Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, 10 March 1984
On the occasion of this March 10th anniversary, when we also observe
the 25th anniversary of our exile, I convey my warm and sincere wishes
to the Tibetans, in and outside Tibet, and earnestly pray for those
brave Tibetans who gave up their lives for the common cause of our
people, religion and political rights.
When we look back to the past 25 years since we first came into exile,
we see that compared to the worlds other refugees, our number of
100,000 is small. And although the majority of this number lives in
India, amidst its teeming millions, instead of scattering and being
absorbed like water in sand, we have managed to preserve our entity and
cohesiveness by living in groups of thousands. Most Tibetans in India,
Nepal and Bhutan live in agricultural settlements, others make their
living in various professions, different handicraft industries and
small businesses. There are between two to three thousand Tibetans
living in about 30 other countries, earning their living successfully
just as the citizens of their country of refuge and succour. As for the
young Tibetans, they are taught the themes of our cultural heritage
with the Tibetan language as the basis. At the same time, they are
given modern education and todays section of young Tibetans are
walking shoulder-to-shoulder with the educated youths of other modern,
developed countries. Above all, as for our religion and culture, more
than a thousand years ago, the complete teachings of the Buddha, which
includes the Mahayana, Theravada and Tantrayana, were introduced from
India and along with this came the influence of an enlightened culture.
The Tibetans through the generations studied, practised and preserved
them. These fine traditions of Tibet recently underwent deterioration,
destruction and annihilation. However, we in exile, through great
efforts, have collected, preserved and published whatever scriptural
texts we could find and we have also established centres for the study
and practice of Buddhism where young monks can study the Sutra and
Tantra. As a result, firm foundations have been laid for the continuity
and further spread of Buddhism. Moreover, hundreds of new centres have
been established throughout the world where previously there was no
trace of Buddhism. And today, many educated people the world over are
studying and practising Buddhism.
Similarly, with regard to the fundamental question of the Tibetan
peoples freedom struggle, the United Nations passed three resolutions
as a result of our appeal to the world body. Furthermore, an increasing
number of people throughout the world are acknowledging the fact that
the Tibetan race, language, traditions, religion, culture, political
and economic systems are completely distinct and separate from that of
the Chinese people and the fact that Tibet was an independent country
with a recorded history of more than a thousand years. Many are still
becoming aware of the present true situation inside Tibet and the
aspiration of the Tibetan people. Consequently, there is a growing
number of people who are supporting and sympathising with our just
cause.
The main factor that has contributed towards the Tibetan
accomplishments briefly sketched above is the tremendous support the
government and people of India have given to the Tibetans, a support
based on the age-old ties of religion and culture that bind India and
Tibet. The Tibetan accomplishments are also due to the help and
guidance from various international aid agencies, philanthropists,
countries that stand for peace and justice and statesmen, all of whom
are motivated by their belief in the oneness of mankind and by their
love and compassion for their fellow human beings. On this occasion of
the 25th anniversary, I would like, on behalf of the Tibetans, in and
outside Tibet, to sincerely thank our supporters and friends. When we
are going through immeasurable hardship and suffering, unprecedented in
our history, the sympathy, support and help that the people of the
world, led by India, have accorded to us will forever be remembered and
recorded in history.
Irrespective of varying degrees of development and economic
disparities, continents, nations, communities, families, in fact, all
individuals are dependent on one another for their existence and
well-being. Every human being wishes for happiness and does not want
suffering. By clearly realising this, we must develop mutual
compassion, love and a fundamental sense of justice. In such an
atmosphere there is hope that problems between nations and problems
within families can be gradually overcome and that people can live in
peace and harmony. Instead, if people adopt an attitude of selfishness,
domination and jealousy, the world at large, as well as individuals,
will never enjoy peace and harmony. Therefore, I believe that human
relations based on mutual compassion and love is fundamentally
important to human happiness.
Regarding the situation inside Tibet during the past four or five
years, most of the many innocent Tibetans who have been imprisoned
unjustly for about twenty years have been released. There has also been
a comparative degree of freedom of movement between Tibet and the
outside world. This has enabled those who have survived the ordeal to
meet with their long-separated family members, relatives and friends.
In the agricultural and nomadic sectors, families have been given full
management responsibility as well as the freedom to engage in private
sideline production and petty business. Consequently, in Lhasa and some
towns and villages, peoples livelihood has slightly improved. There is
also restoration of the Tibetan language which the Chinese had
neglected, undermined and corrupted. New publications in the Tibetan
language are being brought out. Because of the lessening in the
intensity of unremitting supervised labour, the Tibetans are given a
breathing space.
Despite these recent changes the situation is far from satisfactory.
Although much publicity has been made about the freedom of religious
worship by restoring a few of the destroyed monasteries, obstructions
are still placed on those entering the monastic order and those who
start to preach, study and practice the Dharma. Similarly, regarding
the Tibetan written language, apart from the general publications of
some Tibetan folktales, plays and stories, it is not used either in the
administration of the affairs of the country or in its economic
management. Instead another language is used. This is a clear
indication that the administration of Tibet is in the hands of an alien
people who do not know the Tibetan language. The so-called freedom of
religious worship and national autonomy through impressive slogans is
simply empty talk. Moreover, recently, another issue has been brought
to light. Under cover of their campaign to root out criminals,
thousands of Tibetans were arrested, imprisoned and sent to hard labour
camps, irrespective of whether they were innocent or guilty. Many were
executed openly as well as secretly.
The present campaign of terror which the Chinese have unleashed in
Tibet has once again made the Tibetan people live in a state of anxiety
and fear. The brutal act of playing with the lives of people by
believing in the power of weapons cannot subdue the human mind. Till
now the number of Tibetans who were killed in action, who were
executed, who died through starvation, who were tortured to death, and
who were driven to suicide in order to escape a hellish existence, all
add up to about one million. What has been achieved by all this
killing? If people were given a basically satisfactory standard of
living, full opportunity for learning and freedom to pursue their
aspiration, then it is possible that eventually a climate of mutual
trust, goodwill and fellowship will prevail. The Tibetan people, in and
outside Tibet, must examine the facts of the real situation by
abandoning speculation and breaking away from the bondage of fear. They
must struggle with greater determination and dedication to regain the
right which is justly ours and enjoyed by people the world overthe
right to govern ourselves.
With prayers for the cessation of sickness, famine, conflict and the
causes of disharmony and human suffering and for the achievement of
peace and human brotherhood.
The Dalai Lama
March 10, 1984