Fujisan's Kyareng

Monday, September 2, 2019

Chinese communist leadership should stop its tirade against His Holiness the Dalai Lama

[25/03/2019] https://tibet.net/2019/03/chinese-communist-leadership-should-stop-its-tirade-against-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/

Chinese leadership often accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a separatist. But if we study the conduct and speeches of the Chinese leadership and the local party leaders, it is actually the other way round.

In an article in the Global Times, “Beijing will continue to fight against Dalai Lama’s separatist goals”[1], vicious tirade has been directed at His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Communist Party of China chief of Tibet Autonomous Region, Wu Yingjie, was quoted as saying, “The Dalai Lama has not done a single good thing for Tibet” during the 13th National People’s Congress, and accused His Holiness as a separatist and risk to security in the region.

This kind of calumny and disrespect to His Holiness Dalai Lama by a senior Chinese leader in an official meeting will not sink well in the heart of Tibetans in and outside Tibet. Given the Tibetans’ faith, and the international recognition that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has gained as a prophet of peace and non-violence, Wu Yinglie’s diatribe against His Holiness the Dalai Lama is offensive and it is in very poor taste. It can be seen as a deliberate attempt by the leadership to jeopardize any hope of negotiation and dialogue. It is designed to create dissension between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has since 1974, pursued a policy of middle way approach in resolving the Tibetan issue with the Chinese government. This policy, later, became popular as the Middle-Way Policy across the globe. It was endorsed by Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and adopted by Kashag (the Tibetan cabinet in exile) as its principle policy to resolve the Sino-Tibetan issue.

The Memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan People was submitted to the Chinese leadership during the 8th round of Sino-Tibetan Dialog in 2008. The gist of the Middle-Way Policy is that Tibetans will not seek separation from China, it will remain in association with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). But China should stop its repressive policy in Tibet, and give Tibetans freedom to practice their religion, language, and culture as enshrined in the Chinese constitution on regional autonomy[2].

To quote the translated original text of the Memorandum, “The essence of the Middle Way Approach is to secure genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the scope of the Constitution of the PRC. This is of mutual benefit and based on the long-term interest of both the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. We remain firmly committed not to seek separation or independence. We are seeking a solution to the Tibetan problem through autonomy, which is compatible with the principles of autonomy in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China.”[3]

The Memorandum explained the aspirations and basic needs of Tibetans, and all these demands are found in compliance with the Law on Regional National Autonomy (LRNA)[4]. So, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Administration in exile are not seeking separation. The Memorandum has adjusted the Tibetan aspirations and basic needs along the LRNA, and it is within the purview of the Chinese Constitution.

Chinese scholars, writers, media personalities and the general public who have come across this Memorandum, had welcomed and appreciated this genuine conciliatory gesture from the Tibetan side. Many visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama and affirmed their support to this Middle Way Policy. Despite the Chinese government censorship, more than 900 articles appeared from Chinese scholars in support of this Policy.[1] Leaders and International communities have also supported this Policy of mutual understanding and benefit.

Unfortunately, the Chinese leadership spurned this sincere gesture from the Tibetan side, and continue its diatribe against His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a separatist. By misreading the Tibetan Memorandum and criticizing His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Chinese leadership is deliberately trying to create a rift between the Chinese and Tibetan masses.

While the Tibetan Administration-in-exile has been doing its best to create a harmonious atmosphere to resolve the issue, the Chinese leadership is dismantling all avenues of peace and dialogue. So, who is the separatist?

As to Wu Yingjie’s assertion “The Dalai Lama has not done a single good thing for Tibet”, since the signing of a 17-point agreement under duress, His Holiness did his best to accommodate the Chinese dictates. Wu should note that the Tibetan religion, culture, language and identity, which the communist regime tried to erase in all these 60 years of their rule in Tibet, is living and flourishing in exile because of the effort by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Despite the Chinese despotic and brutal rule, Tibetans in Tibet stood by the principle of non-violence struggle advocated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

What China destroyed in Tibet, Tibetans have rebuilt in exile. China has denied its citizens of democracy and human rights. Tibetans have created a healthy democratic setup where everyone enjoys equal rights. If the communist leadership is serious about resolving Tibetan issue, it should first stop its local leaders from making such baseless criticism against His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Under the PLA’s guns and threat, Tibetans may keep quiet, but deep in their heart, it will only fortify their belief that China is, after all, a Tendra [Tib: bsTan-dgra], an enemy of the faith.

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[1] Middle Way Policy and All Related Documents, p-12, DIIR, India
[1] http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1142114.shtml
[2] Constitution of PRC, Article 4: https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/cn/cn147en.pdf
[3] Middle Way Policy and All Related Documents, p-20, DIIR, India
[4] Law on Regional National Autonomy: http://www.china.org.cn/english/government/207138.htm
[5] Middle Way Policy and All Related Documents, p-12, DIIR, India

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