, the eighth round of talks with our gain more trust and respect from the first of all I would like to say that it is envoys will be. world community. In fact, the campaign vital for all to have hope. This is rhetoric’s from china are often received because the fact is that the moment 6. Many parliamentarians around with the attitude of “the same old one has no hope and optimism, any the world have passed Chinese government propaganda opportunity or chance is more difficult resolutions in support of the language”. to achieve! Hope always provides Tibetan cause. However, we have courage and chance; and therefore, not witnessed any real progress 8. There is approximately a month particularly since the Tibet problem is in dealing with the Tibet crisis. left until the start of Beijing a national issue, it may take more time In your opinion, is world truly Olympics. CTA has been fairly than any one of us wish. But it is doing enough? optimistic that this Olympics will important to be optimistic and keep on provide China a platform for our efforts. Just imagine that if we had The fact that many parliaments around positive changes. However, their given up when we came into exile in the world passed resolutions in hard-line handling of the 1959, then what we have achieved in support of the Tibetan cause indicates protests in Tibet has proven Exile would not have been possible! their great concern about the situation exactly the opposite. Where does Remember, we came as refugees and in Tibet. Also, many governments your optimism level stand today? started with nothing and in a foreign continue to urge China to start a land! Today, many in the world meaningful negotiation with His First of all, I would like to point out acknowledge that the Tibetans in Exile Holiness the Dalai Lama’s that we have been struggling for the are one of the most successful refugee representatives to find a solution to solution to the Tibet problem for the communities! this long-standing problem in Tibet. past nearly fifty years and much before However, much more effort is still the Beijing Olympics issue was born. needed since China has not yet This Tibetan struggle will continue This interview was conducted by Tenzin responded with a serious commitment. until a satisfactory resolution is found, Dickyi (Dhela), an intern at the DIIR. whilst the Beijing Olympics game will 7. The People’s Republic of China come and go. The Beijing Olympics

34 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2008 Tibetan Media

tibetan BulletiN Needs yoU Contacts for the Central Tibetan Administration AN APPEAL

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007 TIBETAN BULLETIN 35 The Phurbu Dolma (Mrs.) Memorial Scholarship

The Department of Education (DOE) is proud to add “The Phurbu Dolma Memorial Scholarship” to the list of DOE scholarships in support of destitute Tibetan refugee children’s education.

“The Phurbu Dolma Memorial Scholarship” aims to support 16 Tibetan destitute children to pursue their studies. The scholarship will be awarded to the needy students as follow:

a) Four destitute children studying in schools under Central Tibetan School Society (CTSS) b) Ten destitute children studying in schools under Central Tibetan School Administration (CTSA) c) Two destitute children (girl) for Bachelor’s degree for three to four years depending upon the length of the course under the Songtsen Scholarship Program

Mr. Tashi Dhondup, husband of late Mrs. Phurbu Dolma and their sons, Mr. Tenzing Jigmey and Mr. Tenzing Dhonden, residing in Nepal instituted this scholarship fund in fond memory of late Mrs. Phurbu Dolma and her many years of service to the Tibetan Community. She had also served as the Vice President of Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Nepal. Owning to an illness, she passed away in May 2007. Mr. Tashi’s family is the first Tibetan to provide scholarship to study Bachelor’s degree for Tibetan destitute children particularly girl student.

The Department of Education expresses its profound appreciation to the family members of late Mrs. Phurbu Dolma for their financial support; and we assure that their funds will be used solely for the purpose it was provided for.

The Department of Education extends our sincere thanks to all the Donors (Tibetans and Non-Tibetans) for supporting the education of Tibetan Refugee Children.

Department of Education Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Dharamshala, 176215 H.P., India Tel: +91-1892-222572, 222721 Fax: +91-1892-223481 E-mail: [email protected]

Edited by Tenzin Dickyi (Dhela), printed and published by the Secretary, Department of Information & International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala-176 215, HP, INDIA Printed at Narthang Press, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176 215, HP, INDIA