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Page1 Obama Dalai Lama meeting Page 2 A book release by the Prime Minister of Tibet Page 3 No Celebration for losar Page 4 Tibetan Monks Joyful Page 5 Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy Page 7 Democracy Award
GENOCIDE IN TIBET
TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS
Tibet New Year
Bi-MonthlyB o d - K y i - Cha- Trin
I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Rs.5Vol. 01, Issue 12, 27 February 2010
DEMOCRACY AWARD
www.thetibetpost.com
.....See page 2
One Tibetan Sentenced To Death andTwo to Long-Term Imprisonment in
Eastern Tibet
Dharamshala: The Tibetan Center for
Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD),
in Dharamshala, India, reports that three
Tibetans from Thangkyil township, Karze
prefecture (Chinese name), eastern Tibet,
have received harsh court sentences.
According to TCHRD, on 17 November
2009, Karze Municipal Intermediate People's
Court sentenced Pema Yeshe (29) from
Nyidha village, to a two-year suspended
death penalty. Tsewang Gyatso (33) received......See page 4
............ See detail on page 6
Tibetan Settlement Conference
gets Underway
Dharamshala: The 6th Biennial Conference of
Tibetan Settlement Officers' on Administration
began today in Gankyi staff Mess Hall,
Dharamsala. It was organised by the
Department Home of the Central Tibetan
Administration. The Tibetan Prime Minister.....Detail on page 2
...See page 7
A musician of Tibet.Page 2.............
Obama Meets His Holiness: SupportiveDialogue Angers Beijing
Dharamshala: US President Barack Obama met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time yesterday, provoking an angry
response from the China.The meeting took place in private in Washington, in the White House's Map Room, as opposed to the Oval Office,
where the President usually meets international leaders.
Dalai Lama Awarded in US
Despite China Anger
WASHINGTON - The Dalai Lama was
bestowed Friday with a US award for his
commitment to democracy, the latest
honour for the Tibetan spiritual leader
despite China's angry protests over his
White House welcome.
One day after President Barack Obama met
Call For Release Of China’s “OlympicPrisoners” During Vancouver GamesBig Turnout for Incense
Burning Ceremony onthe Fourth Day of Losar
Dharamshala: The ceremony began early in
morning with traditional chanting from
monks and nuns, and the offering of the
white scarf to His Holiness the Dalai
Lama's picture, and finished with the
13th Dalai Lama Exile to India
PrimeMinisterof TibetPage 4....
President Barack Obama meets with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House on 18 February 2010.Photo: White House.
.........See page 3
RAs Vancouver prepares to inaugurate the 2010 Winter Olympics tomorrow, China continues
to detain human rights activists, journalists and bloggers who were arrested for speaking out
before, during and after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Dozens of Chinese families continue to suffer the awful effects of the last Olympics because
a loved-one is still in jail for using the fundamental right to free expression," Reporters Without
Borders said. "Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee and its president, Jacques
Rogge, are doing nothing to obtain the release of these innocent people, whose ordeal is a stain
on the Olympics' reputation."
Reporters Without Borders has sent a petition to Rogge asking him to intercede with the
Chinese authorities and seek the release of the "Olympic prisoners" during the Vancouver
Games. Signed by more than 1,600 Internet users, the petition urges Rogge "to speak up and to
act in defence of free expression."
Reporters Without Borders will give copies of the petition to Chinese embassies in Paris and
Berlin tomorrow. The petition also urges Chinese President Hu Jintao to ask the competent
authorities in China to release the "Olympic prisoners." More information about the "Olympic
prisoners": http://www.rsf.org/en-petition34043-Olympic_prisoners.html
The 13th Dhalai lama of Tibet
The Tibet Post2 TPI TIBET IN EXILE27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
......continued from frontpage
Samdhong Rinpoche and other
ministers of departments of
government are attending, along with
the heads and coordinators of
Tibetan settlements all across India,
Nepal and Bhutan.
At the conference, Prof. Samdhong
Rinpoche began the conference by
giving a speech on behalf of his
cabinet: "We Tibetan refugees, unlike
other political refugees in other
countries, have been able to
effectively preserve our culture,
politics and livelihood. We can
attribute this to the integrity of
Tibetan settlements."
The Prime Minister commended His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru for establishing Tibetan
schools for refugees, "after 50 years
we look back and can see their vision
and how it has helped to shape our
community." The Prime Minister
further praised the Tibetan settlers
keeping Tibetan identity and culture
active in the exile community.
The two day long meeting is being
held to review the fifty year history
of the exiles, and to lay down a clear
agenda for future work based on
these past experiences.
The Prime Minister concluded his
speech by talking about the Tibetan
refugee status in India, "as India has
not signed any international
agreements for refugee rights, the
Tibetan status is not protected by
international law. There is nothing
specified in the Indian constitution
that relates to our status as refugees.
However, since the first refugees
arrived here, we have been provided
with refugee and foreign status."
Tibetan Settlement Conferencegets Underway
......continued from frontpage
Acho Namgyal DocumentaryPremieres in Dharamshala
Dharamshala: A new documentary
about the life of blind Tibetan
musician Acho Namgyal received its
world premiere on February 20 at
the Tibetan Institute of Performing
Arts, Dharamsala, India. Director
Sonam Tashi spent two years filming
in the US, Switzerland and India to
tell the story Acho Namgyal and the
roots of the Nangma and Toeshey
genres of Tibetan classical music.
The 80-minute documentary was
edited from more than 15 years of
research and ten hours of eyewitness
accounts and professional
commentaries. The film features
authentic costumes, Lhasa dialect and
culture, with location filming in
Ladakh to stand in for Tibet.
"I began to collect music, stories
from musicians, interviews with
artists, and audios and videos of
Tibetan music in the late 1980s," said
Sonam Tashi. "I was very fortunate
to be able to interview the late Maja
Tsewang Gyurme, Sampho
Rinpoche, Nornang, Sholkhang
Sonam Dargyal, and Tashi Tsering,
whom I call Tibetan treasures.
"From them I gathered wonderful
stories of the Nangma and Toeshey
music festivals, the aristocrats'
banquets, picnics in Lhasa's many
parks, and of musical jam sessions
with Acho Namgyal."
A few years ago, Sonam Tashi co-
founded the group Nangma Boekyi
Solgyun Rolyang and toured North
America. The tour was intended to
educate the younger generation and
to remind elders of the good old
days of the past.
"Throughout this tour I met many
Tibetan youths who took an interest
in singing Nangma and Toeshey,"
said the director. "This persuaded me
that I should seriously try to do some
concrete work in promoting and
preserving these particular genres."
The film features actors from the
Tibetan Institute for Performing
Arts, Dharamsala, and was funded
by a grant from the Galen and
Barbara Rowell Fund, administered
by ict and film-makers Eric and
Vivica Henningsen.
For more information on the film
and the music, visit
www.achonamgyal.com and
www.nangmatoeshey.com
New Book Documents Protests in Tehor Region
Dharamshala: Tehor Association
today celebrated the launch of its
new book, Peaceful Protest: a
Continuous Wave of Bravery.
The book is an account of the
historic protests by the people of
Tehor in Eastern Tibet against
Chinese rule which took place
between March 2008 and June 2009.
