![Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay (c) with DIIR Secretaries Mr Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Ms tenzin Dhardon Sharling at the press conference to launch the documentary film and book on Dolgyal at DIIR Lhakpa Tsering Hall, 14 November 2016.](https://tibet.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DSC_0094-1024x604.jpg)
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay (c) with DIIR Secretaries Mr Sonam Norbu Dagpo (right) and Ms Tenzin Dhardon Sharling at the press conference to launch DIIR’s documentary film and book on Dolgyal at Lhakpa Tsering Memorial Hall, 14 November 2016.
DHARAMSHALA: To counter the false narrative of religious persecution provided by a section of people calling themselves ‘Shugden followers’, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today launched a brand new documentary film and a book, providing factual explanations on the worship of this controversial spirit, at DIIR’s Lhakpa Tsering memorial hall.
The 13-minute documentary film titled ‘Shugden Protesters: Allegations vs Facts’ explores the Dolgyal group’s claims and CTA’s responses and policies, while the 365-page book is an updated version of an earlier book on Dolgyal featuring articles on Dolgyal by noted Buddhist scholars, which also include the complete Reuters article translated into Tibetan.
Addressing the launch, Sikyong said, “It is with the objective of clarifying the Tibetan administration’s stand and to expose the blatant contortion of facts by these misguided fringe groups that we are releasing this book and film to provide factual and truthful information on the matter.”
“A few misguided people manipulated by the Chinese government have been regularly protesting at teaching venues of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Europe and the US in the past few years. However, there has been a dramatic decrease in their activities since the publication of a Reuters article exposing their complicity with the Chinese government in March.”
“Even so, there are still some instances of such protests by a few misinformed foreigners on social media and elsewhere. Even among the Tibetan youth, there are some rare cases where they seem to question the logic behind this controversy, stemming from their belief in the right to freedom of speech and religion.”
“Therefore, we felt it necessary to compile this book and produce this short documentary film to provide a fresh narrative on the issue,” Sikyong explained.
Sikyong also added that these misguided people are being manipulated by the Chinese government to advance their propaganda of maligning the good name of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the just cause of the Tibetan people led by the Central Tibetan Administration.
Sikyong urged the Chinese government to reform their failed policies in Tibet instead of resorting to instigating misinformed people to foment trouble within the Tibetan community.
Ms Tenzin Dhardon Sharling, Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, in her introductory remarks, explained the motive of DIIR in releasing this book and film on Dolgyal at a time when there is a general belief among the public that Dolgyal activities have receded in recent days.
While acknowledging the decrease in public protests by these groups, she noted a sharp rise in their activities on social media ostensibly to disrupt the harmony of the Tibetan people with false information and divisive remarks.
“It is true that Dolgyal protests against His Holiness has abated in the last few months. However, there is a rise in their activities, which are not distinctly visible to the public eye, particularly on social media. It is with this objective that we are releasing this book and film,” she said, expressing her deep concern.
She also highlighted the flip-flops within the Dolgyal protesters in their strategies.
“These groups began protesting against His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the name of religious freedom and human rights. Now they have resorted to disrupting Tibetan social harmony at the instigation of the Chinese government, even using the same narratives employed by the Chinese propaganda machinery,” she said.
“It is clear now that Dolgyal activities have become a tool for the Chinese government to slander His Holiness the Dalai Lama, demean the Tibetan people’s faith in His Holiness and disrupt Tibetan harmony,” she said.
The book and the film, produced by the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), is the latest in a series of efforts by the department to provide truthful information about the issue and raise awareness about the group which has a notorious history of violence, including murder, within the Tibetan community.