The Statement of the Kashag on the Twentieth Anniversary of the
Conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize
on His Holiness the Dalai Lama

[Thursday, 10 December 2009, 5:19 p.m.]

Today, as we celebrate the confluence of the twentieth anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the International Human Rights Day, the Kashag first of all makes obeisance to His Holiness in utter gratefulness. The Kashag, at the same time, extends its best greetings to the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been making tireless efforts to realise the cause of the Tibetan people in general, and in particular to preserve and promote the unique language, culture and religion of Tibet, as well as to promote world peace, inter-religious harmony, basic human values, environmental promotion and universal responsibility throughout the world. So great and unimaginable is his contribution in these fields that he has been granted over 100 awards and certificates of merits by the countries and organisations/institutions across the globe. This year alone, he has received these many awards and honorary certificates: Honorary Citizenship of Warsaw City, Poland; Honorary Doctorate from the University of Marburg, Germany; International Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, USA; Prize for Love and Forgiveness from the Fetzer’s Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Honorary Doctorate from the University of Calgary, Canada; Tom Lantos Human Rights Prize, USA. These awards are additional plumes to the hat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was also the recipient of the world’s most prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Therefore, today is a very happy moment not just for his followers, particularly the people of his adopted Land of Snows, but also for all the peace-loving people of the world. On this special occasion, the Kashag – on behalf of all Tibetans – expresses its heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for all he has done for us followers and prays that he may live long for the sake of humanity in general, and particularly for the people of the Land of Snows who always look to him to cast his compassionate eye on them. The Kashag also prays that he may continue his meritorious work in the religious and secular fields.

Today marks the 61st year since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was announced. However, not only is there no protection of the basic human rights in the world, but also like a big insect eating a smaller insect, the relationship between the militarily and economically powerful nations and the weaker nations is worsening. The biggest disregard for human rights comes from the political and economic globalization through which traditional culture, religion, indigenous custom and languages of people and societies are being systematically erased. Yet, far from facing these challenges, these are not even recognized. This is the basis of our concern.

On 1 October this year, China celebrated 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. During the celebration an awe-inspiring and large-scale parade of military hardware was carried out, whose main audience, according some news media, was not the enemies outside, but people of Tibet, Uighur and others within China who have different principles than the ruling Chinese Government. The result is the brutal suppression by the Chinese Government of the protests in East Turkistan, (Chin: Xinjiang) in July this year; and the number of people killed in the violent Chinese crackdown on the peaceful protests that took place in the whole of Tibet last year.

However, according to information that we have gathered till 27 October this year − from March 2008 until today, 228 Tibetans have died under the crackdown, out of which we have names and other personal details of 118; 371 Tibetans were given jail sentences; 4657 Tibetans were either arrested or detained; 990 Tibetans have disappeared and 1294 were injured during the peaceful protests. Who knows how many others Tibetans were killed; jailed or are being tortured?

We are especially concerned about the young Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, who was forcefully arrested by the Chinese Government since as a child, thus disregarding UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Though twenty years old now, he is denied of the basic rights and to date his whereabouts remains unknown. We urge that all the innocent political prisoners, including Gendun Choekyi Nyima, be released immediately.

According to reliable information in various global media, two Tibetans namely Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak who were associated with the peaceful protests in Lhasa last year were executed. Three other Tibetans namely Kangtsuk, Tenzin Phuntsok and Penkyi (female), who were given death sentence with two-year reprieve, were also executed. There are also news about other Tibetans in other Tibetan regions, who were arrested and were given sentences similar to the ones mentioned above.

It appears that there is no hope for China to change its hard-line policies to solve the appalling situation in Tibet as mentioned above. Looking from another side, since the large-scale peaceful protests in Tibet last years, many Chinese lawyers, intellectuals and general public who were not fooled by Beijing's propaganda, have come out with open reports. In spite of Chinese Government's severe blockage of news media, the number of articles written in the internet in support of Tibetan issue is increasing. Even in the international arena, the support for Tibetan cause has grown stronger than before.

