Tibet: The Statement of His Holiness, Dalai Lama, on the 46th National Uprising Day
On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan People's Uprising,
I convey my warm greetings to my fellow Tibetans in Tibet and in exile and
to our friends around the world.
During these more than four decades great changes have taken place in Tibet.
There has been a great deal of economic progress along with development in
infrastructure. The Golmud-Lhasa railway link that is being built is a case
in point. However, during the same period much has been written by independent
journalists and travelers to Tibet about the real situation in Tibet and not
what they have been shown. Most of them portray a very different picture than
what the Chinese government claims, clearly criticizing China about the lack
of human rights, religious freedom and self-rule in Tibet. What has actually
happened and is still happening is that since the establishment of the Tibet
Autonomous Region the real authority has been solely held by Chinese leaders.
As for the Tibetan people, they have been facing suspicions and growing restrictions.
The lack of true ethnic equality and harmony based on trust, and the absence
of genuine stability in Tibet clearly shows that things are not well in Tibet
and that basically there is a problem.
Prominent and respected Tibetan leaders in Tibet have spoken out on this
from time to time and even suffered because of their courageous acts. In the
early 1960s, the late Panchen Lama outlined the sufferings and aspirations
of the Tibetan people in his petition to the Chinese leaders. Baba Phuntsok
Wangyal, one of the foremost Tibetan communist leaders, in his recent biography
published in English dwells at length on the need to meet the interests of
the Tibetan people. In fact, it is clear that most senior Tibetan officials
in Tibet deep in their hearts are extremely dissatisfied.
This year the Chinese government will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment
of the Tibet Autonomous Region. There will be much fanfare and many commemorative
events to celebrate the occasion but these will be meaningless when they do
not reflect the ground realities. For example, the Great Leap Forward and
the Cultural Revolution were celebrated with great pomp as real achievements
at the time they took place.
China has made tremendous economic progress during the past more than two
decades. China today is not what it was twenty or thirty years ago. Much has
changed in China. As a result she has become a major player in the world and
China rightly deserves this position. It is a big nation with a huge population
and a rich and ancient civilization. However, China’s image is tarnished
by her human rights records, undemocratic actions, the lack of the rule of
law and the unequal implementation of autonomy rights regarding minorities,
including the Tibetans. All these are a cause for more suspicion and distrust
from the outside world. Internally, they are an obstacle to unity and stability
that are of utmost importance to the leaders of the People’s Republic
of China. In my view, it is important that as China becomes a powerful and
respectable nation she should be able to adopt a reasonable policy with confidence.
The world in general, of which China is a part, is changing for the better.
In recent times there is definitely a greater awareness and appreciation for
peace, non-violence, democracy, justice and environmental protection. The
recent unprecedented response from governments and individuals across the
world to the tsunami disaster victims reaffirms that the world is truly interdependent
and the importance of universal responsibility.
My involvement in the affairs of Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming
certain personal rights or political position for myself nor attempting to
stake claims for the Tibetan administration in exile. In 1992 in a formal
announcement I stated clearly that when we return to Tibet with a certain
degree of freedom I will not hold any office in the Tibetan government or
any other political position and that the present Tibetan administration in
exile will be dissolved. Moreover, the Tibetans working in Tibet should carry
on the main responsibility of administering Tibet.
I once again want to reassure the Chinese authorities that as long as I am
responsible for the affairs of Tibet we remain fully committed to the Middle
Way Approach of not seeking independence for Tibet and are willing to remain
within the People’s Republic of China. I am convinced that in the long
run such an approach is of benefit to the Tibetan people for their material
progress. It is encouraging that there is support from various parts of the
world for this approach as being reasonable, realistic and of mutual benefit
to the Chinese and Tibetans. I am particularly encouraged by the recognition
and support that has come from certain quarters of the intellectual circle
from within China.
I am happy with our renewed contacts with the Chinese leadership and that
the third round of meetings last September shows that gradually our interactions
are improving. Now that our elected political leadership is shouldering more
responsibility in Tibetan affairs, I have advised them to look into the issues
raised by the Chinese side during our third round of talks and to take steps
to address or clarify them as needed. We remain hopeful that eventually we
will be able to develop the necessary trust and resolve this long-standing
issue to our mutual benefit.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express the Tibetan people’s
gratitude and appreciation to the people and Government of India for their
steadfast sympathy and support. I very much feel a part of this nation not
only because of the centuries-old religious and cultural ties that India and
Tibet enjoyed but also because I and most of the Tibetans in exile have lived
in India for the past 45 years.
I offer my prayers to the brave men and women of Tibet who gave their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom.