![[China Hiking Adventures Logo]](http://www.china-hiking.com/chalogo.gif)
(9)Destiny of Dalai Lama is desperate hopelessness
Video: Documentary: The Dalai Lama .
Signed article: On the "Memorandum" of the Dalai clique
click here
Freedon of Religion in Tibet
From Words of Past Tibet-Tour Hikers
click here
U.K. Policy Recognizes Tibet,China sovereignty
click here
France says not to back "Tibet independence" in any form
click here
Reform and opening-up improve Tibetans' life
click here
Commentary: Dalai Lama's remarks add to his mistakes
Very unwise for such remarks during negotiation period in China
Dalai Lama's lie certainly upsets all Genuine Tibetans in Tibet
It may fool all of USA but not Genuine Tibetans living in Tibet.
Ultimately Genuine Tibetans will decide whether Dalai can return.
Tibet University and Preservation of Tibetan culture
Click Here
The changed and unchanged 'Shangri-La'
Click Here
click here
Introduction:
The Whole World knows: Dalai Lama allows himself to be used
as a tool by western powers keen to humiliate China during the last 50 years.
For half a century Dalai Lama had done too many things to distort history of Tibet,
fabricating lies to spoil the image of China, cruelly harm Chinese people's feeling
and demolish national unification of China. Too much Bad-Blood created by Dalai.
Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years,
but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama.
TIBET before Dalai Lama left 'Tibet,China' in 1959
TIBET after Dalai Lama left ' Tibet,China ' in 1959
He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now.
So, China's central government is not going to discuss
with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet,
position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people.
Worldwide only 100,000 Foreign Tibetans but there are 2.8 millions Tibetans in Tibet
After bloody 3.14 Riot, 2.8 millions Genuine Tibetans against Dalai Lama's return
In August 2008 Dalai Lama lost his last chance at Beijing Olympics as his last straw.
Due to recent Global Financial Crisis his total donations received had fallen deeply.
After 50 years at age 73 Dalai Lama is begging China to allow him to return to Tibet.
For half a century Chinese government always opens doors to the Dalai Lama for talks.
To negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future.
Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds,
and China will never consent to negotiate with him
when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile".
Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future.
During the talks, these concessions to China made by Dalai furiously provoked terrorist TYC
Further, Dalai's desire to return Tibet is in conflict with his evil usefulness to western powers
To know Dalai we should not only listen to what he says, but also look at what he has done.
The following articles disclose content of the six talks with Dalai's Representatives in China.
Due to conflict of interest, USA and Europe will have to completely abandon Dalai Lama!
Big Problems for Dalai Lama within Foreign Tibetans circle:
1. Grabbing Power against Dalai TYC resolves from violence to terrorism
2. Tibetan Buddhism believers fighting Dalai in both India and Europe
Difference between Genuine and Foreign Tibetans
click here
1. International Political arena:
A. Most strikingly, the Dalai Lama is used as a battering ram by western governments
in their culture war with China. The reason he is flattered by world leaders and
bankrolled by the CIA is not because these institutions care very much for liberty in Tibet,
but rather because they want to ratchet up international pressure
on their new competitors in world politics: the Chinese.
At least one reason why the Dalai Lama can pose as "the ultimate spiritual authority"
and all-round supreme leader of Tibetans and their future is
because influential elements in the west have empowered him to play that role.
In doing so, they have been complicit in the infantilisation of the Tibetan people.
B. Since Dalai clique masterminded Tibet riot on March 14, 2008,
Members of Dalai clique in Tibet were all sef-exposed, identified and arrested.
To those being arrested due to 3.14 riot, Dalai Lama cannot be trusted any more.
Because of this Dalai has no more influence within 'Tibet,China' from now on.
Without any Dalai clique in Tibet, Dalai Lama has depleted all his political asset.
In August 2008 Dalai Lama lost his last chance of Beijing Olympics as his last straw.
C. Dalai Lama allows himself to be used by western powers to humiliate China.
D. Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years,
but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama.
TIBET before Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959
TIBET after Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959
He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now.
So, China's central government is not going to discuss
with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet,
position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people,
but only the future and destiny of Dalai Lama himself.
E. As Dalai Lama has lost his usefulness, western powers will get rid of him.
An example:
U.K. Policy Recognizes Tibet,China sovereignty
France says not to back "Tibet independence" in any form
F. Very few European politicians today will agree to meet with Dalai Lama
G. Recent Global Finacial Crisis lowers donation income for Dalai Lama.
Dalai Lama's situation is definitely in Desperation and Hopelessness.
2.Within Foreign Tibetans circles:
Foreign Tibetans are those who left Tibet with Dalai Lama in 1959,
and are victims not only of ignorance
but of a well-organized campaign of misinformation.
Most of Foreign Tibetans were born and raised in India or Nepal,
never see Tibet with their own eyes in life
to be able to judge things for themselves.
A. Competing for Power against Dalai TYC resolves from violence to terrorism.
Tsewang Rigzin(president of TYC) clamored revengeful human bombs.
Against Dalai Lama's proclaimation TYC no longer will "protesting peacefully".
B. Due to too many broken promises and lies from the mouth of Dalai Lama
Young Foreign Tibetans everywhere do not trust Dalai Lama anymore...
C. Living Buddha of New Kadampa Sect is leading Foreign Tibetans and
European believers to fight against Dalai Lama in both India and Europe.
D. Dalai Lama is seriously losing control among Foreign Tibetans circles.
3. In Tibet Autonomous Region of China:
Genuine Tibetans (most as a serf) remained in Tibet after 1959
and Genuine Tibetans (i.e. Raidi, a former serf) live in Tibet forever.
Raidi is Vice chairman Standing Committee National People's Congress
Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years,
but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama.
TIBET before Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959
TIBET after Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959
Genuine Tibetans are those who have built modern Tibet
and should be the only people who make decisions for Tibet
and for the future of Tibetan generations.
A. No one in Tibet believes in Dalai Lama, even among Tibetan Buddhism believers.
To those being arrested due to 3.14 riot, Dalai Lama cannot be trusted any more.
Because of this Dalai has no more influence within 'Tibet,China' from now on.
For half century Dalai Lama had done too many things to distort history of Tibet,
fabricating lies to spoil the image of China, cruelly harm Chinese people's feeling
and demolish national unification of China. Too much Bad-Blood created by Dalai.
B. After bloody 3.14 Riot, 2.8 millions Genuine Tibetans against Dalai Lama's return
C. Genuine Tibetans appreciate large sum of money invested by Central Government
into reconstruction and development, progress in education,
the religious freedom, the improvement of health, society, life.
China issues white paper, refutes charge of "cultural genocide" in Tibet
click here
4. Resulting Situation:
Dalai Lama's situation is definitely in Desperation and Hopelessness.
His luck ran out with western powers and among Genuine and Foreign Tibetans
It is sincerely hope that before his approaching death Lhamo Toinzhub
(14th Dalai Lama) will give up his dream (so called 'Tibet Independence')
and for once in his entire life doing something good for people of Tibet.
This is the ONLY WAY to avoid ending up in history like Iranian Czar or Filipino Marcos!
Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years,
but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama.
TIBET before Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959
TIBET after Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959
After 50 years at age 73 Dalai Lama is begging China to allow him to return to Tibet.
Since Dalai clique masterminded Tibet riot on March 14, 2008,
Members of Dalai clique in Tibet were all sef-exposed, identified and arrested.
To those being arrested due to 3.14 riot, Dalai Lama cannot be trusted any more.
Because of this Dalai has no more influence within 'Tibet,China' from now on.
Dalai Lama by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now.
So, China's central government is not going to discuss
with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet,
position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people.
Greeting Tibetan Buddhism believers who called this Nobel Peace "lying"
Due to Desperation and Hopelessness in all aspect ...
That is why Dalai Lama keeps sending Representatives to China for negotiation.
To negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future.
Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds,
and China will never consent to negotiate with him
when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile".
Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future.
During the talks, these concessions to China made by Dalai furiously provoked terrorist TYC
To know Dalai we should not only listen to what he says, but also look at what he has done!
Too many lies, tricks and pretension from the mouth of Dalai Lama in the past ...
Master Long of Sangdan Temple(Tibetan Buddhism Temple) summed up all Tibetans feeling:
"... The Party and the central government are kind indeed.
Dalai Lama has kept on saying that he cares about Tibetan people,
but we never saw him give us even a coin.
At present, he even wants to split China. That is mirage!..."
For this reason, 2.8 millions Genuine Tibetans against Dalai Lama's return
Commentary: Dalai Lama's remarks add to his mistakes
Very unwise for such remarks during negotiation period in China
Dalai Lama's lie certainly upsets all Genuine Tibetans in Tibet
It may fool all of USA but not Genuine Tibetans living in Tibet.
Ultimately Genuine Tibetans will decide whether Dalai can return.
Important to know Dalai Lama was conned
to leave Tibet in 1959 by western powers
(mainly U.K. and USA Ambassador in India).
This part of history has already been verified
by official declassified historical Diplomats'
correspondence released over 50 years period.
Tsewang Rigzin(president of TYC) constantly
clamored with revengeful human bombs.
Since we are all fighting Terrorism together,
Western powers have the responsibility to stop
Nobel Peace to use his Tibet Youth Congress
as Terrorists against (and to threaten) China.
Please view following:
By ex-CIA: CIA's Secret War in Tibet
click here
Wall Street Journal : CIA Campaign Against China 50 Years Ago
click here
U.K. Policy Angers Tibet Ahead of Beijing Talks
click here
Following U.K. paper first step in right direction:
U.K. Policy recognizes Tibet,China sovereignty
click here
The door of the central government for the Dalai Lama to return to the patriotic stance has always been open and will remain open in the future. However, the door for "Tibet independence," "half independence" or "covert independence" has never been open, nor will it be open in the future.
Signed article: On the "Memorandum" of the Dalai clique
click here
Sita talks on Tibet in Oversea Chinese League of USA
2008-12-09 10:09:00
Sita (L), vice minister of the United Front Work Department of CCCPC
Sita, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of CCCPC as well as deputy head of China Overseas Friendship Association, talked on Tibet with oversea Chinese personages in southern California, in the Oversea Chinese League of USA on December 7, US local time. He stressed:"There is no way out for the Dalai Lama's 'Tibet independence' in any disguised form."
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200812/t20081209_442001.htm
Dalai Lama's utter distortion of Tibet history
www.chinaview.cn 2009-03-11 00:18:32
BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- On March 10, 1959, the Dalai Lama and his supporters started an armed rebellion in a desperate attempt to preserve Tibet's feudal serfdom and split the region from China.
On Tuesday, exactly 50 years later, the Dalai Lama claimed that Tibetans have been living in "hell on earth," as if the Tibet under the former feudal serfdom ruled by him were a heaven.
The Dalai Lama also alleged at a gathering in India's Dharamsala to mark his 50 years in exile that "these 50 years have brought untold suffering and destruction to the land and people of Tibet."
Unfortunately, the Dalai Lama has not only been on the wrong side of history, but also has got the history upside down. Miseries of "hell on earth" and "untold suffering" occurred nowhere but in the slavery Tibet symbolized by the Dalai Lama.
Even from historical books written by Western scholars, people can draw the conclusion that Tibet under the rule of the Dalai Lama clique was a society of feudal serfdom that trampled human rights and easily reminded visitors of the dark age of medieval Europe.
The feudal serfdom had truly brought "untold suffering and destruction" to the serfs and slaves who accounted for 90 percent of the then population.
The slavery Tibet was just "hell on earth" as Carles Bell, who lived in Lhasa as a British trade representative in the 1920s, observed that the Dalai Lama's theocratic position enabled him to administer rewards and punishments as he wished. That was because he held absolute sway over both this life and the next of the serfs and coerced them with that power.
In 1959, after the failed rebellion by the Dalai Lama and his followers, the central government of China carried out the long-delayed emancipation of millions of serfs and slaves in Tibet.
Great achievements have been made in Tibet since then in various fields such as politics, economy and culture. The following are just a few examples of those achievements:
-- The central government has adopted a policy of "political unity, freedom of religious belief and separation of politics and religion" in Tibet to ensure locals' political rights and that all religious beliefs are politically equal.
-- Tibet has seen its gross domestic product soar from 174 million yuan (25.4 million U.S. dollars) in 1959 to 39.591 billion Yuan (5.78 billion dollars) in 2008, with an annual growth rate of8.9 percent.
-- Tibet's roads totaled 51,300 km in 2008, a sharp increase from the 7,300 km in 1959.
-- The average life expectancy in Tibet has increased from 35.5years in 1959 to 67 years at present.
Anyone without prejudice will recognize the remarkable progress in Tibet.
"Tibet has achieved remarkable economic progress and undergone profound changes since 1959 when its democratic reform began," Argemiro Procopio, a professor of international relations at the University of Brasilia, said after a trip to Tibet.
Louise T. Blouin Macbain, a well-known publisher and philanthropist, said after traveling to Tibet that "what I have seen is positive and I am especially thankful to the great efforts made by China over the years in preserving Tibetan cultural independence and its monasteries."
When the Dalai Lama claimed there is "cultural genocide " in Tibet, "I don't know which Tibet is he actually describing," she said. "As for me, it's not the one that I have seen with my own eyes."
