Naresh Kumar, Hindustan Times
March 10, 2012
Even as China has continues interference in the religious matter of Tibet, Kalon Tripa-Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay on Saturday extended support to the statement issued on September 24, 2011 by the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama concerning his reincarnation.
“His Holiness the Dalai lama alone has the right to determine his reincarnation, and that the communist government of China has absolutely no say or role in this matter,” said Sangay while addressing the gathering in a program organized to mark the 53rd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day at Tsuglakhang Temple in Dharamsala.
He also held China responsible for ongoing wave of self immolation in Tibet maintaining that that the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) have always discouraged such drastic action.
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) have always discouraged such drastic actions. However, despite our pleas, Tibetans continue to self-immolate with 14 cases already in 2012,” Sangay said.
Blaming the Chinese authorities for the growing number of monks, nuns and laypeople setting themselves ablaze Sangay said the fault lies squarely with the hardline leaders in Beijing and so does the solution.
“The self-immolations are an emphatic rejection of the empty promises of the so-called ‘socialist paradise’,” Sangay said.
Elucidating that the Tibetan struggle is not against the Chinese people or China as a nation Sangay said the struggle was against the hard-line policies of communist regime and China must acknowledge the depth of the problems in Tibet and understand they cannot be solved through violence.
Giving an overview of situation in Tibet, Sangay said Tibet has been under undeclared martial law there was no space for any conventional protests such as hunger strikes, demonstrations and even peaceful gatherings in Tibet.
“Tibetans are therefore taking extreme actions such as the one by 26 Tibetans who have committed self-immolations since 2009,” Sangay said adding that Tibetans, including monks and nuns, were forced to denounce the Dalai Lama and attend patriotic re-education classes while foreigners and international media are barred from Tibetan areas.
“When Tibetans gather peacefully and demand basic rights as outlined in the Chinese constitution, they are arrested, fired upon and killed as in the January 23-24th peaceful protests when Chinese were celebrating their new year while the communist party leaders in TAR are asked to prepare for a “war” against the Tibetan protestors,” said Sangay.
Advocating the Dalai Lama’s approach of seeking genuine autonomy for the people of Tibet Sangay said dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue were in the best interest of China, the Chinese people and Tibetans.
Hitting at China for the vilification campaign against the Dalai Lama and CTA, Sangay said while they were ready to send envoys to resume the dialogue process even though the Chinese envoy has of late invested far more energy traveling around the world and making outrageous attacks on the Dalai Lama and the CTA led by the Kalon Tripa.
Paying homage to the Dalai Lama for his vision, leadership and benevolence Sangay said Beijing’s view that a generational change in leadership may weaken the Tibetan freedom movement has not and will never materialis.
“The resiliency of the Tibetan spirit combined with a coming generation of educated Tibetans will provide dynamic leadership and sustain the movement till freedom is restored in Tibet,” he said.
Lastly paying his tribute to the Tibetans who sacrifice their lives for Tibet cause, Sangay also expressed solidarity with Tibetans who were facing tough times in Tibet.
“My brothers and sisters you are in our hearts and prayers every day. We will walk side by side with you till freedom is restored for Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to Tibet,” Sangay said.