From 6 to 8 August this year, International Sino-Tibetan Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, and in the final document 'Finding a Common Ground' − "the root cause of the Tibetan issue is not a conflict between the Chinese people and the Tibetan people, but rather the autocratic rule of the People's Republic of China in Tibet and its cultural genocide in Tibet. The Beijing government's claim that 'Tibet has always been a part of China' is factually incorrect; and everyone present at the conference highly respects the Dalai Lama's Middle Way Approach."

On 18th and 19th of November this year, the fifth World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet was held in Rome, Italy, and according to its Rome Declaration − "International pressure must be applied in order to start a meaningful dialogue between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government; [and] express support for the substantive negotiations between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama toward a meaningful resolution of the Tibet issue, with the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy as the realistic and constructive basis for negotiations."

This year again, eight Nobel laureates made a statement in support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people, which mentions − "We urge the Chinese government to take immediate and constructive steps to resolve the status of Tibet and an end to the oppressive policies that continue to marginalize the impoverished Tibetan in their own land. By implementing law that are enshrined in the Chinese constitution for a legitimate and meaningful autonomy for all Tibetans, the Chinese government will make great strides in securing peace and unity in their land."

The day when Chinese government was celebrating 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with a grand display of their military might, the United States government announced an appointment of Mrs. Maria Otero as a Special Coordinator for Tibet issues on 1 October, 2009. She is tasked with coordinating US policy on Tibet and as well as plans and programmes for Tibet issues. In addition to that, she will work towards creating a conducive environment for a dialogue between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government. Besides, she was also given a responsibility to lead support for the preservation of Tibet's distinct culture. On 17 November, 2009, Mr. Barrack Obama, the President of United States, at a press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of People in Beijing has urged Chinese government to start a dialogue with the envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This clearly represents the support and the interest International Community and the United States government have on the Tibetan issues.

Unity of nationalities is the very basis of a nation's stability whereas the stability of China is the basis of World Peace. The importance of this fact cannot be denied by any. The Central Tibetan Administration headed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a free spokesperson of the 6 million Tibetans. Because of that, the concerned members of the People's Republic of China were repeatedly explained that to resolve Tibetan issues, we will hold on to Middle Way Approach seeking solution to the Tibet issues within the present constitution of the People's Republic of China. Moreover, we are committed to talk on the basis of the memorandum given by the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the leaders of the United Front Department during their 8th meeting. From our part, we will continue to work towards a solution where there is no separation of Tibetans and the Chinese.

To make 21st century a century of co-operation and dialogue, nations and peoples should co-exist harmoniously with each other. Where there is conflict between nations and peoples, they should not stand against each other; rather they should have wisdom to resolve their differences through a peaceful means. A peaceful method is not only in accordance with the need of the time but it also goes well with the desire of the people for universal values such as equality, freedom, democracy and human rights. It is clear that the present Chinese leaderships has to respect the call from the international community in the long-term interest of the Tibetan and the Chinese people and, to secure stability for China.

Speaking on Indian foreign policy, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his state visit to United States last month, meant it when he said, "I think the respect for fundamental human rights, the respect for the rule of law, respect for multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious rights, I think those have values. So, even the Indian perforce with regard to the GDP might not be as good as the Chinese, certainly I would not like to choose the Chinese path,".

In the past 50 years, headed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, over a 1,00,000 Tibetans were given a complete freedom to preserve their culture as well as to sustain their struggle for Tibet. We would like to thank people and the Government of India as well as various State governments from the very bottom of our heart. We would also like to thank all our supporters worldwide.

Finally, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the spontaneous fulfillment of all his wishes. May the truth of the issue of Tibet prevail soon.

The Kashag
December 10, 2009

N.B. This has been translated from the Tibetan original. If there is any discrepancy between this and the Tibetan version, please consider the Tibetan authoritative and final.