Why then such a distortion of historical facts by the so-called Nobel Peace Prize winner? Because it is only through the distortion of history could he deceive Western audiences and disguise his true intentions.
Since their exile, the Dalai Lama and his followers have never stopped pursuing activities to split Tibet from China and restore their theocratic rule despite his claims to the opposite.
But just as the rebellion by the Dalai Lama clique failed disgracefully 50 years ago, its fantasy of "Tibet Independence" is also doomed to failure, because of the firm opposition from the Chinese people, including the Tibetans in Tibet.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/11/content_10987232.htm
Spanish Tibetologist: "What I see and hear in Tibet differs from Dalai Lama's propaganda"
10:42, March 08, 2009
"What I have seen and heard in Tibet completely differed from the distorted propaganda by the Dalai Lama," a renowned Spanish Tibetologist has said.
The March 14 riot in Lhasa in 2008, involving violent crimes against people and property, was premeditated and masterminded by followers of the Dalai Lama, Inaki Preciado Idoeta told Xinhua in a recent interview.
"But the Dalai Lama neither made an apology for the riot nor condemned those who perpetrated the violence," said Precidao Idoeta, one of the first Spanish diplomats to China and also a famous sinologist in Spain.
He has visited Tibet several times since the 1990s and also temporarily lived there for his research.
"I can speak Chinese and the Tibetan language and communicate well with the local people, so I can get first-hand materials about the region," he said.
Commenting on Dalai Lama's accusation that the Chinese government has destroyed the Tibetan culture and language and the Tibetan people have no freedom of religion, he said that was an excuse used by the Dalai Lama to split the country.
"Under the current education system in the autonomous region, all the Tibetan students are required to learn the Tibetan language during the nine-year period of compulsory education," he said.
File photo shows Inaki Precidao Idoeta, one of the first Spanish diplomats to China and a famous Sinologist and Tibetologist in Spain, posing with lamas at the Waqiu Temple in Xinlong County of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 16, 2005. What he has seen and heard in areas where people of China's Tibetan ethnic group are living "completely differed from the distorted propaganda by the Dalai Lama," Inaki Precidao Idoeta said in a recent interview with Xinhua. (Xinhua Photo)
"Many books and magazines in Tibet are also compiled in the Tibetan language. All these show that the Tibetan culture has been well protected and inherited," the scholar said.
Talking about the plan of the so called "Tibet government-in-exile" to hold "a series of commemorative events" from this March to the next, Preciado Idoeta said the Dalai clique needed to do something after receiving large amounts of money from western anti-China forces.
They will not stop making trouble because the clique has an entire network of international anti-China forces and the support from some western media, he added.
Some western media have been playing a shameful role in the past years by distorting truth on Tibet, deceiving readers and spreading those malicious rumors last year, the Spanish expert said.
An article will be published without hesitation if it criticizes the Chinese government and supports the Dalai Lama, however, the objective reports written by people who know the truth about Tibet are hard to appear in those media, he said.
File photo shows Inaki Precidao Idoeta, one of the first Spanish diplomats to China and a famous Sinologist and Tibetologist in Spain, posing with lamas at the Waqiu Temple in Xinlong County of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 16, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)
The western people are blindfolded owing to those biased reports and China should try to get them shake off those wrong ideas. China should take measures to boost its overseas reports and introductions on Tibet, as to make people know the current situation in Tibet in a better and comprehensive way, Preciado Idoeta said.
Source:Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6608883.html
For whom is Tibet a "hell on earth"?
www.chinaview.cn 2009-03-10 22:28:56
By Xinhua Writer Zhou Yan
LHASA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Tuesday is a special date for Tibetans. For the 2.8 million residents in the southwest China autonomous region, it marks 50 years since feudal serfdom was abolished; but for the 14th Dalai Lama and his "government-in-exile," it marks five decades of futile attempts at independence.
Fifty years after he fled China and having failed time and again to foment widespread unrest in Tibet and other Tibetan communities in western China, the Dalai Lama is apparently at his wit's end.
Tibetan pilgrims turn the pray wheels in front of the Potala Palace during the Grand Summons Ceremony in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on March 10, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
In a speech to mark the 50th anniversary of his exile, the Dalai Lama abruptly shook off his pacifist outlook and smiles to give some gibberish far below the intelligence of the "spiritual leader" himself, and poles apart from truth.
In this speech, delivered in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama denigrated Tibet's 50 years of democratic reform, sustained economic growth and improved human rights as "untold suffering and destruction to the land and people of Tibet."
He also slandered the Chinese government as having killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and transformed the plateau region into a "hell on earth.
"The Tibetan people are regarded like criminals, deserving to be put to death," the spiritual leader said.
The Dalai Lama might have staged some fanfare in front of the "Tibet independence" forces overseas, and bewitched some Westerners with his assumptions that though groundless, sometimes sell well internationally -- the "nearing extinction" of the Tibetan culture and identity, for instance.
An elderly Tibetan holding a prayer wheel walks on the famous market street, Pogor near the Jokhang Temple in central Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Gong Bing)
The Dalai Lama calls Tibet a "hell on earth." But many Tibetans I know, particularly the elderly people who still remember the past, say Tibet is at its best stage of development . Why do the opinions vary so much?
With no exception, the 14th Dalai Lama and all his predecessors represent the aristocrats and serf owners in old Tibet. So when the democratic reform took place and all the serfs stood up to own land and become men with dignity, Tibet became "hell on earth" for the Dalai Lama and his likes.
This "hell on earth" is precisely "paradise on earth" for the ordinary Tibetans. Under no circumstances would these people allow the Dalai Lama to restore the old social strata in their homeland, under the name of the "middle way" or "meaningful autonomy."
Anyone with the least knowledge of Tibet knows clearly, under the ruling Communist Party of China, how schools, hospitals, quake-resistant homes and other facilities have been built to improve the quality of Tibetans' lives; how roads, airports and a railway have been constructed to bring in some of the most-needed supplies and how modern technologies have enabled farmers to build vegetables and fruits on former infertile land.
Anyone who has been to Tibet cannot help exclaiming at its well-preserved culture: the centuries-old treasures housed in the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and more than 1,000 other monasteries; the traditional artwork and opera; the elegant, Tibetan-style homes; the eating habits, featuring yak butter, highland barley and other cuisine, and the unique language, one of the few Chinese dialects that are still widely used in both written and spoken forms.
An ethnic Tibetan monk walks in front of a giant "thangka", a sacred painting on cloth, to be displayed on a hill outside a monastery in Tongren, northwest China's Qinghai province Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. (Photo: China Daily)
Ask Loga, 85, if the Tibetans are living in a "hell on earth." The Lhasa resident, who speaks only Tibetan dialect, has been a pilgrim to Sera Monastery nearly every day since he was 13. Thanks to the improved quality of life, the average life expectancy of Tibetans has nearly doubled since the democratic reform, to about 67.
With the interpretation of a Tibetan colleague, Loga told me he was "in good shape except that he was blind in one eye." The hearty smile on his weathered face tell me he is happy and content.
Fifty years after the Dalai Lama's flight from China, some Tibetans still revere him as their "spiritual leader." They do this because as devout Buddhists, they worship him as the reincarnation of all previous Dalai Lamas. It's this status, rather than his words or deeds, that earned the 14th Dalai Lama some awe.
For the Dalai Lama, 50 years is a long time. Tibet is no more the former land of poverty from which he fled. Its people are no more living under the serf owners' whips, totally ignorant to what is going on in the wide world.
If the Dalai Lama really wants to do something beneficial for his fellow Tibetans, he should stop lying, abandon his separatism mentality and show some sincerity in settling the Tibet issue properly.
(Xinhua correspondents Niu Qi, Pempa Tsering and Soinam Norbu contributed to this story)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10987109.htm
What a hell of Dalai Lama's crisis management?
www.chinaview.cn 2009-03-10 22:29:41
by Xinhua Writer Cheng Zhiliang
BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Enjoying celebrity like a Hollywood star, the Dalai Lama can by no means be too patient for only one day to the negligence of world media which are occupied by economic concerns since the global financial crisis.
His time to shine comes in March, an eventful month in Tibetan history. The aura around him captured limelight again when on Tuesday he, with his supernatural power as a divine monk, turned a happy land into "hell on earth."
The trick lies in his mouth.
In a speech in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala to mark his abortive rebellion 50 years ago, the lama said the Chinese government has transformed the plateau region into a "hell on earth."
He must have lost his supernatural power of clairvoyance, if he has, when he, ignorant of the scenes of prostrating believers in front of the Potala Palace and dancing farmers in their own fields, alleged in the speech that "Tibetan people are regarded like criminals, deserving to be put to death."
He also forgot in the speech what a "paradise" in Tibet was like during his rule when about 95 percent of the population were serfs and slaves before 1959.
The "gentle", "smiling" monk has never stopped speaking ill of the Chinese central government, but pathetically this time he made false accusations at a wrong time.
The Dalai Lama had been in the spotlight since last March through the Beijing Olympics, but he has not been at the center of the stage since the economic downturn grabbed the attention of politicians and media.
In a way like a kid trying to draw attention from other people by crying, the marginalized old monk started a round of false accusations which were rhetorically flaring and demagogic but untenable in fact.
In contrast to the imagination that more than 1 million Tibetans had been killed in the past 50 years, the fact is that the population of Tibet increased from 1.2 million in 1959 to 2.87 million in 2008, with more than 95 percent of them from Tibetan and other ethnic minorities.
Luckily, more and more lay people now can see what is really happening in Tibet through their own eyes.
There is also people who have a record of history in their heart. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, once a Galoin (cabinet minister) of the former local government of Tibet, pointed out that if Tibet's cruel serfdom and theocratic regime continued, the serfs would all died and the aristocrats would not be able to live either. "The whole Tibet would be destroyed," he said.
Of course, the "spiritual leader" also has his own earthy concerns amid the financial turmoil. As the global downturn is taking its toll throughout the world, the Dalai Lama may have to face reduced financial support from his western patrons.
The monk is never short of sycophants, who may harbor various sentiments.
But before he wins the whole world, he has to convince those millions of Tibetans first, telling them what a Shangri-la Tibet meant when they or their fathers were serfs and slaves.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10987110.htm
Dalai Lama group's sabotage will not block Tibet's development
14:14, March 09, 2009
By Li Hongmei People' Daily Online
Although sabotage from the Dalai Lama group remains the biggest menace to Tibet's development, it will by no means block the progress of the Tibetan society at large. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the region's Democratic reform, and March 28 will be the Serfs' Emancipation Day agreed upon unanimously by the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Congress to commemorate annually the day in 1959, when Tibetan surfs and slaves, then accounting for more than 90 percent of the region's population, were freed after the central government foiled an armed rebellion staged by the Dalai Lama and his supporters.
But for all these years, the Dalai Lama group has never showed any signs of ceasing to promote the notorious 'Tibet Independence.' They tried to collude with their agents in Tibet and even sent people to the region; the so-called 'Tibetan government in-exile' masterminded and fomented the destructive March 14 Lhasa riots last year. A handful of exiled Tibetans went to such extremes that they explicitly and repeatedly expressed their attempts to separate Tibet from the Chinese territory, their defeated attempts ranging from harassing and disturbing the international tour of Beijing Olympic torch relay to dogging and making trouble to the Chinese leaders' international visits.
Additionally, through creating chaos that harm the region's stability, they intend to internationalize the so-called 'Tibet issue'; through fabricating stories about the 'Chinese suppression' on Tibetan culture and religion, they attempt to rally the international support; and through lobbying around by mixing up black and white, they try to confuse the public opinion and convince the world, by manipulating evidence, that the temporary security measures, taken by the government to deter the possible disturbances form the pro-'Tibet Independence' forces, are 'tightened clampdown upon Tibetans.'
When most parts of Tibet were celebrating their traditional Tibetan New Year, or Losar, the 'Tibetan government in-exile' launched the so-called 'somber protests' trying desperately to fuel the anti-Chinese sentiments among the Tibetans. But in actuality, most Tibetans live a life as normal as usual. Their New Year's celebrations, religious activities, including major rituals, have all along going on as usual. 'They (the Dalai Lama and his supporters) are not willing to see the stability and development in Tibet,' said Legqog, director of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Congress on the sidelines of the ongoing sessions of NPC and CPPCC. 'This year they have intensified their secessionist activities,' he added.
By the way, if his memory does not decay, the Dalai Lama should remember that he used to so readily accept the appointment from the central government as Vice-Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee before his fleeing Tibet. And if he would like to relate Tibet in history, he should have the knowledge that the title of 'Dalai Lama' came into being in Emperor Wanli's reign of the Ming Dynasty, and Tibet became an Administrative Region of China even as far back as the Yuan Dynasty. But "His Holiness' the Dalai Lama seems to have been suffering amnesia or playing ignorant when he has devoted himself all these years to globe-trotting as a political monk clad in saffron in a bid to win the support for his 'noble cause' of 'Tibet independence.'
Unfortunately, the Dalai Lama group's attempt to split China is doomed to a complete failure, as Tibet was, is and will always be an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. Facts will never be bent by any plot and intrigue. As a living Buddha was quoted as saying, 'separatists will find no room to replay a scenario they plotted in the riots in Tibet last March.' In today's Tibet, people cherish a peaceful and harmonious life, which is not easily come by. Hence a small group of secessionists who attempt to make troubles have already lost social and public support.
