Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Sixteenth Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, 10 March 1975
Wherever there is oppression there will always be opposition. Not
wanting to be under the rule of another people, the Tibetans rose
against the Chinese rule in Tibet and since then sixteen years have
passed. Today, when we commemorate the sixteenth anniversary of this
struggle, I send my warm greetings to the Tibetans, in and outside
Tibet.
During these last sixteen years, we the Tibetans in exile have made
commendable progress in material well-being, both individually and
collectively. Especially in the education of our youth we have done
remarkably. We enjoy full rights and live as complete human beings like
others do in the rest of the world. However, the situation of our
people in Tibet is just the opposite to our own in exile. It is common
knowledge that the horrible conditions in Tibet are beyond description.
The Chinese aggressors have killed and jailed countless innocent
Tibetans. Without caring for the starving people all around them the
Chinese are channellising the productivity of the country into
armaments. Through guilt, the Chinese are digging trenches in the
hillsides and to cover up their crimes and misdeeds, are churning out
publications splashed with photographs of dance and drama performances
and a few factories, which state that the Tibetans in Tibet are
enjoying unprecedented happiness. This is done to fool the world public
opinion. But a mere palm of the hand cannot hide the sun. Responsible
and informed people everywhere in the world know that there can never
be happiness in a society which is given the name of “new” and in which
there is not even the material basics of adequate food, shelter and
clothing. The elderly Tibetans through their own experience know, since
they have gone through both societies, where there is greater
happiness, in the old or the new society.
The Chinese are not only committing barbarous acts in Tibet far removed
from normal international behaviour, but they are also trying to
sabotage the stability of the Tibetan community in exile. There is a
saying: you reap what you sow. One suffers the consequences of ones
actions. No one will be able to change this. This is a natural law.
Wherever there is oppression, there will always be opposition and the
Chinese actions mentioned above provide strength and inspiration to the
Tibetan peoples struggle.
The Tibetan people in Tibet, without caring the least for their
personal welfare or safety, are courageously carrying on their struggle
for the freedom of Tibet. Naturally this unremitting struggle of the
Tibetans in Tibet is causing untold anxiety to the Chinese authorities.
Consequently we the Tibetans in the free world, keeping our stand in
conformity with the thinking of the masses of Tibet, will never stop
our movement for the independence of Tibet. Apart from this we have no
reason to interfere in the internal affairs of other people.
The issue of Tibet is deeply linked with the changes in international
politics and especially with the progress of the peace process in Asia.
As such, we must steer the ship of our struggle according to the
shifting directions of the winds of international relations to reach
the shore of Tibetan freedom and happiness. To attain this goal we must
not only, by mere words, but through our acts and thoughts, persevere
and become ever more united.
The Dalai Lama
March 10, 1975