His Holiness the Dalai Lama Expresses Happiness Over Successful Visit in Japan[Monday, 15 November 2010, 3:36 p.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets with Japanese musicians in Hiroshima, Japan, on 15 November 2010.Photo: OHHDL

Hiroshima, Japan:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama met a delegation of media from major
televisions, news papers and magazines today at Hiroshima Grand Prince
Hotel. His Holiness greeted the media and expressed his happiness over
the warm welcome he received throughout his visit in Japan and the
successful completion of the three-day World Summit of Nobel Peace
Laureates.His Holiness explained about the three important
ideals that he cherish as his mission. Firstly on human level, “I am
one of the nearly seven billion people living in this world, we are all
same and heavily dependent upon each other and interrelated. So our
problems are global problem. We need to have a big concept of ‘we’ and
genuine sense of concern for other irrespective of his or hers race and
nationality. Promotion these inner value is very important.””Secondly,
I am a Buddhist monks, I think all great religions in this world
despite some differences in philosophy preaches the concept of love,
compassion and tolerance. So there should be no conflict among the
religions, all religions must co-exist to satisfy the diverse spiritual
needs of the people. This is important.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with the press in Hiroshima, Japan, on 15 November 2010.Photo:OHHDL

“Lastly,
I am a Tibetan, and moreover being a Dalai Lama, I have certain
responsibility. Politically, since 2001, we have a democratically
elected political leadership and my position has been in somewhat
semi-retired state. These are the three missions that I cherish, and I
think media people also has great responsibility in promoting inner
values, religious harmony and oneness of all human beings. Media people
should have a long nose as long as an elephant’s nose to smell all the
corners of the society and bring the truth and justice to the public,”
said His Holiness.His Holiness answered questions from the
press. On being asked about the Tibetan students demonstrating in Tibet
against Chinese language imposition, His Holiness said, “Since some
time back, I said intentionally or unintentionally some sort of
cultural genocide is going on in Tibet. Unintentionally means, two
third of Lhasa’s three hundred thousand population is Han Chinese.
Offices, restaurants, shops etc. uses Chinese language because all
these utilities belongs to Chinese. If you don’t speak Chinese, you
don’t get job. These are unintentional forces annihilating Tibetan ways
of life.””Now, intentionally, since the arrival of Chen Kuiyan
as the Party Secretary in Tibet, I was informed that the classical
Tibetan texts in universities have been replaced by Chinese texts. In
one of the Party meetings, the Communist Secretary has openly said that
to clear the main obstruction to the unity of the motherland is
eradication of Tibetan language. It was said that semi-cultural
revolution came in Tibet around that time. Now, China wants to replace
Chinese language as a medium of education in Tibet. These are
intentional destruction of a living culture and the public and students
are demonstrating against this is ruthless policy of Chinese
government. Mao Tsetung spoke against Chinese chauvinism and narrow
nationalism, but these have come back to destroy the culture and
languages of the minorities,” His Holiness said.When asked
about Liu Xiaobo winning Nobel Peace Prize, His Holiness said,
“unfortunate thing is hardliners in China never listen to the public
and they feel it right to crush any dissents. This is gross human right
violation. But the Chinese leadership should know that 1.3 billion
Chinese has the right to know the reality and to judge what is right
and what is wrong. Censorship is immoral, and harmful in the long run,”
explained His Holiness.

Members of the media listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Hiroshima, Japan, on 15 November 2010/Photo: OHHDL

On
Hiroshima tragedy, His Holiness said that for three days the Nobel
Peace Laureates and the delegates have been discussing about a world
without nuclear weapon. “Hiroshima and Nagasaki are two cities to
remind the world about the destructive nature of nuclear weapons and
wars. I hope these two cities be the first and the last to experience
nuclear weapon. Establishment of something like ‘Hiroshima day’ and
including the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedy in school curriculum may
help educate the people,” said His Holiness.About forty media
representatives attended the press meeting. His Holiness the Dalai Lama
and the entourages will leave Hiroshima tomorrow for Tokyo and then to
New Delhi.  –Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Office of Tibet, Japan