The State Council Information Office published on Mar.2 a white paper on the situation in Tibet before and since 1959. And currently, an exhibition on the same topic is also held in Beijing. Both of them will display the true Tibet and the historic changes that Tibet has ever seen since the Democratic Reform in 1959.
It is no point the Dalai Lama group making all this bluff and bluster, as the fact in itself is the most eloquent proof to show what a real Tibet is now like and what the majority of Tibetans truly feel. Tibet will progress, whatever happens, and people will sooner or later discern the truth out of facts, even if the Dalai Lama group has been acting in a way beyond redemption, and no matter how much they have deliberately distorted both history and reality.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90002/96417/6609811.html
Tibet official: March Lhasa riots won't repeat
09:53, March 07, 2009
A senior Tibet official said here Friday that the violent riots, which resulted in the death of at least 18 civilians in Lhasa last March, won't repeat.
Although the riots have caused tremendous damage to the social and economic development and people's life in Tibet, it did not change the fundamentals of the steady development in Tibet," Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, said.
"The overall situation Tibet is stable," he said on the sidelines of the ongoing parliament session.
Qiangba Puncog said he cannot rule out possibilities that some individuals might make reckless moves next week, but he believed that "riots like those in last March won't happen again."
His view was echoed by Chubakang Tubdain Kaizhub, a living Buddha and chairman of the Tibet Branch of the Buddhist Association of China.
There will be "no problems" of stability in Tibet this year, as" a small group of secessionists who attempt to make troubles have lost social support," said Chubakang Tubdain Kaizhub, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the country's top political advisory body.
"A handful of separatists can by no means win the people's heart, and their disturbance would only result in the collapse of the social foundation for their existence," said he.
MARCH 28 CELEBRATIONS
In response to questions on securities measures on March 28, Qiangba Puncog said necessary measures will be taken in Lhasa on day, when celebrations will be held to mark the democratic reform that emancipated millions of serfs and slaves 50 years ago.
But no extraordinary measures like martial law will be enforced, said Qiangba Puncog at a panel discussion open to media.
The regional legislature in January endorsed a bill to set March 28 as Serfs Emancipation Day for annual observation in the region. Celebrations will be held in Lhasa and Beijing to mark the occasion this month.
Legqog, director of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Congress, said the approval of Serfs Emancipation Day is an important move to wage a "tit-for-tat struggle" against the Dalai Lama group.
"We'll, for a long period of time, face austere test in maintaining unification of the motherland, fighting ethnic splittism, and maintaining social stability," said Legqog.
"Since the Dalai Lama and his supporters failed in an armed rebellion and fled abroad 50 years ago, they have been dreaming of restoring the reactionary, dark, barbarian and backward feudal serfdom in Tibet, and they have never stopped activities to split the motherland and undermine ethnic unity," he said.
In 1959, the central government foiled an armed rebellion staged by the Dalai Lama and his supporters.
"The younger generation in Tibet may know little about this history," Legqog said, adding the Serfs Emancipation Day would help "remind the younger generation of the bitter past so that they would cherish today's development, changes and new life."
CHALLENGE REMAINS
Despite efforts to maintain stability in Tibet, officials said disturbance and sabotage from the Dalai Lama group still remains and hinders Tibet's development.
Citing tourism as an example, Lhasa Mayor Doje Cezhug said Tibet economy enjoyed a fast growth in 2007 and early 2008. But the violent riots on March 14 last year denied the autonomous region a good chance of development.
Local economy, mainly driven by tourism, was "severely hurt" by the March riots last year, said Doje Cezhug.
Lhasa received 1.35 million tourists in 2008, down half from the previous year, and the tourism income dropped by 58.66 percent to 1.17 billion yuan (about 172 million U.S. dollars).
"We were also faced with other difficulties such as halt of factory production and investment outflow and shrink because of investors' panic after the riots," said the mayor.
He noted that the city has taken a series of measures to restore normal economical and social order, including reinforcing social public security and promoting tourism by tax cut and tax exemption policies.
"We will strive to ensure economic growth, people's well-being and social stability this year," said the mayor.
Source:Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6608382.html
Please read the following articles carefully:
What kind of olive branch from the Dalai Lama?
2008-08-21 11:23:00
Just on the former day of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, "New York Times", an American newspaper, published an article titled "An Olive Branch from the Dalai Lama" by Nicholas D. Kristof, a journalist who once worked in China. The article introduces the Dalai Lama's new opinions about Tibet.
Before analyzing the Dalai Lama's new ideas, I would like to share two points which puzzle me most.
Firstly, the Chinese government always opens doors to the Dalai Lama for talks. As a matter of fact, from 2002 to the beginning of this year, the departments concerned have conducted six rounds of talk with the Dalai Lama. In addition, after the March 14 Riots the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) had dialogues with the Dalai Lama twice although local people in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) were very angry with separatists due to great damages caused by riots. If the Dalai Lama has any new ideas indeed, he should communicate with the central government directly instead of conveying his comments by western media. The proposition from a western journalist not only makes people disbelieve its authenticity but also doubts the Dalai Lama's sincerity. Does he wish to solve the issue or just to strengthen public relations among the western world for another time?
Secondly, one point of the Dalai Lama's new allegation is that the object of the dialogue should be changed to the supreme leader from the United Front Work Department of CPC, which is out of all reason. That would do no good to the following dialogue. On the contrary, it will set new blocks to the progress. So I have to suspect the Dalai Lama's sincerity of resolving issues.
The first point of the Dalai Lama's new ideas is that "the Dalai Lama is willing to state that he can accept the socialist system in Tibet under Communist Party rule", which he regards as an important compromise. Actually, this is what the Dalai Lama should do according to the dialogue. It is really wise enough to interpret an inevitable thing as a big compromise, in terms of negotiation skills. It is a popular tactic in western public relations to put forward a fake topic and then gain virtual profit by making compromises. With the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965 after the democratic reform in 1959, the socialist system has become the foundation of Tibet's society today. The result of changing the reality is unimaginable. On the foundation of current social system, TAR has made great progress on the way to modernization. Further promoting the autonomous region is millions of Tibetan people's requirement and rights. It is selfish that some few people hope to change the progress of the history, which is impossible as well.
The second point of view is about the Dalai Lama's so-called "greater Tibet". He can accept the current boundary between TAR and other provinces but calls for "greater Tibet" "to be placed under one administration" and demanded "to create a Regional Authority for Tibetan Affairs that would administer key aspects of life" in greater Tibet. That is to say, he would like to gain the practical domination over greater Tibet by superficially giving up greater Tibet. Here we can learn the negotiation tactics of "moving forward two steps by moving back one step". In history, there has never been "all Tibetan areas" with an effective and consolidate administration. In the rule of law, his claiming greater Tibet disregards other nationalities' rights completely. As for politics and real life, if the plan of greater Tibet takes effect, a race launder with unprecedented scale will happen. Thus the plan of greater Tibet itself is ridiculous and persisting this plan is one of the greatest barriers for the dialogue between the central government and the Tibet separatist group. The Dalai Lama changed the expression way of the issue of greater Tibet without giving up the preposition actually, which is the essence of the problem of the so-called new ideas.
After recommending the new policy of his highly-praised Dalai Lama, Kristof raised a series of detailed requests on behalf of the Dalai Lama, such as allowing the Dalai Lama to arrive in or depart from China according to his will; restricting other ethnic people's migration; stopping the patriotism education in monasteries; permitting pre-school age children to go to school; promoting the status of Tibetan language and boosting the occupancy of Tibetan cadres. In my opinion, it is the Dalai Lama's rights to raise requests, but all those requests should be based upon rationality and reality.
Let's have a simple discussion at some topics. Firstly, the so-called migration problem. In terms of the modern nomology, except the well-organized and large scale migration to some areas based upon governmental public power and resources, it is the basic rights under the guarantee of constitution for citizens to migrate according to one's own interest demand within the frontier. It is wrong to restrict individual free migration according to the nomology and according to the modern human rights view, it is also improper. Now the fact is that there is no issue for government to organize migration to Tibet or some other Tibetan-inhabited areas while the government should respect and protect the behavior of individual migration according to market economy demand.
Secondly, permitting pre-school age children to go to school. The key problem is the balance of rights claim. China respects citizens' religion freedom according to the law and in opposite, the citizen must respect the law to fulfill the legal obligation and this is a kind of balanced contract relationship. It is the rights for children to enjoy education and the duty of parents and the government to help children to finish compulsory education. The reasonable claim is to help those children finish education and allow them to choose their religion belief after they have ability to fulfill their rights to perform their rights according to the constitution.
Thirdly, about the Tibetan language. With the development of modernization, any nationality will meet the challenge of adjusting to the modernization and protecting the traditional culture. A clear fact is that since the Reform and Opening-up, the Chinese Government has done a lot to popularize Tibetan language, protect and develop the Tibetan culture and has also made a lot of progress. In stead of criticism without any fact basis, the Chinese Government deserves affirmation and encouragement for its efforts on Tibetan language and Tibetan culture.
In Kristof's quotation cited from the Dalai Lama, a marked paragraph shows that he pays much attention to those words: "The main thing is to preserve our culture, to preserve the character of Tibet, That is what is most important, not politics." It sounds really good, but if you read carefully, you will still feel that culture is just used as an excuse as what the Dalai Lama cares most is the politics.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200808/t20080821_421558.htm
Tibet official on Dalai Lama's "autonomy for Tibet"
UPDATED: 11:12, June 21, 2007
Qiangba Puncog, The Chairman of China's Tibet Autonomous Region
(Qiangba Puncog is a native Tibetan, born and raised in Tibet)
The Chairman of China's Tibet Autonomous Region said on Wednesday that the "high-degree autonomy for Tibet" advocated by the Dalai Lama goes against not only the aspiration of the people in Tibet, but also the Constitution of China and the basic system currently in place.
Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the regional government, made the remark at a news briefing on Tibet's social and economic development held in Beijing, responding to a question raised by a reporter.
"To know the Dalai Lama we should not only listen to what he says, but also look at what he has done," said the Tibetan official.
"The region gained its autonomy in 1965. The system of regional autonomy for minority nationalities has made Tibetan people masters of their own destiny. Affairs relating to Tibetans have been well managed, making possible huge progress in present-day Tibet," said Qiangba.
The Dalai Lama's call for a "high-degree autonomy for Tibet" is against the people's wishes and against the Constitution and basic system in place, he said.
Qiangba took issue with the Dalai Lama's calls for a "greater Tibet". "If we look at history, we can see there has not been such an area since the dismantling of the Tubo kingdom in the ninth century, and there have been different administrative systems for Tibetans in Sichuan, Tibet and other regions," he said.
"The Dalai Lama travels around the world in Buddhist robes not out of religious zeal but to internationalize the Tibet issue and achieve his own political purposes," Qiangba said.
He said the Dalai Lama's pursuit of autonomy or establishment of the greater Tibetan area were staging houses to conceal his pursuit of independence.
"People from the Dalai Lama side believe, 'once this succeeds, then (Tibet's) independence is not far away', and this reveals their real intentions," he said.
The official was asked to comment on letters asking for permission to let the Dalai Lama come back to Tibet.
"I have not seen the letters but I have heard about the content. The ideas expressed differ greatly from the opinions held by the most Tibetan people," he said.
"His opinions do not represent the view of the majority of Tibetan people, nor do they represent the views of the majority of officials in Tibet. They only represent a handful of people," said Puncog.
Puncog said the channel of communication with the Dalai Lama and his personal representative has always been open. "The Dalai Lama has to give up his independence goal and his separatist activities," he said, "we all expect him to be sincere and to do some good deeds for the Tibetan people and the country during his lifetime."
The official said he deeply regretted the recent meeting between the Australian Prime Minister John Howard and the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama is not a religious figure but a politician, said the official, adding that people in Tibet know what kind of person the Dalai Lama is.
"Dalai Lama has been involved in activities to split the country since he went into exile abroad 48 years ago," said the official. "I believe that meetings between foreign political leaders and the Dalai Lama are matters that concern the unity of our nation and the integrity of Chinese territory."
"People in Tibet, just like the Chinese government, are firmly against foreign political leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama," said Qiangba Puncog.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman last Friday protested to Australia about the Dalai Lama's visit there.
"Turning a deaf ear to China's representations, the Australian side has allowed the Dalai Lama to visit Australia and meet with Australian political leaders, including Prime Minister John Howard. We consider this a rude intervention in China's internal affairs", spokesman Qin Gang said.
"We hope the Australian side will correct its attitude to the Dalai Lama in the interests of overall bilateral relations", Qin said, urging Australia to take effective measures to eliminate the "negative influence" of the Dalai Lama's visit and to offer no platform for his "secessionist activities".
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200706/21/eng20070621_386169.html
Most lawmakers in Tibet are ethnic minorities
www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-10 20:27:56
LHASA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Regional ethnic autonomy is practiced in Tibet Autonomous Region with lawmakers from the Tibetan and other ethnic groups holding 94 percent of the seats in local legislatures, a senior regional lawmaker said.
There are more than 34,000 delegates from Tibet to People's Congress at region, city, county and town levels, said Adain, vice chairman of the standing committee of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress.
Residents in Tibet showed increased participation in elections, as 96.4 percent of voters voted last year to elect members of the incumbent legislatures, up from 93.1 percent in 2002 and 91.6 percent in 1991, Adain said.