It covers the brutal Chinese
crackdown on the protests, with
biographies of protestors killed in
the conflict and in detainment, as well
as a survey of the Chinese military
outposts in Tibet.
Speaking on behalf of the Tibetan
Cabinet, the Prime Minister thanked
all the volunteers who were involved
in the production of the not-for-
profit book., and spoke to attendees
of the importance of written
documentation of these events.
"Tibet's struggle for its politics,
religious culture and community has
continued for 60 years, and is almost
out of memory. Records of these
events are very rare so it is very
important to keep a written factual
account, in order to keep a
standardised history," the Prime
Minister said.
The ceremony took place in
Gangchen Kyishong, at the residence
of the Tibetan Government in Exile.
Also attending the ceremony were
Penpa Tsering and Dolma Gyari, the
speaker and deputy speaker of the
Tibetan Parliament in Exile, along
with representatives of NGOs.
13th Dalai Lama’s Exile to India Commemorated in Dharamsala
The Tibetan Government-in-exile
this morning marked the
centenary of the 13th Dalai Lama
Thupten Gyaltso’s exile to India.
The ceremony was held at
Tsuglagkang, His Holiness the
14th Dalai Lama’s main temple in
Dharamsala, India. It was
attended by officials from the
three strands of the government-
in-exile - the assembly, the cabinet
and the judiciary - together with
non-government organizations.
Prime Minister Professor
Samdhong Rinpoche told the
audience that, in 1910, the
Chinese Manchu Dynasty invaded
Tibet, driving the 13th Dalai
Lama into exile.
“The 13th Dalai Lama worked
assiduously for Tibet,” he said,
“and maintained good relations
with neighbouring countries, so the
centenary of his exile is well worth
remembering, especially by those in
government.
“It was the fifth Dalai Lama who
founded the first Tibetan government,
the Gaden Podang. He had many
plans to improve his country.
Unfortunately he was not supported
by his compatriots, and his successors
faced many subsequent invasions
from Nepal, China and Britain.
“In 1912,” the Prime Minister
continued, “the Chinese were ousted
from Tibet, and the 13th Dalai Lama
declared it an independent state.
“All countries mark the anniversaries
of important figures and their deeds,
and the Tibetan Government-in-exile
is correct to do the same.”The Prime
Minister concluded that, “2012 will be
the centenary of the 13th Dalai Lama’s
sreturn to Tibet, and this anniversary
should also be marked, along with
our own dreams of returning home
to join our countrypeople.”
Mr Penpa Tsering, Chairman of the
Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, related
the life story of the 13th Dalai
Lama.
He said that when he returned to
Tibet, the 13th Dalai Lama instituted
many changes to government policy,
based on his experiences in India,
regarding, for example, tax laws,
and hunting and forestry regulation.
He also sanctioned the founding of
tea plantations, and the introduction
of electricity supply and telephony.
Mr Penpa Tsering concluded that we
must maintain previous advances in
Tibet and Tibetan culture, but also
respond to changing times, as did the
13th Dalai Lama.
Big Turnout for Incense Burning Ceremony on
the Fourth Day of Losar
Tibetan national anthem. Few celebrations were seen, as His Holiness
the Dalia Lama had previously urged Tibetans to eschew all
celebrations except traditional and religious rituals.
In Ngawa County, Eastern Tibet, Tibetans protested against Chinese
rule by eating only plain foods, like tsampa and bread, instead of
the feast traditional on Losar.
......continued from frontpage
TPI DALAI LAMAThe Tibet Post 3
The choice of venue has been
widely interpreted as an attempt to
appease the Chinese government in
Beijing, which considers His
Holiness to be a separatist and
believes that official foreign contact
with him infringes on China's
sovereignty over Tibet
Emerging from the hour-long
meeting, His Holiness told
reporters he "very happy" with the
session, saying he spoke to
President Obama about the
promotion of human value,
religious harmony, a greater
leadership role for women around
the world and the concerns of the
Tibetan people. He said the
President was "very much
supportive."
White House press secretary Robert
Gibbs said, "The President
commended the Dalai Lama's
'Middle Way' approach, his
commitment to non-violence and
his pursuit of dialogue with the
Chinese government."
Washington kept the talks low-key
because it does not wish to
exacerbate current tensions with
China over issues such as US
weapons sales to Taiwan, currency
policy, trade disputes and internet
censorship.
Further, President Obama is
seeking to avoid compromise to
his efforts to secure China's help in
imposing tougher sanctions on Iran
and North Korea for their nuclear
programmes, and forging a new
global accord on climate change.
The Dalai Lama's envoy, Lodi
Gyari, said even a private meeting
with Obama was a boost for
Tibetans feeling marginalized by
China.
Michael Green, former President
George Bush's senior Asia advisor
commented, "The Chinese
government is preoccupied with
protocol and how things look. The
fact that (His Holiness and
President Obama) spent time
together in an intimate setting
means everything for the Tibetan
cause."
Predictably, Beijing responded
angrily to the meeting. Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma
Zhaoxu said in an official
statement, "The behaviour of the
US side seriously interferes in
China's internal politics and
seriously hurts the national feelings
of the Chinese people."
He added that the meeting "violated
the US government's repeated
acceptance that Tibet is a part of
China and that it does not support
Tibetan independence".
The White House has defended the
decision to receive His Holiness,
saying he is "an internationally
respected religious leader".
His Holiness has met every sitting
US President since 1991, with each
visit provoking criticism from
Beijing.
Obama Meets His Holiness: SupportiveDialogue Angers Beijing
......continued from frontpage
His Holiness Urges TibetansNot to Celebrate New Year
Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual
leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai
Lama on Sunday sent out wishes
for a prosperous the Tibetan New
Year, after a religious ceremony in
Dharamshala. His Holiness also
urged Tibetans on Sunday not to
celebrate the Tibetan New Year
(Losar) as Tibetans from inside
Tibet declared that they will not
celebrate the new year.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader,
who greeted thousands of Tibetans
in the main Buddhist temple in the
north Indian town of Dharamshala
at the start of what would
otherwise be a two-week New
Year celebration, said the gesture
was to honor those in Tibet. "We
have heard some voices inside
Tibet that they will not celebrate the
New Year. We should respect and
abide by that call," His Holiness
said, speaking in Tibetan.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
supporting the Tibetan
government-in-exile has requested
the exiled Tibetans to not carry out
a grand celebration, due to the
tense situation prevailing in
Tibet."We are not celebrating the
New Year, in a very grand way; we
are only performing the religious
ceremony and rituals. I wish all the
Tibetans inside and outside Tibet
and also forward my greetings of
the Tibetan New Year to all
followers in Himalayan regions,
and to all the friends and Buddhist
followers," His Holiness said.
"I would only say that every
Tibetan and Buddhist follower
should study and learn Buddhist
philosophy, and study modern
culture and
Tibetan philosophy. So, this is the
most important message I would
give today to Tibetan and Buddhist
followers in the Himalayan region
and others," he added.
His Holiness TheDalai Lama
Preaches Peace,Compassion in
FloridaTibet's spiritual and political leader,
His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama,
spoke Wednesday about
compassion and the benefits of
positivity to 3,500 people at Florida
Atlantic University's Arena in Boca
Raton.
"Out of compassion brings inner
peace, and out of inner peace
comes world peace. Without inner
peace, we cannot have world
peace," His Holiness said.
