His Holiness says protestors concern about rights abuse in Tibet
Saturday, 19 April 2008, 12:18 p.m.
 His Holiness the Dalai (center) meets with Canadian and US delegates in Ann Arbor, Mich, Friday (Dan Janisse/The Windsor Star) |
Dharamshala:His Holiness the
Dalai Lama addressed a large gathering of media persons, including 50
print and television media, during his visit to Ann Arbor in US on 18
April.
Olympics
His Holiness said: “Right from the beginning, I have fully supported the Olympics.”
His Holiness said he was sorry at the incidents that took place
in London and Paris, but fully understood the demonstrators’ desire to
express their feelings.
Expressing his views on a Japanese temple’s decision to oppose
the Olympics torch relay in Japan, His Holiness said concerns expressed
by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are good. China has a poor
record on human rights, religious freedom and the environment. He said
it is worthwhile to remind the concerned Chinese authorities that in
order to be a respected host with dignity of the Olympics they need to
look at their poor human rights record.
His Holiness said he was fully committed to democracy and the
exile Tibetan community’s structure was fully democratized. His
Holiness further said, since 2001, we now have an elected Tibetan
leadership and he himself was in semi-retired stage. With provisions
given in the Tibetan Charter, people have the right to freedom of
speech and expression.
On the Current US visit
His Holiness began by talking about the objective of his current
visit to the United States. His Holiness said his visit to Seattle was
related to his first commitment, namely the promotion of human values.
The visits to Ann Arbor and Colgate in New York are connected to his
commitments of religious harmony and human values respectively, His
Holiness added.
Responding a meeting with Canadian parliamentarians held prior
to the press conference. His Holiness began by saying he is an honorary
citizen of Canada and so the parliamentarians came to see him at this
difficult period to express their solidarity with him.
His Holiness said that he has no intention to meet State Department officials during his current visit.
Contacts with Chinese leadership
On his contacts with the Chinese leadership, His Holiness said
soon after the recent crisis in Tibet, he had written an appeal letter
to President Hu Jintao on 19 March.
On the prospects of future contacts, His Holiness said, “We are
making “effort” to reach out to the Chinese Government “through private
channel” and we did not have anything “concrete” as yet.
Relations with the Indian government
His Holiness expressed his gratitude to India’s help without which the Tibetans would not have been able to survive in exile.
Role of spirituality on environment
His Holiness said, from a Buddhist viewpoint, the environment is
closely connected to the Buddha’s life. The Buddha was born outside
under a tree, achieved his enlightenment not on a rock, but under a
tree, and his death took place not in a monastery but under a tree. He
said when he was in Tibet he did not have the type of environmental
awareness that he had after meeting with experts after he came out. He
said caring for the environment is as important as caring for one’s own
home.
 His Holiness addresses the media in Ann Arbor, Mich, Friday, April 18, 2008(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) |
Threat to Tibetan Culture
Expressing his grave concern on the Tibetan culture, His
Holiness said whether intentionally or unintentionally there is
cultural genocide in Tibet. Expanding on the unintentional reasons, His
Holiness said, in Lhasa, the two-thirds of the population were Han
Chinese and although there are Chinese Buddhists, but many of those in
Lhasa did not seem to have much interest in Buddhism. He said Tibetans
thus end up having to use Chinese language most of the time.
His Holiness also referred to the changed Tibetan character by
comparing those Tibetans who have grown up under the Chinese in Tibet
with those Tibetans growing up in India. His Holiness said the
overwhelming Chinese population is changing the Tibetan
characteristics.
Secondly, His Holiness said that the Chinese Government, on
account of over suspicion, viewed Tibetan Buddhist faith as a source of
danger. He said 10 years ago, Chen Kuiyuan, the party secretary of TAR,
had said that the ultimate source of Tibetan separation is the Buddhist
faith.
His Holiness spoke about the “political education” campaigns
carried out Chinese authorities in Tibetan monasteries and nunneries.
His Holiness also said in Lhasa University the Tibetan studies section
is not much emphasized.
His Holiness said the Tibetans, like the Uyghurs and the
Mongols, have its own distinct culture. “If Tibetans did not have a
culture, a written language, then things would be different, adding,
“People who have long culture must respect their culture,” His Holiness
added.
Advice to President Bush on Iraq War
His Holiness said President Bush is a straightforward person and
he has developed a close feeling with him since their first met him.
But, on Iraq and Afghanistan, His Holiness said he had expressed his
reservations on some of the policies adopted by President Bush.
Meeting with Chinese Youths in Rochester
His Holiness said Chinese youth were filled with emotions, when
they understood that he is not seeking independence and not against the
Olympics in China.
Underlining the need of Sino-Tibetan friendship group, His
Holiness suggested that there is a need for more face-to-face meetings
between Tibetans and Chinese, rather than staying distant with
unnecessary suspicion, negative feeling and harmful atmosphere on both
sides.
Message of love, compassion…
His Holiness said the messages of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, self-discipline were the same to all the religion.
Role of Youth
His Holiness said his generation was ready to say “bye bye” and
the youth are really taking the lead in shaping the new century. His
Holiness said his basic belief was that we needed the right view to
look at things from all dimensions.