Adain said that the concept of "Tibet independence" promoted in Dalai's "Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People," would never be accepted by the people in Tibet.
The Chinese government has policies in place for the autonomy of ethnic minorities.
The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, established in 1947, was the first autonomous region for ethnic minorities in China. It was followed by the Xinjiang Uygur, Guangxi Zhuang, Ningxia Hui and Tibet autonomous regions.
Under the unified leadership of the Chinese government, regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is practiced in areas where there are concentrated populations of ethnic minorities. Self-governing bodies are established in these areas for the exercise of autonomy.
As of 2007, China has established 155 ethnic autonomous areas. Of these, five are autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties.
Among the country's 55 ethnic minorities, 44 have autonomous areas -- covering 75 percent of the total ethnic minority population.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/10/content_10485055.htm
Dalai Lama's olive branch isn't fresh
2008-08-22 13:37:00
As the 29th Beijing Olympic Games opened on August 8th and made a great achievement, some anti-China forces feel enormous lonely, they can't accept such smooth and successful games nor the host country is highly praised by media from all over the world. Some of them therefore wrote an article titled "An Olive Branch from the Dalai Lama" on New York Times on the day the games opened. It's about the so called "Tibet issue" and a series of approaches of concession is also included. The solution which makes both sides feel uncomfortable to certain conditions is an olive branch from the Dalai Lama to Chinese government. However, after carefully interpreting the solution, it's not another solution at all and it's absolutely an old trick.
One of the main discussions in the article is the "Greater Tibetan Area". That is usually interpreted to mean a huge expansion of the political boundaries of the Tibet Autonomous Region to encompass about one-fourth of China, taking in parts of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. The Chinese government stands fast on this point.
The article states that one way to bridge that gulf would be "to create a Regional Authority for Tibetan Affairs that would administer key aspects of life in all Tibetan areas, particularly education, culture and religion. Already, for example, Tibetan-language school textbooks are harmonized in different provinces, and this regional authority would likewise oversee practical aspects of life in areas with Tibetan populations, all under Chinese law." The result is "This would allow Tibetan areas to be placed under a single administration without changing political boundaries."
The solution is no doubt the latest version of seeking Tibet independence on the "Greater Tibetan Area". The words "key aspects of life in all Tibetan areas" is so ambitious with too much meanings. So it explains and states "particularly education, culture and religion." However, it again emphasizes "This regional authority would oversee practical aspects of life in areas with Tibetan populations", which also means too much, not only cultural and religious affairs.
In fact, making an administration authority for Tibetan affairs haven't existed in China's history nor accord to China's current political system. The political boundaries in China are made in consideration of historic tradition and administration convenience. It's not simply made by nationalities. Besides, China is home of 56 nationalities who live in mixture in large areas and in groups with small population. This is the same in Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan autonomous prefectures and the situation has last for thousands of years.
To sum up, the compromise solution, or the olive branch is not fresh at all. The reason to write such article is to sully China's international image at the time the Olympic Games open and all the people from all over the world thank to Chinese government and people who have made great contributions to the Olympic big families and share the spirit of Olympics beyond political differences under the Olympic Flag.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200808/t20080822_421822.htm
What to negotiate with Dalai Lama?
2008-07-01 16:41:00
To most people, no matter in the old Tibet or in Dharmsala today, where Tibetan government-in-exile locates, Dalai Lama is both a political and a religious figure. Although Dalai himself frequently refers to the "government-in-exile" as a "democratic government", he has never denied he is the political leader. But it does not make any sense at all to compare theocracy to a democratic system. If it did, people would assume he either lacks or ignore common sense.
Theocracy was abolished in Tibet. This is the reason why Dalai left Lhasa in 1959(click here), and it is also the result of his absence.
Tibet is an autonomous region, so the Tibetan autonomous government is the only legal government to represent Tibet, not that government-in-exile.
Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future. Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds, and China will never consent to negotiate with him when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile". I am not sure whether Dalai is clear about this or not.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410293.htm
What to talk with Dalai Lama?
2008-07-01 16:39:00
Seems a new round of talks between the Beijing central government and the Dalai Lama will start soon. Then, what are the topics on the table? Is it the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, of course NOT.
The reason is simple. Dalai is a Buddhist lama, his past political status was based on the system of theocracy. The system, in which a society is ruled by a priest or monk who represent a god, has been abolished in Tibet long before. So if one is going to discuss with a monk the position and future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn't that give an impression that China will allow theocracy to resume in Tibet?
Tibet is an autonomous region of China, and representing it is the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The 14th Dalai Lama has set up an "exile regime" in Dharmsala, India, and he claims to be the leader of the exile regime. The fact is that not a single state in the world today admits the legitimacy of Dalai Lama's exile government in Dharmsala. If the central government is going to discuss the position, future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn't that give an impression that Dharmasala exile regime is legitimate?
Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years, but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama(click here). He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now. So, China's central government is not going to discuss with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, but only the future and destiny of Dalai Lama himself.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410290.htm
Last opportunity for Dalai Lama
2008-07-01 16:41:00
The 14th Dalai Lama is running out of opportunities. And that's why he is using the Beijing Olympics as his last straw. But could he really make the best use of this opportunity? Some Westerners are providing Dalai Lama with badly-needed guidance and support, which shed light on why he frequented Western countries in a rush. However, there are vast differences in the interest of those Westerners' and Dalai's, which can be seen through the fact that Dalai has been given a cold shoulder by the West from time to time in the past decades.
Therefore Dalai should tell the difference in interests and stop binding himself to certain political forces, which will lead to his loss of opportunities. Judging from the current situation, Dalai Lama is losing his most important opportunities on mending ties with the Chinese central government.
Of course, it remained to be seen whether Dalai Lama still has any power and influence to muster, without the support of some political forces in the West.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410291.htm
Chinese central government officials meet with Dalai Lama's private representatives
www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-03 15:37:37
BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with private representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama in Beijing recently, the department said on Thursday.
Du, also the vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the two representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, the central government's policy towards the Dalai Lama is consistent and explicit. The door for dialogue is always open.
The Dalai Lama should openly and explicitly promise and prove it in his actions not to support activities to disturb the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, not to support plots to fan violent criminal activities, not to support and concretely curb the violent terrorist activities of the "Tibetan Youth Congress" and not to support any argument and activity to seek "Tibet independence" and split the region from the country, he said.
While the country is welcoming the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening up, Tibet, together with the rest of the country, has progressed to realize economic development and improve people's living standards while protecting the environment and effectively using resources, he said.
In Tibet, the adherence to the CPC leadership, the socialist system and the regional autonomy of ethnic minorities will not be altered, he said.
The central government will apply its policies in Tibet, support the region's economic and social development and work to improve living standards of people in Tibet as it did before.
Du also briefed them about the Wenchuan earthquake on May 12 and the relief work.
He said at time of difficulty, the Chinese nation has shown strong cohesiveness and profound love among its people. The relief work serves as vivid illustrations of China's protection of human rights.
The CPC implemented its principle of putting people first and ruling the country for the people, while the advantages of socialist system are also manifested in the quake relief, as indicated in the policy of saving lives first, nationwide mobilization for quake relief and timely and smooth flow of information, he said.
Zhu Weiqun and Sitar, two deputy heads of the department, also met with the Dalai Lama's representatives and exchanged ideas on detailed issues.
If the Dalai Lama makes positive moves, the next round of contact may be held before the end of this year, according to the officials of the department.
The Dalai Lama's representatives also expressed their ideas on several relevant issues and said they would report the results to the Dalai Lama.
During their stay in Beijing, the two toured the Olympic stadiums and talked with some Tibetologists.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8483444.htm
China blames Dalai Lama side for breaking promise
2008-11-11 09:57:00
A Chinese central government official said here Monday the Dalai Lama side has failed to honor the promises they made in previous talks.
In the previous talks, the Dalai Lama's representatives did not seriously reflect on fundamental issues, said Sita, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China, noting "the political foundation of contacts and talks with them is that Tibet is an inalienable part of China.
"They did not keep their words as well, which ruined the atmosphere of the meeting," he said at a press conference.
In talks held in July, the Dalai Lama's representatives said they had no problems following the "four not-to-supports" put forward by the central authorities:
not supporting activities that disturbed the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games;
not supporting plots inciting violent criminal activities;
not supporting and concretely curbing violent terrorist activities of the pro-secession "Tibetan Youth Congress";
not supporting any argument and activity seeking "Tibetan independence" and splitting the region from the country.
However, Sita said in the few days before and after the opening of the Olympics, the Dalai Lama supporters organized protests in front of about 40 Chinese embassies abroad, with more than 16,000 participants. They also hired foreigners to protest around Olympic venues.
From July 28, the "Tibetan Youth Congress" held several fasts in protest and on Aug. 7 it announced the beginning of the second phase of "Tibetan People's Uprising Movement".
In September, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also faced security threats from supporters of "Tibet independence" when attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sita said.
Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he expected the Dalai Lama to move to continue the talks.
"He should truly give up his stance and activities to split the motherland, openly acknowledge that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China and the People's Republic of China is the country's only legal government."
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200811/t20081111_437749.htm
Signed article refutes "Memorandum" of the Dalai clique
19:05, November 21, 2008
Xinhua News Agency on Friday released a signed article by Yiduo on the "Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People" of the Dalai Lama and his followers.
The "Memorandum" was presented to the central government by the private envoys of the Dalai Lama during their talks with the central government in Beijing weeks ago.
The article says the "Memorandum", described by the Dalai Lama side as "in accordance with China's Constitution and laws", was full of contradictions with the Constitution and laws.
It says by claiming "Genuine Autonomy" in the name of Constitution, the Dalai side tried to deny the regional autonomous system of ethnic minorities, which is China's basic policy and political system on ethnic issues protected by the Constitution.
The administrative divisions of Tibet and other areas inhabited by Tibetans have been formed since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and the former local government of Tibet has never governed any other Tibetan areas outside Tibet.
The so-called "Greater Tibet", which takes one quarter of China's territory, had no historical, realistic and legal basis, the article says. "It is a key component of the advocacy of the Dalai side to separate the nation, and its essence is 'Tibetan independence'," it says.
The article says the Dalai Lama side intends to create a scenario of pure Tibetan autonomy while restricting exchanges and bonds among different ethnic groups, which would provoke conflicts and lead to segregation.
It says that the memorandum said nothing about the ownership of the sovereignty of Tibet and completely ignored the fact that Tibet was and is part of China.
"This issue cannot be ignored because it is fundamental to the improvement of the relationship between the Dalai Lama and the central government," the article says.
The article says that the "Memorandum", from its title to content, talks all about the "Greater Tibet" and "high degree of autonomy".
Its purpose is to set up a "half independent" or "covertly independent" political entity controlled by the Dalai clique on one quarter of the Chinese territory, and when conditions are ripe, they will seek to realize "complete Tibet independence", the article says.
The article also reiterated the central government's attitude towards the Dalai Lama, saying "The door of the central government for the Dalai Lama to return to the patriotic stance has always been open and will remain open in the future."
"However, the door for 'Tibet independence', 'half independence' or 'covert independence' has never been open, nor will it be open in the future," the article added.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6538369.html
Chinese government looks to post-Dalai Lama era
2008-11-11 09:58:00
An official with the Chinese central government on Monday called on the Dalai Lama to "do something beneficial " for the Tibetan people before he passes away.
Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remark at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council, or Cabinet.
"We hope that he (the Dalai Lama) could correct his mistakes and get closer to the central government and do something beneficial for the people, including the Tibetans, during the remainder of his life, no matter if his health condition is good or poor," the official said.
"He is in his 70s and in a poor health condition after all, we do not expect him to leave an infamous reputation in history," Zhu said.
China's central government revealed more details of its contact with the Dalai Lama last week in which Du Qinglin, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with the Dalai Lama's private representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen.
Zhu, UFWD Vice Minister Sita and Executive Vice Chairman of theTibet Autonomous Region Pelma Trilek also held talks with them while they were in China from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5.
On behalf of the central government at the conference, Zhu made unusual remarks on the Tibetan situation and the Tibetans in exile after the current Dalai Lama's passing away.
"We believe that in the present situation most of the Tibetans in exile will not support violence and terror and even in the future we believe most of them will not agree to use violence or terrorism against China or the Tibet Autonomous Region," Zhu said when replying to CNN reporters.
The official said some foreigners and Tibetans in exile had warned that violence and terror might increase in Tibet after the Dalai Lama's passing away.
"Some of them were just blustering and some of them were really reminding us of the possibility," he said.
The office also made a comment on the Dalai Lama's recent visit to Japan by saying "he was quite dynamic although in his 70s and poor health condition".
Zhu warned the Dalai Lama that his religious title, and those of his predecessors, were all given and approved by the central government. If he did not listen to the government's advice and continue his pro-independence policies, the Dalai Lama will leave a bad reputation in history and bring shame on the conferring regulation of the title which has been practiced for more than 450 years.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200811/t20081111_437757.htm
China says no compromise on national sovereignty, refutes Dalai's so-called "middle way"
www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-10 19:37:36
BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- China said here Monday that no concessions would be made on issues concerning the national sovereignty following talks between central government officials and private envoys of the Dalai Lama.
"The unification of the motherland, territorial integrity and the national dignity are the greatest interests of the Chinese people. We will never make a concession," Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told reporters.