His Holiness said everyone has the
same capabilities for inner peace
and compassion. If a person is
always in constant fear and
suspicion, that's "very bad," His
Holiness said. Everyone has the
same capacity for kindness, His
Holiness added.
"To me, the audience is brothers
and sisters - no difference," he said.
"Emotionally, mentally and
physically we are the same.
Negative emotions - anger, fear
suspicion [are the] same. Other
hand, we have the same potential
for compassion. Compassion is the
seed of inner peace. We all have the
same potential."
Showing compassion to an enemy
helps to achieve inner peace, and
"Neighbors with jealousy never get
peace," His Holiness the Dalai
Lama said.
Smiling often and genuinely is
another key to finding compassion
and inner peace, and the more
positive you are, the better you feel,
His Holiness pleaded.
"Scientists begin to realize - for
physical health - reduce blood
pressure, reduce anxiety, reduce
fear .... calm is very, very
important," the Dalai Lama
emphasized.
An additional 2,500 students,
faculty and staff viewed Tenzin
Gyatso, the 74-year-old exiled
Tibetan Buddhist leader, by
simulcast in the auditorium.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke
for nearly 45 minutes and took
questions prepared by students,
faculty and staff of the university
for 15 minutes.
In helping to achieve inner peace,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said
meditation works best for him. His
Holiness rises at 3:30 a.m. and
recites a Buddhist prayer to begin
his day.
A necessary component for
compassion: intelligence. Looking
at situations only from only one
angle brings worry and
frustration. But looking at things
from different angles "brings new
opportunities," the exiled Tibetan
leader added.
FAU's Manjunath Pendakur, dean
of the Dorothy F. Schmidt
College of Arts and Letters, said,
"This is a major boost to work
harder .... in the cause of peace.
This is a momentous day in the
history of the university. We are
humbled and enriched by it."
John Pritchett, FAU's interim
president, welcomed everyone to
this "historical event."
Pritchett called Nobel Laureate,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama "a
living example of all the good
that can be accomplished in this
world by one person - a person
with courage, a person with
conviction to raise his voice for
peace."
27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
TPI TIBET The Tibet Post4
His Holiness to Meet ObamaToday: Beijing Angry, Tibetan
Monks Joyful
Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai
Lama arrived yesterday in
Washington, and is due to meet US
President Barack Obama and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
later today.
His Holiness was driven from Dulles
International Airport to a downtown
hotel under tight security, where he
greeted local Tibetans celebrating the
new-year festival of Losar.
The Washington visit has been
condemned by China, with claims
that it will undermine US-Chinese
relations, but the US has refused to
cancel it.
Tensions between Beijing and
Washington have been rising of late,
over issues ranging from trade and
currencies to a US plan to sell $6.4
billion of weapons to self-ruled
Taiwan, which China considers a
renegade province.
Meanwhile in Chinese-occupied
Rebkong (Chinese name Tongren),
just outside the Tibet Autonomous
Region and close to His Holiness'
birthplace, Buddhist monks last night
celebrated the Washington visit with
a defiant midnight firework display.
Tibetans traditionally set off
fireworks at Losar, but many of the
monks in Rebkong said they were
also marking the Dalai Lama's
scheduled visit to the White House.
"My heart is filled with joy," one
monk, Johkang, told Reuters.
"It is so important for us that
this is happening, that the US
has not given in to threats and
will meet our leader."
"I'm very excited about who the
Dalai Lama is going to meet," said a
local Tibetan woman, "but I worry
about what measures the government
could take against us in retaliation."
Another monk, Tedan, spoke
proudly of the His Holiness' Nobel
Peace Prize, awarded in 1989.
"That the 1.3 billion Han Chinese
have never had one of their number
win a Nobel prize and that we have,
with just 6 million people, says
something powerful," he said. "Now
you understand why we love him so
much."
After the Washington meetings, His
Holiness' ten-day US tour will take
him to Los Angeles and Florida.
27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
Learning is the Only Way to Preserve Tibetan
Language: Samdhong RinpocheDharamshala: Tibetan Language
Inheritance society observed the
UNESCO International Mother
Language Day in Yongling School
Hall, Mcleod Ganj yesterday. A panel
discussion was also organized on the
topic of the preservation of the
Tibetan language.
Tibetan Prime Minister Pro
Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk
on the approaches of
preserving Tibetan language,
while Karma Monlam, Joint
Secretary of the Joint
Education Department, spoke
of the translation of new
vocabulary into Tibetan, and Master
Sonam Gyaltsen of the Sarah
College for Higher Tibetan Studies
described the structure of Tibetan
grammar. Over 100 people attended
the discussion and were invited to
raise questions regarding these topics.
Pro Samdhong Rinpoche stressed the
importance of a single written
language, without diminishing the
variety of dialects among different
regions of Tibet, "it is alright to
speak with your own dialect, but it
is very important to have a common
written script to keep the language
integrated." He commented on the
strong connection between Tibetan
language and Buddhism, arguing
that, "Theravada and Mahayana
Buddhism are only able to be fully
studied in the Tibetan language. This
is also true of Tibetan Medical and
astrological teaching, which have a
great potential to serve humanity."
Concluding his speech, the Prime
Minister said, "The only way to
preserve Tibetan language is to learn
it. If we Tibetans encourage our
children to learn the Tibetan
language, then it will be preserved."
He also joked about the Tibetan
language internationalizing, saying
"the Tibetan language will not
disintegrate, as it has already become
an international language, but if it is
not preserved, we Tibetans may have
to learn it back from blonde-haired,
blue-eyed foreigners, but this would
be a shame on us."
Police Arrests Seventeen Tibetan Refugees at Tibet-Nepal BorderDharamshala: Nepali Police on
Thursday arrested 17 more Tibetan
refugees while they were crossing
from Lamabagar of Dolakha
district, near Tibet-
Nepali Border.
The arrested Tibetan
refugees, who entered
through Nepal's open
border with Tibet,
include 10 men and 7
women. They did not
possess travel
documents, Nepal
News said.
"A police team from
Gogar police post had arrested the
Tibetans fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet
on Thursday evening and handed
them over to the District Police
Office.
As there is public holiday tomorrow
and the day after, the district police
plans to hand the arrested Tibetans
over to immigration department in
Kathmandu on Monday.
The arrested Tibetans now face
either deportation to Tibet,
imprisonment in the country or
would be handed over to United
Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR)."
life imprisonment, and Sonam
Gonpo (25) was given a 16-year
term. The latter two both worked
as school cooks in Thangkyil. All
three were charged with violating
state security and engaging in
separatist activities.
TCHRD reports that Karze police
arrested the three on March 11 last
year, under suspicion of posting
pro-Tibetan independence slogans
in Thangkyil township, and setting
fire to its local government office.
Since their arrests, Pema Yeshe has
been held in Dartsedho county
detention centre, whilst Sonam and
Tsewang have been detained in a
Deyang region prison, in so-called
"Chiese Sichuan" province.
.. Sentenced To Death......continued from frontpage
Last Saturday, police had arrested
four Tibetans from the same place
in Dolakha while they were crossing
Tibe-Nepal border.
Prior to that, 10 Tibetans
were arrested by the police
while they were entering
Nepal without valid travel
documents from Tibet via
Lamabagar in Dolakha
district on Jan 17.
