dorjeshugden.com
About Dorje Shugden => General Discussion => Topic started by: WisdomBeing on August 29, 2012, 08:28:30 PM
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Is there a shift? The Dalai Lama says he thinks so. I just have a few comments on the article below:
- "FORCE HAS FAILED" – yes, the ban on Dorje Shugden has not stifled the practice but instead it has spread in leaps and bounds throughout the world. From organisations like NKT, there are Dorje Shugden centres in every corner of the world. From DorjeShugden.com, there is now information available to anyone who is interested in Dorje Shugden’s practice, its history, benefits, lineage and practices.
- “The Dalai Lama has refrained from calling for a halt to the self-immolations.” Why not, Dalai Lama? Why not ask your poor subjects to not kill themselves because it is a heinous sin in Buddhism which sends them to the hell realm.
- "Apparently in good health, the spiritual leader said he was looking forward to another 10, 15 or 20 years of life.” – so much for Dorje Shugden practice shortening the Dalai Lama’s life.
- “he was not seeking full independence for Tibet.” – How can Dorje Shugden practice stop Tibetan independence when the Dalai Lama is not seeking it???
Are we going to see "encouraging signs" of a shift in the Dalai Lama's stance towards Dorje Shugden? Now that would be something newsworthy!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/29/us-tibet-dalai-idUSBRE87S0NO20120829 (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/29/us-tibet-dalai-idUSBRE87S0NO20120829)
Dalai Lama sees "encouraging signs" of shift in China
By John Chalmers and Frank Jack Daniel
DHARAMSALA, India | Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:21am EDT
(Reuters) - There are encouraging signs that attitudes towards Tibet are shifting in China, the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday, adding that the exiled Tibetan leadership is ready for fresh talks on his homeland if there was a genuine change of heart in Beijing.
The spiritual leader said in an interview that it was too early to tell if China's next president - who is almost certain to be Xi Jinping after a Communist Party Congress later this year - would adopt a new stance that could break decades of deadlock over Tibet. But he was reassured by what he had heard.
"I can't say for definite, but according to many Chinese friends, they say the new, coming leadership seems more lenient," the Dalai Lama, 77, told Reuters in his audience room in the Indian Himalayan foothills town of Dharamsala.
"If their side ... for their own interest are thinking more realistically we are ready for full cooperation with them."
His comments were more upbeat than just a few weeks ago when he declared that resuming formal negotiations - frozen since 2010 - was futile unless China brought a more realistic attitude to the table and that it was useless trying to convince China that he was not seeking full independence for Tibet.
The Nobel peace laureate said there had been a stream of visitors to Dharamsala from China, among them people who told him they had connections with senior Communist Party leaders.
"We don't know who is who ... everything is a state secret, so it is difficult to say," he said, but added that some officials in China now appeared to agree with intellectuals that a new approach to Tibet is needed.
"These are very, very encouraging signs," he said.
"No formal talks, but there are sort of signs among the Chinese officials or top leaders."
China has ruled Tibet since 1950, when Communist troops marched in and announced its "peaceful liberation".
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising, has accused China of "cultural genocide". Beijing considers him a separatist and does not trust his insistence that he only wants greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
"FORCE HAS FAILED"
A spate of self-immolations in China in protest over its rule in Tibet has heightened tension in recent months.
As the number who have set themselves on fire topped 50 this week, Indian-based rights groups said there had been a massive security clampdown in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China, and in some instances protesters were beaten even as they were ablaze.
The Dalai Lama has refrained from calling for a halt to the self-immolations.
"I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad," he said. "Now the Chinese government, they should investigate what are the real causes. They can easily blame me or some Tibetans but that won't help solve the problem."
In June, two of the Dalai Lama's envoys to negotiations with China resigned over what they said was a deteriorating situation inside Tibet and Beijing's lack of a positive response to Tibetan proposals for genuine autonomy.
Asked if he thought that with a change of leadership ahead in China there was now a better prospect for resuming talks soon, the Dalai Lama said it was difficult to say and it could take six to 12 months after Xi becomes president before any shift becomes apparent.
In the early 1950s, the Dalai Lama knew Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun, one of the most liberal leaders of the Chinese revolution, who was known to have had a less hardline approach to Tibet.
The Dalai Lama said he was sure China would, sooner or later, realize that "using force for 60 years completely failed" and its revolutionary leader Mao Zedong's idea that power came from the barrel of a gun was "outdated".
Earlier this year, the Dalai Lama said he had information suggesting Chinese women spies had been trained to attack him with a slow acting poison. Asked about his safety by Reuters on Wednesday, he said he knew of no more plots but that his security detail frequently encountered Tibetans who confessed to being paid by China to spy on him.
"Sometimes these agents are a good source of information, these Tibetans receive some sort of salary or something, and they tell us everything," he said.
Apparently in good health, the spiritual leader said he was looking forward to another 10, 15 or 20 years of life, and joked that China seemed more interested in who would be reincarnated as the next Dalai Lama after his death than he was himself.
(Editing by Robert Birsel)
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There are encouraging signs that attitudes towards Tibet are shifting in China, the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday, adding that the exiled Tibetan leadership is ready for fresh talks on his homeland if there was a genuine change of heart in Beijing.
The Tibet-China situation is an interesting one in the context of the whole Dorje Shugden issue, considering how so much of the reason for the DS ban arose because of the Tibetan government's failure to get back their country back. So they needed a scapegoat for WHY they couldn't get independent / autonomy - and who easier to blame than a protector, a supposed spirit, than on their own incapabilities. This is indeed what happened after all, when a prediction by Nechung that Tibet would gain back its country fell through and didn't manifest. The attention then turned to Shugden, as being the primary cause for damaging the Tibetan cause and the Dalai Lama's life. Why now? All of a sudden? If he was a malicious spirit, surely he would have started concocting and enacting his evil plans many other decades ago? or perhaps even when the Dalai Lama was praying to Shugden himself!
So now, the Dalai Lama is expressing new hopes for getting back into talks with China. Here's a thought. IF in the eventuality that Tibet ever did get independence back and the Dalai Lama DID live for another 20 years, even another 15, then what would the CTA and the Dalai Lama have to say about the "damaging" effects of Shugden then?
Okay, independence is not a likely possibility. But the dalai lama living for longer is. He says it himself here. The fact that Dorje Shugden's practice is growing stronger than ever now, with more and more people practicing and hearing about him globally certainly doesn't correlate with it shortening his life, as WB has already pointed out. So who's telling a fib?
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I wouldnt really say that it is an encouraging sign, but America is helping Tibet out in undermining China using the Tibetan issue. America has lent a helping hand for the CTA with hidden agendas, but I guess the CTA is desperate enough to accept their help. But what is interesting is that the Dalai Lama has asked China to investigate on the real reason behind the self immolations when he could have directly said that China was causing the self immolations, although he has said that it was due to the repressive policies that the self immolations took place. He's never said that before LS took office...hmm is that a hint he's trying to leave there?
‘Don’t encourage, but self-immolations understandable and very sad,’ says the Dalai Lama
Phayul[Thursday, August 30, 2012 16:52]
([url]http://phayul.com/images/thumb.aspx?src=120830055353Q1.jpg[/url])
His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing a gathering at the Tsug-la Khang temple, Dharamshala. (Phayul file)
DHARAMSHALA, August 30: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that although he doesn’t encourage self-immolations, the ongoing wave of fiery protests in Tibet was “understandable and very, very said.”
The Dalai Lama was speaking to Reuters in a week when two more self-immolations in eastern Tibet against China’s continued occupation of Tibet took the self-immolation toll past 50.
"I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad," the 77-year-old Tibetan leader said.
