Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with a group of Polish Parliamentarians during his two-day visit in Warsaw on 24 October.
His Holiness began by joking that Poles were as familiar as Tibetans with the drawbacks of Communist domination. He said he usually describes the situation in Tibet as one in which an uninvited guest has arrived armed with a gun and proceeded to take to control of everything. However, in a contest between the power of truth and the power of a gun, in the long run the power of truth will prevail. He noted that the Tibetan spirit is stronger now than ever.
“Although Tibet was independent and influential throughout Central Asia in 7th, 8th and 9th centuries, the past is past and we are not seeking independence now. The Chinese constitution provides for regional, prefectural and county autonomy and Tibetans should be able to exercise those rights. Under such circumstances Tibetans would be able to preserve and maintain their language, culture and religion and protect their fragile environment.”
He said that China is the world’s most populous nation, but it needs to open up. This may be where Polish parliamentarians can wield some influence, pointing out the harmful effects of a closed society and the benefits of being open, living under the rule of law. Because the 1.3 billion Chinese people have a right to know what is going on and are quite capable of judging right from wrong, the existence of tight censorship is morally wrong and self-defeating. It amounts to fooling your own people. Freedom of the press and a judiciary functioning to international standards are important for a nation’s well-being. Perhaps, as a newly democratic country, Poland could draw on its own experience to gently point this out.
“Treating the Tibetan people with respect,” His Holiness said, “respecting their identity, language and culture is the proper way to create the much vaunted harmonious society.”