Nepal is home to around
20,000 exiled Tibetans. They
began arriving in large
numbers after Tibetan
spiritual leader, His Holiness
the Dalai Lama fled Tibet following
a failed uprising in 1959.
Following strong pressure from the
communist regime of China, Nepal
has forced to tighten up security along
its border with Tibet.
Tibetan Government-in-exile Celebrates 13th Dalai Lama’s Historical Role
Dharamshala: The Tibetan
Government-in-exile Thursday
afternoon held a panel discussion to
mark the centenary of the 13th Dalai
Lama Thupten Gyaltso's exile to
India from 1910-1911.
The event was held at the staff mess
hall of Gangchen Kyishong, the
g o v e r n m e n t ' s
headquarters in
Dharamsala, India,
and was addressed
by Prime Minister
Samdhong Rinpoche,
Tibetan scholar Naga
Sangay Tendar, and
researcher and MP
Bawa Kalsang
Gyaltsen.
Mr Bawa Kalsang
Gyaltsen spoke about the historical
"patron-priest" relationship between
Tibet's Gaden Podang government
and the Chinese Manchu Dynasty,
and the 13th Dalai Lama's
restoration of Tibetan independence
in 1913, upon his return from exile.
He also discussed the Tibet-
Mongolia Treaty of 1913, in which
the two countries recognized each
other's independence, after the
collapse of the Manchu Dynasty in
1911.
Mr Naga Sangay Tendar went on
to talk about the 13th Dalai Lama's
experiences of exile.
In 1904, Great Britain sent a military
expedition to Tibet and the Dalai
Lama fled to Mongolia for a year.
He subsequently visited Beijing,
China, and returned to Tibet in
1908. In 1910, the Manchu Dynasty
sent its own military expedition to
Lhasa, and the Dalai Lama fled to
India.
Mr Naga Sangay described the 13th
Dalai Lama's return to Tibet after
the Xinhai Chinese Revolution of
1911, during which the Manchu
Dynasty was overthrown. He spoke
about Tibet's reassertion of
independence, and the lack of
political support from
neighbouring countries in the early
20th century.
Mr Naga Sangay's address sought
to counter the propaganda
disseminated by contemporary
Chinese history books about that
era.
Summarising the discussion, Prime
Minister Samdhong Rinpoche
highlighted how the 13th Dalai
Lama's life encompassed an
important era of Tibetan history,
and commended him for his role
in keeping the Tibetan state intact.
The Tibet Post 5
The Tibet Post InternationalPress of Tibet(Head Office)1st Floor, Dolkhang House, JogiwaraRoad, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.Kangra H.P 176219 India
Advicer Mr. Thomas Keimel
Advicer Dr. Vincent Brucel
Editor Mr. YC. Dhardhowa
Sub Editor Mrs. Yangyal Sham
Reporter Mr. Sangay Dorjee
Reporter Ms. Keary Huang
Circular Ven Phuntsok Dhondup
Publisher Mr. Tenzin Kunga
I n t e r n a t i o n a l
The Tibet P st
Tele: 0091-1892-224641Moble:+91-9882423566
E-mail: [email protected]
TPICHINA-TIBET TALKS
Dharamshala: Note on the
Memorandum on Genuine
Autonomy for the Tibetan People
was formally presented by the
Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama to their Chinese counterparts
during the ninth round of dialogue
in Beijing, PRC.
This Note addresses the principal
concerns and objections raised by the
Chinese Central Government
regarding the substance of the
Memorandum on Genuine
Autonomy for the Tibetan People
(hereinafter ‘the Memorandum')
which was presented to the
Government of the People's
Republic of China (PRC) on October
31, 2008 at the eighth round of talks
in Beijing.
Having carefully studied the responses
and reactions of Minister Du Qinglin
and Executive Vice-Minister Zhu
Weiqun conveyed during the talks,
including the written Note, and in
statements made by the Chinese
Central Government following the
talks, it seems that some issues raised
in the Memorandum may have been
misunderstood, while others appear
to have not been understood by the
Chinese Central Government.
The Chinese Central Government
maintains that the Memorandum
contravenes the Constitution of the
PRC as well as the ‘three
adherences'[1]. The Tibetan side
believes that the Tibetan people's
needs, as set out in the Memorandum,
can be met within the framework and
spirit of the Constitution and its
principles on autonomy and that these
proposals do not contravene or
conflict with the ‘three adherences'.
We believe that the present Note will
help to clarify this.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama started
internal discussions, as early as in 1974,
.....See page 6
Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Au-tonomy for the Tibetan People Introduction
to find ways to resolve the future
status of Tibet through an
autonomy arrangement instead of
seeking independence. In 1979
Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
expressed willingness to discuss and
resolve all issues except the
independence of Tibet. Since then
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
taken numerous initiatives to bring
about a mutually acceptable
negotiated solution to the question
of Tibet. In doing so His Holiness
the Dalai Lama has steadfastly
followed the Middle-Way approach,
which means the pursuit of a
mutually acceptable and mutually
beneficial solution through
negotiations, in the spirit of
reconciliation and compromise. The
Five-Point Peace Plan and the
Strasbourg Proposal were presented
in this spirit. With the failure to elicit
any positive response from the
Chinese Central Government to
these initiatives, along with the
imposition of martial law in March
1989 and the deterioration of the
situation in Tibet, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama felt compelled to state
in 1991 that his Strasbourg
Proposal had become ineffectual.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
nevertheless maintained his
commitment to the Middle-Way
approach.
The re-establishment of a dialogue
process between the Chinese
Central Government and
representatives of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama in 2002 provided the
opportunity for each side to explain
their positions and to gain a better
understanding of the concerns,
needs and interests of the other side.
Moreover, taking into consideration
the Chinese Central Government's
real concerns, needs and interests,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
given much thought with due
consideration to the reality of the
situation. This reflects His Holiness
the Dalai Lama's flexibility, openness
and pragmatism and, above all,
sincerity and determination to seek
a mutually beneficial solution.
The Memorandum on Genuine
Autonomy for the Tibetan People
was prepared in response to the
suggestion from the Chinese Central
Government made at the seventh
round of talks in July 2008.
However, the Chinese Central
Government's reactions and main
criticisms of the Memorandum
appear to be based not on the merits
of that proposal which was officially
presented to it, but on earlier
proposals that were made public as
well as other statements made at
different times and contexts.
The Memorandum and the present
Note strongly reemphasise that His
Holiness the Dalai Lama is not
seeking independence or separation
but a solution within the framework
of the Constitution and its principles
on autonomy as reiterated many
times in the past.
The Special General Meeting of the
Tibetans in Diaspora held in
November 2008 in Dharamsala
reconfirmed for the time being the
mandate for the continuation of the
dialogue process with the PRC on
the basis of the Middle-Way
approach. On their part, members
of the international community
urged both sides to return to the talks.
A number of them expressed the
opinion that the Memorandum can
form a good basis for discussion.
1. Respecting the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the PRC
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
repeatedly stated that he is not
seeking separation of Tibet from the
People's Republic of China, and that
he is not seeking independence for
Tibet. He seeks a sustainable solution
within the PRC. This position is
stated unambiguously in the
Memorandum.
