1 April, 2009International Campaign for TibetDalai Lama's Special Envoy calls on Tibetans to record their suffering
Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has issued a call for Tibetans, in Tibet and around the world to record their experiences of suffering over the past 50 years. "It is vitally important, especially as a testament to those Tibetans no longer here, that we record our personal experiences of suffering. We should do this, not to fuel resentments but to help the Chinese people understand our true history and to know that we are justified in our hopes for a future Tibet."
Speaking at the March 31 opening of an exhibit on prison labor camps in Tibet, Lodi Gyari praised the work of Harry Wu, the founder and Executive Director of the Laogai Research Foundation, in documenting the vast network of labor camps in China and Tibet. "Harry Wu's work at the Laogai Museum is done for the same reasons that the Holocaust Museum was founded: to remember and to expose these ugly truths so that such things will never happen again," Gyari said. "The Tibetan people can learn to forgive, but we must not forget."
Lodi Gyari urged Tibetan youth in particular to learn about their family experiences from their parents and relatives. "This is a part of the legacy our Tibetan children have inherited, and it is the moral responsibility of every Tibetan family to know their history and to collect evidence of the events that have shaped their lives."
The exhibit at the Laogai Museum opened exactly 50 years to the day that His Holiness the Dalai Lama crossed the Tibetan border into India, having departed Lhasa in the dark of night on March 17, to seek asylum from the Indian government and, as he has written, "to devote myself to keeping hope alive for my people everywhere."
Harry Wu recalled in his remarks at the opening of the exhibit that, as a young man in Beijing in 1959, he went to an exhibition which purported to show atrocities in Tibet prior to its so called "peaceful liberation."
In reality, as soon as the People's Liberation Army had assumed full control of Tibet, an enormous program of labor camp construction got underway for the incarceration of the thousands of Tibetans who actively opposed or who were suspected of opposing China's invasion of Tibet.
"What has happened over 50 years in Tibet?" Wu asked. "One, temples and monasteries were destroyed. Two, labor camps were built. This exhibit is here to portray that suffering," Wu concluded.
The exhibit, "Laogai in Tibet" has been produced in collaboration with the International Campaign for Tibet and will run until May 30 at the Laogai Museum located at 1109 M Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tibetan Exiles protest "Chinese Oppression" in Tibet
Tibetan exiles protest “Chinese oppression” in Tibet
Phayul[Saturday, March 28, 2009 18:43]
By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, March 28: Hundreds of Tibetans and their supporters Saturday staged a protest rally to highlight what they describe as “50 years of Chinese oppression in Tibet”.
Tibetan exiles shout slogans against Chinese government as they burn a Chinese flag during a street march to commemorate 50 years of Tibetan freedom struggle in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 28, 2009. (Photo: AP /Gemunu Amarasinghe)The protesters marched through the streets of Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibet’s Government-in-exile in northern India, carrying Tibetan flags and wearing “Free Tibet” headbands, and shouting “Stop 50 years of torture."
The protest came as Beijing celebrated the newly created “Serf Emancipation Day” on Saturday. The enforced celebration, the organizers of today’s protest, however, say, is taking place at a “time of high tension in Tibet when the entire region remains under de facto martial law.”
The Tibetan Government-in-exile on Friday dubbed the newly created holiday as a “massive propaganda” by Beijing to hide its “ongoing repression in Tibet.”
China vowed on Saturday to "severely crack down on any separatist activities" in Tibet as it launched the new national holiday.
On March 28, 1959, China forcefully dissolved the Tibetan Government in Lhasa after crushing down a massive uprising by Tibetans against a decade long Chinese presence in their homeland. The ensuing events forced the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans to flee their homeland into exile for the first time in Tibet’s history.
Beijing sent military troops to occupy Tibet in late 1949. China contends that old Tibet was feudal and repressive and claims that its military occupation of the Himalayan region has “liberated’ Tibetans.
Tibetan Government-in-exile says over 1.2 million Tibetans died and more than 6,000 monasteries were razed to the ground as a direct result of Chinese communist rule over the years.
“Today, it is hard to come across a Tibetan family that has not had at least one member imprisoned or killed by the Chinese regime,” the exile government said in a press release yesterday.
Still image from a video footage recently smuggle out of Tibet shows Chinese police beating handcuffed Tibetans in the aftermath of March 2008 unrest in Lhasa. The video - China’s Brutality in Tibet Exposed - will be screened at a gathering in Dharamsala today.Five prominent Tibetan groups - Tibetan Women's Assocation, GuChuSum Movement of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet (India) and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (Dharamsala) organised today’s anti-China protest here.
“Serf Emancipation Day” is a blatant propaganda ploy by the Chinese government to convince the world that Tibetans are happy under Chinese rule but no amount of propaganda can hide the truth of what has actually been 50 years of Tibet’s enslavement, the groups said in a joint press statement.
Protestors also performed a short skit showing Chinese police beating up and torturing Tibetan demonstrators in Tibet this morning before taking to the streets. The organizers have also planned a candle light vigil later in the evening and will screen a rare video footage showing China’s brutal treatment of Tibetans in the aftermath of the March 2008 unrest.
The video, recently smuggled out of Tibet, was released by the Tibetan Government-in-exile last week.
“Despite the fierce clampdown of the Tibetan Uprising in 2008, Tibetans inside Tibet have continued to show their resentment against China's Oppression.” said Ngawang Woebar, a former political prisoner and the president of GuChuSum Movement of Tibet.
“China is claiming that everything is normal inside Tibet and that the Tibetans are happy, but the irony is, they are banning foreign media from witnessing the reality of the situation within Tibet,” Woebar said.
Phayul[Saturday, March 28, 2009 18:43]
By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, March 28: Hundreds of Tibetans and their supporters Saturday staged a protest rally to highlight what they describe as “50 years of Chinese oppression in Tibet”.
Tibetan exiles shout slogans against Chinese government as they burn a Chinese flag during a street march to commemorate 50 years of Tibetan freedom struggle in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 28, 2009. (Photo: AP /Gemunu Amarasinghe)The protesters marched through the streets of Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibet’s Government-in-exile in northern India, carrying Tibetan flags and wearing “Free Tibet” headbands, and shouting “Stop 50 years of torture."
The protest came as Beijing celebrated the newly created “Serf Emancipation Day” on Saturday. The enforced celebration, the organizers of today’s protest, however, say, is taking place at a “time of high tension in Tibet when the entire region remains under de facto martial law.”
The Tibetan Government-in-exile on Friday dubbed the newly created holiday as a “massive propaganda” by Beijing to hide its “ongoing repression in Tibet.”
China vowed on Saturday to "severely crack down on any separatist activities" in Tibet as it launched the new national holiday.
On March 28, 1959, China forcefully dissolved the Tibetan Government in Lhasa after crushing down a massive uprising by Tibetans against a decade long Chinese presence in their homeland. The ensuing events forced the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans to flee their homeland into exile for the first time in Tibet’s history.
Beijing sent military troops to occupy Tibet in late 1949. China contends that old Tibet was feudal and repressive and claims that its military occupation of the Himalayan region has “liberated’ Tibetans.
Tibetan Government-in-exile says over 1.2 million Tibetans died and more than 6,000 monasteries were razed to the ground as a direct result of Chinese communist rule over the years.
“Today, it is hard to come across a Tibetan family that has not had at least one member imprisoned or killed by the Chinese regime,” the exile government said in a press release yesterday.
Still image from a video footage recently smuggle out of Tibet shows Chinese police beating handcuffed Tibetans in the aftermath of March 2008 unrest in Lhasa. The video - China’s Brutality in Tibet Exposed - will be screened at a gathering in Dharamsala today.Five prominent Tibetan groups - Tibetan Women's Assocation, GuChuSum Movement of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet (India) and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (Dharamsala) organised today’s anti-China protest here.
“Serf Emancipation Day” is a blatant propaganda ploy by the Chinese government to convince the world that Tibetans are happy under Chinese rule but no amount of propaganda can hide the truth of what has actually been 50 years of Tibet’s enslavement, the groups said in a joint press statement.
Protestors also performed a short skit showing Chinese police beating up and torturing Tibetan demonstrators in Tibet this morning before taking to the streets. The organizers have also planned a candle light vigil later in the evening and will screen a rare video footage showing China’s brutal treatment of Tibetans in the aftermath of the March 2008 unrest.
The video, recently smuggled out of Tibet, was released by the Tibetan Government-in-exile last week.
“Despite the fierce clampdown of the Tibetan Uprising in 2008, Tibetans inside Tibet have continued to show their resentment against China's Oppression.” said Ngawang Woebar, a former political prisoner and the president of GuChuSum Movement of Tibet.
“China is claiming that everything is normal inside Tibet and that the Tibetans are happy, but the irony is, they are banning foreign media from witnessing the reality of the situation within Tibet,” Woebar said.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Dalai Lama accuses UK of failing Tibet
From Times Online
May 22, 2008
by Nico Hines
The Dalai Lama today accused the British Government of failing to sufficiently help Tibetans who he claimed were being subjected to a “cultural genocide”.
The monk was in the House of Commons this morning to discuss the situation in Tibet when he was asked by MPs whether the UK was doing enough to support his homeland.
“I think not enough,” he replied, ending the non-political cordiality that has characterised the start of his 11-day tour of the country.
Gordon Brown was apparently looking to avoid any direct criticism of China during the visit which will see him become the first world leader to meet the Dalai Lama since violence flared in Tibet earlier this year.
Related Links
'I can’t wait to be a Chinese citizen'
Dalai Lama offers help
Gordon Brown bars the Dalai Lama from No 10
Mr Brown has been accused of kowtowing to Beijing by refusing to invite the Dalai Lama to Downing Street for formal talks. Instead he will meet the spiritual leader at Lambeth Palace on Friday enabling the Prime Minister to claim that he is receiving the 72-year-old monk in a spiritual rather than political capacity.
The Dalai Lama however insisted that he was not concerned about the Prime Minister’s choice of venue and confirmed that he would hold political discussions with him.
“For me - no differences. So long as meeting and talk - that is important,” he said. “I always meet on the level we are human beings.”
Today the Dalai Lama plunged into debating the political situation in Tibet during an appearance before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
He acknowledged that there was a “limitation” as to what the UK - or even the United States and European Union - could achieve in Tibet but insisted that more could be done.
Two months after the authorities suppressed a series of anti-Chinese protests across the Tibetan region, he claimed that arrests and “severe torture” were still taking place.
“One thing I find very painful. When they arrest - severe torture before asking questions,” he said, describing one case where an elderly abbot at a Buddhist monastery was left with a broken leg after a beating by the Chinese.
He said that it was still very difficult to discover what was happening inside Tibet and repeated his calls for an international investigation into what happened.
At the same time he expressed concern about the continuing influx of Han Chinese settlers into Tibet, which threatened to reduce the Tibetan population to an “insignificant minority”.
He said that two-thirds of the population in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, were now Han Chinese while a leak from military sources in the city suggested there were plans to settle another 1 million Chinese immigrants once the Beijing Olympics were over.
“The government is, I think, deliberately promoting nationalism and Han chauvinism,” he said. “Whether intentional or unintentional, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place.”
He said that the Chinese language was now more useful than Tibetan in Lhasa, while many of the Chinese immigrants looked down on the Tibetans.
“Those Chinese who think Tibetans are dirty and bad smell – better go,” he said.
May 22, 2008
by Nico Hines
The Dalai Lama appeared at the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to not show enlarge option
The Dalai Lama today accused the British Government of failing to sufficiently help Tibetans who he claimed were being subjected to a “cultural genocide”.
The monk was in the House of Commons this morning to discuss the situation in Tibet when he was asked by MPs whether the UK was doing enough to support his homeland.
“I think not enough,” he replied, ending the non-political cordiality that has characterised the start of his 11-day tour of the country.
Gordon Brown was apparently looking to avoid any direct criticism of China during the visit which will see him become the first world leader to meet the Dalai Lama since violence flared in Tibet earlier this year.
Related Links
'I can’t wait to be a Chinese citizen'
Dalai Lama offers help
Gordon Brown bars the Dalai Lama from No 10
Mr Brown has been accused of kowtowing to Beijing by refusing to invite the Dalai Lama to Downing Street for formal talks. Instead he will meet the spiritual leader at Lambeth Palace on Friday enabling the Prime Minister to claim that he is receiving the 72-year-old monk in a spiritual rather than political capacity.
The Dalai Lama however insisted that he was not concerned about the Prime Minister’s choice of venue and confirmed that he would hold political discussions with him.
“For me - no differences. So long as meeting and talk - that is important,” he said. “I always meet on the level we are human beings.”
Today the Dalai Lama plunged into debating the political situation in Tibet during an appearance before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
He acknowledged that there was a “limitation” as to what the UK - or even the United States and European Union - could achieve in Tibet but insisted that more could be done.
Two months after the authorities suppressed a series of anti-Chinese protests across the Tibetan region, he claimed that arrests and “severe torture” were still taking place.
“One thing I find very painful. When they arrest - severe torture before asking questions,” he said, describing one case where an elderly abbot at a Buddhist monastery was left with a broken leg after a beating by the Chinese.
He said that it was still very difficult to discover what was happening inside Tibet and repeated his calls for an international investigation into what happened.
At the same time he expressed concern about the continuing influx of Han Chinese settlers into Tibet, which threatened to reduce the Tibetan population to an “insignificant minority”.
He said that two-thirds of the population in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, were now Han Chinese while a leak from military sources in the city suggested there were plans to settle another 1 million Chinese immigrants once the Beijing Olympics were over.
“The government is, I think, deliberately promoting nationalism and Han chauvinism,” he said. “Whether intentional or unintentional, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place.”
He said that the Chinese language was now more useful than Tibetan in Lhasa, while many of the Chinese immigrants looked down on the Tibetans.
“Those Chinese who think Tibetans are dirty and bad smell – better go,” he said.
Dalai Lama says Beijing Olympics offer chance to press China on human rights
By David Stringer,
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee at the House of Commons in London, Thursday.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON - China lacks the moral authority needed to be considered a superpower, the Dalai Lama said Thursday in remarks to British legislators in which he also noted that the Summer Olympics provide an opportunity to press Beijing over human rights.
"Chinese leaders want to be a good member of the whole world, and the Chinese ambition is to become a superpower," the Dalai Lama told Parliament’s foreign affairs select committee.
He said China meets most of the criteria to become a leading power, but still lacks the moral standing required to achieve the global status it craves.
"Big population, there," he said. "Army, there. Economic power, there. The fourth thing is moral authority. In order to become a superpower, moral authority is very important.
"The Dalai Lama is on an 11-day visit to Britain. He meets with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday at Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.
Some opposition politicians have accused Brown of trying to avoid provoking China by meeting the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace rather than at his official Downing Street residence.
"For me, no difference," the Dalai Lama said, when asked about Brown’s choice of venue. "It’s all meeting and talking; that’s the important thing.
"The Dalai Lama also said he believes world leaders should attend the Beijing Olympics if they believe meeting with Chinese leaders will help improve the country’s human rights policies.
He told the British Broadcasting Corp. that he believes the Summer Games could provide a chance to press China over Tibet.
"If they feel to talk and meet with Chinese leaders is more effective, then go there," he said, referring to the Olympics.
"The world should take this opportunity to remind the Chinese government of its poor record on human rights and religious freedom and the environment".
Meanwhile, the 72-year-old exiled Tibetan leader said he sensed that China is slowly changing its approach.
"I think at least decade by decade," he said. "Hopefully now (this will) lead to a more transparent attitude in other fields, including the Tibet case.
"Chinese officials seemed unimpressed by the Dalai Lama’s earlier statement that he would consider attending the Beijing Olympics, if a number of conditions were met.
"If the Dalai side truly wants to make some contribution to his motherland, then he should really stop separatist activities, stop plotting and provoking violent activities and stop disrupting the Beijing Olympics," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala, India, since 1959, eight years after Chinese troops occupied Tibet.
Protests against Chinese rule began in March in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
Events turned violent and touched off pro-Tibetan demonstrations in three neighbouring provinces - and around the world during the Olympic torch relay.
END
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee at the House of Commons in London, Thursday.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON - China lacks the moral authority needed to be considered a superpower, the Dalai Lama said Thursday in remarks to British legislators in which he also noted that the Summer Olympics provide an opportunity to press Beijing over human rights.
"Chinese leaders want to be a good member of the whole world, and the Chinese ambition is to become a superpower," the Dalai Lama told Parliament’s foreign affairs select committee.
He said China meets most of the criteria to become a leading power, but still lacks the moral standing required to achieve the global status it craves.
"Big population, there," he said. "Army, there. Economic power, there. The fourth thing is moral authority. In order to become a superpower, moral authority is very important.
"The Dalai Lama is on an 11-day visit to Britain. He meets with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday at Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.
Some opposition politicians have accused Brown of trying to avoid provoking China by meeting the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace rather than at his official Downing Street residence.
"For me, no difference," the Dalai Lama said, when asked about Brown’s choice of venue. "It’s all meeting and talking; that’s the important thing.
"The Dalai Lama also said he believes world leaders should attend the Beijing Olympics if they believe meeting with Chinese leaders will help improve the country’s human rights policies.
He told the British Broadcasting Corp. that he believes the Summer Games could provide a chance to press China over Tibet.
"If they feel to talk and meet with Chinese leaders is more effective, then go there," he said, referring to the Olympics.
"The world should take this opportunity to remind the Chinese government of its poor record on human rights and religious freedom and the environment".
Meanwhile, the 72-year-old exiled Tibetan leader said he sensed that China is slowly changing its approach.
"I think at least decade by decade," he said. "Hopefully now (this will) lead to a more transparent attitude in other fields, including the Tibet case.
"Chinese officials seemed unimpressed by the Dalai Lama’s earlier statement that he would consider attending the Beijing Olympics, if a number of conditions were met.
"If the Dalai side truly wants to make some contribution to his motherland, then he should really stop separatist activities, stop plotting and provoking violent activities and stop disrupting the Beijing Olympics," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala, India, since 1959, eight years after Chinese troops occupied Tibet.
Protests against Chinese rule began in March in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
Events turned violent and touched off pro-Tibetan demonstrations in three neighbouring provinces - and around the world during the Olympic torch relay.
END
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