"Now the Chinese government, they should investigate what are the real causes. They can easily blame me or some Tibetans but that won't help solve the problem."
After relinquishing his political duties last year to the elected Tibetan leadership, the Dalai Lama has been reluctant in responding to political queries, particularly regarding the self-immolations.
In a July interview to The Hindu, the Tibetan leader said it is best for him “to remain neutral” on the self-immolations, calling it “a very, very delicate political issue.”
“Now, the reality is that if I say something positive, then the Chinese immediately blame me,” he said. “If I say something negative, then the family members of those people feel very sad. They sacrificed their… life. It is not easy. So I do not want to create some kind of impression that this is wrong.”
China has been consistent in blaming the Dalai Lama and the exile Tibetan administration for inciting the self-immolations.
However, in many of the last notes and messaged left by the Tibetan self-immolators, they have called for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama and opposed China’s occupation and repressive policies.
Choephag Kyab and Sonam, who carried out a twin self-immolation protest on April 19 near a local government office in Barma township, recounted the suffering of the Tibetan people due to the lack of fundamental human rights and the forced occupation of Tibet in their last recorded message.
“So, for the restoration of freedom in Tibet and world peace, both of us in sound mind, are setting ourselves on fire,” Choephag Kyab and Sonam state. “The Tibetan people’s suffering due to denial of freedom is far greater that the tragedy of setting our bodies on fire.”
Tamding Thar, a lay Tibetan who set himself on fire on June 15 in front of a local Chinese police station in Chentsa, eastern Tibet wrote: “With the yearning for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his land, For Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans, I set my body on fire as an offering of light.”
The US Congressional Commission on China in a special report this month noted that the wave of self-immolations is “concurrent with increasing Chinese Communist Party and government use of legal measures to repress and control core elements of Tibetan culture, and with the failure of the China-Dalai Lama dialogue process to achieve any sign of progress.”
The Dalai Lama’s strongest statement yet on the self-immolation protests came in April this year when he told a media crew from Taiwan that “this problem (self-immolations) has been started by the totalitarian, blind, unrealistic policies.”
“Now, the concerned people should carry realistic work and look for the causes of these self-immolations. That’s important,” the Dalai Lama had said. “All these problems are happening due to certain conditions and certain causes.”
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The US is aiding CTA in getting Tibet back, but to what extent and what conditions? the US never helps any country without an agenda. They will not assist countries that have nothing to offer them: example they did not assist the african countries at all as they have nothing to give them. What would they want in return for Tibet's independence? A huge chunk of Tibet? There is this contact group now that is formed by many different countries to help Tibet negotiate with China. i dont think it would work well as there will be implications that will come from this.
A New “Contact Group” for Coordinated International Diplomacy on Tibet?
Phayul[Tuesday, August 21, 2012 01:44]
By the editorial board of The Tibetan Political Review
At a time when Tibetans mourn the 49th self-immolation in Tibet, some uplifting news comes out of Washington DC. Two members of Congress have released an August 9 letter they sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling on the Obama Administration to strengthen public diplomacy and form a multilateral forum to resolve the Tibet crisis. They specifically call for starting a “contact group” with like-minded governments to have focused meetings on Tibet.
Why is a “contact group” useful?
In 2011, the Syrian uprising grew out of the Arab Spring. Unlike in Tunisia and Egypt, however, Syrian president al-Assad chose to wage war against his own population rather than step down. In response, the U.S. and its allies formed a “Friends of Syria” contact group in 2012.
In Syria, the U.S.-led coalition did not want a direct military intervention, unlike in Libya. However, it also did not want to abandon the Syrian people. This “Friends of Syria” contact group allowed like-minded countries to coordinate policies and logistics to support the Syrian opposition, and to share information and intelligence. It also provided multilateral cover, so any one country would not feel too exposed in taking action.
Similarly with China, the U.S. has quietly pushed for multilateral action over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China has used a “divide and conquer” approach, using its size to intimidate its smaller neighbors. China’s ally, Cambodia, even blocked an ASEAN resolution that would have mentioned Vietnam’s and the Philippines’ territorial disputes with China.
The countries of South-East Asia, with U.S. support, have had some recent success in banding together over the issue of Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea. The China Daily denounced the U.S. action as "stir[ring] up trouble" -- a sure sign that this hit a nerve in Beijing. By coordinating their policies, sharing information, and pursuing a multilateral rather than one-on-one approach, they are stronger and more effective than they would be alone.
How did the Tibet “contact group” proposal come about?
The August 9, 2012 letter was sent by Frank Wolf, a Republican, and James McGovern, a Democract. Both are long-time friends of the Tibetan people. In fact, Congressman Wolf is the only sitting member of Congress to visit Tibet; he traveled there in 1997 on a tourist visa, with the Chinese authorities unaware of his official position at the time.
However, the proposal of a “Tibet contact group” did not spontaneously generate from this letter. This idea grew out of a strategic planning process that the global Tibet movement undertook, going back several years.
In 2008, the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN, now called ITN) released its Strategic Plan for the post-Beijing Olympics period. The Strategic Plan included a call for renewed pressure on governments to do things that did not require the cooperation of the Chinese authorities. One idea was to push for a forum in which like-minded governments (U.S., Canada, E.U. countries, Japan, etc.) could share information and better coordinate their policies on Tibet.
In 2009, Tapey’s self-immolation set off a renewed crisis in Tibet that dramatically increased with the 48 self-immolations since 2011. It was this sacrifice by these Tibetans, above all other factors, which led to renewed pressure for governments to “do something”.
Obviously, though, the Chinese government had become more and more resistant to outside pressure. This meant that the old approach of imploring Beijing to improve its human rights record and return to the (now-defunct) Sino-Tibetan dialogue would be futile. It also meant that expending energy prioritizing calls for a fact-finding delegation to Tibet -– which China has no incentive to allow -– would be naïve.
So the question became: “do what”? And how?
As mentioned, the U.S. and its allies discussed the Friends of Syria contact group back in 2011 and finally formed it in 2012. It serves as a useful precedent for governments acting in concert with like-minded allies, when the regime in question is not susceptible to normal diplomatic pressure.
In October 2011, ITN and Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) started asking members of Congress in the U.S., and members of parliament in other countries, to support a "multilateral approach" with the vision of a Tibetan version of "Friends of Syria".
The Wolf-McGovern letter came on August 9, 2012. The following day, an RFA article quoted Tenzin Dorjee of SFT applauding this approach, saying: “What we need is a Friends of Syria-style coalition, a Friends of Tibet group to raise the priority of Tibet as a humanitarian issue of global concern.”
In sum, the Wolf-McGovern letter came about as the result of three forces:
1. Most importantly, the self-immolation of 49 Tibetans inside of Tibet has created a sense of crisis, demanding action.
2. The global Tibet movement has adapted its strategy, embracing factors that do not depend on the Chinese government to do or not do anything. This includes pushing for like-minded countries to coordinate their Tibet policy and through a multilateral forum.
3. The crisis in Syria has provided a valuable precedent in how a contact group can be used to try to advance humanitarian goals when individual countries may be hesitant to take individual action.
Pulling these three forces together, Congressmen Wolf and McGovern have shown the vision to issue a bi-partisan call for the U.S. government to take the lead in forming such a “Tibet contact group”.
It now remains to be seen whether the Obama Administration will adopt this sensible proposal. Clearly, the formation of a “Tibet contact group” is only a step – albeit a historic one. By itself it will not resolve the Tibet crisis, but it will make it more likely that any international action toward that end is as focused, coordinated, and effective as possible.