The Memorandum calls for the
exercise of genuine autonomy, not
for independence, ‘semi-
independence' or ‘independence in
disguised form'. The substance of
the Memorandum, which explains
what is meant by genuine autonomy,
makes this unambiguously clear. The
form and degree of autonomy
proposed in the Memorandum is
consistent with the principles on
autonomy in the Constitution of the
PRC. Autonomous regions in
different parts of the world exercise
the kind of self-governance that is
proposed in the Memorandum,
without thereby challenging or
threatening the sovereignty and unity
of the state of which they are a part.
This is true of autonomous regions
within unitary states as well as those
with federal characteristics.
Observers of the situation, including
unbiased political leaders and scholars
in the international community, have
also acknowledged that the
Memorandum is a call for autonomy
within the PRC and not for
independence or separation from the
PRC.
The Chinese government's viewpoint
on the history of Tibet is different
from that held by Tibetans and His
Holiness the Dalai Lama is fully
aware that Tibetans cannot agree to
it. History is a past event and it cannot
be altered. However, His Holiness
the Dalai Lama's position is forward-
looking, not backward grasping. He
does not wish to make this difference
on history to be an obstacle in seeking
a mutually beneficial common future
within the PRC.
The Chinese Central Government's
responses to the Memorandum
reveal a persistent suspicion on its
part that His Holiness' proposals are
tactical initiatives to advance the
hidden agenda of independence. His
Holiness the Dalai Lama is aware of
the PRC's concerns and sensitivities
with regard to the legitimacy of the
present situation in Tibet. For this
reason His Holiness the Dalai Lama
has conveyed through his Envoys
and publicly stated that he stands
ready to lend his moral authority to
endow an autonomy agreement,
once reached, with the legitimacy it
will need to gain the support of the
people and to be properly
implemented.
2. Respecting the Constitution of the
PRC
The Memorandum explicitly states
that the genuine autonomy sought by
His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the
Tibetan people is to be
accommodated within the
framework of the Constitution and
its principles on autonomy, not
outside of it.
The fundamental principle underlying
the concept of national regional
autonomy is to preserve and protect
a minority nationality's identity,
language, custom, tradition and
culture in a multi-national state based
on equality and cooperation. The
Constitution provides for the
establishment of organs of self-
government where the national
minorities live in concentrated
communities in order for them to
exercise the power of autonomy. In
conformity with this principle, the
White Paper on Regional Ethnic
Autonomy in Tibet (May 2004),
states that minority nationalities are
"arbiters of their own destiny and
masters of their own affairs".
Within the parameters of its
underlying principles, a Constitution
needs to be responsive to the needs
of the times and adapt to new or
changed circumstances. The leaders
of the PRC have demonstrated the
flexibility of the Constitution of the
PRC in their interpretation and
implementation of it, and have also
enacted modifications and
amendments in response to changing
circumstances. If applied to the
Tibetan situation, such flexibility
would, as is stated in the
Memorandum, indeed permit the
accommodation of the Tibetan
needs within the framework of the
Constitution and its principles on
autonomy.
3. Respecting the ‘three adherences'
The position of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, as presented in the
Memorandum, in no way challenges
or brings into question the leadership
of the Chinese Communist Party in
the PRC. At the same time, it is
reasonable to expect that, in order to
promote unity, stability and a
harmonious society, the Party would
change its attitude of treating Tibetan
culture, religion and identity as a threat.
27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
The Tibet Post6
The Memorandum also does not
challenge the socialist system of the
PRC. Nothing in it suggests a
demand for a change to this system
or for its exclusion from Tibetan
areas. As for His Holiness the Dalai
Lama's views on socialism, it is well
known that he has always favoured
a socialist economy and ideology that
promotes equality and benefits to
uplift the poorer sections of society.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's call
for genuine autonomy within the
PRC recognises the principles on
autonomy for minority nationalities
contained in the Constitution of the
PRC and is in line with the declared
intent of those principles. As pointed
out in the Memorandum, the current
implementation of the provisions on
autonomy, however, effectively
results in the denial of genuine
autonomy to the Tibetan and fails
to provide for the exercise of the
right of Tibetans to govern
themselves and to be "masters of
their own affairs." Today, important
decisions pertaining to the welfare
of Tibetans are not being made by
Tibetans. Implementing the
proposed genuine autonomy
explained in the Memorandum
would ensure for the Tibetans the
ability to exercise the right to true
autonomy and therefore to become
masters of their own affairs, in line
with the Constitutional principles on
autonomy.
Thus, the Memorandum for genuine
autonomy does not oppose the ‘three
adherences'.
4. Respecting the hierarchy and
authority of the Chinese Central
Government
The proposals contained in the
Memorandum in no way imply a
denial of the authority of the
National People's Congress (NPC)
and other organs of the Chinese
Central Government. As stated in
the Memorandum, the proposal fully
respects the hierarchical differences
between the Central Government
and its organs, including the NPC,
and the autonomous government of
Tibet.
Any form of genuine autonomy
entails a division and allocation of
powers and responsibilities, including
that of making laws and regulations,
between the central and the
autonomous local government. Of
course, the power to adopt laws and
regulations is limited to the areas of
competency of the autonomous
region. This is true in unitary states
as well as in federal systems.
This principle is also recognised in
the Constitution. The spirit of the
Constitutional provisions on
autonomy is to give autonomous
regions broader decision-making
authority over and above that
enjoyed by ordinary provinces. But
today, the requirement for prior
approval by the Standing Committee
of the NPC for all laws and
regulations of the autonomous
regions (Art. 116 of the Constitution)
is exercised in a way that in fact
leaves the autonomous regions with
much less authority to make
decisions that suit local conditions
than that of the ordinary (not
autonomous) provinces of China.
Whenever there is a division and
allocation of decision-making power
between different levels of
government (between the Central
Government and the autonomous
government), it is important to have
processes in place for consultation
and cooperation. This helps to
improve mutual understanding and
to ensure that contradictions and
possible inconsistencies in policies,
laws and regulations are minimised.
It also reduces the chances of
disputes arising regarding the exercise
of the powers allocated to these
different organs of government.
Such processes and mechanisms do
not put the Central and autonomous
governments on equal footing, nor
do they imply the rejection of the
leadership of the Central
Government.
The important feature of
entrenchment of autonomy
arrangements in the Constitution or
in other appropriate ways also does
not imply equality of status between
the central and local government nor
does it restrict or weaken the
authority of the former. The
measure is intended to provide
(legal) security to both the
autonomous and the central
authorities that neither can unilaterally
change the basic features of the
autonomy they have set up, and that
a process of consultation must take
place at least for fundamental changes
to be enacted.
5. Concerns raised by the Chinese
Central Government on specific
competencies referred to in the
Memorandum
a) Public security
Concern was raised over the
inclusion of public security aspects
in the package of competencies
allocated to the autonomous region
in the Memorandum because the
government apparently interpreted
this to mean defence matters.
National defence and public security
are two different matters. His
Holiness the Dalai Lama is clear on
the point that the responsibility for
national defence of the PRC is and
should remain with the Central
Government. This is not a
competency to be exercised by the
autonomous region. This is indeed
the case in most autonomy
arrangements. The Memorandum in
fact refers specifically to "internal
public order and security," and
makes the important point that the
majority of the security personnel
should be Tibetans, because they
understand the local customs and
traditions. It also helps to curb local
incidents leading to disharmony
among the nationalities. The
Memorandum in this respect is
consistent with the principle
enunciated in Article 120 of the
Constitution (reflected also in Article
24 of the LRNA), which states:
"The organs of self-government of
the national autonomous areas may,
in accordance with the military
system of the state and practical local
needs and with approval of the State
Council, organise local public security
forces for the maintenance of public
order."
