His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative Speaks to Japanese Public in Tokyo[Tuesday, 6 April 2010, 11:54 a.m.]

Kalon Tempa Tsering, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative in New Delhi Bureau, addressing Japanese students and general public in Tokyo

Tokyo: Kalon
Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the
Bureau in New Delhi, on the second leg of his visit to Japan addressed
Japanese students and general public on Tibet related issues at
Yotsuya Public hall in Tokyo on last Friday. Prof. Ishihama of Waseda
University shared the dais to give highlight on Tibetan history from
the Japanese intellectual perspective to the audience of some hundred
and twenty people.Prof. Ishihama in presentation on Tibetan
history, made it clear that Tibet once existed as an independent
nation. She dwelt on the spiritual influence that Tibetan Buddhist
masters wielded over the Manchu, Chinese and Mongol emperors. She
referred to the notes recorded by some Jesuit travelers to Tibet around
17th century that Dalai Lamas were not only revered in Tibet but
equally in the neighbouring countries like, Mongol, China and Nepal
etc. “Tibet was a well established country in every sense.” She said.
“The problem was Tibet never did anything seriously to contact the
outside world,” she lamented.Kalon Tempa Tsering spoke on the
general history of Tibet and how in 1950s China invaded Tibet and how
the Tibetan people, its religion and culture suffered. He recounted the
difficulties and sufferings of the Tibetan when they first arrived in
Nepal and India as refugees, and the current situation of Tibetans in
exile.The Kalon described the situation in Tibet as critical,
where Tibetans are reduced to second-class citizen in their own
country. “All the developments [including the railways, roads and
airfields] that China boast of in Tibet are geared to serve the
interest of Chinese government and to accommodate continued Chinese
migration into Tibet.”

Kalon Tempa Tsering (R) with a speaker during the public talk in Tokyo

He
clarified that the Tibetans are not against development, but the
development should benefit the Tibetans in the region and should be
able to compliment their culture.Prof. Ishihama and Kalon Tempa
Tsering attended to questions from the audience. Answering to a
question on Dalai Lama’s reincarnation and China’s interference, Prof.
Ishihama said that His Holiness on numerous occasions has said that the
institution of Dalai Lama will live with the need of Tibetans. “The
purpose of the reincarnation is to continue the work of the former
Dalai Lama, so to carry out the unfinished task of the 14th Dalai Lama,
the 15th would come from a place where it can freely work for the
Tibetan cause,” she explained.On what Japanese and Japanese
business community could do for Tibet, Kalon Tempa Tsering replied that
they should read and study Tibetan history and to support justice and
freedom. He explained about Tibetan Chamber of Commerce where the
business community in Japan can study the possibility of forming
mutually beneficial partnership and employment opportunities.Mr.
Lhakpa Tshoko, Representative of Liaison Office of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia, thanked the speakers and audiences
for their participation in the talk. He requested for the Japanese
public’s continued support for the Tibetan cause.Many in the
audience expressed their desire to be of some help to the Tibetan
cause, its struggle for freedom and justice. Young students in the
audience expressed satisfaction for being able to hear directly from a
highly placed Tibetan official in exile on Tibet issue.–Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tokyo