Kashag’s address to the Tibetan people in and outside Tibet

Sunday, 23 March 2008, 8:17 p.m.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche (first from right) addressing a large gathering of Tibetans in Dharamsala on Saturday, 22 March 2008 (Photo: Sangjey Kep)

Dharamshala: Kalon Tripa
Samdhong Rinpoche, chairman of the Kashag of the Central Tibetan
Administration, in his public address to the Tibetans residing in and
outside, underlined the need for unity and steadfast commitment to
follow the guidelines of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the present
crisis.

Kalon Tripa said, we urgently appealed the international community
to bring an immediate end to the repressive acts of killing and beating
in Tibet and immediate release of all those Tibetans arrested,
following the protests.

He further appealed to give medical help to injured Tibetans
and provide food and drinking water facilities. Efforts should be made
in sending independent fact-finding organisations to monitor the
situation inside Tibet and give free access to reporters without
borders.

Kalon Tripa appealed the Tibetan people to remain alert of
Chinese government’s agents and miscreants, who are trying to sabotage
unity and efforts by creating problems within the Tibetan community,
between Tibetans and Chinese, Tibetans and local Indian community and
within our community.

He emphasised that activities carried out by Tibetans
particularly in India, which is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and across the world, should not breach the laws of the host
government and not to cause any trouble or embarrassment to local
residents.

He also appealed that efforts and methods employed by Tibetans should remain non-violent.

The Tibetans must firmly speak out against Chinese
misrepresentation of the protests as a communal and sectarian dispute
between Tibetan and Chinese, he added.

Kalon Tripa underlined that Tibetans should engage in as much
merit-earning activities as possible to enhance the collective merit of
the Tibetan people. And in particular, recite these prayers on a
regular basis – Dolma, Sherab Nyingpo, Yigdug, Gurue Thugdham nekul – to bring an end to the repression and bring immediate recovery of injured Tibetans, he added.

While expressing concern that the present crisis might linger on, Kalon
Tripa appealed to Tibetans to live a more stable way of life in the
future by adopting a rightful livelihood, shunning lavish spending of
any kind and aside a portion of your income, to be contributed for the
future welfare activities in and outside Tibet.