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9:29PM Thursday August 30, 2012 Source: Reuters
There are encouraging signs that attitudes towards Tibet are shifting in China, the Dalai Lama has said, adding that the exiled Tibetan leadership is ready for fresh talks on his homeland if there was a genuine change of heart in Beijing.
The spiritual leader said in an interview that it was too early to tell if China's next president - who is almost certain to be Xi Jinping after a Communist Party Congress later this year - would adopt a new stance that could break decades of deadlock over Tibet. But he was reassured by what he had heard.
"I can't say for definite, but according to many Chinese friends, they say the new, coming leadership seems more lenient," the Dalai Lama, 77, told Reuters in his audience room in the Indian Himalayan foothills town of Dharamsala.
"If their side ... for their own interest are thinking more realistically we are ready for full cooperation with them."
His comments were more upbeat than just a few weeks ago when he declared that resuming formal negotiations - frozen since 2010 - was futile unless China brought a more realistic attitude to the table and that it was useless trying to convince China that he was not seeking full independence for Tibet.
The Nobel peace laureate said there had been a stream of visitors to Dharamsala from China, among them people who told him they had connections with senior Communist Party leaders.
"We don't know who is who ... everything is a state secret, so it is difficult to say," he said, but added that some officials in China now appeared to agree with intellectuals that a new approach to Tibet is needed.
"These are very, very encouraging signs," he said.
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"No formal talks, but there are sort of signs among the Chinese officials or top leaders."
China has ruled Tibet since 1950, when Communist troops marched in and announced its "peaceful liberation".
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising, has accused China of "cultural genocide".
Beijing considers him a separatist and does not trust his insistence that he only wants greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
"Force has failed"
A spate of self-immolations in China in protest over its rule in Tibet has heightened tension in recent months.
As the number who have set themselves on fire topped 50 this week, Indian-based rights groups said there had been a massive security clampdown in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China, and in some instances protesters were beaten even as they were ablaze.
The Dalai Lama has refrained from calling for a halt to the self-immolations.
"I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad," he said.
"Now the Chinese government, they should investigate what are the real causes.
"They can easily blame me or some Tibetans but that won't help solve the problem."
In June, two of the Dalai Lama's envoys to negotiations with China resigned over what they said was a deteriorating situation inside Tibet and Beijing's lack of a positive response to Tibetan proposals for genuine autonomy.
Asked if he thought that with a change of leadership ahead in China there was now a better prospect for resuming talks soon, the Dalai Lama said it was difficult to say and it could take six to 12 months after Xi becomes president before any shift becomes apparent.
In the early 1950s, the Dalai Lama knew Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun, one of the most liberal leaders of the Chinese revolution, who was known to have had a less hardline approach to Tibet.
The Dalai Lama said he was sure China would, sooner or later, realise that "using force for 60 years completely failed" and its revolutionary leader Mao Zedong's idea that power came from the barrel of a gun was "outdated".
Earlier this year, the Dalai Lama said he had information suggesting Chinese women spies had been trained to attack him with a slow acting poison.
Asked about his safety by Reuters, he said he knew of no more plots but that his security detail frequently encountered Tibetans who confessed to being paid by China to spy on him.
"Sometimes these agents are a good source of information, these Tibetans receive some sort of salary or something, and they tell us everything," he said.
Apparently in good health, the spiritual leader said he was looking forward to another 10, 15 or 20 years of life, and joked that China seemed more interested in who would be reincarnated as the next Dalai Lama after his death than he was himself.
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Of course there is an agenda behind the US' support for the Dalai Lama. Even the Dalai Lama's winning the Nobel Peace prize was a political move. The Dalai Lama is simply a pawn in the economic warfare between China and the US. It is quite ironic that on the one hand, the US is sympathetic to Tibet and the Dalai Lama, yet on the other hand, the US is wary enough of China to openly defy it.
When President Obama met the Dalai Lama last year, he said in an openly pro-China voice that “Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China and the United States does not support independence for Tibet.” (http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/16/dalai.lama.white.house/index.html (http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/16/dalai.lama.white.house/index.html))
We can’t really blame Obama though. With the US having around USD 300 billion deficit to China, the US pretty much has to watch that it does not p*ss China off.
Despite the Dalai Lama being a political pawn, I think that the Dalai Lama is far from stupid and he is an astute politician, retired or not. He will take advantage of the situation to achieve his end goal.
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Of course there is an agenda behind the US' support for the Dalai Lama. Even the Dalai Lama's winning the Nobel Peace prize was a political move. The Dalai Lama is simply a pawn in the economic warfare between China and the US. It is quite ironic that on the one hand, the US is sympathetic to Tibet and the Dalai Lama, yet on the other hand, the US is wary enough of China to openly defy it.
When President Obama met the Dalai Lama last year, he said in an openly pro-China voice that “Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China and the United States does not support independence for Tibet.” ([url]http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/16/dalai.lama.white.house/index.html[/url] ([url]http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/16/dalai.lama.white.house/index.html[/url]))
We can’t really blame Obama though. With the US having around USD 300 billion deficit to China, the US pretty much has to watch that it does not p*ss China off.
Despite the Dalai Lama being a political pawn, I think that the Dalai Lama is far from stupid and he is an astute politician, retired or not. He will take advantage of the situation to achieve his end goal.
I believe that HHDL will not be swayed or influenced by the US, but Lobsang Sanggay is really another story altogether. He has shown himself to be a weak leader, and is not capable of making his own decisions or carry out what he believes in. He does not have a voice, neither has he carried out any reforms in the Tibetan government's system. He is more of a figurehead of sorts, plonked into this role just because no one else in Dharamsala is more qualified. In due time, he will be the US's political pawn and there will be little or nothing that people can do about it when that happens. Even now, he is but a puppet to the stronger and more aggressive ministers in the Kashag. I really hope that his speeches will not sound like a kid whining incessantly because they did not get the toy that they want because it is not what a prime minister should even think of in the first place.
The US hates China's guts, but they cannot do anything directly to vent their anger against China, so they use Tibet instead to do the same. Think: The Chinese has immense hatred towards the Japanese due to what happened during WW2, but China tolerates Japan and maintains a cordial relationship with them but why not CTA? The Chinese hate the Japanese as much as the Tibetans hate the Chinese, but China and Japan can still be friends...in a way. Wouldnt that be a better stance for CTA to adopt rather that to throw tantrums at China and nasty words?
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I think that the Dorje Shugden ban is definitely NOT a scapegoat for the the failure of Tibetan independence. That is what some Western intellectuals think because they cannot piece together a more credible reason for the outright ban on this deity. With the string of self-immolations, it is painfully clear to the Tibetans both in exile and those remaining in China that the people have not forgotten of the Tibetan cause.
Now, if a new policy does emerge under the a new Chinese leadership which will lead towards a moderate approach, fresh talks may resume. It will take years before any consensus can be reached. However, if the CTA negotiators would follow the Dalai Lama's lead of approaching it from the angle of self-autonomy, the future will be bright and the possibility of consensus would easier to reach.
If a consensus is reached and exiled Tibetans do return to the autonomous Tibet led by the CTA's elected head and the Dalai Lama is welcomed back. I really do wonder about the Dorje Shugden ban, would it be dissolved by then as the rule of the land is atheist. Would the Chinese even allow such archaic ban on Dorje Shugden? What would mean to the millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners, High Lamas and monasteries in Tibet should the ban be allowed to be enforced in Tibet?
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I think that the Dorje Shugden ban is definitely NOT a scapegoat for the the failure of Tibetan independence. That is what some Western intellectuals think because they cannot piece together a more credible reason for the outright ban on this deity. With the string of self-immolations, it is painfully clear to the Tibetans both in exile and those remaining in China that the people have not forgotten of the Tibetan cause.