It should also be emphasised in this
context that the Memorandum at no
point proposes the withdrawal of
People's Liberation Army (PLA)
from Tibetan areas.
b) Language
The protection, use, and
development of the Tibetan
language are one of the crucial issues
for the exercise of genuine
autonomy by Tibetans. The emphasis
on the need to respect Tibetan as the
main or principal language in the
Tibetan areas is not controversial,
since a similar position is expressed
in the Chinese Central Government's
White Paper on Regional Ethnic
Autonomy in Tibet, where it is stated
that regulations adopted by the Tibet
regional government prescribe that
"equal attention be given to Tibetan
and Han-Chinese languages in the
Tibetan Autonomous region, with
the Tibetan language as the major
one..." (emphasis added). Moreover,
the very usage of "main language"
in the Memorandum clearly implies
the use of other languages, too.
The absence of a demand in the
Memorandum that Chinese should
also be used and taught should not
be interpreted as an "exclusion" of
this language, which is the principal
and common language in the PRC
as a whole. It should also be noted
in this context that the leadership in
exile has taken steps to encourage
Tibetans in exile to learn Chinese.
Tibetan proposal which emphasises
the study of the Tibetan people's
own language should therefore not
be interpreted as being a "separatist
view".
c) Regulation of population
migration
The Memorandum proposes that the
local government of the autonomous
region should have the competency
to regulate the residence, settlement
and employment or economic
activities of persons who wish to
move to Tibetan areas from
elsewhere. This is a common feature
of autonomy and is certainly not
without precedent in the PRC.
A number of countries have
instituted systems or adopted laws
to protect vulnerable regions or
indigenous and minority peoples
from excessive immigration from
other parts of the country. The
Memorandum explicitly states that it
is not suggesting the expulsion of
non-Tibetans who have lived in
Tibetan areas for years. His Holiness
the Dalai Lama and the Kashag also
made this clear in earlier statements,
as did the Envoys in their discussions
with their Chinese counterparts. In
an address to the European
Parliament on December 4, 2008,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
reiterated that "our intention is not
to expel non-Tibetans. Our concern
is the induced mass movement of
primarily Han, but also some other
nationalities, into many Tibetan areas,
which in turn marginalises the native
Tibetan population and threatens
Tibet's fragile environment." From
this it is clear that His Holiness is not
at all suggesting that Tibet be
inhabited by only Tibetans, with
other nationalities not being able to
do so. The issue concerns the
appropriate division of powers
regarding the regulation of transient,
seasonal workers and new settlers so
as to protect the vulnerable
population indigenous to Tibetan
areas.
In responding to the Memorandum
the Chinese Central Government
rejected the proposition that the
autonomous authorities would
regulate the entrance and economic
activities of persons from other parts
of the PRC in part because "in the
Constitution and the Law on
Regional National Autonomy there
are no provisions to restrict transient
population." In fact, the Law on
Regional National Autonomy, in its
Article 43, explicitly mandates such
a regulation:
"In accordance with legal stipulations,
the organs of self-government of
national autonomous areas shall
work out measures for control of
the transient population."
Thus, the Tibetan proposal
contained in the Memorandum in
this regard is not incompatible with
the Constitution.
d) Religion
The point made in the
Memorandum, that Tibetans be free
to practice their religion according
to their own beliefs, is entirely
consistent with the principles of
religious freedom contained in the
Constitution of the PRC. It is also
consistent with the principle of
separation of religion and polity
adopted in many countries of the
world.
Article 36 of the Constitution
guarantees that no one can "compel
citizens to believe in, or not to believe
in any religion." We endorse this
principle but observe that today the
government authorities do interfere
in important ways in the ability of
Tibetans to practice their religion.
The spiritual relationship between
master and student and the giving of
religious teachings, etc. are essential
components of the Dharma
practice. Restricting these is a
violation of religious freedom.
Similarly, the interference and direct
involvement by the state and its
institutions in matters of recognition
of reincarnated lamas, as provided
in the regulation on the management
of reincarnated lamas adopted by
the State on July 18, 2007 is a grave
violation of the freedom of
religious belief enshrined in the
Constitution.
The practice of religion is
widespread and fundamental to the
Tibetan people. Rather than seeing
Buddhist practice as a threat,
concerned authorities should respect
it. Traditionally or historically
Buddhism has always been a major
unifying and positive factor between
the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.
e) Single administration
The desire of Tibetans to be
governed within one autonomous
region is fully in keeping with the
principles on autonomy of the
Constitution. The rationale for the
need to respect the integrity of the
Tibetan nationality is clearly stated in
the Memorandum and does not
mean "Greater or Smaller Tibet". In
fact, as pointed out in the
Memorandum, the Law on Regional
National Autonomy itself allows for
this kind of modification of
administrative boundaries if proper
procedures are followed. Thus the
proposal in no way violates the
Constitution.
As the Envoys pointed out in earlier
rounds of talks, many Chinese
leaders, including Premier Zhou
Enlai, Vice Premier Chen Yi and
Party Secretary Hu Yaobang,
supported the consideration of
bringing all Tibetan areas under a
single administration. Some of the
most senior Tibetan leaders in the
PRC, including the 10th Panchen
Lama, Ngapo Ngawang Jigme and
Bapa Phuntsok Wangyal have also
called for this and affirming that
doing so would be in accordance
with the PRC's Constitution and its
laws. In 1956 a special committee,
which included senior Communist
Party member Sangye Yeshi (Tian
Bao), was appointed by the Chinese
Central Government to make a
detailed plan for the integration of
the Tibetan areas into a single
Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy...................continued from page 5
27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
The Tibet Post7
autonomous region, but the work
was later stopped on account of
ultra-leftist elements.
The fundamental reason for the need
to integrate the Tibetan areas under
one administrative region is to
address the deeply-felt desire of
Tibetans to exercise their autonomy
as a people and to protect and
develop their culture and spiritual
values in this context. This is also the
fundamental premise and purpose of
the Constitutional principles on
regional national autonomy as
reflected in Article 4 of the
Constitution. Tibetans are concerned
about the integrity of the Tibetan
nationality, which the proposal
respects and which the continuation
of the present system does not. Their
common historical heritage, spiritual
and cultural identity, language and
even their particular affinity to the
unique Tibetan plateau environment
is what binds Tibetans as one
nationality. Within the PRC, Tibetans
are recognized as one nationality and
not several nationalities. Those
Tibetans presently living in Tibet
autonomous prefectures and
counties incorporated into other
provinces also belong to the same
Tibetan nationality. Tibetans,
including His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, are primarily concerned about
the protection and development of
Tibetan culture, spiritual values,
national identity and the environment.
Tibetans are not asking for the
expansion of Tibetan autonomous
areas. They are only demanding that
those areas already recognised as
Tibetan autonomous areas come
under a single administration, as is
the case in the other autonomous
regions of the PRC. So long as
Tibetans do not have the opportunity
to govern themselves under a single
administration, preservation of
Tibetan culture and way of life
cannot be done effectively. Today
more than half of the Tibetan
population is subjected to the
priorities and interests first and
foremost of different provincial
governments in which they have no
significant role.
