CTA officials attend talk on Non-Violent Action

Tuesday, 4 March 2008, 4:10 p.m.

CTA officials attending the talk on Non-violent action

Dharamshala: The officials of
the Central Tibetan Administration attended a talk on non-violent
action yesterday at the Gangkyi Staff Mess.The talk was organized by
the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC).

Three members from the Centre for Applied Non-Violence Action and Strategies (CANVAS) delivered the talk.

During the talk, CANVAS speakers used the nations of Serbia and
Georgia in a historical context to illustrate how non-violent action
can lead to successful campaigns. For example, in Serbia, a student
parliament was formed through which a successful non-violent campaign
was launched to defeat the dictatorial Milosevic government. Since the
media was severely restricted during the Milosevic regime, the campaign
used a simple yet powerful symbol of the fist (symbolizing unity) to
bring together the masses.

With regard to Serbia, the speaker pointed to the importance of
analyzing the root problems before launching any campaign. While there
was no shortage of activism or non-governmental organizations involved
in the Serbian struggle, there was initially a clear lack of networking
among them. After a move was made to create better networking between
the activists and organizations, the Serbian struggle experienced much
more momentum and triumph thereafter.

Kalon Thupten Lungrig, Kalon for the Department of Education launches collections of parliamentary speeches and public talks by Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, compiled by TPPRC

The speaker also differentiated between the terms Non-violence and
Non-violent action. Non-violence, he pointed out, often carries a
religious or philosophical connotation while Non-violent action can
work directly as a political tool. Rulers, dictators and authoritarians
count on the obedience of their repressed people; however people
through non-violent action (such as Gandhis famous salt march) can
deny legitimacy to them, the speaker added.

The speaker also pointed out that bravery and commitment
towards a cause does not ensure a successful non-violent campaign
because if it were, than perhaps the end results of Tiananmen or the
recent protests in Burma would be different. Bravery and commitment,
the speaker noted, should be supplemented by unity, strategic planning
and discipline (particularly to stay non-violent when provoked).

Due to various reasons, the speakers requested that their names not to be printed.
The talk was followed by an engaging question and answer period which was facilitated by Mr. Penpa Tsering, Director of TPPRC.

Also during the event, two books (comprising of a collection of
parliamentary speeches and public talks by Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong
Rinpoche) were launched by TPPRC.

(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)