Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Sixth Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, 10 March 1965
Once again we solemnly remember the day when the innocent and unarmed
people of Tibet rose in spontaneous revolt against the Chinese
(Imperialists) conquerors. Six years have rolled by since that
memorable date, but the grim spectre of tragedy still stalks our holy
land; tyranny and oppression still continue, and the sufferings of our
people cannot be described in words.
The General Assembly of the United Nations has twice called for the
cessation of the inhuman practices against the people of Tibet. I have
myself on several occasions appealed for a just and equitable
settlement of this tragic problem. But, as the International Commission
of Jurists has recently pointed out, “neither the Resolution of the
General Assembly nor the call of human conscience has had any effect
upon Communist Chinese policy.” The Commission, which comprises eminent
and outstanding jurists of international repute, has also asserted that
“most of the liberties proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, including those fundamental civil, religious, social and
economic rights with which the Rule of Law is concerned, do not exist
under the Chinese rule in Tibet.” But it is not only the flagrant
breaches of human rights and fundamental freedoms from which the people
of Tibet are suffering today. What is still more grave is the fact that
the Chinese authorities in Tibet are virtually denying that Tibetans
are human beings and cherish and entertain the feelings and sentiments
of human beings. Thus the Tibetans are being driven from their lands to
make room for Chinese settlers. They are being systematically deprived
of their only sources of livelihood: in Chinese calculations, the life
of a Tibetan has no value at all. It is true that the Chinese
authorities vehemently deny all this. But there exists overwhelming
evidence against such details. In the first place, thousands of
Tibetans have braved the hazards and rigours of a long and troublesome
journey and sought refuge in the neighbouring States. Surely, if their
life had been tolerable at all they would not have left their hearths
and homes for an uncertain future. Secondly, the recent events in Tibet
also clearly demonstrate that the declarations of the Chinese
authorities are totally unfounded. For instance, the recent public
denigration of the Panchen Lama by the Chinese authorities in Peking
provides impeachable evidence of the gravity of the situation in Tibet.
It should be remembered that the Panchen Lama was born in
Chinese-occupied territory and was educated and trained in China. He
owed his position to Chinese support. But no Tibetan worth the name
could fail to protest against the oppression and tyranny of the Chinese
conquerors. Hence it is that the Panchen Lama is now being branded by
the Chinese authorities as a stooge of the imperialists, for it is the
invariable practice of the Chinese authorities to condemn anyone who
criticises their measures and policies in the interests of humanity as
a puppet of the imperialist powers, however mild and fair such
criticism might be.
This being the situation today, it is necessary for us, Tibetans and
other peace-loving people alike, to rouse the conscience of the world
and to lodge a strong protest against the barbarous and inhuman
treatment of the Tibetans by the Chinese conquerors. Today, I wish to
call upon all Tibetans to renew their faith and once again determine to
do what lies in their power for the restoration of peace and freedom to
their beloved motherland. Today, in the name of humanity, I call upon
all the peoples of the world to come to the rescue of the unfortunate
and unhappy people of Tibet.
I also wish to take this opportunity to emphasise the extreme danger of
the present situation. We all know of the naked and brutal aggression
by the Chinese armies against the territorial integrity of India
despite the repeated attempts made by the government of India to
befriend the Chinese Republic. That naked aggression should provide the
evidence, if any evidence were necessary, of the threat to the peace of
Asia posed by China. I firmly believe that as long as the Chinese
remain in occupation of Tibet, there will always be a threat to the
peace and progress of the countries in Asia and South-East Asia. The
gravity of the situation has been aggravated by the recent nuclear test
by the government of China. So far, the nuclear powers have shown
considerable restraint because they fully realise that the use of
nuclear weapons would be disastrous to mankind. Would the Chinese
authorities exercise a similar restraint once they are in possession of
fully developed nuclear weapons? I fear such a restraint could not be
reasonably expected from a government whose insensate and godless
ambition knows no bounds. I, therefore, sincerely hope and pray that
the peoples of the world will foresee the danger that threatens us all.
On this day as on other days, I pray for the peace and happiness of all beings.
The Dalai Lama
March 10, 1965