But CTA and their drones choose to see Dorje Shugden as the cause for them to lose Tibet when it was from their own negative Karma that caused them to lose Tibet in the first place. They do not have any real reason to ban this deity aside from sectarian reasons of trying to keep the Nyingma, Kaygus and Sakyas happy and so must find another reason to justify the ban.
Now, if a new policy does emerge under the a new Chinese leadership which will lead towards a moderate approach, fresh talks may resume. It will take years before any consensus can be reached. However, if the CTA negotiators would follow the Dalai Lama's lead of approaching it from the angle of self-autonomy, the future will be bright and the possibility of consensus would easier to reach.
The current Chinese govt is already very liberal compared to before. They are allowing more and more temples to be built, heck, they even sponsored many of the temples and restored a bunch of other temples at the same time. They are slowly accepting Buddhism more and more as compared to before and CTA can tap into this if they are skillful enough. Sadly Its hard for them as they care too much about other things that Tibet's independence, i.e the ban (which contribute 0 much to their independence)
If a consensus is reached and exiled Tibetans do return to the autonomous Tibet led by the CTA's elected head and the Dalai Lama is welcomed back. I really do wonder about the Dorje Shugden ban, would it be dissolved by then as the rule of the land is atheist. Would the Chinese even allow such archaic ban on Dorje Shugden? What would mean to the millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners, High Lamas and monasteries in Tibet should the ban be allowed to be enforced in Tibet?
The DS bad was made in context of the independence of Tibet. After they gain their independence and everyone goes back to Tibet, it is highly likely that each region of Tibet will be their own autonomous region and that all of the different tradition will isolate themselves from each other. The traditions now are not united by choice but by force from the current condition. Once the condition ends, so will the unity.
I can only wish that CTA would follow the whole autonomy thing but it is clear that they will not. They are more concerned with venting out their frustrations even though that would bring them more unfortunate results. I certainly do hope that CTA would grow up.
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I found this piece of news as well. I wouldnt call this encouraging at all, but seems that the Indian govt is helping the Tibetans to re-establish themselves and China somehow saw through it and said no. So, CTA will have to wait until they say yes to really say that the relations have improved. If there were no self immolations, China would have said yes...but oh well. India's move is really to recognize Tibet as a country, in case you didint notice.
China rejects re-opening of India’s Lhasa consulate
Phayul[Saturday, August 04, 2012 03:26]
DHARAMSHALA, August 4: China has rejected India’s request to re-open its consulate in Tibet’s ancient capital city of Lhasa. According to Indian media reports, Beijing instead suggested Chengdu, a city on the edge of the Tibetan plateau, as an alternative location.
In May this year, New Delhi had requested Beijing to allow India to re-open its Lhasa consulate, which was shut down following the 1962 border war between the two nations.
Although there is no official word from Beijing on the rejection, observers believe that China will not tolerate a constant foreign presence in the restive capital of Tibet. Currently, only Nepal has a consulate in Lhasa.
However, according to reports, the Indian side is not willing to settle for anything other than Lhasa.
The Indian demand came on the heels of a Chinese request to open a third consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai. Beijing already has consulates in Mumbai and Kolkata and an embassy in Delhi.
China being India's largest trade partner in goods, Indian officials have been quoted as saying that a consulate in Lhasa would help bilateral trade and pilgrimage, such as the Kailash Mansarovar yatra.
Recently, India’s ambassador to China, S Jaishankar, made a rare trip to Tibet, the first by an Indian envoy in ten years. Shortly after his trip, an Indian military delegation also visited the Tibetan plateau.
India is not the only country seeking a consulate in Lhasa.
In July 2011, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee directed the US Secretary of State to forbid additional Chinese consulates in the United States until China allows a US consulate in Lhasa.
The US House of Representatives in 2009 had passed a bill authorising the establishment of a US Consulate in Tibet and also allowing the creation of a "Tibet Section" in the US embassy in Beijing.
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HHDL is forever optimistic and forgiving towards China. It is amazing. If he can forgive a whole nation (China) that did so much harm to his own country, he surely would easily and quickly forgive those who finally abandon the practice of Shugden.
HHDL has no other motive to advise against Shugden except for the general and individual welfare of practitioners. What he has to do is not easy at all. Which one of us can shoulder the responsibilities of HHDL or are we just couch potatoes crouched in front of the PC commentating on the actions of a Bodhisattva and not doing much ourselves? I don't think anyone can shoulder the heavy burdens HHDL so compassionately carries and for so long. Life after life in fact. This is a true man of religion, peace and humanity.:o
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HHDL is forever optimistic and forgiving towards China. It is amazing. If he can forgive a whole nation (China) that did so much harm to his own country, he surely would easily and quickly forgive those who finally abandon the practice of Shugden.
How single dimensional. As you say, the Dalai Lama can forgive the Chinese who have committed and still committing atrocities towards the Tibetans. He allows them to attend his teachings, despite the harm they have done.
So why doesn't the Dalai Lama forgive and embrace with open arms the Tibetans who continue to practice dorje shugden? Why doesn't he allow them at his teachings, as he allows the Chinese who have destroyed his country?
Why does he treat those of his own country who practice Shugden worse than the Chinese invaders? Forget what he is saying about china improving. This is the harsh truth for those who can see it.
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HHDL is forever optimistic and forgiving towards China. It is amazing. If he can forgive a whole nation (China) that did so much harm to his own country, he surely would easily and quickly forgive those who finally abandon the practice of Shugden.
Why not that he forgives those who still practice Dorje Shugden if he is indeed that compassionate? Wouldnt that be a greater show of his great compassion, wisdom and patience? And that he says that its okay to practice Dorje Shugden and those who are his students should not discriminate or harm Dorje Shugden practitioners! That is how Chenrenzig is in my mind! Wonderful!
HHDL has no other motive to advise against Shugden except for the general and individual welfare of practitioners. What he has to do is not easy at all. Which one of us can shoulder the responsibilities of HHDL or are we just couch potatoes crouched in front of the PC commentating on the actions of a Bodhisattva and not doing much ourselves? I don't think anyone can shoulder the heavy burdens HHDL so compassionately carries and for so long. Life after life in fact. This is a true man of religion, peace and humanity.:o
If HHDL has no motives, then why is there a need to do this to monks who are Dorje Shugden practitioners? Please do explain:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpvkCryGfws[/url] ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpvkCryGfws[/url])
Well I am not criticizing the Dalai Lama at all but i am not turning a blind eye to his mistakes at all. It is possible to still view Dalai Lama with respect after all that he has done against Dorje Shugden practitioners, but I still dont think that we should deny what he has done to the Dorje Shugden people. What he has did, he has did for whatever reason, but to deny that and say that he has not harmed anyone is nothing short of blind faith which is what both what him and the Dalai Lama actively discourages.
I dont know..but your statements seem to have...made me think a little...and I have replied with my doubts...hope you can answer them..hmmm..
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I dont think this is encouraging at all. China has left a huge hint on how should HHDL/CTA proceed with this. What went wrong with the 2010 negotiations until China was so pissed off? Perhaps they should analyze their failures and learn from that instead of pushing for "more" negotiations. I dont see anything optimistic about this statement from China. Does anyone else see the same?
Senior Chinese official says no negotiations with Tibet till year end
Phayul[Sunday, September 02, 2012 15:17]
DHARAMSHALA, September 2: A senior Chinese official has said that the stalled Sino-Tibet dialogue process will not resume at least till the end of this year and denied any new approach to the Tibetan issue.
Xu Zhitao, an official with the United Front Work Department, the main office that has represented China in the nine rounds of talks with Tibetan envoys since 2002, insisted that in the event of the continuation of the dialogue process, the discussion will only centre on how the Dalai Lama should "stop his separatist speeches and win the trust of the central government as well as the forgiveness of the Chinese people."
"China will continue to be flexible with the Dalai Lama, but it seems that no result will come out if he does not change his attitude toward some fundamental issues," Xu was quoted s saying by the Chinese state-run Global Times. "The so-called autonomy of Tibet the Dalai Lama claims to be seeking is actually the independence of Tibet, which is definitely forbidden.”
The Tibetan spiritual leader, in a recent interview with Reuters had spoken about “very encouraging signs” of leniency from the next generation of Chinese leaders on the issue of Tibet after meeting with of “visitors from China” claiming to have connections with senior officials of the Communist Party of China.
Xu categorically denied “any such recent visits.”
Speaking to reporters in June, the Dalai Lama had expressed hope that Chinese leadership will take a new and different approach under its new president.
Xi Jinping, China’s vice-president and son of Xi Zhongxun, one of the most liberal leaders of the Chinese revolution, who was known to have had a less hardline approach to Tibet, is certain to take over the reins from Hu Jintao next year.
"I hope Mr Xi Jinping, a new leader, new blood, looks in a more open, realistic way," the Dalai Lama had said.
Amidst the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy Gyari Lodi and Envoy Kalsang Gyaltsen resigned in June this year.
The two Envoys cited the deteriorating situation inside Tibet and their “utter frustration” over the lack of positive response from the China as reasons for their decision.
“Given the deteriorating situation inside Tibet since 2008 leading to the increasing cases of self-immolations by Tibetans, we are compelled to submit our resignations,” Gyari and Gyaltsen said in their resignation letter.
The last round of talks between the Envoys of the Dalai Lama and representatives from the Chinese United Front Work Department was held more than two and a half years ago in January 2010. Since then, the Chinese have refused to meet the Tibetan delegation.
The dialogue process has failed to yield much result, with the former Envoys repeatedly stating that large differences still remained on “fundamental issues”.
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Here's an analysis of China's side of this situation. I dont really think it bodes well at all for the Tibetans, but then again, this is more progress than CTA has with China compared to previous years. Still, this article has all the info that CTA needs to improve if they want to. If they could lift the ban, Dorje Shugden would help them and it would be quicker and easier for them to succeed...hmm...oh well.
Beijing's Soft Power Strategy on Tibet
2012-07-25
A rights official says China can’t just sweep the Tibet problem under the carpet.
China is pushing its soft power agenda with an aim to quash debate on the issue of Tibet, where self-immolation protests will continue until Beijing ends its policy of state-sanctioned discrimination in the region, a Tibetan advocacy group said Wednesday.
The U.S.-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) said hundreds of Confucius Institutes, which Beijing set up in universities across the world to promote Chinese language and culture, are being used to influence the international debate on Tibet.
The Confucius Institutes are being used as “dissemination platforms for Chinese propaganda on Tibet,” Bhuchung Tsering, ICT vice-president, told a U.S. congressional hearing in Washington.
He cited a state media report by the Xinhua news agency in January which confirmed that a journal published by the official Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences had been distributed to the learning centers.
Tsering said that last year ICT had requested resource materials from a Confucius Institute at a U.S. university, only to receive books and DVDs “giving the Chinese narrative on Tibet” released by a state-supervised publisher—the main function of which is to “produce propaganda products,” according to an official Chinese website.
He told members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that in recent years, China has established more than 300 Confucius Institutes at universities around the world. Eighty-one of those institutes and more than 300 Confucius Classrooms have been set up at universities in the U.S.
But Tsering said that the institutes “come with strings attached, which create challenges to academic freedom.”
“We have seen reported, and heard anecdotal evidence, that discussion on sensitive topics such as Tibet is discouraged if not prohibited,” he said.
Tsering suggested that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs scrutinize Confucius Institutes to determine if the terms of their agreements result in reduced academic discourse and freedom of speech on topics such as Tibet, and whether the agreements violate any laws in relation to publicly-funded universities.
The hearing came a day after the conclusion of the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue on Tuesday, and during which the U.S. said China’s rights record had continued to “deteriorate” and called on Beijing to allow dissent.
Likely to continue
Tsering suggested that the wave of self-immolation protests by Tibetans would continue until the underlying problems in the Tibetan-populated areas were addressed, saying that Beijing’s increased restrictions in the wake of the burnings have only served to increase the sense of injustice and discrimination felt by Tibetans under Chinese rule.
“As long as Tibetans continue to be denied the opportunity to live a life of equality, respect and dignity, it is clear that they will undertake actions to convey their feelings,” he said.
Tsering went on to say that rather than finding a solution to the issue, Chinese officials had sought to deflect blame by “humiliating” the Tibetans, labeling the self-immolators as “criminals” and saying that their protests had been instigated by the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader.
He said that Beijing had also played down the political significance of the self-immolators as part of a systemic effort to “replace organic Tibetan culture with a state-approved version to suit the Party’s ideological, political and economic objectives,” a policy ICT earlier this year labeled “cultural genocide.”
“The Chinese government’s aggressive security response has made the situation more unstable and potentially dangerous, risking more self-immolations,” he said.
The most recent self-immolation protest in Tibet occurred on July 17 and brought to 44 the number of Tibetans who have set themselves ablaze since Feb. 27, 2009 in protest of Chinese rule in the region.
Nearly all have called for the return to Tibet of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people, Tsering said, adding that they have challenged “political, cultural, religious and social injustices, the roots of which are not being acknowledged and addressed by the Chinese authorities.”
“Instead of addressing the genuine grievances of the Tibetan people, the Chinese authorities have responded to the self-immolations by increasing restrictions, torturing members of the self-immolators’ family or their acquaintances and taking several into custody without any judicial process,” he said.
Recommendations
On behalf of ICT, Tsering recommended that, in light of the self-immolations, Congress pass a resolution expressing support for the people of Tibet.
He also called on lawmakers to update and strengthen the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to take into account new developments in Tibetan politics, including the election of full democratic governance in exile, and to consider enhancing Washington’s relationship with the Tibetan government in exile, the Central Tibetan Administration.
Tsering also called for the U.S. to make public a transcript of the closed door U.S.-China Human Rights dialogue to provide transparency on what steps the current administration is doing to push for human rights in China and Tibet.
On Wednesday, at a briefing on the U.S. China Human Rights Dialogue, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner said that Washington had stressed that China’s policies in ethnic minority areas “are counterproductive and aggravate tensions.”
“Our position is that … these minority communities and representatives of religious minorities are entitled to live freely, to express their religious views, to practice their religion, to express their cultural differences and customs,” Posner said.
“And this is an area where clearly the Chinese Government has a different view.”
Reported by Joshua Lipes.
Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.
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HHDL is forever optimistic and forgiving towards China. It is amazing. If he can forgive a whole nation (China) that did so much harm to his own country, he surely would easily and quickly forgive those who finally abandon the practice of Shugden.
How single dimensional. As you say, the Dalai Lama can forgive the Chinese who have committed and still committing atrocities towards the Tibetans. He allows them to attend his teachings, despite the harm they have done.
So why doesn't the Dalai Lama forgive and embrace with open arms the Tibetans who continue to practice dorje shugden? Why doesn't he allow them at his teachings, as he allows the Chinese who have destroyed his country?
Why does he treat those of his own country who practice Shugden worse than the Chinese invaders? Forget what he is saying about china improving. This is the harsh truth for those who can see it.
WELL SAID THOR... I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
If you see what HHDL is saying about China with so much "hope" it is demented. China will never return Tibet to Tibet. Even if they succumb to international coalition pressures at some point in the distant future, China would have some "deal" where they will maintain control and it will be through economics.
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I thank Ensapa for the rich and well researched information on this thread.
Tibet seems to attract the politicians because of the self-immolations taking place in growing numbers, and not for the Shugden matter (as Big Uncle clearly pointed out). So, the US and whoever wants to jump onto the bandwagon will have a say. Is it really about Tibet? Or is it really a point of attack on China? Tibet is obviously a sore point, like a pimple which never goes away, for the glorious China... So, might as well fuel the wound a little.
Personally, I have a question: What has Tibet got to offer the US or any country so to speak, except a rich culture of Buddhism? And what economics can Buddhism harness? I apologise for sounding like a cold person but is it not true? My point still remains that Tibet and HHDL are only ponds to "attack" China in such a way that China can't retaliate with economics sanctions.
If the great countries will look at Tibet as a rich resource of peace and harmony where Buddhism is the product, then perhaps they may be more efficient in gaining solidarity to free Tibet. But then again, will the original Tibetan government bring Tibet to greener pastures? Is China really so bad for Tibet?
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The Dalai Lama is waiting for a change in Chinese leadership, which His Holiness is hoping would lead to a softening stance on the Chinese Government’s part, towards Tibet. In the meantime, Beijing is waiting for the Dalai Lama to pass away which they know would be the end of the only champion of the Tibetan Cause capable of harnessing world attention to Tibet’s problem.
The reality it, no one can really say for sure what stops China and Tibet from having meaningful dialogue. The Dalai Lama already indicated that independence for Tibet was longer his goal and HH was seeking greater autonomy instead. This itself fulfills one of Beijing’s key conditions in order to have meaningful discussion with exiled Tibetan “Government”. But when HHDL announced this change in objective, Beijing failed to take it as an opportunity to solve the quarrel with exiled Tibetan Government.
Similarly, when the Dalai Lama missed the opportunity to find peaceful solution with the Chinese when the latter invited HHDL to come to Beijing to pay respects to the late Panchen Lama and HHDL refused.
There is too much distrust between Beijing and the Office of the Dalai Lama and it does not seem like there will be any solution soon. I think there are interests that do not wish to see China and Tibet burying their hatchets, namely the Americans. The US is experts at operating wars by proxy and has done so very well in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and several times in the Middle East.
It also appears that the primary issues at the centre of the conflict between China and Tibet are no longer present in reality today. The culture that Tibet so desperately wanted to protect (and accused China of cultural genocide) has changed permanently. The culture that Tibetans wanted to preserve (according to the CTA) is a feudal serfdom based on theocracy. Can that system still apply in 2012? The ban on the practice of Buddhism imposed on Tibet is already lifted as has not been in force since the death of Mao Zedong. The democracy that Tibetans seems to want exists more in Chinese Tibet today that it ever did under Tibetan rule. The Dalai Lama himself has said that he is no longer pursuing independence for Tibet. So what is the issue today?
Still, I am surprised at how active HHDL still is politically even though HHDL is supposed to have officially relinquished all powers and involvement in politics. Where is Lobsang Sangay?
Also I am glad that HHDL seems to be in the pink of health and is looking forward to the next 10-15 years. So much for the Shugden threat. Actually I won’t be a bit surprised if Dorje Shugden has been looking after HHDL all this time. It is definitely in the Protector’s character to do so despite all the accusations against him. He is a real Buddha after all.
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I thank Ensapa for the rich and well researched information on this thread.
Tibet seems to attract the politicians because of the self-immolations taking place in growing numbers, and not for the Shugden matter (as Big Uncle clearly pointed out). So, the US and whoever wants to jump onto the bandwagon will have a say. Is it really about Tibet? Or is it really a point of attack on China? Tibet is obviously a sore point, like a pimple which never goes away, for the glorious China... So, might as well fuel the wound a little.
Neverthenless, the self immolations do not really affect anyone on an international level in reality. It only affects the few Tibetans that live in Dharamsala. The US has been frienemies with Chinese and they will use whatever means necessary to defame China and make them look bad. Example is with the milk powder scandal that happened and the complaint of chemicals in China's toys and pet food. The self immolations and 'human rights' are just another excuse for the US to do that. Proof? US does not give a damm about the inhumane ways that Dorje Shugden practitioners are treated in Dharamsala.
Personally, I have a question: What has Tibet got to offer the US or any country so to speak, except a rich culture of Buddhism? And what economics can Buddhism harness? I apologise for sounding like a cold person but is it not true? My point still remains that Tibet and HHDL are only ponds to "attack" China in such a way that China can't retaliate with economics sanctions.
The US govt isnt interested in Buddhism, it is more interested in how CTA can make China look bad and undermine its power. that is the only reason why the US would help the Tibetans regain their 'homeland'. rest assured, US wont pay any attention to CTA once the self immolations stop as they no longer have any value to the US.
If the great countries will look at Tibet as a rich resource of peace and harmony where Buddhism is the product, then perhaps they may be more efficient in gaining solidarity to free Tibet. But then again, will the original Tibetan government bring Tibet to greener pastures? Is China really so bad for Tibet?
If China allows the building of the biggest statue of Lama Tsongkhapa in Tibet and the reopening of so many temples as well as the restoration of the many temples that were destroyed by the cultural revolution and even installed their own Panchen Lama and gave him a high place in the Chinese Buddhist council, i dont think it is that bad, They're just not happy with people worshipping the Dalai Lama. It's just a compromise.
No matter how you wanna see it, the US is merely using CTA. Has CTA stoop this low to allow themselves to be used by others like a toothbrush? If HHDL was in control, I would believe it was for a bigger reason, not so much so if you tell me Lobsang Sanggay. I have zero faith in him that he will take care of the Tibetans properly.
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By relying on China to take a softer stance just because of its new leadership is wishful thinking. What the CTA needs to do it lift the ban and then Dorje Shugden will help by the power of karma. The ban is the single most damaging obstacle on the path for CTA in getting any autonomy from China. The ban is creating the cause for NOT getting any success with China. The effect resemble the cause.
Just when is the CTA going to understand this? We can only change ourselves. Why hope for China to change. Always think what we can change. That is the only way.
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Here is an article that perhaps, has sparked HHDL's enthusiasm with regards to talks with China. I do find it somewhat a welcome piece of news and it does show that China is now more open than ever before. CTA better now screw up, tho as China is very fragile even though it is a huge and strong nation. If CTA plays their cards right, they can get on China's good side and negotiate for a better Tibet if that is what they wanted from the start.
Insight – Does China’s next leader have a soft spot for Tibet?
By Benjamin Kang Lim and Frank Jack Daniel
BEIJING/DHARAMSALA (Reuters) – For decades, Beijing has maintained that the Dalai Lama is a separatist, but Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader once had a special relationship with the father of Xi Jinping, the man in line to become China’s next president.
Few people know what Xi, whose ascent to the leadership is likely to be approved at a Communist Party congress later this year, thinks of Tibet or the Dalai Lama.
But his late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, had a close bond with the Tibetan leader who once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift that the senior party official was still wearing decades later.
The Dalai Lama, 77, recalls the elder Xi as “very friendly, comparatively more open-minded, very nice” and says he only gave watches back then to those Chinese officials he felt close to.
“We Tibetans, we get these different varieties of watch easily from India. So we take advantage of that, and brought some watches to some people when we feel some sort of close feeling, as a gift like that,” the Dalai Lama said in an interview in the Indian town of Dharamsala, a capital for Tibetan exiles in the foothills of the Himalayas.
