Tibetans Stand Committed to Middle-Way Approach: Kashag

Sunday, 6 July 2008, 6:00 p.m.

Dharamshala: The Kashag and
the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile of the Central Tibetan Administration
appealed to the Tibetan people to remain steadfast in the Middle-Way
Approach and to enhance the strength of non-violence and collective
merits in their resolve to continue the struggle of the Tibetan people
without showing any signs of laxity and faint-heartedness.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche accepts birthday presents from students of local Indian schools for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 73rd birthday at Dharamsala, India, Sunday, 6 July 2008 (Photos by Tenzin Dasel / Phayul)

Some thousand-odd Tibetans and non-Tibetans gathered this
morning for a low-key function at Tsuglakhang, the main temple, to mark
the 73rd birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said in demonstrating against the
wrong policies of the People’s Republic of China, Tibetans have shown
indomitable courage and spirit of unity, which has won strong support
from the governments and peoples who cherish truth and peace.

Expressing great sadness over the Chinese government’s
unimaginable violent suppression of Tibetan people’s peaceful
demonstrations – causing deaths, injury and detention of thousands of
Tibetans – Kalon Tripa said this has clearly demonstrated the wrong
policies of the People’s Republic of China to Tibet.

Showing concern over the fate of Tibetans living in Tibet, he
appealed to the international community to continue to extend support
to them and urge the leadership of PRC to exercise restraint.

He underlined that every campaign initiated by Tibetans in and
outside Tibet should be within the rubric of the principle of
non-violence and guidelines of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Kalon Tripa felicitates a Tibetan civil servant. The central Tibetan Administration on Sunday honoured a number of civil servants for their distinguished and long term public services to mark the 73rd birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Any organization or an individual, who engage in
activities in contrary to this principle, will be considered not at all
helpful to the cause of Tibet, he added.

Kalon Tripa said the informal discussions between the envoys of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership in Shenzen,
China, on 4 May has helped save Tibet from a crisis and it was agreed
to hold the official seventh of discussions on 1 and 2 July 2008.

Unfortunately, the seventh round of discussions did not go
through according to our hopes and wishes and the Chinese government’s
selfish stance on propagating only their side of propaganda has
reinforced our doubt in their lack of sincerity and commitment in
resolving the issue of Tibet, he added.

He said it is universally known that His Holiness the Dalai
Lama has in no way supported violence, since His Holiness is an
undoubted apostle of world peace.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is committed to the mutually
beneficial Middle-Way Approach of seeking a solution to the issue of
Tibet within the framework of the constitution of People’s Republic of
China, he added.

Ven. Tsona Rinpoche, member of legislative assembly and former minister of Arunachal Pradesh, expresses solidarity and support of the people of Himalayan region of India for Tibetan people’s peaceful struggle for freedom and truth

He emphasised that it is also a well-known fact that
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always supported the Olympic Games in
China. Demands that His Holiness should stop engaging and supporting
the acts of secession, violence and sabotaging Olympics are not made by
an individual who is in a calm state of mind. These allegations do not
deserve any response and explanation, he added.

Under the Middle-Way Approach, we will remain committed to our
three-fold goal of not engaging in acts of seeking separation and
violence, and to find an appropriate opportunity to engage in dialogue
to resolve the issue of Tibet.

He said if the Chinese government is sincere in their approach,
they should reciprocate with efforts to create a conducive atmosphere
for the dialogue process.

In order to maintain stability and harmony in Tibet, the
Chinese government must immediately stop repression, torture, arrest
and imprisonment of Tibetan people.

They also must put an end to the limitless campaign of
“patriotic re-education” which is the main cause of disorder in Tibetan
monasteries.

He said the eighth round of formal discussions between the
envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the representative of the
Chinese government, to be held at the end of October this year, will
focus on the implementation of provisions of the national regional
autonomy enshrined in the constitution of PRC.

Karma Chophel, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile,
lauded the efforts of people from the Himalayan region of India for
extending their solidarity and support to the Tibetan cause.

Some 200 people from the Trans Himalayan region of India
bordering Tibet, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Kalimpong,
Darjeeling, Uttranchal, Uttarakhand, Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu,
Manali, and Ladhak, also joined the function.

The delegation of Trans Himalayan Parliamentary forum expressed
wishes for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during their
audience with him yesterday. They also expressed their solidarity with
Holiness the Dalai Lama’s peaceful struggle for the Tibetan cause.