The Statement of the Kashag on the Forty-Ninth Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day
Today, 10 March 2008, is the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s
peaceful uprising for their freedom. On this occasion, the Kashag pays
its tribute to those heroic men and women of Tibet who have
sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Tibetan people, as well as
express our solidarity with those Tibetans who are presently suffering
under Chinese repression. The Kashag also extends its greetings to all
the Tibetans in and outside Tibet
In the previous 10 March statement of the 13th Kashag, we have dwelled,
among other things, on the status of the Tibetan people, the structure
of the exile Tibetan administration, plans to sustain the Tibetan
struggle should it drag on for a long time, the role of Tibetans in and
outside Tibet and on the status of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue. While
reiterating all these points, the Kashag would like to express its
appreciation for those Tibetans who have, in the recent period,
undertaken numerous activities in Tibet ïž— activities that are both
peaceful and law-abiding ïž— with sincerity and courage for the benefit
and the protection of the Tibetan religion and culture. All Tibetans ïž—
be it monks, lay people, young or elderly and particularly the majority
of the communist party cadres and civil servants in Tibet ïž— who are
always in a state of great fear, intimidation and suspicion have been
able to keep alive, with great courage, the Tibetan spirit and their
ultimate hope for the resolution of the Tibetan issue. While
acknowledging and appreciating this remarkable quality, the Kashag as
well as the entire exile Tibetan community firmly believe that this
Tibetan spirit will continue to remain so in the future as well.
Similarly last year, many governments and countries across the world ïž–
who have great faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama and who are
concerned about the issue of Tibet ïž— have carried out a number of
activities which reflected their support to us Tibetans. The Kashag, on
behalf of all the Tibetans in and outside Tibet, would like to express
heartfelt thanks to all of them.
The mutually beneficial Middle-Way Approach, which is envisioned by His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, has been framed into a policy with the support
of the great majority Tibetans in and outside Tibet. This was
further unanimously supported by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. On
the basis of this policy, dialogue with the Chinese government is on
going. Subsequently six rounds of talks have been conducted since 2002.
These talks have been helpful to us in clarifying our respective
positions. These talks have also
benefited the international community and Tibetans in Tibet. However,
no concrete results have been achieved on the fundamental issue of
Tibet. Moreover there is, today, a heightened repression in Tibet and
stepped up vilification campaign against His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
We are extremely disappointed by these unfortunate developments.
In the course of these exchanges, we have categorically stated to the
Chinese government that we do not have any hidden agenda, or issues
other than the basic demand that they should implement the conditions
for National Regional Autonomy as set forth in the constitution of the
Peopleïž’s Republic of China by granting a meaningful self-rule for all
Tibetans under a single administration. We have also made it very clear
that this demand is in line with the legitimate rights of all the
minority nationalities. Based on the present reality, this demand is
only a means to accomplish the aspiration of both Tibet and China; it
is not something that is based on the past history of Tibet.
History is a set of records of past happenings that cannot be amended.
However, no independent countries or autonomous regions have remained
in the same status as in the past. There is also no reason to remain
so. For example, the current scope of the sovereign power and
territorial boundary of the Peopleïž’s Republic of China is something
that never happened in its history spanning some centuries prior to
1949. Insisting on history to decide the prospects of the future is
simply indulging in a blame game, or
finding excuses. It is not at all in tune with the reality. Since we
are not stubbornly clinging to the idea that the future of the Tibetan
people should be based only on our version of history, the gap in the
Tibetan and Chinese viewpoints on this issue is not unbridgeable.
Since the status of National Regional Autonomy is a condition by which
the individual minority nationalities are benefited, it should be
uniformly granted to all Tibetans. There is no reason for scattering
them. There is also no need to follow a historical basis on this
matter. In a
nutshell, if the future of the Tibetan people were to be decided on the
basis of its past history, then there is no way that the Middle-Way
policy can be adhered to.
The problem of Tibet is neither related to the personal issue of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama nor concerned with the benefit of the Tibetans
in exile alone. This is universally known. Currently the situation of
the Tibetan people inside Tibet is not at all satisfactory. Anybody can
see this. Therefore, for the happiness of all Tibetans and for the
preservation of their national identity, language, customs, culture and
the traditional sciences, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the
organisational set-up of the
Tibetan Diaspora ïž— both based in a free country ïž— have the
responsibility to act as the spokespersons of the Tibetans in and
outside Tibet. To do so is, in fact, their historical responsibility.
