Statement of the Kashag on the 15th Anniversary of the Conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 10 December 2004
Today, on this special occasion of the 15th anniversary of the
conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
the World Human Rights day, the Kashag – on behalf of all the Tibetans
inside and outside Tibet – would like to offer its deep reverence and
greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Kashag also extends its
greetings and Tashi Deleg to all Tibetans within and without Tibet.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not only guided the humanity of
this universe onto the path of non-violence and peace, but has also
transformed the nature of Tibetan freedom movement into a total
non-violent endeavour. In recognition of this enormous service to
humanity, His Holiness was conferred the Nobel Peace Prize. There are
innumerable intellectuals across the globe who pursue His Holiness’
guidance with deep faith, reverence and delight. Similarly, it is the
moral responsibility of the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet to
follow the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by making every
possible effort to practise compassion and non-violence.
Looking back at the history of over 50 years since the
proclamation of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, most of the international organisations, nationalities and
countries were either not able to or failed to respect human rights.
This not only led to many unfortunate incidents, but the people of
Tibet also had to suffer unprecedented oppression and human rights’
violations that are beyond human imagination. As a result of this,
nearly a quarter of Tibet’s population lost their lives and those who
did survive had to endure a hell-on-earth torture and ill treatment.
In short, mass killings of people and destruction of culture
took place in Tibet. At that time, although many
peace-and-freedom-loving people of the world were deeply concerned and
supported us, most of the organisations and countries as well as the
United Nations claiming to protect the human rights, individual
freedoms and democracy, treasured only their own economic and political
interests as paramount, and stood a mute spectator to the plight of the
Tibetan people. This is a moment to remember what we have experienced.
Moreover, if we analyse the history of aggression and mass
killings that plagued the earth in the latter half of the twentieth
century, it is a proven fact that when individuals fail to identify and
carry out their human responsibilities, human rights can not be
protected by merely contemplating and striving for it. And when
individual rights are violated, we all know that if one is not able to
protect it by relying on the forces of inner strength, morality and
non-violence, no amount of wailing before any country, nationality or
famed organisations can restore or safeguard the human rights. As Lord
Buddha said:
“One is the protector of one’s own self,
Who else can be one’s protector.”
Learning from our past experiences, on this occasion of the
World Human Rights day, the Kashag would like to appeal to all
Tibetans, especially the educated youths, to identify the quintessence
of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama’s unique teaching of universal
responsibility, and voluntarily pursue that responsibility day in day
out. We also appeal that the human rights of individual Tibetans and
that of the Tibetan nationality be restored and safeguarded by relying
on the forces of inner strength, morality and non-violence.
Based on the realities of today’s globalised world, where the
politics and society are enslaved by its negative forces, the crux of
the matter is that the Tibetans should know the fact, and have a sense
of feeling, that whether or not the future of the Tibetan people bodes
well hinges upon how they fulfil their own duties, rather than the
support or assistance from others. Therefore, on this day, if the
Tibetan people can think deeply on this issue, and at the same time,
follow their human responsibilities with determination, this will serve
the purpose of commemorating today’s occasion.
Recently, following the Kashag’s statement to the people on 2
September, the Tibetan delegation led by the envoys of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama went to China for the third time and visited some Tibetan
areas, including the Karze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. They also had
extensive discussions on many issues with the concerned Chinese
officials in Beijing. This time, the discussions they had were by far
the most productive one and will be useful in determining our future
course of action.
The draft Basic Education Policy laid down by the Kashag after
extensive discussions and research for the past two years has been
adopted unanimously in the recent session of the Assembly with few
changes made in the text. We feel that this is an important step in the
history of Tibetan education.
Similarly, in order to render a uniform and standard Tibetan
equivalent for modern scientific terms and terminology, the Department
of Education has already started a project for coining new Tibetan
terms and terminology.
Since many years we have not been able to carry out work-load
assessment and the allocation of posts in various departments and
functionaries of the Tibetan administration in accordance with the
administrative rules. Realising that no revolutionary changes can be
introduced in the current set-up for the time being, we have followed
another way of bringing about institutional reforms by not withdrawing
any staff but by creating works for the allocated posts. We are happy
to inform you that the creation of posts for the staff has already been
done.
We have already decided to undertake work-load assessment every
two years in the future, and gradually make the allocation of posts for
the CTA staff in conformity with the administrative rules and
categorise the staff into four professional disciplines.
The action plan aimed at the development of co-operatives and
agriculture in the Tibetan settlements have now been finalised by the
Co-operatives Development and Agriculture Sections of the Department of
Home and they are in the stages of being implemented. Our efforts to
recruit professional staff in the co-operatives are also being
realised.
The above are some of the important political and
administrative work we have undertaken recently and we are taking this
opportunity to inform these to the general public.
Although the Tibetan issue is close to a resolution, but due to
lack of our collective merit, we are encountering many internal and
external obstacles. In order to avert these obstacles, and for the
swift re-unification of the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, there is
a need to enhance our collective merit. As prophesised by the
protective deities and highly-realised lamas, this Tibetan Wood-Monkey
year is particularly very important for the Tibetan people. Therefore,
as requested by the Kashag through its successive appeals, the Tibetan
public conducted prayers and indulged in a series of merit-earning
activities throughout this year. We have also decided to organise a
grand prayer ceremony at Bodh Gaya on 15 January 2005 (15th day of the
12th month of the Tibetan Wood-Monkey Year), which will be presided
over by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and heads of all the religious
traditions. In this regard, we have already requested you all to
contribute individually. The Kashag would like to thank you all for
your generous contribution and appeal to you to carry out as many
merit-earning activities as possible on the above date in your
respective places.
As the Government of Himachal Pradesh and Indo-Tibetan
Friendship Association, Dharamsala, have also organised an
International Himalayan Festival to be coincided with the anniversary
of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, we take this opportunity to thank the Government and people of
Himachal Pradesh for providing so far every support and assistance to
the Tibetans.
I would like to take this opportunity to urge the leaders of
the People’s Republic of China to bring about positive changes in Tibet
and release all the innocent political prisoners, especially the young
Panchen Rinpoche and Trulku Tenzin Delek. I would also like to express
our deep appreciation and thank the Tibet Support Groups the world
over, and those who take interest in and support the cause of human
rights.
Finally, I pray for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and the flourishing of his meritorious deeds and services. I also
pray that the truth of the issue of Tibet prevail soon.
The Kashag
10 December 2004