The Dalai Lama's private representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, were in China from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5, during which period Zhu, UFWD Vice Minister Sita and Executive Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Pelma Trilek held talks with them.
Du Qinglin, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, also met with them.
This is the ninth round of talks between Chinese central government officials and the Dalai Lama's private envoys since 2002 and the third round of talks this year.
Zhu admitted contacts and talks "failed to make progress". He said the Dalai Lama side should "shoulder full responsibility for that".
Asked to comment on the reports in which the Dalai Lama said he would not follow a so-called "middle way" if the talks failed, Zhu said the claim of "middle way" aimed at outright Tibetan independence and thus unacceptable to the central government.
The Dalai Lama put forward the idea of "middle way" in the 1980s.
Zhu said the Dalai Lama explained the approach many times, including in the "five-point peace plan" in 1987, the "seven-point new suggestions" in 1988 and a "Memorandum" tabled to the central government by his private representatives during the recent talks.
Zhu said those remarks and documents showed that the Dalai Lama's "middle way" had five basic features. "The first is that the Dalai Lama does not acknowledge that Tibet is part of China since ancient times."
"The Dalai Lama said on many occasions that when the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered Tibet, Tibet was an independent country and now Tibet is still an independent country, which was illegally occupied," Zhu said.
He said it is known to all people with some historical knowledge that the Chinese central authorities have exerted undisputable and effective administration over Tibet since the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
"By denying China's sovereignty over Tibet, the Dalai Lama is seeking a legal basis for his activities of 'Tibet independence', 'semi-independence and 'independence in a disguised form'," Zhu said.
'Secondly, the Dalai Lama is scheming for a 'Greater Tibet', which has never existed," he said.
Zhu said the so-called "Greater Tibet" included not only the whole Tibet Autonomous Region, but also a large territory of Qinghai Province, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gannan in Gansu Province, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze and Aba in Sichuan Province, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Deqen in Yunnan Province and some other areas.
"In total, it covers one fourth of China's entire territory," Zhu said.
Zhu said Tibetan areas outside Tibet had never been under the administration of Tibet's local government. When Tibet was peacefully liberated in 1951, the jurisdiction of the local Tibet government did not exceed the current area of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Zhu said the attempt at a "Greater Tibet" also harbors malicious intentions.
"China is a country in which various ethnic groups live together. If ethnic groups in China all ask for an autonomous region in which only people of their own groups could live, the whole country would be cast into chaos," he said.
Zhu said the third feature of the "middle way" was to overthrow the current social and political system in the Tibet Autonomous Region under the pretense of "high degree of autonomy".
The official said the Dalai Lama and key supporters had said on many occasions that a "high degree of autonomy" meant that except for diplomatic and military affairs, all political, economic, cultural, educational and religious affairs should be subject to the administration of Tibetans.
In that case, feudal serfdom would be re-established over one-fourth of the Chinese territory, he said.
Zhu said the fourth feature was that it asked the central government to withdraw the PLA from "Greater Tibet" area.
"Everybody knows that the army is a basic guarantee of territorial integrity, national security and social stability," Zhu said. "I believe not a single nation would agree to withdraw its own army from its own territory."
Zhu said the fifth feature of the "middle way" is the exclusion of other ethnic groups from the area of "Greater Tibet".
Zhu said the Dalai Lama's "five-point peace plan" stated clearly that the migration of other ethnic groups to Tibet must be curbed and the Han migrants must leave Tibet.
That means, once the Dalai Lama retained power in Tibet, racial discrimination, segregation and purges would be inevitable, Zhu said.
The official urged the Dalai Lama to "do some good things for the country and the people including the Tibetans". He reiterated that the door for the Dalai Lama's return to a patriotic stance had always been open and would remain open.
"But the door for 'Tibet independence', 'half independence' and' independence in a disguised form' had never been open, nor would it be open in the future," he said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/10/content_10336956.htm
Tibet Fought Against Foreign Invasion
click here
U.K. Policy Recognizes Tibet,China sovereignty
Miliband clears up Britain's Tibet policy
2008-11-03 09:26:00
A statement by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband posted on the Foreign Office website on October 29 tidies up an obscure detail of British foreign policy and makes it clear that the British government fully recognizes Chinese sovereignty in Tibet.
Previously, in a fine distinction fully understood by only a few specialists in international law, Britain had recognized Chinese suzerainty but not sovereignty in Tibet. Suzerainty is defined, rather unhelpfully, by Webster's dictionary as "the authority of a suzerain" or "paramount authority". The earlier British position dates back to a 1906 Sino-British convention signed in the wake of a 1903-1904 invasion of Tibet by British imperial forces under the command of Colonel Francis Younghusband.
Miliband said that Britain's previous position on the status of Tibet was defined at the start of the 20th century, and was "based on the geo-politics of the time" and "the outdated concept of suzerainty". He went on to say that "Some have used this to cast doubt on the aims we are pursuing and to claim that we are denying Chinese sovereignty over a large part of its own territory. We have made clear to the Chinese Government, and publicly, that we do not support Tibetan independence."
Although many will regard it as a footnote to history, the shift in Britain's policy will be seen as undercutting the legal case for Tibetan separatism. The Wall Street Journal quoted a spokesman for the self-styled Tibetan government-in-exile as saying Miliband was "testifying a falsehood."
Speaking to journalists in Beijing on Saturday, the former governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, said the move to abolish what he called a "quaint eccentricity" in British policy was long overdue. He praised Mr. Miliband for bringing the UK into line with the rest of the world, including the Dalai Lama, in recognizing China's sovereignty in Tibet.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200811/t20081103_436073.htm
Australian councilor: Tibetans live a happy life
2008-11-05 10:33:00
"Your house is really comfortable and you live a happy life," said Michale Johnson, a councilor from Australia after visiting Dorje, a farmer in Naqen Township of east suburb in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Dorje offers Qingke to Michale Johnson according to traditional Tibetan etiquette in his two-floor house and Michale Johnson has paid much attention to the cheese made by Droje himself. Michale Johnson shows his surprise at such an 11-room comfortable house Dorje has.
Dorje has moved into the new house for two years and all the 60 households' locals in Dorje's village have enjoyed subsidy from the local government when they built their new building.
Michale Johnson said he would introduce a Tibet he has seen to all the public in Australia.
Invited by the Chinese government, Michale Johnson, a councilor from Australia arrived in Lhasa on November 2 for a four-day visit. As scheduled, they will leave Lhasa on November 5 after visiting some famous scenic spots.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200811/t20081105_436519.htm
China says serious differences in talks with private envoys of Dalai Lama
13:14, November 10, 2008
A Chinese central government official says recent talks with the Dalai Lama's private representatives were "frank and sincere," but serious differences remain.
Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council here on Monday.
Du Qinglin, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with the Dalai Lama's private representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen.
Zhu, UFWD Vice Minister Sita and Executive Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Pelma Trilek also held talks with them while they were in China from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5.
In talks held in July, the Dalai Lama's representatives said they had no problems following the "four not-to-supports" put forward by the central authorities, but they completely broke that promise, Zhu said.
The four promises include: not supporting activities that disturbed the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games; not supporting plots inciting violent criminal activities; not supporting and concretely curbing violent terrorist activities of the pro-secession "Tibetan Youth Congress"; not supporting any argument and activity seeking "Tibetan independence" and splitting the region from the country.
"They absolutely forgot to carry out their promise and did not stop boycotting and destroying the Beijing Olympics," Zhu said. "Instead, they intensified sabotaging activities and continued to attack the Central Government."
"They supported the 'Tibetan Youth Congress' and other organizations to publicly advocate 'Tibetan independence' and fanned or organized violent criminal activities," Zhu added. "They also continued to set up a claim to internationalize the Tibet issue, trying to make use of foreigners pressuring the central government."
"They continued to collude with such dregs as overseas democracy activists, 'Falungong elements' and 'Eastern Turkistan terrorists', trying to form so-called 'united front work' to oppose the Chinese government and split the motherland," he said. "All of these have caused the Chinese people strong aversion to their actions."
This is the third talk between the central government and the Dalai Lama's private envoys this year. Previous discussions were held in May and July.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6530513.html
Dalai Lama's 'new olive branch'
2008-08-22 09:51:00
A "new olive branch" from the Dalai Lama has staggered to the public by a western guy through a piece of western newspaper.
Nicholas D. Kristop has published an article on New York Times on August 7, the day before the opening of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and for the first time, the Dalai Lama is willing to state that he can accept the socialist system in Tibet under Communist Party rule while "the main thing is to preserve our culture, to preserve the character of Tibet, That is what is most important, not politics", according to that article.
What's the matter with Tibet and what crisis Tibetan characteristic is facing? What kind of problem makes the Dalai Lama sacrifice so much, even to compromise a lot to be willing to accept the socialist system to "preserve them"?
This topic is too gigantic and Tibet is also too far away. Let's just come to the details. A few days ago, I went to Dongdan and near the Xiehe Hospital I found a small shop with a lot of Tibetan Buddhism figures in its shop window and lots of Thangka and monks pictures on its wall. At that time, I really wanted to take some photos just for my western friends to tell them how the Tibetan culture is in today's Beijing. It's a pity that the shopkeeper refused me. So for as I know, there are many other kinds of such shops in Beijing run by Tibetans or local residents. Whether it can be run for long or not, it only depends on the business. Can this phenomenon reflect an aspect of current Tibetan culture?
Yesterday, I went to China Tibetology Research Center for some work. Two kilometers east away from the Bird's Nest where the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony was just held, the Tibetan-style building is next to some other Tibetan-style buildings, such as Tibet Mansion, Tibet Middle School, Tibetan Medicine Mansion and also the newly-finished Tibet Folk Custom Museum. Painted in deep purple, a kind of characteristic color for the top of Potala Palace and some Tibetan Buddhism monasteries as well as the color of Tibetan monks' robe, those Tibetan-style buildings gather together just like a Tibetan village in Beijing. In deed, the Tibetan culture has special characteristics and we can touch the characteristics only from the Tibetan buildings which we can easily find on street. We can definitely say that the Tibetan culture has never boomed in today's Beijing as there are so many Tibetan books and newspaper, literature and art, music and etc. What is the problem with protection and development of Tibetan culture? If there is, there is only one problem, that is after so many distort words from the Dalai Lama and some western media, how can the Chinese Government make more and more westerners believe that the Chinese Government has no genocidal policy for Tibetan culture.
As for the Tibetan characteristics, there are some Tibetan characteristics in the long history including elite and draff. There are some uncultured and outdated "characteristics", such as the feudal serf system under the combination institution of politics and religion and the feudal dictatorship of Tibetan Buddhism monasteries and large numbers of monks. Yes, all those dictatorship have disappeared and of course there is no measure to keep such "characteristics". Once there was such characteristic in the history of different ethnic groups and different countries, why should Tibet keep such "characteristics" while most of the westerners weren't keen on the medieval inquisition, the tithe and the indulgence.
The "olive branch" also mentions the disquieting future:" much of Tibet is likely to have been drowned in a sea of Chinese migration" and also delivers some "prescription":" to restrict migration into all Tibetan areas, inside and outside the "autonomous region," through China's existing system of residence permits. The Chinese authorities would stop issuing resident permits, known as hukou, to non-Tibetans for any Tibetan area..."
The fact is that the Chinese Government has no policy that the Dalai Lama said to encourage large numbers of immigration to Tibet, but with the economic development and social life progress of China, it is an indisputable fact that the population flow between western and eastern China is increasing. There is other ethnic people in Tibet while there is also some other ethnic people including Tibetan in eastern China. Many countries have experienced or are experiencing the nationalities flow. All the ethnic people are equal in China and if we don't allow other ethnic people to enter Tibet, will we allow Tibetans to go to the inland cities? If the restriction is only effective to some ethnic people, does it mean that there is one or some nationalities has or have special rights? And how about the others? While if we set some restriction to all the nationalities, will there be some so-called "Human Rights Issue"? In fact, we can find paper material recording that 1,300 years ago in the beginning of Tang Dynasty, there was Han-Tibetan intermarriage and intermarriage with other nationalities is an important characteristic of Tibetan culture. If there is some restriction for population flow, don't you be afraid of losing this "Tibetan characteristic"? Can all the different ethnic young people in Tibetan-populated areas fall in love according to their will? Or they can only enjoy their separation life? How about those "Tuanjie Zu", second generation or third generation with half, a quarter even eighth blood of Tibetan? In my opinion, there is no capable leader in China can solve such complicated problem and I'm afraid that we should hire some advisors from western countries.
There are some words confusing me in that article and I can't distinguish it is from the Dalai Lama or just from Nicholas. But it mentioned so-and-so institution won't take part in the talk with the representative of the Dalai Lama or such and such secretary in Tibet transfers to some other post, I believe he has put his foot in it.
Yes, the Dalai Lama expressed his will of returning home again, so please admit your fault and see clearly of the situation to drop your bargaining with the Central Government. In last half century, you have done too many things to distort the history of Tibet, spoil the image of our country, harm Chinese people's feeling and demolish the unification of our country and keep such situation is really not the best choice.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200808/t20080822_421710.htm
Dalai Lama urged to truly not support "Tibet independence"
www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-06 19:47:57
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- In a statement issued Thursday, a senior Chinese official urged the Dalai Lama to not support, plot or incite violent criminal activities or propositions aimed at "Tibet Independence."