The Dalai Lama gave the watch to the elder Xi in 1954 during an extended visit to Beijing. Xi was one of the officials who spent time with the young Dalai Lama in the capital where he spent five to six months studying Chinese and Marxism.
The Dalai Lama fled to India five years later, after a failed uprising against Communist rule, but as late as 1979, Xi senior was still wearing the watch, the make and style of which the Dalai Lama can no longer remember.
Xi senior was a dove in the party, championing the rights of Tibetans, Uighurs and other ethnic minorities. He also opposed the army crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen student protests and was alone in criticising the sacking of liberal party chief Hu Yaobang by the Old Guard in 1987. Xi senior died in 2002.
The Dalai Lama has never met Xi junior but his fondness for the father is, for some, a sign that China’s next leader may adopt a more reformist approach to Tibet once he formally succeeds President Hu Jintao next March. Some expect him to be more tolerant of Muslim Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang, and also of Taiwan, the independently ruled island that China has vowed to take back, by force if necessary.
“To understand what kind of leader Xi Jinping will be, one must study his father’s (policies),” said Bao Tong, one-time top aide to purged party chief Zhao Ziyang. Bao was jailed for seven years for sympathising with student-led demonstrations for democracy centred on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989.
“No (Chinese) Communist will betray his father,” he added.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON?
Xi senior is looked on favourably by China’s leaders with plans already made to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary in mid-October next year with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People and editorials and commentaries in state media eulogising him, sources with ties to the leadership said.
But even if Xi junior wants to pursue a reform agenda, he is likely to bide his time.
“The key is whether Xi Jinping feels confident of his power consolidation,” said Lin Chong-Pin, a former Taiwan defence minister and China policy-maker who now teaches at Taipei’s Tamkang University.
Lin added, however: “There will be a more tolerant policy not only (towards) Tibet, but also Xinjiang.”
Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as its own, may be the model for reconciliation with Tibet.
“Every generation of (Chinese) leaders must resolve problems left over from the previous generation,” a source with leadership ties said.
“For Hu, it was Taiwan,” the source added, referring to Hu mending fences with the island after his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, threatened it with war games in the run-up to its first direct presidential elections in 1996.
“For Xi, it’s Tibet,” the source said.
Asked if Xi might take a different tack on Tibet, a retired party official who used to work in Tibet said: “There has to be new thinking … He (Xi) is surely aware of the problems.”
“More and more government spending, more and more security, is not going to buy enduring stability in Tibet,” the official said, referring to China pouring billions of yuan to develop Tibet, including opening a railway in 2006 linking it with the rest of China, and a crackdown in the wake of the unrest.
“The high-pressure policies can’t continue forever,” the official said, asking not to be identified and adding that these were his personal views.
CARDS HELD CLOSE
Xi has played his cards close to his chest and little is publicly known about his policies. Like Hu, he will be no political strongman, and will have to rule by consensus as the first among equals.
If Hu stays on as military chief, Hu may continue to hold sway over major policies, but is unlikely to oppose detente.
“Hu will not be an obstacle to (any) reconciliation” moves, a second source with leadership ties said.
Initially, Hu sought to make up for his decision to crush riots in Tibet in 1989 by issuing a decree to “protect Tibetan culture” in the early 2000s, but was taken aback when the Dalai Lama accused China of “cultural genocide”.
China has defended its iron-fisted rule in Tibet, saying the region suffered from dire poverty, brutal exploitation of serfs and economic stagnation until 1950 when Communist troops “peacefully liberated” it and introduced “democratic reforms” in 1959.
Tensions over the issue are at their highest in years after a spate of protests and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have led to an intensified security crackdown. Fifty-one Tibetans have set themselves alight since 2009.
In the event the Dalai Lama dies in exile, it could radicalise exiled Tibetan youth who have clamoured for independence and are frustrated with his “middle way” approach that advocates autonomy within China.
It could create a rallying point for Tibetans disgruntled with Communist rule and leave a destabilising leadership vacuum.
“They (Chinese government) hope Tibet’s political problem can be basically resolved once the Dalai Lama passes away,” said Wang Lixiong, an author and expert on Tibet who has met the Dalai Lama several times.
Instead, Wang added, “the Dalai Lama’s death could spark massive protests and even rioting.”
“NORMAL HEARTS”
The outbreak of rioting in Tibet in 2008 ahead of the Beijing Olympics and a subsequent crackdown, which in turn sparked the self-immolations, may have prevented Hu from carrying out any reversal of China’s hardline policy on Tibet.
At the time of the riots, Xi commented: “We should have normal hearts” – a remark that was in stark contrast to insults rained on the Dalai Lama by the region’s then Communist Party boss, Zhang Qingli, who called the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner a “jackal in Buddhist monk’s robes” with “the face of a human and the heart of a beast”.
Zhang was not alone. Many Chinese party, government and military officials and many ordinary Chinese are convinced the 2008 unrest was a Western plot to demonise Beijing before the Games and try to split Tibet from China.
But tempers appear to have cooled a bit.
Hu is manoeuvring to promote one of his closest allies – Inner Mongolia party boss Hu Chunhua who speaks Tibetan, a rarity among Chinese officials – to the party’s inner sanctum, two independent sources said, in a bid to retain clout after retiring. The two Hus are not related.
In a sign the party may at times be willing to reverse bad decisions or policies, it backed down recently after liberal intellectuals slammed it for forcing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries to put up portraits of Mao and other leaders. Local officials now say this is voluntary.
Xi may have more to gain than lose from resuming talks with the Dalai Lama’s envoys, but this may not happen anytime soon.
“They probably will take very small, incremental steps. They cannot take big steps,” said Lin, the Taiwan-based academic.
Many challenges lie ahead.
“The talks process could start again at any point, we don’t know. We shouldn’t rule it out even though it looks very negative at the moment,” Robbie Barnett, a Tibetologist at Columbia University, said in a telephone interview.
“He may have to prove that he’s very tough … so it could make it quite difficult for Xi. He could risk heavy attack from hardliners. It’s quite complicated for him.”
But Robert Lawrence Kuhn, author of “How China’s Leaders Think”, was more optimistic.
“He is a very practical, pragmatic, very down-to-earth kind of person,” said Kuhn who has met Xi half a dozen times. “I don’t think he has an overblown sense of his own person, which to me is very important. People could rally around him.”
The Dalai Lama has said he hopes Xi will usher in a “realistic” and more open approach to Tibet, in the same way Deng Xiaoping introduced market reforms in the late 1970s that turned China into an economic powerhouse from a backwater.
After more than 50 years of confrontation with Beijing, the Dalai Lama is cautious but hopeful.
“I can’t say for definite, but according to many Chinese friends, they say the new, coming leadership seems more lenient,” he said in an interview in his audience room which was decorated with Bhuddist paintings and a bust of Mahatma Gandhi.
He said there had been a stream of visitors to Dharamsala from China, including people who told him they had connections with senior Communist Party leaders. “These are very, very encouraging signs,” he said. “No formal talks, but there are sort of signs among the Chinese officials or top leaders.”
Tibetan exiles see other small signs that Xi could take a softer line on Tibet – his wife is a Buddhist, and Xi went out of his way in 2006, while party boss of Zhejiang province, to host the first World Buddhist Forum in the provincial capital.
A batch of U.S. diplomatic cables obtained and published by WikiLeaks last year said the Dalai Lama had “great affection” for Xi senior, and that Xi junior was quite taken with Buddhist mysticism at one point early in his career.
In July last year, Xi visited Tibet and pledged to crack down on the separatist “Dalai clique” and “completely smash any plot to destroy stability in Tibet and jeopardise national unity”.
But a Western diplomat in Beijing cautioned that this was standard language and should not be construed to be hardline. “No one wins prizes for saying the Dalai is ok,” he said.
