'Chinese Intellectuals Have Gained Better Understanding About Tibet'
Published: Tuesday, 29 September, 2009
Vancouver, BC, Canada, 29 September 2009 (tibet.net) - In an interview to Télévision de Radio-Canada and CBC Television in Vancouver on Monday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said the Chinese intellectuals have gained better understanding about Tibet, and underlined that some negative feeling amongst many ordinary Chinese against Tibetans, since March 2008, was caused by Chinese government propaganda and wrong information.
Speaking to Ms. Céline
Galipeau, a news anchor for Télévision de Radio-Canada and CBC
Television, His Holiness responded to questions relating to the Tibetan
political situation, the status of the dialogue process and his hope
for the future.
In response to a question on whether His
Holiness expected any breakthrough on Tibet given the current situation
of China, His Holiness recalled his support for Olympics for China as
he felt the country deserved it. He then talked about the confusing
signal that came from China in the aftermath of the demonstrations in
Tibet. He said on one day there would be a signal indicating hope while
a few days later another signal would be there that would indicate that
there was no hope. His Holiness recalled President Hu Jintao telling
the media just before his trip to Japan in 2008 his seriousness on the
talks on Tibet so at that time we really hoped very much that the
Chinese leadership, particularly those hardliners, may see the reality
and that they may start a more realistic approach.
His
Holiness said, "harmony, stability, and unity must come on the basis of
trust". Using force is actually destroying trust, he said. Using force
brings fear, and fear destroys trust. Therefore, His Holiness said, he
thought the Chinese leadership may adopt a more realistic approach.
But he said nothing happened.
When asked whether this meant that
the development in Tibet was counterproductive, His Holiness said that
you cannot say. He said that the Chinese intellectuals have gained
better understanding about Tibet.
His Holiness said there were
two issues relating to the ordinary Chinese’ negative reaction to
Tibetans last year. One was that because of the Chinese Government
propaganda, many Chinese feel Tibetans are showing resentment even
though their government has given them lots of money. His Holiness said
what these people do not know is that they do not understand Tibetan
spiritual values. Tibetans consider money important, but beside money
they also require spirituality, he said.
The second reason is
the misinformation that the entire Tibetan people are against the
Chinese people. His Holiness said this is not the case.
Asked
about the situation in Tibet today, His Holiness said there were lots
of restrictions on foreign tourists and this could mean that there must
be something wrong and that they have something to hide that was not
worthy to show to the outside world. Otherwise, the Chinese government
must invite the world to show proudly the positive things they claim,
His Holiness said.
When asked about Tibetan language and
culture, His Holiness talked about the experience of the Inner
Mongolian Autonomous Region where the native Mongolian population has
already become a minority on account of a large number of Chinese
population.
In Tibet, he said in Lhasa two thirds of the
population is Chinese and that on account of the overwhelming Chinese
population in the society, the Chinese language is becoming the medium
of communication. His Holiness said that on account of developments
like this, he had been saying that whether intentionally or
unintentionally some kind of cultural genocide is taking place in
Tibet. He asked, “If Tibetans become insignificant minority, what is
the meaning of autonomy?” His Holiness said, “The preservation of
Tibetan culture is not only in the interest of Tibetan people but also
to large number of Chinese people. Chinese scholars are very much
worried about the degeneration of Chinese cultural values and want to
see it revived. Certainly Tibetan Buddhist culture can help to do that.”
When
asked to comment on the call in Quebec for separation, His Holiness
said the Quebec people are already using the right of
self-determination and the majority has opted to stay within Canada.
He said he had been telling the Chinese, “If you treat us with mutual
respect and mutual understanding and full trust, then Tibetans will
naturally prefer to remain within China.” Ironically, the act of
splittist is being undertaken by the Chinese than by the Tibetans, he
said.
When asked how he was going to achieve autonomy since the
conditions did not seem favorable now, His Holiness said, “We can wait
another five years, 10 years, 15 or 20 years.” He added that as far as
Tibetan spirit inside Tibet is concerned, there is no danger of the
spirit disappearing because when there is more suppression the Tibetan
spirit becomes much stronger.
When asked whether he felt
concerned by the action of governments leaning towards China, he said
he did not. “My main concern is promotion of human values and promotion
of religious harmony and for that the public is more important than the
government,” he said.
He said that the Tibetan struggle is a
national struggle. It is not relying on one person. The 400 year
tradition of the Dalai Lama being both the spiritual and temporal
leader has ended in 2001 when Tibetans in exile had started having
elected leadership. Thus, on the political front, His Holiness said he
was already semi-retired.
Concerning the spiritual affairs, he
said among the younger generation of Tibetans in India, a number of
spiritually healthy leaders are coming up and so he did not have any
worry on that front.
His Holiness said that a woman as the next
Dalai Lama is certainly a possibility if the circumstance is such that
a female Dalai Lama is more effective.
When asked on his hope
for the future, His Holiness said it is for “a better world, a happier
world, more compassionate world.” Asked whether he did not wish for a
“free Tibet”, His Holiness responded that when the “world becomes
happier, much more open, and much more democratic then Tibet will
certainly get maximum benefit.”
Later in the afternoon, His
Holiness the Dalai Lama attended a conference on Tibet under the theme,
'Compassion & Respect: Our Common Future', at the Four Seasons
Hotel. Over 110 Chinese people participated in the conference.
Writer Sheng Xue welcomed His Holiness and laid out the background to their initiative.
His
Holiness began his remarks by referring to the current situation in
China where there was an atmosphere of fear. He said in a few days they
will be celebrating the 60th year of the People’s Republic of China,
but an occasion that should naturally be one of celebration and
openness is being seen as a risk with security precaution taking a
dominant role.
His Holiness said that change was inevitable in
China, but the question was the nature in which it will take place. He
said he was for a gradual transformation of China. He talked about his
admiration for the Chinese nation. He said he had supported Olympics
for China (which he said was acknowledged by one member of the
International Olympics Committee as having made their task easier in
the selection of Beijing) and how he was sincerely trying to find a
resolution to the Tibetan problem under the framework of the People’s
Republic of China. He then referred to the lack of positive response
from the Chinese leadership. His Holiness then spoke about his
confidence and hopes in the Chinese people.
His Holiness then
answered questions from the conference delegates on issues like the
importance of the Tibetan plateau’s environment to the role of religion
and the future of the dialogue process.
Many of the participants
seemed moved by His Holiness’ remarks with several of them openly
shedding tears. Following the session, the participants rushed to seek
His Holiness’ blessings and to be photographed with him.
The
conference touched on topics such as “Why has the Tibetan issue become
a hot topic globally?” “Chinese views on Tibet and Tibetan views on
China,” “Current and possible future relationships between Chinese and
Tibetan”, and “Compassion and Respect: Our Common Future.”
The
Chinese participants came from all over Canada. There were Tibetan
participants from Vancouver and Toronto, including some who spoke
fluent Chinese.
Prior to attending the conference, His
Holiness met around 500 Tibetans based in British Columbia, Toronto,
Seattle and Portland. The program began with a song in praise of His
Holiness by a group of children, who also played traditional Tibetan
musical instruments. Thereafter, Community President Ngawang Garie read
a brief report.
In his remarks, His Holiness praised the
children for their song. He then talked about upholding the Tibetan
identity and asked the gathering to be mindful of the tremendous hope
that Tibetans in Tibet place on them. His Holiness emphasized the
importance of education and encouraged the students to undergo further
education. Turning to the community president, His Holiness said that
if there are deserving students whose parents are too poor to bear
their further education expense, they can certainly approach the
Tibetan Administration for consideration of financial assistance. He
said being a Buddhist is not just a matter of faith, but also of
understanding the philosophy. He thus suggested that the community
could think of inviting Tibetan scholars who are well versed in
Buddhism as well as modern science to lecture to them. He said there
were some such individuals in the Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama,
Thupten Jinpa la and Rinpoche (he was pointing to Yangsi Rinpoche who
was sitting in the front row) who could give such talks.
His
Holiness referred to the coming elections for the Kalon Tripa and the
Tibetan Parliament and urged the people to really think over these
issues. He said since 2001 he had become semi-retired and that the
political matters were in the hands of the Kalon Tripa.
His
Holiness asked the people not to lose hope. His Holiness said that even
though the talks with the Chinese Government have not seen progress,
his faith on the Chinese people has not shaken.
On Tuesday, His
Holiness will be participating in more session of the Vancouver Peace
Summit being organized by the Dalai Lama Center for Education and Peace.
--Report prepared by Mr. Bhuchung K. Tsering of ICT