Du Qinglin, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks while meeting with the Dalai Lama's private representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, during the past few days in Beijing.
Du said the Dalai Lama should respect history, face reality and conform to the times, as well as fundamentally change his political propositions.
The Dalai Lama was also urged to respond with sincerity to his commitments made during contacts in July. Those include: not supporting plots to fan violent criminal activities, not supporting and concretely curbing violent terrorist activities of the "Tibetan Youth Congress", and to create favorable conditions for the meetings to make progress.
Concerning the fundamental issue of safeguarding national unification and territorial integrity, not the slightest wavering or departure would be allowed, Du said, noting that no "Tibet independence," "half independence" or "covert independence" would be tolerated.
The central government's policy toward the Dalai Lama was consistent and clear. The door for dialogue has always been open, said Du, who is also head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Although violent criminal activities such as beating, smashing, looting and burning occurred in Lhasa earlier this year, the central government still arranged three meetings with the Dalai Lama's private representatives, showing the sincerity and generosity of the central government, Du said.
The official urged the Dalai Lama to make a choice that would be good for the nation, its people and history as well as himself.
During the meeting, Du briefed the representatives on the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, the successful flight of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7, the economic and social development in the Tibet Autonomous Region and the country at large, as well as the quake and snow storm relief efforts in Tibet.
He said the victory over difficulties and challenges and the new achievements in reform, opening-up and modernization construction should all be attributed to the persistent adherence to the development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The historical trend of China's peaceful development could not be deterred. Tibet becoming more prosperous and progressive in the homeland was also a fact witnessed by all, Du added
Adherence to the CPC's leadership, the socialist path with Chinese characteristics and the regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities were stipulated in China's Constitution, which were also the most prominent political reality in Tibet, said Du.
No activities that defy the "three adherences" and defy the Constitution would be tolerated. He stressed that the "three adherences" must be implemented unwaveringly and unswervingly.
All organizations or individuals must act in accordance with the Constitution, safeguard its dignity and abide by it and the law on the regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities, he added.
According to Du, while implementing the law on regional autonomy for ethnic minorities, the following principles should be followed:
-- The interests of the country and the Chinese nation should be put above all else. National unification and ethnic solidarity must be resolutely safeguarded;
-- The regional ethnic autonomy system is exercised under China's unitary system and is different from the federal system or confederation as implemented in some countries;
-- The regional ethnic autonomy system is a basic policy for solving ethnic issues in China and a fundamental political system in the country. It is different from the "one country, two systems" system implemented in Hong Kong and Macao;
-- The regional ethnic autonomy system is a combination of ethnic autonomy and regional autonomy and will never allow ethnic splitting in the name of "true ethnic autonomy" to undermine ethnic solidarity.
Two deputy heads of the United Front Work Department and a vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region also had dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives.
Those officials said the door for the Dalai Lama to return to the patriotic stance had always been open and would remain open in the future. However, the door for "Tibet independence", "half independence" or "covert independence" had never been open, nor would it be open in the future, they warned.
The representatives also stated their opinions and promised to report faithfully to the Dalai Lama.
They toured the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Scholars briefed them on the laws, policies and practices concerning China's regional ethnic autonomy system during their stay in Beijing.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/06/content_10318264.htm
Dalai Lama warned not to seek secession
2008-11-09 09:35:00
China will never tolerate any attempts at "Tibet independence", or waver "in the slightest" in safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity, a senior official has said.
"Tibet independence is out of the question," said Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the CPC Central Committee, after meeting with two representatives of the Dalai Lama recently.
"Semi-independence or independence in any disguised form will not be tolerated either," Du reportedly told the two envoys, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, Xinhua said on Thursday.
The meeting, held in Beijing, was the third between the central government and the Dalai Lama's representatives after the March 14 Lhasa riots.
Du said regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is part of the central government's fundamental policy, but it will never tolerate any attempt to damage ethnic unity.
He urged the Dalai Lama to respect history, face reality, comply with the times and correct his political stance "fundamentally". The Dalai Lama should not support or incite violence to seek "Tibet independence", he said.
"The Dalai Lama should honor the promises he made during the July negations, and try to create conditions for the negotiations to yield results," Du said.
In July, the Dalai Lama's envoys accepted the government's conditions of:
not supporting plots aimed at inciting violent criminal activities;
not backing terrorist activities of the secessionist "Tibetan Youth Congress", and instead taking concrete steps to check them; and
not supporting statements or actions seeking "Tibet independence" to split the region from the country.
Du said the government's policies toward the Dalai Lama have been consistent and clear, and the door to dialogue is always open for him.
"Despite the violence in Lhasa (in March), we have arranged three rounds of talks with his representatives. That reflects the sincerity of the central government. We hope the Dalai Lama will choose a path that benefits the country, the people, the history and also himself," Du said.
Zhu Weiqun and Sitar, two deputy heads of the UFWD, and Baema Chilain, vice-chairman of the Tibet autonomous region, also met with the Dalai Lama's envoys.
In a statement, Lodi Gyari said the envoys would not comment on the talks until after a special meeting of Tibetan exile communities and political organizations, to be held Nov 17-22 in Dharmsala, India.
The two said they would report the results of the talks to the Dalai Lama.
The two envoys visited the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. They also talked with a few scholars on ethnic regional autonomy policies in Beijing.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200811/t20081109_437324.htm
Signed article: On the "Memorandum" of the Dalai clique
www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-21 14:28:56
by Yiduo
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At a press conference of the State Council Information Office on Nov. 10, Zhu Weiqun, executive vice director of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, UFWD Vice Director Sita and Executive Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Government Pelma Trilek briefed media on their talks with private representatives of the Dalai Lama from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5.
Zhu said the Dalai Lama's private representatives presented the central government a "Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People", which has drawn wide attention. On November 16, the Dalai side held a press conference in India. They distributed the "Memorandum," and claimed that it was completely in accordance with relevant clauses of China's Constitution and law and it could meet Tibetan people's demands of special interests, if it was implemented substantially.
After a careful reading of the "Memorandum" and checking it against relevant Chinese laws, I found that contradictions with China's Constitution and laws were everywhere in the "Memorandum."
Denial of China's regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities
The "Memorandum" suggests, "The exercise of genuine autonomy would include the right of Tibetans to create their own regional government and government institutions and processes that are best suited to their needs and system compatible to their own requirements and characteristics. It would require that the People's Congress of the autonomous region have the power to legislate on all matters within the competencies of the region."
The so-called local "matters" listed by the "Memorandum" are 11 issues such as language, culture, religion, education, environmental protection, utilization of natural resources, economic development and trade, public health, public security, administrative regulations on migrants, and exchanges with foreign countries. It also says that the central and local governments should set up a way to jointly solve issues of common concern and common interest and neither the central government nor the autonomous region could change the basic clauses of regional autonomy without the consent of the other side.
To say it straight, it is what the Dalai Lama has repeatedly emphasized in recent years, "Except for foreign affairs and defense, all other issues should be given charge and full authority to Tibetans," and Tibet should follow the method of "One Country, Two Systems" and adopt "genuine autonomy, " and its "autonomous right" should be broader than that applied to Hong Kong and Macao.
China is a unitary nation, unlike some nations that are federal states or confederations. Article 3 of the Chinese Constitution says, "The division of functions and powers between the central and local State organs is guided by the principle of giving full scope to the initiative and enthusiasm of the local authorities under the unified leadership of the central authorities."
Article 15 of the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy says, "The people's governments of all national autonomous areas shall be administrative organs of the State under the unified leadership of the State Council and shall be subordinate to it." There are no such problems as equal "negotiations" between the central and the local governments, seeking for mutual "consent" from one another, and establishing a "way to jointly resolving (problems). "
China has established a regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities, which is cordially supported by people of all ethnic groups. The legislative framework of the Chinese regional ethnic autonomy has been well established and the legal system is being improved constantly. To date, government departments concerned have issued 22 supplementary documents, while the whole country has stipulated 134 provisions on autonomy, 429 separate provisions, and 74 supplementary regulations for the Law on Marriage and the Law on Election.
Since the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965, people of different ethnic groups have actively participated in the management of the national and regional affairs, by fully practicing their autonomous rights endowed by the Constitution and law.
Of the deputies of all the previous regional people's congresses, those from Tibetan and other ethnic groups have always accounted for 80 percent or more, while all the chairmen of the regional people's congresses and regional people's governments have been Tibetans. The regional people's congress and its standing committee have stipulated 253 local laws, regulations and separate provisions, involving politics, the economy, culture, and education.
The regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities is the basic policy for the country on ethnic issues, and it is a fundamental political system for the country. Both the Constitution and the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy have defined clearly the right of autonomy of all the autonomous regions.
Unlike Hong Kong and Macao, Tibet does not have the problem of restoring the sovereignty and practicing a different social system, and thus it can not copy the models of "One Country, Two Systems," "Hong Kong People Govern Hong Kong," "Macao People Govern Macao," and "A High Degree of Autonomy." By proposing the so-called "Genuine Autonomy" in the name of the Chinese Constitution, the Dalai Lama in fact attempted to deny China's regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities and the unified leadership of the central authorities, and set up another system according to their "political design."
Demand for an independent, uncontrolled "right of legislation"
The "Memorandum" says, "Thus, whereas the Constitution intends to recognize the special need for autonomous regions to legislate on many matters that affect them, the requirements of Article 116 for prior approval at the highest level of the Central Government -- by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) -- inhibit the implementation of this principle of autonomy." "The exercise of autonomy is further subject to a considerable number of laws and regulations, according to Article 115 of the Constitution.... The result is that the exact scope of the autonomy is unclear and is not fixed."
It seems that the Dalai Lama side demands not only the "power to legislate on all matters within the competencies of the region" but the "legislative power" independent from the central authorities. Article 57 of the Constitution says that the NPC is the highest organ of state power, and Article 58 says that the NPC and the NPC Standing Committee exercise national legislative power.
The Constitution is the fundamental and supreme law for a nation, and all laws and regulations, including autonomous regulations of ethnic autonomous regions and separate provisions of ethnic autonomous regions must not be contradictory to the Constitution. Meanwhile, regulations and separate provisions of ethnic autonomous regions often involve adaptations of state laws. It is reasonable that the Constitution demands for prior approval by the NPC Standing Committee before the regulations become effective. The procedure will not undermine the decision-making right of autonomous regions. Instead, it grants the right with a higher level of legislative protection. The "Memorandum" denies the supreme power of the NPC Standing Committee and demands for legislative power that is equivalent to the state level. Is it compatible with the Chinese Constitution?
Seeking for a "Greater Tibet" Without any Historic, Realistic and Legal Basis
The "Memorandum" suggests, "The entire community, comprising all the areas currently designated by the PRC as Tibetan autonomous areas, should be under one single administrative entity. The current administrative divisions, by which Tibetan communities are ruled and administered under different provinces and regions of the PRC, foments fragmentation, promotes unequal development, and weakens the ability of the Tibetan nationality to protect and promote its common cultural, spiritual and ethnic identity."
It is known to all that the administrative divisions of Tibet and other areas inhabited by Tibetans have been formed since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and the former local government of Tibet has never governed any other Tibetan areas outside Tibet. In history, Tibetan people had lived in different administrative regions, and they had formed close ties with other ethnic groups living in the areas and formed regional cultures of different characteristics.
The PRC, since its founding in 1949, has established the Tibet Autonomous Region, 10 other Tibetan autonomous prefectures and autonomous prefectures for both Tibetans and other ethnic groups, and two Tibetan autonomous counties. All the Tibetan autonomous areas have adopted the regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities.
Article 14 of the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy says, "Once an ethnic autonomous area is established, it shall not be abolished or merged without legislative process. Once the boundary of an ethnic autonomous area is confirmed, it shall not be changed. If it is really necessary to abolish, merge or change it, it must be done through sufficient consultation between the relevant departments of the higher state organs and the autonomous organ of the ethnic autonomous region and applied for approval according to legal process."
In this case, why has the Dalai side tried to create a "Greater Tibet" that did not exist in history and has no realistic basis?
In the autobiography of the Dalai Lama, one sentence exposes the "top secret." The Dalai Lama says that since the 1950s he has been pondering on how to win independence for "Greater Tibet. "
There is a map of the "Tibetan State" he has imagined on the head page of his autobiography. In the hall of the so-called "Tibetan Government in Exile" in India's small town of Dharamsala, hung their dreamed-of "Map of the Tibetan State," which takes up about one quarter of China's territory. Apparently, the so-called "Greater Tibet" is a key component of the advocacy of the Dalai side to separate the nation, and its essence is "Tibetan independence."
Trying to create isolation among ethnic groups
The memorandum says, "To us it would be vital that the autonomous organs of self-government have the authority to regulate the residence, settlement and employment or economic activities of persons who wish to move to Tibetan areas from other parts of the PRC (People's Republic of China) in order to ensure respect for and the realization of the objectives of the principle of autonomy."
In a sovereign nation, citizens of different ethnic groups are free to choose where to live. This is the basic human rights. It is normal that people of Han nationality and other ethnic groups visit Tibet and Tibetan people do business, receive education and find jobs in other parts of China. This is conducive to exchanges among ethnic groups and common progress.
