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Tibetans continue to suffer in Tibet: Dalai Lama

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The Dalai Lama arrives to lead a prayer session for the victims of 1989 protests and the imposition of martial law in Tibet at the Tsuglakhang Temple in Mcleod Ganj, India, on 8 March 2009. Other religious leaders including the Sakya Trizin; Lungtok Tenpa’i Nyima, the spiritual head of the Bön; and, the Karmapa also joined the prayer session. The Dalai Lama said in a speech that Tibetans inside Tibet continue to suffer under the Chinese rule as Chinese leaders target Tibetan culture as a sign of threat.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

The Dalai Lama said that Tibetans inside Tibet continue to suffer under the Chinese rule as Chinese leaders see Tibetan culture as a sign of threat days before marking his 50 years in exile.

He charged the Chinese leaders of targeting the Tibetan culture saying, “Tibetans adhering to their culture in Tibet is seen as a sign of threat by Chinese leaders.”

“Tibetans are forced to learn Chinese while Chinese don’t have to learn Tibetan.”

He said those who are in exile have gone through difficult times.

“We have been in exile for the last fifty years and passed through difficult times. Those who have come here 50 years ago are now old people,” the Dalai Lama said during a congregation of Tibetan spiritual leaders.

He, however, said that the closeness the exile life has brought among the religious leaders is a blessing.

“In Tibet we (the lamas) were living in isolation from each other. We are so united in exile,” he said.

He asked Tibetans lamas to live by what they preach and work towards the benefit of the greater world. He said chanting alone will not bring any results. He also asked lamas to reject extravagant life style, and in a straight-forward manner asked to report and take actions against pseudo lamas those who abuse the title.

Environment is another area the Dalai Lama stressed in his speech.

“I speak about the importance of environment, but people tell me that the situation of environment in Dharamshala is quite bad.”

The Dalai Lama addressed the concluding session of the three-day 10th gathering of Tibetan religious leaders at his residence in Mcleod Ganj. Religious leaders attending the conference includes the Sakya Trizin; Lungtok Tenpa’i Nyima, the spiritual head of the Bön; the Karmapa; and the exile Tibetan prime minister Samdhong Rinpoche. Ministers, members of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile and other officials were present at the conference.

Earlier, he led a prayers session held in memory of the Tibetans killed during the imposition of martial law in Tibet on 8 March 1989.

The Dalai Lama was forced into exile after a failed Tibetan uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959. He has since lived on the hill-top town of Dharamshala in northern India leading the Tibetan government-in-exile.

On 10 March he will issue the annual Uprising Day statement, which is expected to be emotional, yet high in spirit for the future of Tibet.

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun