Thursday, 13 August 2008, 12:18 p.m.
Paris: His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in France on 11 August. He was received by Mr. Jampal Choesang, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Paris, and members of the Tibetan Community. In the morning of 12 August his Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a short teaching, after which he was
received by the local mayor. After this his Holiness visited the Vietnamese Buddhist center and gave a teaching to about 1000 Vietnamese. This teaching took place in Evry. The local media covered the teaching extensively.
In the morning of 13th August His Holiness gave a press conference. About 100 reporters from the major news agencies attended the press conference. His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained his three commitments, which are his commitment as a human being, his commitment as a Buddhist monk and his commitment as a Tibetan. On his last commitment his Holiness explained in detail the issue of Tibet and the origins of the current crisis. His Holiness explained to the media the importance of sending a respected international body to Tibet to investigate the conditions there.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that there is tremendous economic progress in China, which is appreciated by all. Unfortunately there is no transparency, which is of critical importance if China is to sustain its current economic progress.
On Tibet, His Holiness said that there are no human rights.
At 10:15 am His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the French Senate. This visit was organized by the Tibet information group in the French Senate. Regardless of the fact that this is summer holiday in France, 34 French parliamentarians attended the event from both the Senate and the Lower Chamber. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was received by Mr. Louis de Broissia, Chairman of the Tibet Inter-Group and Deputy Liolel Luca, president of the Lower Chamber of the Tibet Information Group.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama expresses delight in meeting his old friends. He said that he would like to have a frank exchange with them. His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained the origins of the ongoing tragedy in Tibet. His Holiness informed the French Deputies that he heard reports that before the construction of the railway line in Tibet that China had plans to dispatch 1 million Chinese immigrants to Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that if this plan were to be implemented Tibetan in Tibet would be totally marginalized and Tibet itself would become another Manchuria and Inner Mongolia.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also informed the French Deputies on the dialogue process, which was renewed in 2002. His Holiness explained the gradual process of democratisation in the exile community. His Holiness said that since 2001 “we have a directly elected political leadership.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that he considered himself not as a ruler or a leader but a free spokesperson of the Tibetan people.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked the 34 French Deputies and said, “I regard you as not pro-Tibet but pro-justice.” Altogether his Holiness the Dalai Lama spent more than an hour with the French Deputies.
After lunch of 13th August His Holiness the Dalai Lama met 100 Tibetans from Lithang in Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained to them why he has discouraged the worship of Shugden/Dogyal. Later on His Holiness the Dalai Lama granted public audience to about 600 Tibetans from France and Belgium.
After this, His Holiness gave individual media interviews and then met with the Indian ambassador to France.
–As reported by Representative Jampal Chosang, Paris, on the phone