The Statement of Kashag on the 52nd Anniversary of
the Tibetan People’s National Uprising Day
Today is the 52nd
anniversary of the Tibetan people’s uprising against the Chinese
authorities in 1959 and the third anniversary of the peaceful protests
throughout Tibet in 2008. On this special occasion, the Kashag would
like to pay homage to all the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for
the cause of Tibet, those who are still suffering and particularly we
would like to express our solidarity with Tibetan intellectuals such as
writers, poets, musicians and environmentalists, who have been arrested
and incarcerated in recent years. We praise their courage and
conviction.
During
the last nine years, from 2002 to 2010, the twelfth and the thirteenth
Kashag considered the 10 March anniversary as the most important
occasion to inform the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet, about
issues concerning Tibetan politics and the administration. The Kashag
has transparently informed the Tibetans about developments, policies,
course of actions, principles and future plans regarding the issue of
Tibet and its origins, Tibetan people’s strength and weaknesses,
opportunities and risks, achievements and failures, and the status of
Sino-Tibetan talks and the international situation. Particularly, in
2009 during the 50th
anniversary of our being in exile, the Kashag commemorated and thanked
the extraordinary achievements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which
spans across the globe and the great accomplishments of the Tibetan
people, in and outside Tibet.
Since this is the last 10th
March statement of the present Kashag, we would like to take this
opportunity to express our gratitude to the general public and reiterate some issues as a reminder.As it was mentioned in our 10th
March statement of 2009, for more than half a century, Tibet has been
subjected to a series of repressive campaigns under various forms and
names to annihilate the Tibetan people and its culture. This has pushed
Tibet to the brink of extinction. However, at the same time, the
strength of Tibetan people’s unity and solidarity has gone
undiminished, which has enabled us to sustain our struggle from one
generation to the next.
Moreover,
with the phenomenal accomplishments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
throughout the world, Tibetan Buddhism, culture, tradition and values
have gained renewed recognition and interest. Consequently, the number
of Tibet supporters and followers of Tibetan Buddhism and culture, both
in the West and East, have grown many fold. Lately efforts to translate
Kangyur and Tengyur into various Western languages were initiated, and
the speed at which contact and discussions between Tibetan Buddhism and
science is taking place today are a matter of great pride and
constitute positive changes. Irrespective of the absence of any
concrete change in the political situation, the fact that Tibetan
religion, culture and tradition are developing paves great prospects
for the future. When future generations look back at our times, they
may consider our contemporary times as an era of expansion and spread
of the Tibetan culture.
Furthermore,
the nonviolent struggle of the Tibetan people and the transformation of
the nature of Tibetan polity into a democratic system are two
achievements that are source of pride and the strength for the Tibetan
people. As a result, the issue of Tibet has been able to be sustained
around the world and these have become reasons why the People’s
Republic of China is unable to ignore the issue of Tibet.
As this miracle the Tibetans have achieved in exile is a result of the profound accomplishments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. We express our deepest gratitude to him.
Since
the PRC occupied Tibet, the Tibetan people have had not even a fleeting
moment of peace and joy. Furthermore, policies were implemented that
aimed to annihilate not only Tibetan religion and culture and natural
resources, but even the trace of Tibetan identity as well. Since
repression across Tibet worsened in 2008, the Tibetan people have been
languishing in an environment of constant fear and suspicion. The
recent campaign, targeted at Tibetan intellectuals, scholars, writers,
artists and environmentalists, has resulted in their arbitrary
incarceration on concocted charges. This further validates the
existence of a definite objective to wipe out Tibetan identity and
heritage. As Tibetan language is the bedrock of Tibetan identity and
culture, the recent move to phase out Tibetan as the main medium of
instruction in schools also constitute an aspect of the strategy
towards the objective of annihilation of Tibetan identity. Under such
circumstances, the people in Tibet have been struggling for the
preservation and promotion of Tibetan language and culture by
disregarding even at the risk of losing their lives. For this, they
deserve our heartfelt gratitude.
The
Tibetan and the Chinese people are neighbours and share close social,
economic and commercial relations. However, if enmity between the two
people grows and the relationship is strained due to manipulations by
the Communist leaders then this is highly undesirable. Tibetans living
in exile are trying their best to create a good relationship with the
Chinese people. Likewise, the Kashag wish to request the Tibetans
inside Tibet to maintain friendly relations with Chinese and other
nationalities. Particularly, we would like to urge Tibetans not to
engage in any violent act with other nationalities.
A
series of recent peaceful people’s protests in the Middle East and
North Africa to move towards freedom and democracy is a source of
inspiration for us. We offer our solidarity for all those who take part
in these protests and extend our support and stand with them in unity
as long as their actions remain non-violent. These events prove the
fact that suppression by authoritarian regimes anywhere cannot last
forever.
Presently,
a major cause of concern for Tibetans in and outside Tibet is that His
Holiness the Dalai Lama will relinquish his role as the political
leader of Tibetan people, and transfer his political and administrative
responsibilities to the elected leadership. As a result, a great number
of Tibetans in exile from the various settlements, organisations,
monastic institutions and individuals and particularly many Tibetans
from inside Tibet collectively and individually have been ardently
supplicating His Holiness the Dalai Lama not to take such a step. We,
the Kashag, would like to make the same request in the strongest terms.
Since the institution of the Dalai Lama, as an emanation of
Avalokitesvara, and the inhabitants of the Land of Snows, the spiritual
domain of Avalokitesvara are intimately connected by a pure karmic
bond, the Tibetan people must make all efforts to ensure that this
relationship continues to last forever without change. The Tibetan
people need to make great efforts to keep this bond between the
successive Dalai Lamas and Tibet. In order for this to happen, we
request the Tibetan people to make even more efforts to increase their
collective merits.
To
fulfil His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wish to relinquish the temporal
responsibilities, His Holiness will issue a message to the coming
session of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. And all future course of
action will depend on how the members of the legislative body
intelligently formulate legislation regarding this. The Kashag would
like to urge the members of the exile parliament to consider this a
matter of utmost importance and accordingly think carefully to take the
right path.
Even
though there are no major achievements during the tenure of the Twelfth
and Thirteenth Kashag for the last nearly 10 years, we have been able
to complete our tenure without any major failures and controversy. This
has been achieved because of the kind guidance of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama, and the sincere hardwork of the officials of the Central
Tibetan Administration, the cooperation and support of the general
public. I and all my fellow members of the Kashag deeply thank and
extend our gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At the same time,
with deep regret we offer our sincere apology for our inability to work
in accordance with your vision during our tenure. We beseech His
Holiness to continue to lead us until we attain liberation. Similarly,
we wholeheartedly thank the Tibetan people in and outside Tibet for
their consistent cooperation and support. Likewise, we profusely thank
all the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration who have worked
with sincerity and devotion for the exile Tibetan administration only
because of their commitment to the cause inspite of inadequate salary
and facilities.
Taking
this opportunity, we thank and extend our gratitude to all the Tibet
Support Groups, heads of the governments and members of parliaments
across the world who support the just struggle of the Tibetan people,
and especially the general public, the leadership of central and state
governments of India, for their unwavering support for the welfare of
Tibetans, the preservation and promotion of Tibet’s cultural and
spiritual heritage and for the realization of the Tibetan people’s
aspiration.
Finally,
the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
the spontaneous fulfilment of all his wishes. May the truth of the
issue of Tibet prevail soon!
The Kashag
10 March 2011
NB:
This is the English translation. Should any discrepancy arise, the
original Tibetan should be considered the final and authoritative.