China's system of regional autonomy of ethnic minorities is based on the history, relations among ethnic groups, and local economic and social conditions. It is not purely the autonomy of a single ethnic group nor a single region.
Since the Tibet Autonomous Region was founded, the population of Tibetan people and other ethnic minorities have always at least accounted for 95 percent of the total. The "large-scale migration to Tibet, initiated by the Chinese government", as claimed by the Dalai Lama and some foreigners, has never happened.
China's then leader Deng Xiaoping told then U.S. President Jimmy Carter in a meeting in 1987, "As a region with a small population, Tibet is too large to be developed only through the efforts of 2 million Tibetan people. It is not a bad thing for some Han people to help them. If you simply judge China's policy on ethnic minorities and the Tibet issue by the population of Han people in Tibet, you will not come to a right conclusion. The key issue is how to benefit Tibetan people, to make the regional development fast and to put Tibet in a leading position in China's drive to realize Four Modernizations (modernization in agriculture, industry, technology and defense)."
The Dalai side intends to create a scenario of pure Tibetan autonomy while restricting exchanges and bonds among different ethnic groups, which actually provokes conflicts and creates isolation among ethnic groups. Anyone who has lived in the 20th Century would know the consequences of such a policy.
Trying to stop promotion and use of Putonghua
The memorandum says, "Tibetan must be respected as the main spoken and written language. Similarly, the principal language of the Tibetan autonomous areas needs to be Tibetan."
The fourth article of China's Constitution is, "The people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages." The Tibet Autonomous Region also issued a regulation on learning, using and developing the Tibetan language.
In addition, the 19th article of the Constitution is, "The state promotes the nationwide use of Putonghua (standard Chinese)." The law on regional autonomy of ethnic minorities says in its 49th article, "In autonomous regions of ethnic minorities, authorities shall educate and encourage officials to learn languages of different ethnic groups. Officials of Han nationality shall learn languages of local ethnic minorities. Officials of ethnic minorities shall learn to speak and write commonly-used Putonghua while learning and using their own languages."
Based on these laws, all decisions, regulations, circulars and other documents of the People's Congress (local legislature) and governments of all levels in the Tibet Autonomous Region are written in both Chinese and Tibetan languages. So are official seals, certification papers, letterheads, logos and traffic signs. This has greatly improved the capability of Tibetans and other ethnic groups to learn from each other and communicate.
The memorandum talks a lot about the Tibetan language, but does not mention a word about the promotion and use of Putonghua. This actually echoes the so-called "extinction of Tibetan culture," which has been repeatedly elaborated by the Dalai Lama in recent years, as well as his accusations that the Chinese government is restricting the use of Tibetan. It intends to create a false impression that no one but they care about the fate of Tibetan culture and language.
Strongly opposing government's management of religious affairs in line with laws
The memorandum says, "Religion is fundamental to Tibetans;" "The freedom covers the right of monasteries to be organized and run according to Buddhist monastic tradition, to engage in teachings and studies, and to enroll any number of monks and nuns or age group in accordance with these rules. The normal practice to hold public teachings and the empowerment of large gatherings is covered by this freedom;" "The state should not interfere in religious practice and traditions, such as the relationship between a teacher and his disciple, management of monastic institutions, and the recognition of reincarnations."
Religion not only is ideology, but also involves social activities and institutions. It definitely involves public and state interests. Any country may manage religious affairs in line with laws as no religion enjoys a privilege higher than the Constitution and laws.
The 36th article in the Constitution is, "Citizens of the PRC enjoy freedom of religious belief.... The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state." The 46th article also says, "Citizens of the PRC have the duty as well as the right to receive education." A regulation on religious affairs, issued by the State Council, says in its third article that religious organizations, religious practice and believers should abide by the Constitution, laws, regulations and rules.
Despite clear laws and regulations, the Dalai Lama insists that the religion is supreme. This is not surprising because before his exile, the Dalai Lama was in fact the chief of the feudal slavery system by which the old theocratic Tibet was governed. Even now he is the "political and religious leader" of his group-in-exile. So it is not surprising that he still dreams of restoring such a "wonderful system."
Completely ignoring fact that Tibet is always part of China
The memorandum has said nothing about the ownership of the sovereignty of Tibet and completely ignored the fact that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times. Tibet has always been an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Since the central authorities formally administered Tibet in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 A.D.), China has exercised unquestionable sovereignty over Tibet. The fact that Tibet is part of China has been widely recognized in the world.
This issue cannot be ignored because it is fundamental to the improvement of the relationship between the Dalai Lama and the central government.
In its preamble, the Constitution says, "The PRC is a unitary multi-national state built jointly by the people of all its nationalities." The fourth article is, "All the national autonomous areas are inalienable parts of the PRC."
But even today, the Dalai Lama side repeatedly claims that Tibet was an "independent country" before the People's Liberation Army entered Tibet in 1949 and that Tibet is "an occupied nation under colonial rule."
If Tibet was a colony of China and an "occupied" nation, as he claimed, it would enjoy sovereignty of its own and the right to gain independence in the future, according to international law. This would in fact deny China's sovereignty over Tibet and violate the principle set by the Constitution and law on regional autonomy of ethnic minorities that the autonomous areas are inalienable.
Provided that the memorandum ignores this fundamental issue, the Dalai side actually presages future movements to openly claim "Tibet independence."
Claiming "Tibet government-in-exile" as representative of Tibetan people
The "memorandum" says, "The objective of the Tibetan Government in Exile is to represent the interests of the Tibetan people and to speak on their behalf," and that after an agreement was reached on relevant issues, the "exile government" would be dissolved and the Dalai Lama would not assume any political post in the future.
However, Tibet was peacefully liberated in 1951 and with the democratic reform in 1959, the feudal serfdom under theocracy was overturned and the people's democratic government was established and more than 1 million serfs were emancipated. In 1965, the regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities was exercised, and people of various ethnic groups became the masters of their own affairs.
Therefore, it is the central government and the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Government, elected by the People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region, that can represent the Tibetan people.
The so-called "Tibet government-in-exile" was created by the upper class of the serf owners who launched a failed armed rebellion in 1959, and then fled China. It is totally illegal and has been recognized by no country in the world.
The Dalai Lama side described the illegal "government-in-exile" as the representative of the Tibetan people, and told the international community that their contacts and talks with the central government was the "Tibet-China negotiation" and "Han Nationality-Tibetan Dialogue" on so-called issues of "Tibet's political status" and "high degree of autonomy." They attempt to confuse the nature of the contacts and talks and mislead the public, and it served them right to be solemnly denounced by the central government.
To sum up, the "Memorandum," from its title to content, is still about the "Greater Tibetan-inhabited Area" and "high degree of autonomy." It becomes more deceiving as it is disguised in legal terms and claims to be "in accordance with China's Constitution and laws."
Its attempt is to set up a "half independent" or "covertly independent" political entity controlled by the Dalai clique on soil that occupies one quarter of the Chinese territory, and when conditions are ripe, they will seek to realize "total Tibet independence."
As early as the 1980s when central government leaders like Xi Zhongxun, Ulanhu and Yang Jingren were meeting with visiting groups sent by the Dalai Lama, they made it clear that neither "Tibet as a country" nor "high degree of autonomy" would be tolerated, and that the "Greater Tibetan-inhabited Area" was absolutely out of the question.
Nearly 30 years have passed, and the Dalai Lama side still insists on issues of "Greater Tibetan-inhabited Area" and "high degree of autonomy." They never truly relinquish their stance on splitting the homeland, which is the fundamental reason why their contacts and talks with the central government have never made substantial progress for so many years.
What Zhu Weiqun said at the press conference made it clear about the nature and objective of the contacts and talks.
He said, "We only accept Mr. Lodi Gyari and his party talking with us as the private representatives of the Dalai Lama, and the topics can only be the Dalai Lama completely giving up separatist propositions and activities and his seeking forgiveness from the central government and all Chinese people for his own future. We will never discuss with them anything like the 'Tibet issue'. To help the Dalai Lama better understand the central government's attitude and realize his own mistakes, we will listen to their explanations, and the objective is still to check if he has given up his separatism and is trying to get close to the central government."
We can see that the central government's policy toward the Dalai Lama has been consistent and clear, and it has been treating him with the utmost decency and kindness and trying to give him a way out.
Although the Dalai Lama ran away in 1959, his position as the vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress was retained for him until 1964. Ever since 1979, relevant departments have organized dozens of visits to China for his private representatives and relatives to help them understand the country's development and policy.
The central government has repeatedly stated that so long as the Dalai Lama truly relinquishes his stance on "Tibet independence", stops splitting activities, openly acknowledges Tibet as an inalienable part of China, acknowledges Taiwan an inalienable part of China, and acknowledges the People's Republic of China as the only lawful government in China, we will have contacts and talks with them on his personal future.
Even after the violent criminal activities of beating, smashing, looting and burning occurred in Lhasa on March 14, and even with the fact that the Dalai clique sabotaged the Beijing Olympics, relevant departments of the central government still arranged three meetings with the Dalai Lama's private representatives, showing its sincerity.
The door of the central government for the Dalai Lama to return to the patriotic stance has always been open and will remain open in the future. However, the door for "Tibet independence," "half independence" or "covert independence" has never been open, nor will it be open in the future.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/21/content_10391968.htm
The changed and unchanged 'Shangri-La'
2008-12-02 10:54:00
Quite a lot of people care about China's "Tibet issues", there is always a "Shangri-La" with oriental mystery, shadowiness and idealism flashing in their minds.
Tibet indeed has such mystery: spectacular scene of snow land plateau, unique language culture, long aged Tibetan Buddhism¡&endash;however, sometimes it's easy to ignore a basic fact if let the imagination spread freely beyond the practice, that is, the story of "Shangri-La" still took place in the earth, and it happens following basic axiom.
A Canadian historian A. Tom Grunfeld wrote in his book "The making of modern Tibet" that Tibet is "a land so wrapped in obscurity that almost any fantastic tales about it, or allegedly from it, are received with awe and believed, unquestioningly, by countless individuals the world over. A land whose society and history have been so romantically homogenized that many call themselves "experts" after reading a mere handful of texts, assuming that the uniformity of these accounts indicates their accuracy".
However, history records the old Tibet with irrefutable facts that it was not the "Shangri-La" as people imagined. There were one million people living in Lhasa in 1950s, 900,000 of whom were homeless. There were only 20,000 people living in urban areas in Lhasa. More than 1,000 needy people and baggers were seen on streets. An elder Tibetan told "At that time, there were many people fighting with dogs for food on streets in Lugu in the southwest of Jokhang Temple". Nowadays, Tibetan people have much longer life expectancy with current 67 years old from 35.5 years old in the old Tibet. The economy keeps fast development for the past 7 years with double digits increase rate above 12%.
Compared the old Tibet with the one after peaceful liberation, which is the truly "Shangri-La", it is not so hard to make the conclusion.
Protecting the unique culture of "Shangri-La" never means to protect wildness and backwardness. The culture protection in Tibet must adapt to the development, progress, union and happiness of the whole Tibetan people. Only the Tibetan culture can be better protected at the same time of economic development and life improvement, not going back to the darkness of caesaropapism and feudal serfdom system.
As a matter of fact, to better protect Tibetan culture, Chinese central government has put significant fund on the maintenance of the Potala Palace, Norbu Lingka and Sagya Monastery. A more than ever maintenance project for 22 monasteries and ancient culture constructions will be implemented from this year. China also sets up department specifically for correction and publication of different versions of Tibetan Tripitaka... For protecting the blue sky and clean water in Tibet, Chinese government will allocate 22 billion yuan from now to build more than 160 ecological environmental protection project.
Today's Tibet takes much care on its invaluable culture features, which is the unchanged "Shangri-La". Today's Tibet also puts great efforts on moving forward and getting rid of backwards and unwisdom, which is the changed "Shangri-La".
"Change" is a well sounded slogan in today's world, no matter in America or in Europe, people often hear the words: We need change. For Tibet, "Shangri-La" is inheriting the traditions in the unchanged, embracing the future in the change.
*Based on article written by Ye Xiaowen, director of State Administration for Religious Affairs of China.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200812/t20081202_440976.htm
The Dalai Lama, killer of Tibetans' dream of Shangri-La
2008-12-09 09:26:00
A glimpse into the Dalai Lama's final years in Tibet, before his fleeing China in 1959, will allow people to form a clear mind picture of what Tibet was like under the rein of "His Holiness"- In 1956, the Dalai Lama, with the pretext that the central government "would soon move on Lhasa," issued an appeal for gold and jewels to construct another throne for himself. This, he argued, would help rid Tibet of "bad omens." One hundred and twenty tons were collected. When the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, he was preceded by more than 60 tons of treasure.
Till 1959, Tibet's Buddhist monastic nobility represented by the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan elites had long controlled all land in the Himalaya region on behalf of the "gods." In a then society of feudal serfdom and slavery, much the way as the medieval Catholic Church exploited peasants in feudal Europe, they monopolized Tibet's wealth by exacting tribute and labor services from serfs and herders. Tibetan serfs and herders had little personal freedom. Without the permission of the priests, or lamas, they could not do anything, and were considered appendages to the monastery.
The Dalai Lama was the most supreme and powerful serf owner, and any subordinate acting against the supreme was considered rebel and could be brutally mutilated or killed immediately. Shrouded in the darkness of theocracy, old Tibet was backward in both economy and culture, and the Tibetan people lived in dire poverty while enormous wealth accumulated in the monasteries and in the Dalai Lama's palace in Lhasa.
