His Holiness: Glut of Chinese in Tibet compromises future autonomy
Tuesday, 16 January 2007, 10:10 a.m.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama being given a traditional welcome in Kolkata yesterday. (Photo: Bishwarup Dutta) |
Dharamshala: Expressing concern over the growing Chinese population in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, speaking on “Ethics in Human Development” at an event organised by the ‘Young Men’s Welfare Society’ yesterday at Kolkatta, was quoted as saying that Tibetans’ demand for a genuine autonomy was being compromised by the Chinese authorities who were deliberately increasing their population in Tibet through immigration in the name of development.
The Young Men’s Welfare Society, celebrating its 48th anniversary, felicitated His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who later attended another function commemorating the 2550th birth anniversary of the Buddha at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in the capital of West Bengal.
Last month, during his teachings at the Sera monastery in the south Indian settlement of Bylakuppe, His Holiness reiterated the same message that “Lately, both the habitat and inhabitants of the Land of Snows are suffering calamities that are beyond our imagination.
“Since the direct rail line between the eastern Tibetan region of Amdo and the capital city of Tibet, Lhasa, became operational, every day some 5,000 to 6,000 Chinese are said to be arriving in Lhasa. Out of these, except for 2,000 to 3,000 who return to their home in China every day, the rest of them settle in Tibet indefinitely.
“Take the case of Lhasa city itself. Tibetans used to constitute only one third of the city’s population of about 300,000, while two-thirds were Chinese. However, after the extensive construction works carried out in the last two to three years, the city’s population is projected to grow to 700,000. It is common knowledge that the projected increase will be in the city’s Chinese population, not in the Tibetanâ€â€ÂÂthat is serious.
“At these times, when everything that constitutes the Land of Snows is threatened by a looming catastrophe, the need of the hour calls for a focused attention of Tibetan intelligence (rig pa ‘grims). Tibetans generally have high dosages of love of the country, pride in the nationality and faith in the Buddha dharma–irrespective of whether they are from the Utsang, Kham or Amdo region of Tibet. [Full text of His Holiness’ statement will be published in the forthcoming January-February 2007 issue of the Tibetan Bulletin.]