Due to the reasons cited above, although there may not exist an issue
of Tibetïž’s sovereignty, both the Tibetan and
Chinese sides have to accept the truth about the existence of the main
issue concerning the welfare of the Tibetan people.
Since the restoration of direct contact with the Chinese government in
2002, no positive change has taken place in Tibet. Moreover the Chinese
authorities have taken, and are continuing to take, many actions that
can be described as inhuman behaviour. Beside the fact that there has
been a heightened repression and brutality in Tibet since 2006,
baseless accusations are being hurled against His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. The innocent Tibetans in general, and particularly the monks and
nuns are exposed to
unlimited restrictions and harassment under the pretext of ïž“patriotic
re-educationïžâ€. In spite of being an atheist state, the Chinese
government interferes in the religious affairs by issuing a decree on
the recognition of Trulkus.
It also uses a section of the Dholgyal propitiators as a tool to
separate the Tibetan people. And those who express their honest views
in a non-violent and peaceful manner are beaten and incarcerated. These
actions are the true behaviour of separatists that uproots the
co-operation between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. Harmony and unity
should be created through mutual trust by unifying the minds. There is
no historical precedence that a unity enforced through repression has
sustained. Neither will it be sustained in the future. The recent
developments in Tibet have greatly harmed the environment of the
Sino-Tibetan dialogue. The Chinese governmentïž’s assertion that it
attaches importance to the current process of dialogue also appears to
be nothing more than empty talk. Consequently, it has made it more
difficult for the exile Tibetan administration to guide the
Tibetans in and outside Tibet to abide by the Middle-Way policy.
So far the Chinese government has not given a definite response to the
demands put across by the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during
the sixth round of talks. Therefore, it is doubtful whether the Chinese
side is really willing to resolve the current problems of Tibet.
However, the Kashag will not change the current policy of the
Middle-Way Approach, irrespective of whether the dialogue with the
present leadership of the Peopleïž’s Republic of China will lead to any
solution on the issue of Tibet or not. We are firmly committed to the
continuance of the ongoing dialogue process with the Chinese government.
Employing numerous channels, the different agencies of the Chinese
government have been sending various signals and gestures to us.
However, unless we receive a clear and unambiguous message through a
recognised official channel, there is no way that we can respond to
these signals and gestures.
Following the objections raised by many highly-realised and recognised
spiritual masters of the earlier period ïž— including the Great Fifth
Dalai Lama, Trichen Ngawang Chokden, Changkya Rolpai Dorjee, the
Thirteenth Dalai Lama, etc., ïž— His Holiness has very kindly advised us
against the propitiation of the Dholgyal on numerous occasions. However
few monastic institutions of the Gelug tradition have still not
clarified their positions on this issue, as a result of which the
propitiators and non-propitiators of Dholgyal live together under the
same roof. A broad section of the enlightened monks has, therefore,
expressed their views through a number of campaign activities that this
matter must be resolved once and for all. As such, during his recent
visit to Mundgod, South India, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
suggested to the Gelug monastic institutions that for the future
convenience of all concerned a referendum among the monks be conducted.
The responsible authorities of the monastic institutions have
unanimously supported this idea and a referendum was conducted by
relying on the Buddhist Vinaya
system of voting by administering Tsul-shings (Sangha voting
sticks). Subsequently, most of the Gelug monastic institutions,
including the three Great Monastic Seats, have disassociated themselves
completely from the Dholgyal propitiators. While expressing our
appreciation for this, the Kashag would like to urge the monastic world
that they should not be negligent on this matter in the future as well.
There is, still, a tiny number of monks who are not able to stop the
propitiation of Dholgyal. Since
they cannot live within the compounds of the Great Monastic Seats, they
should move out to make a separate living elsewhere. Towards this end,
the Central Tibetan Administration will provide them necessary
assistance as we provide to all other Tibetans.
The Kashag would like to express its heartfelt thank you to the
government and people of India for providing unmatched assistance and
shelter to all the Tibetan exiles over the last almost fifty years. The
Kashag would like to urge that, as a way of expressing our gratitude,
the Tibetan exiles should contribute to, and assist in, the religious
and cultural spheres of the host country as much as they can.
Similarly, the Kashag would like to take this opportunity to express
its gratitude to the justice and
peace-loving governments and peoples across the world for supporting
the issue of Tibet.
Finally, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and the immediate resolution of the issue of Tibet. The Kashag
also prays that the day may dawn soon, when the Tibetans in and outside
Tibet will join in a celebration of their re-unification.
The Kashag
10 March 2008
N.B. Translated from the Tibetan original