Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Twenty-Fourth Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, 10 March 1983
On the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the March 10th Uprising, I
earnestly pray for the complete cessation of the unwholesome Karma of
the Tibetan people and for the fulfilment of their wishes. The Tibetan
people during the past twenty-four years, under such names as
“revolution” and “progress”, as well as through various other means,
have had to undergo unimaginable suffering, including the loss of many
precious lives. On this occasion we solemnly remember them and convey
to them our greetings. We also express our deep admiration for their
ever-increasing determination.
As a result of some changes in the policy in Tibet since 1979, slight
improvements in food and working conditions and the usage of the
Tibetan language have given the Tibetan people a breathing space.
However, these improvements not only did not uniformly cover all towns,
villages and various parts of Tibet, but even in the areas where these
improvements are being implemented, they are temporary, corrupted and
inconsistent. Even now the general living conditions have not reached
the level that existed before 1959 in spite of various movements
initiated to make the poor rich. On top of this, there is a widening
gap and increasing differences between Tibetans and Chinese. There also
exists a constant feeling of resentment, fear and suspicion and the
need to show two faces by one person. Tibetans continue to live in this
very sad, unhappy depressed state of mind.
The right to express ones ideas and to make every effort to implement
them enables people anywhere to become creative and progressive. This
engenders human society to make rapid progress and experience genuine
harmony. When differences of opinions are frankly expressed and
thoroughly discussed, instead of keeping them within ones breasts,
there is no need to grab an opportunity to topple one another with
deep-rooted hatred. Just as every people have the right to such
freedom, in accordance with the basic principle of morality and
justice, we Tibetans, too, definitely have an equal right to it. The
deprivation of freedom to express ones views, either by force or by
other means, is absolutely anachronistic and a brutal form of
oppression. There is bound to be continuous problems of dissatisfaction
and unrest in any region where such an act of oppression takes place.
The people of the world will not only oppose it but will also condemn
it. Hence, the six million Tibetan people must have the right to
preserve, and enhance their cultural identity and religious freedom,
the right to determine their own destiny and manage their own affairs,
and find fulfilment of their free self-expression, without interference
from any quarter. This is reasonable and just. Through this it is
possible to overcome temporary and long-term problems and thus enjoy
the fruits of ones aspired goals.
The Dalai Lama
March 10, 1983