As explained in the Memorandum,
the Tibetan people can only
genuinely exercise regional national
autonomy if they can have their own
autonomous government, people's
congress and other organs of self-
government with jurisdiction over
the Tibetan nationality as a whole.
This principle is reflected in the
Constitution, which recognises the
right of minority nationalities to
practice regional autonomy "in areas
where they live in concentrated
communities" and to "set up organs
of self-government for the exercise
of the power of autonomy,"
(Article 4). If the "state's full respect
for and guarantee of the right of
the minority nationalities to
administer their internal affairs"
solemnly declared in the preamble
of the Law on Regional National
Autonomy is interpreted not to
include the right to choose to form
an autonomous region that
encompasses the whole people in
the contiguous areas where its
members live in concentrated
communities, the Constitutional
principles on autonomy are
themselves undermined.
Keeping Tibetans divided and
subject to different laws and
regulations denies the people the
exercise of genuine autonomy and
makes it difficult for them to
maintain their distinct cultural
identity. It is not impossible for the
Central Government to make the
necessary administrative adjustment
when elsewhere in the PRC, notably
in the case of Inner Mongolia,
Ningxia and Guangxi Autonomous
Regions, it has done just that.
f) Political, social and economic
system
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
repeatedly and consistently stated
that no one, least of all he, has any
intention to restore the old political,
social and economic system that
existed in Tibet prior to 1959. It
would be the intention of a future
autonomous Tibet to further
improve the social, economic and
political situation of Tibetans, not
to return to the past. It is disturbing
and puzzling that the Chinese
government persists, despite all
evidence to the contrary, to accuse
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his
Administration of the intention to
restore the old system.
All countries and societies in the
world, including China, have had
political systems in the past that
would be entirely unacceptable
today. The old Tibetan system is no
exception. The world has evolved
socially and politically and has made
enormous strides in terms of the
recognition of human rights and
standards of living. Tibetans in exile
have developed their own modern
democratic system as well as
education and health systems and
institutions. In this way, Tibetans
have become citizens of the world
at par with those of other countries.
It is obvious that Tibetans in the
PRC have also advanced under
Chinese rule and improved their
social, education, health and
economic situation. However, the
standard of living of the Tibetan
people remains the most backward
in the PRC and Tibetan human
rights are not being respected.
6. Recognising the core issue
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
other members of the exiled
leadership have no personal
demands to make. His Holiness the
Dalai Lama's concern is with the
rights and welfare of the Tibetan
people. Therefore, the fundamental
issue that needs to be resolved is the
faithful implementation of genuine
autonomy that will enable the
Tibetan people to govern
themselves in accordance with their
own genius and needs.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks
on behalf of the Tibetan people,
with whom he has a deep and
historical relationship and one based
on full trust. In fact, on no issue are
Tibetans as completely in agreement
as on their demand for the return
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to
Tibet. It cannot be disputed that His
Holiness the Dalai Lama legitimately
represents the Tibetan people, and
he is certainly viewed as their true
representative and spokesperson by
them. It is indeed only by means of
dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai
Lama that the Tibetan issue can be
resolved. The recognition of this
reality is important.
This emphasises the point, often
made by His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, that his engagement for the
cause of Tibet is not for the
purpose of claiming certain
personal rights or political position
for him, nor attempting to stake
claims for the Tibetan
administration in exile. Once an
agreement is reached, the Tibetan
Government-in-Exile will be
dissolved and the Tibetans working
in Tibet should carry on the main
responsibility of administering
Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama
made it clear on numerous
occasions that he will not hold any
political position in Tibet.
7. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's co-
operation
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
offered, and remains prepared, to
formally issue a statement that
would serve to allay the Chinese
Central Government's doubts and
concerns as to his position and
intentions on matters that have been
identified above.
The formulation of the statement
should be done after ample
consultations between
representatives of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and the Chinese Central
Government, respectively, to ensure
that such a statement would satisfy
the fundamental needs of the
Chinese Central Government as
well as those of the Tibetan people.
It is important that both parties
address any concern directly with
their counterparts, and not use those
issues as ways to block the dialogue
process as has occurred in the past.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is
taking this initiative in the belief that
it is possible to find common
ground with the People's Republic
of China consistent with the
principles on autonomy contained
in PRC's Constitution and with the
interests of the Tibetan people. In
that spirit, it is the expectation and
TPI DEMOCRACY AWARD
......continued
from page 6
hope of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama that the representatives of the
PRC will use the opportunity
presented by the Memorandum
and this Note to deepen discussion
and make substantive progress in
order to develop mutual
understanding.
27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
the exiled monk at the White
House in defiance of Chinese
warnings , the Nat ional
Endowment for Democracy gave
the Dalai Lama a medallion before
a standing-room-only crowd at
the Library of Congress.
The Endowment, which is funded
by the US Congress, hailed the
Dala i Lama for support ing a
democratic government in exile
and his willingness to even abolish
his centuries-old spiritual position
if Tibetans so choose.
"By demonstrating moral courage
and self-assurance in the face of
brute force and abusive insults, he
has given hope against hope not
just to his own people but also to
oppressed people everywhere,"
Endowment pres ident Car l
Gershman said before placing the
Democracy Service Medal over
the monk's neck.
The Dalai Lama, who fled his
Chinese-ruled homeland for India
in 1959, voiced admiration for US
and Indian democracy and said
China's authoritarian system was
unsustainable.
"The Chinese Communist Party, I
think, did many wrong things. But
at the same time, they also made a
lot of contribution for a stronger
China," he said.
The Dalai Lama pointed to the
growing interest of many Chinese
in getting rich. Calling himself a
Marxist in his support for a strong
social safety net, the Dalai Lama
joked: "Sometimes I feel my brain
is more red than those Chinese
leaders."
"Sometimes I express now the
time has come for the Communist
Party should retire with grace," he
said in English, laughing that
Chinese leaders would be
"furious" at his comments.
China earlier protested Obama's
meeting with the Dalai Lama,
saying the United States had
"grossly violated basic norms of
internat ional re lat ions" and
summoning the US ambassador,
Jon Huntsman.
"The US act ion ser iously
interfered in Chinese internal
affairs, seriously hurt the feelings
of China's people and seriously
harmed China-US re la t ions,"
foreign ministry spokesman Ma
Zhaoxu said in a statement.
In Washington, State Department
spokesman Philip Crowley said
the Dalai Lama's meetings with
Obama and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton were part of a
longstanding US dialogue with the
Tibetan leader.
"I think on this issue, obviously we
just agree to disagree," Crowley
told reporters.
Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of
trying to split China, although the
exiled leader has repeatedly said
he accepts Chinese rule.
In a nod to Chinese sensitivities,
the Obama White House
prohibited cameras from entering
the meeting, which took place in
the Map Room, not the seat of
presidential power in the Oval
Office.
But the White House later issued
a statement voicing support for
the Dalai Lama and his nonviolent
quest for greater r ights for
Tibetans.
With Obama, the Dalai Lama has
now met every sitting US president
since George H.W. Bush in 1991.