Shangri-La, "the paradise on the earth," as a fanciful land to many and an eternal myth which can always conjure up people's imagination about all beauty and serenity, was in those days literally a "lost paradise" to ordinary Tibetans, where they were deprived of even the basic living conditions. The Dalai Lama, however, did nothing for the general good of the Tibetan society, instead, he and the leading few tried desperately to solidify the exploitative system in the name of defending Tibetan culture and religion. Once they felt their privileges threatened, they would forgo the disguise of deity and even turn to violence.
Throughout these years, the words "democracy" and "human rights" have found their way in the vocabulary of the "government-in-exile," operating out of Dharamsala in India. But the Dalai Lama's commitment to democracy seems brittle, as he has yet to recognize the separation of church and state as a "modern democratic principle". Even worse, as a political figure clad in saffron, the Dalai Lama has for years ceaselessly lobbied around to rally the international support for his so-called 'Greater Tibet autonomy,' but in actually, "Tibetan independence" in a disguised form. The hypocritical nature of the Dalai Lama and the "government-in-exile" was further exposed by its relationship with the U.S CIA, and its wicked plots within the Chinese territory to seed and incite the ethnic feud among the Tibetans, which is doomed to a failure, as more and more Tibetan people begin to realize only through stability and common prosperity, can a real Shangri-La descend upon the snow-capped plateau.
In recent days, the poor shows staged by the "government-in-exile" and its affiliate "Tibetan Youth Congress" have gone far beyond redemption, and their secessionist nature is discerning to anyone with the rational thinking, Tibetan people inclusive. In the ordinary Tibetans' mind, the dreamy land, Shangri-La, means a common blessing shared by all, not a sort of paradise accommodating merely the happy few. But a place of common happiness in Tibetans' dream is by no means the thing that the Dalai Lama would and could bring to them.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200812/t20081209_442002.htm
Rights for development in Tibet respected
16:42, January 22, 2009
The year 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the democratic reform in Tibet. During the annual NPC and CPPCC sessions of Tibet Autonomous Region, international media were invited to cover the live events for the first time. The snow-covered plateau presented to the world with all the earth-shaking changes in the past 50 years.
It took 50 years for Tibet to undergo the democratic reform and to shift from a reclusive feudal serf society to a civilized society. Throughout this period, it was 50 years of amazing development: the highway system, which has a total mileage of 48,600 km, has taken shape; the total output value has hit 39.2 billion yuan in 2008... No reform could boost to achieve so much in such a short span of time, and this laid solid foundation for the modernization drive in the region.
The development of Tibet has been greatly affected by its geographical location on the roof of the world with harsh natural conditions. Tibet is still one of the underdeveloped regions in China also due to the historical limits emerged from its feudal serf society.
But the development and reform did bring changes to the region: per capita gross domestic product in Tibet in 2007 totaled 12,000 yuan or some 1,700 US dollars, while it was 400 US dollars in neighboring Nepal, 965 US dollars in India and 1,450 US dollars in Bhutan. Tibet has the most dynamic economy in Himalayan regions, and Lhasa is one of the largest and most modern cities in the Himalayans.
Modernization is the tide of world history and the law of development of human society. Realizing modernization is a common task for all countries and regions, an inner demand of social development in Tibet as well as a strong desire for all Tibetans. The 13th Dalai Lama issued new policies to modernize Tibet during his reign. However, the new policy ended in failure largely due to the interference and sabotage of the feudal serf system that integrated religion with politics and imperialism. The peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951 opened a new page for the modernization drive and served as a prelude for the democratic process in the region in 1959.
Declaration on the Right to Development confirms that the right to development is an inalienable human right. It is universal truth that development means modernization. Many people care about the continuing and reviving of Tibetan culture, which need to be in accordance to the development of modern civilization and adaptable to the growth and happiness of all Tibetan people. The Tibetan culture can only be preserved and carried forward when economy is growing and people's life is improved. The charges that accused the modernization of annihilating ethnic identity in Tibet, fast economic development of inflicting damage on environment in the region and promotion of traditional Tibetan culture of destroying ethnic culture have ulterior motives.
The efforts to democratize and modernize Tibetan culture utterly changed the culture and social distribution system in the region, which helped to preserve and carry out the traditional ethnic culture. Tibetan is the first written language of ethnic minorities to have international standard. The enrollment rate of school-age children in Tibet has climbed to 98.2 percent from previous 2 percent 50 years ago. All these achievements have helped the preservation and development of Tibetan culture, bringing new vitality to the future development of Tibet.
As the development of Tibet became more and more eye-catching, no one could hinder the development of Tibet and the road to modernization will be wider and wider.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91342/6579627.html
March 28, a turning point for Tibet
Serf's Emancipation Day
16:28, January 20, 2009
March 28, 1959 mattered a great deal to Tibet as serfs celebrated Tibetan emancipation. It is a turning point that the region has ushered into a new society.
The democratic reform was carried out in the snow-covered plateau that day. The movement overthrew the feudal serf system and freed millions of serfs and slaves. From then on, they took their destiny in their own hands and became the masters of the country.
50 years later, Tibetan NPC decided that March 28 will be celebrated every year in Tibet as Serf's Emancipation Day. It can help Tibetan remember the historic event of democratic reform in the region and also reveal the truth of "Tibet issue" from another angle.
Before 1959, Tibet had long been a feudal serf society that integrated religion with politics, in which monks and the nobles practiced dictatorship. Sir Charles Bell, probably the most influential British officer to serve in Tibet, wrote in his book "Portrait of the Dalai Lama: The Life and Times of the Great Thirteenth": "When you come from Europe or America to Tibet, you are carried back several hundred years. You see a region still in the feudal age."
Old Tibet was still under a feudal serf system that was crueler than that of Western Europe in the middle ages - 500 years after Europe had abandoned it. This was the root cause of poverty and backwardness and the obstacle for making civilized progress in Tibet.
Given the complexity of ethnic and religious issues in Tibet, the Agreement between the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on the Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in May 1951 stipulated that the central authorities would not alter the existing political system in Tibet, and stated that the reform should be carried out by local government.
CPC Central Committee made endeavor for eight years for the cause of peaceful reform in Tibet, and millions of serfs also waited for eight years. However, some people from the upper ruling strata of Tibet staged an armed rebellion in 1959 in an attempt to separate Tibet from China, in order to preserve feudal serfdom. On March 28, 1959, the Central Government announced the dismissal of the original local government of Tibet and led the Tibetan people in quelling the rebellion, implemented the democratic reform, overthrew the feudal serfdom under theocracy and abolished all savage punishments.
From darkness to brightness, from poverty to wealth, from dictatorship to democracy, from seclusion to opening up, the democratic reform has fundamentally changed the lives of millions of serfs in Tibet, a turning point in Tibetan history. Serf owners in Tibet were composed of local officials, aristocrats and high-level monks. They made up five percent of the total Tibetan population but possessed all the farmland, pastures, forests, mountains, rivers and most of the livestock. Millions of serfs were their owners' property and could be freely sold and bought. After New China was founded, the serfs shook off their chains and started a new life, with the average life expectancy being at 67 from the previous 35.5 in the 1950s.
Victor Hugo, the premier writer of the 19th century once said that activities to commemorate major events in history served as a torch, which could light up past and future. By reviewing Tibet's past, Serf's Emancipation Day will make people feel the earth-shaking changes that have taken place since the democratic reform in Tibet.
Millions of Tibetans have witnessed unprecedented changes in the past fifty years, the brilliant achievement of democratic reform that has deeply transformed Tibetan society. It was the dividing line between savagery and civilization, backwardness and progress.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91342/6577858.html
Signed article: A breach of constitution under pretext of religion
17:44, December 04, 2008
Following is a signed article by Liu Hongji, a researcher with the China Tibetology Research Center, on the Dalai Lama side's recent claim of "genuine autonomy."
A breach of constitution under pretext of religion
by Liu Hongji
In the "Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People", the Dalai side, by claiming that "the Tibetan government in exile represents the interests of the Tibetan people and speaks on their behalf", listed several "basic needs" (including religion) of "genuine autonomy", which was quite misleading.
The Memorandum said that "We recognize the importance of separation of church and state, but this should not affect the freedom and practice of believers." It also says that "An interpretation of the constitutional principle in light of international standard would also cover the freedom of the manner of belief or worship. The freedom covers the right of monasteries to be organized and run according to Buddhist monastic tradition, to engage in teachings and studies, and to enroll any number of monks and nuns or age group in accordance with these rules. The normal practice to hold public teachings and the empowerment of large gatherings is covered by this freedom and the state should not interfere in religious practices and traditions, such as the relationship between a teacher and his disciple, management of monastic institutions, and the recognition of reincarnations."
As a matter of fact, freedom of religious belief is one of the basic rights endowed to the Chinese citizens by the Chinese Constitution. Article 36 of the Constitution says "Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination." In addition to the Constitution, other Chinese laws, including the Criminal Law, the Civil Code, the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, the Military Service Law, the Law on Compulsory Education, the Law on education, the Electoral Law for the National People's Congress and the Local People's Congresses, the Organic Law of Village Committees, the Labor Law and the Law on Advertising all stipulate that citizens' freedom of religious belief are protected and public organizations and individuals should not discriminate against citizens who believe in or do not believe in any religion. But one thing should be clarified, freedom of religious belief does not mean religious activities are also free from government regulation or legal obligations. To believe in a religion or not is a personal issue and a free choice, but religious activities, which might affect other people, must be bound by law.
To protect citizens' freedom of religious belief, maintain social harmony and regulate religious affairs, the State Council issued a Regulations on Religious Affairs in 2004. Article 2 of the Regulation says that no organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in or not to believe in any religion. Nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in any religion or citizens who do not believe in any religion. Religious citizens and non-religious citizens shall respect each other and co-exist in harmony, and so shall citizens who believe in different religions.
The provisions concerning protection of citizens' freedom of religious belief in the Constitution and laws have been seriously implemented in Tibet. Tibet now has more than 1,780 religious sites, about 46,000 monks and nuns, four mosques and one catholic church. Religious groups co-exist harmoniously and their religious activities are held orderly in Tibet. Without genuine freedom of religious belief, this would be impossible.
What the Dalai side asked for was absolute religious freedom which was not bound by law. They asked to manage monasteries and enroll monks and nuns according to "religious tradition" and "religious rules", which, in fact, meant that they wanted to resume the old "religion first" regime led by the Dalai before Tibet's democratic reform. By then, Tibet had 2,676 monasteries and 120,000 monks and nuns, accounting for one tenth of Tibet's total population. Monasteries, which owned more than one third of the means of production in Tibet, sustained the Tibetan feudal serfdom as one of the three major estate-holders. The other two were local bureaucrats and nobles. The old regime didn't benefit Tibet. Instead, it impeded Tibet's social development. According to the Tibetan Annals written in the Qing Dynasty, Tibet had a total population of 1.3 million in 1737. During the following 200 years, Tibet's population didn't increase. Instead, it declined to one million in 1951. Its economic situation was even worse. In 1951, Tibet was still a feudal serfdom society with no modern industries and education. What the situation would be if the old system was restored in Tibet in which one tenth of the population was monks and nuns? By 2007, Tibet has recorded 2,83 million population. If 280,000 people were monks or nuns and did not work, the pressure on laymen to support them would be crippling.
Education is the foundation for social development. Article 2 of the Law on Compulsory Education says that "The compulsory education is the education which is implemented uniformly by the state and shall be received by all school-age children and adolescents. It is a public welfare cause that shall be guaranteed by the state." Article 4 says that "All children and adolescents who have the nationality of the People's Republic of China and have reached the school age shall have equal right and have the obligation to receive compulsory education, regardless of the gender, nationality, race, status of family property, religion, belief, etc." And Article 5 stipulates that "The people's governments at all levels and their relevant departments shall perform all functions as described by this Law and shall ensure the right to compulsory education of all school-age children and adolescents. The parents or other statutory guardians of school-age children and adolescents shall ensure that school-age children and adolescents go to school to receive and complete the compulsory education." The Dalai side's claim of enrolling any number of monks and nuns or age group in accordance with Buddhist monastic tradition violated the Law on Compulsory Education and will not help improve social development.
Currently, religious followers in China enjoy full freedom of religious belief. Almost all Tibetan Buddhists have scripture halls or Buddha statue niches at home, and they can invite monks to hold scripture recitation and religious ceremonies at home. Lhasa receives more than one million Buddhist followers annually, and the Jokhang Monastery is full of believers worshipping or rolling their prayer wheels. By denying the fact that the Tibetan people enjoy freedom of religious belief and asking for an amendment to the Constitution with so-called 'international standard', the Dalai side is attempting to restore theocracy in Tibet. Enditem
Source:Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6546827.html
U.K. <<Guardian>>: Down with the Dalai Lama
click here
Tibet Fought Against Foreign Invasion
click here
Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth
click here
Compulsory and Free-of-Charge Education
click here
click here
Copyright ? 2008 China Hiking Adventures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The information in this communication is subject to change without notice. China Hiking Adventures Inc. will NOT be held liable for any inaccuracies in the information not maintained by China Hiking Adventures Inc. (such as a linked site).