Home > News Archive > 'Little hope' of resolving Tibet issue: Dalai Lama

'Little hope' of resolving Tibet issue: Dalai Lama

By Lobsang Wangyal

The Dalai Lama delivering his annual 10 March statement on the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, in Mcleod Ganj, India, 10 March 2010.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Delivering his annual 10 March statement, marking the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people’s uprising in 1959 against Communist China’s rule in Tibet, the Dalai Lama sought a free Tibet, free China and a free East Turkistan.

“Whether the Chinese government acknowledges it or not, there is a serious problem in Tibet. As the world knows, this is evidenced by the fact that there is a huge military presence and restrictions on travel in Tibet,” the Dalai Lama said.

For the Chinese people to have a better life, it is also essential that the 1.3 billion Chinese people have free access to information about their own country and elsewhere, as well as freedom of expression and the rule of law. “If there were greater transparency inside China, there would be greater trust, which would be the proper basis for promoting harmony, stability and progress. This is why everyone concerned must exert their efforts in this direction.”

The Dalai Lama also expressed his solidarity with the people of “East Turkistan” who have experienced great difficulties and increased oppression while fighting for greater freedom. He called the region “East Turkistan” — the name given by the pro-independence exiles to the restive Muslim dominated region in the west of China — and said he stands firmly with them.

Despite his attempts to achieve autonomy for his homeland through the ‘Middle-Way’ approach, which he believes is beneficial to both Tibetans and Chinese, he said that he is failing to achieve any concrete result.

“Judging by the attitude of the present Chinese leadership, there is little hope that a result will be achieved soon,” the Dalai Lama said.

“Nevertheless, our stand to continue with the dialogue remains unchanged.”

The day also marked the second anniversary of the protests that erupted across Tibet in March 2008, which turned violent with angry protesters killing around 20 Han Chinese in Lhasa. Tibetans see Hans as intruders threatening their culture. Pro-Tibet activists said more than 200 Tibetans were killed in the subsequent crackdown on the protests.

Since 2002, nine rounds of talks have been held between the envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese officials, but with no tangible results.

Once the issue of Tibet is resolved, when Tibet achieves meaningful autonomy in the future, the Dalai Lama said that he will not take any political position in the government in Tibet. The Tibetan officials working in various responsible posts in Tibet will have to continue to take the responsibilities in governing the future free Tibet.

In order for the Tibetan officials in Tibet to understand the situation of the Tibetans in exile and their aspirations, the Dalai Lama appealed to them to tour the exiled Tibetan communities.

“I invite Tibetan officials serving in various Tibetan autonomous areas to visit Tibetan communities living in the free world, either officially or in a private capacity, to observe the situation for themselves,” he said.

Charging the Chinese authorities for various political campaigns, including a campaign of patriotic re-education in many monasteries in Tibet, the Dalai Lama said, “They [the Chinese authorities] are putting the monks and nuns in prison-like conditions, depriving them the opportunity to study and practice in peace. These conditions make the monasteries function more like museums and are intended to deliberately annihilate Buddhism.”

The Dalai Lama said that he as a free spokesperson of the Tibetan people, had repeatedly spelled out their fundamental aspirations to the leaders of the People’s Republic of China. “Their lack of a positive response is disappointing.”

The Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche, and the Speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile Penpa Tsering delivered their speeches on the occasion.

Thousands of Tibetans including monks and nuns and students, and their supporters from various countries gathered in the Tsugla Khang courtyard to listen to the Dalai Lama. Around 30 Chinese intellectuals from the US, Canada and Australia also participated in the event. A delegation consisting of eight members of the European Economic and Social Committee who are on a tour of Dharamshala, and a group from Japan also joined the gathering.

Later, a huge mass of people walked down to Kacheri in Dharamshala shouting pro-Tibet slogans.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun