TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY; 49th ANNUAL COMMEMORATION

Tibetans in Taiwan and their supporters demand justice for Tibet, carrying Chinese language banners, their country's national flag, and photos of the young Panchen Lama, kidnapped by the Chinese government 13 years ago. Photo: AP / Chiang Ying-ying

T

ibetans in exile will today begin a long march home in the Gandhian spirit of Satyagraha, a non-violent "holding onto truth." Around 100 Tibetans are setting off today from Dharamsala, India -- the cultural centre of exiled Tibet -- and will walk first to the Indian capital New Delhi before their long trek to the Tibetan border, high in the Himalayas.

Tibetan civilisation has survived in exile, but is under mortal threat under Chinese rule of the Tibetan Plateau as they become a minority in their own homeland. China's demographic transfer policies are flooding Tibet with Chinese colonists, who have no interest (nor need) to learn the local language. Tibetan identity and language are marginalized and eradicated from Tibetan children in the state school system.

Tibet is one of the world's oldest countries, with an absolutely distinct national identity, customs and language -- a unique civilisation which evolved over many centuries and in its own manner across the massive Tibetan Plateau. Today, under Chinese communist rule, Tibet is inexorably fading away in its own indigenous home.

The "United Nations" had barely been formed at the time Chinese communist forces invaded the Himalayan kingdom. Appeals to the world body by the Tibetan Government came at an uncomfortable time, when the UN was already in conflict with the communist regime over Korea. Despite the desire of the big players not to have the boat rocked with one crisis already underway, many smaller UN members such as Thailand, Malaysia, El Salvador, Ireland and others supported the Tibetan request for intervention to save its sovereignty. The Irish ambassador declared Tibet to have had a longer and more durable independent existence than many of the members then already sitting in the General Assembly.

The Chinese invaders imposed a treaty of capitulation upon representatives of the Tibetan Government in 1951, the so-called "17 Point Agreement" that marks their "peaceful liberation" of Tibet from Tibetans. The Chinese actually forged a Tibetan Government seal to close the deal, and made the Tibetan delegation sign it under extreme duress while heavily armed Chinese forces held a gun (many guns actually) to Lhasa's head.

The Dalai Lama remained in Tibet for another 8 years, attempting to work within the new situation to protect his people from the communist depradations. On March 10, 1959 the Tibetans could take no more, and rose up en mass against the colonial power of China. Thousands were slaughtered, while Dalai Lama was hustled secretly to safety in India. His official summer residence was bombarded by the PLA in an effort to decapitate the Tibetan authority, and the Chinese spent days turning over dead monks in the devastated Norbulingka grounds, hoping to find his body.

My good friend Stormbringer has a great post on the requirements of a truly sovereign independent nation, and the ways in which Tibet had historically fulfilled them all. He pulled together sources which show that Tibet issued passports (which were accepted by other countries), postage stamps and currency. Chinese claims that the Tibetan state had "always been part of China" are belied by the fact that its language and writing system have no relation to Chinese, and are actually more closely related to Burmese (Tibeto-Burman language group) and written Sanscrit. The Tibetans were fully in control of their own affairs before the Chinese guns showed up, and the country was (like Switzerland) neutral during World War II (against China's wishes).

If you want to delve more deeply into Tibet's legal case for sovereignty, the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet (now Tibet Justice Center) has laid it all out here. In summary, Tibet was fully independent prior to 1951, and the Tibetan people are entitled to self-determination.

The Center also has a one-stop resource for legal documents on Tibet's international relations, including with the United Nations, China, Nepal, Great Britain, Mongolia and others.

Stormbringer also has a good post up on today's anniversary, with more sources on the issue. I also wai him for kindly sending readers over this way, and blush at his kind words.

Now it's time for what all Tibetans are waiting for on this date: His Holiness Dalai Lama's annual statement on this most difficult date in Tibetan history, the day their nation was brutally crushed without mercy.

The Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
on the Forty-Ninth Anniversary of the
Tibetan National Uprising Day

On the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising in Lhasa on 10 March 1959, I offer my prayers and pay tribute to those brave men and women of Tibet who have endured untold hardships and sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Tibetan people and express my solidarity with those Tibetans presently undergoing repression and ill-treatment. I also extend my-greetings to Tibetans in and outside Tibet, supporters of the Tibetan cause and-all who cherish justice.

For nearly six decades, Tibetans in the whole of Tibet known as Cholkha-Sum (U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo) have had to live in a state of constant fear, intimidation and suspicion under Chinese repression. Nevertheless, in addition to maintaining their religious faith, a sense of nationalism and their unique culture, the Tibetan people have been able to keep alive their basic aspiration for freedom. I have great admiration for the special characteristics of the Tibetan people and their indomitable courage. I am extremely pleased and proud of them.

Many governments, non-governmental organisations and individuals across the world, because of their interest in peace and justice, have consistently supported the cause of Tibet. Particularly during the past year, governments and peoples of many countries made important gestures that clearly expressed their support to us. I would like to express my gratitude to every one of them.

The problem of Tibet is very complicated. It is intrinsically linked with many issues: politics, the nature of society, law, human rights, religion, culture, the identity of a people, the economy and the state of the natural environment. Consequently, a comprehensive approach must be adopted to resolve this problem that takes into account the benefits to all parties involved, rather than one party alone. Therefore, we have been firm in our commitment to a mutually beneficial policy, the Middle-Way approach, and have made sincere and persistent efforts towards achieving this for many years. Since 2002, my envoys have conducted six rounds of talks with concerned officials of the People's Republic of China to discuss relevant issues. These extensive discussions have helped to clear away some of their doubts and enabled us to explain our aspirations to them. However, on the fundamental issue, there has been no concrete result at all. And during the past few years, Tibet has witnessed increased repression and brutality. In spite of these unfortunate developments, my stand and determination to pursue the Middle-Way policy and to continue our dialogue with the Chinese government remain unchanged.

A major concern of the People's Republic of China is its lack of legitimacy in Tibet. The principal way to lend weight to their position is for the Chinese government to pursue a policy that satisfies the Tibetan people and gains their confidence. If we are able to achieve reconciliation by treading a path of mutual consent, then, as I have already stated many times, I will make every effort to win the support of the Tibetan people.

In Tibet today, due to the Chinese government's numerous actions, driven as they are by a lack of foresight, the natural environment has been severely damaged. And, as a result of their policy of population transfer the non-Tibetan population has increased many times, reducing native Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their own country. Moreover, the language, customs and traditions of Tibet, which reflect the true nature and identity of the Tibetan people are gradually fading away. As a consequence, Tibetans are increasingly being assimilated into the larger Chinese population. In Tibet, repression continues to increase with numerous, unimaginable and gross violations of human rights, denial of religious freedom and the politicisation of religious issues. All these take place as a result of the Chinese government's lack of respect for the Tibetan people. These are major obstacles the Chinese government deliberately puts in the way of its policy of unifying nationalities which discriminate between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. Therefore, I urge the Chinese government to bring an immediate halt to such policies.

Although the areas inhabited by Tibetan people are referred to by such different names as autonomous region, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties, they are autonomous in name only; they actually have no real autonomy. Instead, they are governed by people who are oblivious of the regional situation, and driven by what Mao Zedong called "Han chauvinism". As a result, this so-called autonomy has not brought the concerned nationalities any tangible benefit. Disingenuous policies that are not in tune with reality are causing enormous harm not only to the respective nationalities, but also to the unity and stability of the Chinese nation. It is important for the Chinese government, as advised by Deng Xiaoping, to "seek truth from facts" in the real sense of the term.

The Chinese government severely criticises me when I raise questions about the welfare of the Tibetan people before the international community. Until we reach a mutually beneficial solution, I have a historical and moral responsibility to continue to speak out freely on their behalf. However, it is common knowledge that I have been in semi-retirement since the political leadership of the Tibetan Diaspora has been directly elected by the general Tibetan populace.

China is emerging as a powerful country due to her great economic progress. This is to be welcomed, but it has also provided China an opportunity to play an important role on the global stage. The world is eagerly waiting to see how the present Chinese leadership will put into effect its avowed concepts of "harmonious society" and "peaceful rise". For the realisation of these concepts, economic progress alone will not suffice. There must be improvements in observance of the rule of law, transparency, and right to information, as well as freedom of speech. Since China is a country of many nationalities, they must all be given equality and freedom to protect their respective unique identities if the country is to remain stable.

On 6 March 2008, President Hu Jintao stated: "The stability in Tibet concerns the stability of the country, and the safety in Tibet concerns the safety of the country." He added that the Chinese leadership must ensure the well-being of Tibetans, improve the work related to religions and ethnic groups, and maintain social harmony and stability. President Hu's statement conforms to reality and we look forward to its implementation.

This year, the Chinese people are proudly and eagerly awaiting the opening of the Olympic Games. I have, from the very beginning, supported the idea that China should be granted the opportunity to host the Olympic Games. Since such international sporting events, and especially the Olympics, uphold the principles of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, equality and friendship, China should prove herself a good host by providing these freedoms. Therefore, besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues. I have come to know that many parliaments, individuals and non-governmental organisations around the globe are undertaking a number of activities in view of the opportunity that exists for China to make a positive change. I admire their sincerity. I would like to state emphatically that it will be very important to observe the period following the conclusion of the Games.  The Olympic Games no doubt will greatly impact the minds of the Chinese people. The world should, therefore, explore ways of investing their collective energies in producing a continuous positive change inside China even after the Olympics have come to an end.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my pride in and appreciation for the sincerity, courage and determination of the Tibetan people inside Tibet. I urge them to continue to work peacefully and within the law to ensure that all the minority nationalities of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibetan people, enjoy their legitimate rights and benefits.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Government and people of India, in particular, for their continuing and unparalleled support for Tibetan refugees and the cause of Tibet, as well as express my gratitude to all those governments and peoples for their continued concern for the Tibetan cause.

With my prayers for the well-being of all sentient beings.

The Dalai Lama
10 March 2008

N.B. Translated from the Tibetan

Labels: Tibet

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