Offer ing one t idbit from
Thursday's meeting, the Dalai
Lama revealed that Obama gave
him a memento from a much
ear l ier interact ion with a US
president -- a copy of a letter
Franklin Roosevelt sent him in
1942.
Roosevelt mailed the Dalai Lama,
who was then seven, the letter and
a golden Rolex watch as a gesture
to seek relations with the remote
Himalayan land.
"At that time, my only interest is
the gift of the watch, not the
letter," the Dalai Lama said with
a laugh.
"I actually don't know where that
letter goes. Now after 68 years,
just yesterday, President Obama
gave me a copy of that letter."
The monk frequently tells the story
of the watch, saying that fiddling
with it helped spur his lifelong
interest in science.
In 2007, he carried the gold watch
in his pocket when George W.
Bush presented him with the
Congressional Gold Medal, the
only time a sitting US president
has appeared with him in public.
Dalai Lama Awarded in USDespite China Anger
......continued from frontpage
TPI WORLD The Tibet Post8 27 February , 2010 Dharamsala
His Holiness has gained 95,000Followers Within Two Days of
Joining Twitter
Tibet's spiritual and political leader, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama had 95,798
followers on micro-blogging site
Twitter Wednesday within two days
of joining the social networking site.
Twitter founder Evan Williams had
tweeted on Monday that he met His
Holiness in Los Angeles and pitched
using the service.
"He laughed," Williams wrote. His
Holiness the Dalai Lama's account was
up and running, a post from his base
in the northern Indian hill town of
Dharamshala, India said Tuesday.
The 74 years old Tibetan leader, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama has 11 Tweets
on his page so far, giving links to
interviews and photos. There are no
personal messages. The monk has been
living in exile in India since fleeing Tibet
after the Chinese occupation in 1959.
His government-in-exile is not
recognized by any country. The Tibetan
leader is currently on a 10-day visit to
the US that included a meeting with
President Barack Obama and a series
of public lectures in California and
Florida.
The communist regime of China
objected to the US president Barack
Obama meeting, saying it amounted
to interference in its internal affairs. But
His Holiness occasionally declared that
he is not seeking independent for Tibet.
China claims His Holiness the Dalai
Lama a separatist, while he has said he
is seeking greater autonomy for
Tibetan people of whole Tibet within
China. Several rounds of talks between
his representatives and Chinese officials
have yielded little progress.
This comes a year after Twitter was
forced to delete a fake account which
attracted several thousand followers. he
world's most popular micro-blogging
site. Twitter has found itself a new and
a new kind of follower - His Holiness
the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness in Los Angeles: Compas-sion, Obama and Tiger Woods
Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai
Lama gave a large-scale public talk
in the US city of Los Angeles on
Sunday.
A crowd of thousands gathered at
the Gibson Amphitheatre to listen to
him speak and answer questions.
The session
lasted nearly
t w o - a n d - a -
half hours and
His Holiness
focused on
finding inner
peace.
The talk was
organized by
Los Angeles-
based Whole
C h i l d
International to
raise awareness
of the plight
of orphaned children.
His Holiness' message was universal:
that to create a peaceful society,
people need to cultivate compassion
at a very young age.
KABC-TV reported that people
who attended the speech left the
amphitheatre in awe.
"Politics aside, one of the reasons that
he is such popular person is because
he keeps promoting non-violence
and compassion," said Jeff Gilkman.
"I think that people are able to rise
above politics and take that message
and promote those ideas as well."
"I'm ready to go tackle anything now
because as long as I keep that inner
peace things will be OK," said
Genevieve Hayman.
Whilst in Los Angeles, His Holiness
talked to The Associated Press about
his meeting with US President Barack
Obama last Thursday.
He said he doesn't fault President
Obama for the low-key reception he
received at the White House, because
he recognizes that the president must
juggle ties to himself with concerns
about angering China.
He added that he understands
Obama must be practical in
exercising his commitment to human
rights worldwide.
"No disappointment.
The last six decades my
heart hardened. I do not
consider important
political gestures. I don't
care. The important is
meet face-to-face," His
Holiness said.
He also briefly
addressed the Tiger
Woods scandal and the
golf star's public
comments on Friday
about his adultery and
straying from his
Buddhist faith.
His Holiness said he did not know
who Woods was but that, "I think
mainly whether you call it Buddhism
or another religion, self-discipline,
that's important - self-discipline with
awareness of consequences."
The remainder of His Holiness' ten-
day US tour will take him to Florida,
where he will speak on global
compassion and ethics in education.
US House Speaker Commends Obama’sMeeting With His Holiness
Dharamshala: The United States
House of Representatives Speaker,
Nancy Pelosi, on Thursday released
a statement praising President
Obama’s meeting with exiled
Tibetan leader Dalai Lama at the
White House in
defiance of
C h i n e s e
warnings.
“I commend the
President for
meeting with
His Holiness, the
Dalai Lama, a
champion of
peace and non-
violence, and a
voice for dignity,
justice, and
respect for all
humanity,” the statement read, “His
Holiness is a source of wisdom and
compassion, a powerful spokesman
for the moral duty and inherent
worth of every person, and a force
for human rights across the globe.”
“President Obama’s meeting with the
Dalai Lama marks another chapter
in the long friendship and close ties
between the United States and the
people of Tibet. As Americans, we
must continue to stand with His
Holiness to promote, preserve, and
protect the rights of all people to
live in freedom worldwide,” Pelosi,
a longstanding supporter of the
Tibetan cause, said in the statement.
After finishing hour-long meeting
with Obama, His Holiness told
reporters he was “very happy” with
the session and President was “very
much supportive” of the his "Three
His Holiness Brands China'sTibet Policy "Childish"
Dharamshala: Following his meeting
with US President Barack Obama on
Thursday, and China's hostile reaction
to it, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
has chided China for its "childish"
and "limited" approach to Tibetan
efforts for greater rights within
China.
At his hotel in Washington, His
Holiness told reporters he had
expected a negative, scolding Chinese
reaction to the meeting but that he
was not frustrated that
there has been so little
progress on Tibetans'
demands for greater
autonomy.
He said Tibetans will
never give up on their
cause, even if progress
comes after his own
lifetime.
His Holiness was
greeted at his hotel by
a large crowd of supporters, who
wept, prostrated themselves and
chanted, "Thank you, Obama!" and,
"Long live the Dalai Lama!"
Meanwhile in Beijing, the official
Chinese news agency reported that
Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Cui
Tiankui had "lodged solemn
representations" with US
Ambassador Jon Huntsman, over
President Obama's decision to meet
with His Holiness.
Commitments": the promotion of
human value, religious harmony, and
the concerns of the Tibetan people
in addition to his vision of “a greater
leadership role for women around
the world” and his full committment
to resolve the problem of
Tibet through the “middle
way approach”.
Further commenting on his
position as Tibetan leader,
His Holiness said, “I have
moral responsibility to
speak on behalf of six
million Tibetan people.
And also Tibetan issue is just
cause, and cause for
peace”, which China state-
run media Xinhuanet
condemned “ He must
have forgotten that the fate
of Tibet never relies on him and a
few foreigners but has always been
decided by all the Chinese people,
including all ethnic minorities in the
region”.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also
met with his Holiness the Dalai Lama
in her outer office on the same day.
