Tibetans are not anti-Chinese, His Holiness tells Chinese reporters
Tuesday, 15 April 2008, 10:31 a.m.
Dharamshala: Talking to
Chinese reporters in Seattle, US, on Saturday, His Holiness the Dalai
Lama sought to clarify the wrong impression that Tibetans are
anti-Chinese and Han people must be expelled from China.
Some 20-odd Chinese journalists from the United States and
Canada, including a correspondent from Xinhua based in Los Angeles and
a crew of Phoenix TV attended the meeting.
His Holiness said Tibetans in Tibet should not become a minority and the environment and culture of Tibet should be preserved.
On what Chinese government should do to help resolve issue of
Tibet – His Holiness responded by saying – “you can help”. China
continues to claim that the dialogue could begin if the Dalai Lama
stops independence activities, while the whole world knows I am not
seeking independence, His Holiness said.
“Please, please, make clear”, His Holiness said, “If I have
something to hide I would stay away from the Chinese media instead of
looking forward to it.”
Responding to a question on what message does he has to convey
to Chinese leaders, His Holiness said in his 19 March letter to the
highest leadership in Beijing, he has appealed the Chinese government
to stop the crackdown in Tibet and ensure medical help to injured
people.
He said in the immediate period of protests in Tibet, he has
appealed Chinese government to allow independent investigation bodies
to Tibet to ascertain the truth. His Holiness denied the allegations
that he was involved in the demonstrations in Tibet.
His Holiness said independent media teams should go to Tibet to find out the facts without official minders.
His Holiness said: “I want to tell the Central Government of
China that the time has come to accept reality and the necessity of a
realistic approach. Taking exception of local officials who create
distorted facts, His Holiness underlined that Chinese leadership must
seek truth from facts.”
For Tibet, separation and independence does not conform to the
reality, as Tibetans and Chinese have lived side by side for over a
thousand years, His Holiness said. Citing example of the European
Union, His Holiness underlined that it is in the better interest of
Tibetans to remain within the People’s Republic of China.
China is a multi-cultural and multi-racial nation with diverse
ethnic nationalities and people of each nationality has the
responsibility to preserve their culture, said His Holiness. Tibetans
have their own unique religion and culture, including Tibetan language,
which are worthwhile to be preserved.
His Holiness underlined that the issue of Tibet has to be resolved between Han Chinese and Tibetan people.
Responding to a question on steps to improve understanding
between Tibetans and Chinese, His Holiness said he had been encouraging
the Tibetans to reach out to the Chinese people. His Holiness said the
official contact was established with the Chinese leadership in
1978-79, adding that 1980s was a hopeful period when Hu Yaobang was
there. In 2002, we re-established contact with the Chinese leadership
and held six rounds of talks till date. During the fifth round, the
Chinese side acknowledged that the Dalai Lama was not seeking
independence, thereafter, the Chinese position changed and they have
hardened position during the sixth round.
His Holiness said as a Buddhists he has interacted with Chinese
Buddhists and in the last 10 years many Chinese Buddhists from South
East Asia as well as Mainland China have come to attend his teachings.
He said he always took the opportunity to meet separately with the
Chinese Buddhists from Mainland China, adding that it was better to
meet and talk rather than remaining distant.
Reiterating his demand for Tibet’s meaningful autonomy, His
Holiness said besides a few section of Tibetans, majority of people
outside and inside Tibet have supported the “Middle-Way Approach.” His
Holiness called the policy a realistic approach, which could lead to a
mutually agreeable solution.
Reaffirming his support for the Beijing Olympics, His Holiness
said after the Tibetan rallies during Olympics torch relay in London
and Paris, he has appealed to Tibetans in San Francisco asking them to
desist from violence. His Holiness, however, defended the protestors’
“freedom of expression”, saying, “I have no right to say stop.”
In an effort to avoid causing embarrassment to the Indian
government, His Holiness said he appealed the representatives of the
Tibetan NGOs to called off their planned peace march to Tibet, which
they agreed.
His Holiness said the railway linking Tibet with China is a
sign of positive development unless it is used for military purpose,
exploitation of resources and to bring in Han population. Explaining
that Tibetans were not against development, His Holiness said no
Tibetan was interested in keeping Tibet backward.
His Holiness expressed concerns that Chinese government,
intentionally or unintentionally are carrying out cultural genocide in
Tibet. He said he met a Tibetan student from Qinghai in the United
States, who could not speak Tibetan. The student told him that local
officials give top priority to Chinese language with no facilities to
study Tibetan.
The Tibetan studies department in Lhasa University is being
neglected and restrictions and political education increased in the
monasteries. He said some Chinese authorities see Tibetan Buddhism as a
source of separatist activities, he said. In Lhasa today, where there
is a population of 300,000, two-thirds of which are Han Chinese with
many owning shops. He said thus the local people are compelled to speak
Chinese, he added.
His Holiness said he is devoted to his three commitments –
promotion of human values, promotion of religious harmony and the issue
of Tibet. The US visit is concerned with his devotion to the first two
commitments.
