‘The
spirit of Tibet is strong’[Tuesday,
1 February 2011, 9:15 a.m.]

Mr Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Geneva, (left) speaks at a seminar on Tibet held recently in Forli, Bologna, Italy

GENEVA: The spirit of Tibet is strong
despite the massive clamp down on the Tibetan people by the Chinese
authorities in Tibet, said Mr Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama Representative based in Geneva, Switzerland. He
addressed a seminar on the current situation in Tibet organised by the
Associazione Italia-Tibet in Forli town near Bologna, Italy.
Associazione Italia-Tibet was established in 1988 and is a pan Italian
Tibet Support Group. Italian China expert Ms Renata Pisu and
other experts on Tibetan culture and religion addressed the seminar. Mr
Chhoekyapa said that the human rights situation in Tibet is
deteriorating. Seven Tibetans were sentenced to death since March 2008
with two already executed and 12 Tibetans have been sentenced to life
imprisonment. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
(TCHRD) Annual Report 2010: Human Rights Situation in Tibet said that
there are 831 known political prisoners in Tibet. 188 Tibetans have been
arrested and detained in 2010. Since 2008, over 60 Tibetan writers,
bloggers, intellectuals and cultural figures have been arrested. Last
October thousands of Tibetan students protested against the proposed
changes in education system by the Qinghai government that all lessons
and textbooks should be in Chinese language in primary schools by 2015
except Tibetan and English language classes. Representative
Chhoekyapa said despite these tragic developments in Tibet, the Tibetan
people’s determination to fight for their rights and for preservation of
the Tibetan culture is very strong and alive. “However, we are
not seeking independence or separation from China,” said Mr Chhoekyapa.
“We want genuine autonomy so that we Tibetans can preserve our religion,
culture and language.” Mr Chhoekyapa was also invited to
address the Associazione Italia-Tibet annual meeting. He thanked the
members for their continued support. He said that their support gives
hope and strength to the Tibetan issue. He briefed the assembly about
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent statement expressing his desire to
retire from political duties and the forthcoming Tibetan elections to
elect Kalon Tripa and members of the Tibetan Parliament in exile. He
said the Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile were using of Facebook,
Youtube and other modern technologies to reach out to the world and to
the Chinese people in China.