But many exiles are sceptical.
“I do not expect Xi junior to be like his father because he is facing a completely different situation, but I hope he can be different (from Hu Jintao),” said Khedroob Thondup, a nephew of the Dalai Lama who visited China more than 10 times with his father, Gyalo Thondup, as unofficial envoys of the Dalai Lama.
Another nephew, Tenzin Taklha, who is also a secretary to the Dalai Lama, said: “Even if it does happen it won’t be substantial, just to show the world the door is open again.”
The Dalai Lama, too, has yet to be convinced that Beijing will soften its stance on Tibet – even if Xi turns out to have the same moderate inclination as his father – and says political reformers sometimes do not last long in the Communist Party.
“These realistic people sometime live a very short life.”
(Additional reporting by John Chalmers in DHARAMSALA and Chris Buckley in BEIJING; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Mark Bendeich)
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I just wanted to address what the Dalai Lama mentioned in the Reuters report:
"I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad," the 77-year-old Tibetan leader said.
He says he will not give encouragement, but he does not actively ban self-immolation. Isn't banning self-immolation more important than banning Dorje Shugden practice? Especially when suicide is anathema to Buddhism? Yet, here the Dalai Lama simply "will not give encouragement". How about not giving encouragement to Dorje Shugden practice but NOT banning it?? How about NOT asking monks who practice Dorje Shugden to leave their monasteries? How about NOT stopping children of Dorje Shugden practitioners from attending school? How about NOT stopping Dorje Shugden practitioners from travelling by giving them travel papers? How about that???
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I just wanted to address what the Dalai Lama mentioned in the Reuters report:
"I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad," the 77-year-old Tibetan leader said.
He says he will not give encouragement, but he does not actively ban self-immolation. Isn't banning self-immolation more important than banning Dorje Shugden practice? Especially when suicide is anathema to Buddhism? Yet, here the Dalai Lama simply "will not give encouragement". How about not giving encouragement to Dorje Shugden practice but NOT banning it?? How about NOT asking monks who practice Dorje Shugden to leave their monasteries? How about NOT stopping children of Dorje Shugden practitioners from attending school? How about NOT stopping Dorje Shugden practitioners from travelling by giving them travel papers? How about that???
Somehow, I find it odd that the Dalai Lama would say that he would hurt the sentiments of the families of the self immolation victims very much if he spoke up against the self immolations. Hurting the sentiments of a few families and stopping more people from immolating themselves is definitely a more logical decision. Unless of course, it was incited by the CTA in the name of the Dalai Lama, and the families of the self immolators are fully aware of this. Then, if the Kalon Tripa or Dalai Lama speaks out against self immolations, it would hurt very much these families and break their faith in the Dalai Lama. I personally find his no comment stance on the self immolators odd, and many other Buddhists also find it odd that the Dalai Lama choose to be silent over an act that goes against the Buddha's teachings.
You're right, wisdombeing. It would have been much better if the Dalai Lama spoke up against the Dorje Shugden ban and the discrimination of Dorje Shugden practitioners in Dharamsala. It would be so much better to stop discrimination at home in Dharamsala than to take back Tibet because it is something that the CTA can do, while taking back Tibet is not something the CTA can do at this moment.
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50 years of being in exile and with very little accomplishments, CTA celebrates their anniversary. I just hope that they can break through old and backwards practices like the ban on Dorje Shugden and truly move forward. When will that time come? I hope soon.
The Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa mark 50 years of CTSA
Phayul[Tuesday, September 11, 2012 12:49]
([url]http://phayul.com/images/thumb.aspx?src=120911022055CM.jpg[/url])
The Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama listens to Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay, during the commemoration ceremony of the 52nd anniversary of the founding of Tibetan democracy at Tsug-la Khang courtyard in Dharamshala, India on Sptember 2, 2012. (Phayul file photo/Norbu Wangyal)
DHARAMSHALA, September 11: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama joined Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, and Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay in marking the 50th anniversary of the Central Tibetan School Administration yesterday in New Delhi.
CTSA, a body under the HRD ministry of the Indian government, was set up in 1961 by the then Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to look after the special academic needs of Tibetan children.
Since the opening of the first CTSA school in Mussoorie, north India with 50 students, the Administration today manages 67 schools across India, caring for over 8700 students.
Speaking at the ceremony, the elected head of the Tibetan people, Dr Sangay, who is a former student of a CTSA school and later went on to study law in Harvard, expressed his gratitude to the Dalai Lama and CTSA.
While acknowledging the generosity of the government and the people of India in providing Tibetan children with modern education, Dr Sangay noted that the ancient traditions of Buddhism and ahimsa and the contemporary practice of democracy among Tibetans follow an Indian example.
“It’s easy to thank you on the one hand,” he said, “but difficult on the other, because we can’t thank you enough.”
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal in his address said that CTSA is an institution born out the vision of the two great visionaries of all times, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“CTSA is a unique institution in the sense that it not only has a transnational character but an institution that is engaged in the preservation and development of Tibetan history and culture,” Sibal said.
The minister urged that in the years to come, “schools generally and CTSA schools more particularly should not only be institutions of learning, but must also provide an individualised environment where a student learns the simple techniques of goal setting, planning, dealing with difficult situations in life.”
The Dalai Lama in his remarks stressed on the oneness of humanity and the need for modern education to promote kindness and compassion.
“We are biologically equipped to be kind and compassionate by our mother’s care, which owes nothing to religion or education, but education can strengthen these values within us,” the 77-year-old Tibetan leader said. “Unfortunately, sometimes modern education pays more attention to the secondary differences between us, rather than the uniting common factors.”
The Dalai Lama described the Golden Jubilee of the CTSA as a “special moment” that brought to mind discussions he had with Pandit Nehru soon after arriving in to exile, during which the late prime minister remarked “the best way to keep the Tibet issue alive was to educate our children.”
“Pandit Nehru, who was a highly educated person himself showed deep concern for the Tibetan people and particularly the welfare of their children,” His Holiness said.
“There was discussion about what the medium of instruction should be, whether it should be Hindi or English. Nehru recommended English because it is an international language. After lunch he insisted that we announce the formation of the CTSA. Now, 52 years later, this organisation is still looking after our schools.”
Off late, talks have been going on between the exile Tibetan administration and the Indian government for a hand-over of all Tibetan schools currently being managed by the CTSA to the Education Department of CTA.
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If there are indeed encouraging signs of change in China, the US is not seeing it and its not confident of CTA's talks with China. Interestingly enough, HHDL has not talked about this since, and neither has the kalon tripa. did something happen? And now, USA says its not possible. Oh well. Lets see if the US is wrong or HHDL is wrong. This will be a very interesting thing to observe.
Prospects of dialogue from China dim, says US on Sino-Tibet talks
Phayul[Saturday, September 15, 2012 16:23]
DHARAMSHALA, September 15: The United States government has expressed concern over the stalled Sino-Tibet dialogue process and said that prospects for the Chinese government to come back to the discussion table appear “dim.”
The US State Department in its annual “Report on Tibet Negotiations” to lawmakers, released on September 12, said: “We are very concerned that there has been no dialogue since early 2010 and that nine years of talks prior to that time have not borne concrete results.”
“Prospects for the Chinese government to resume the dialogue appear dim, at least in the short term,” the State Department said.?
The report noted that a tenth round of talks would be a “positive step at this critical time,” although a high-ranked Chinese official recently said that there would be no talks at least until the end of the year.
The elected leader of the Tibetan people, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay, has repeatedly stated his willingness to conduct talks with the Chinese “anywhere, anytime.”
The US government expressed its belief that the Dalai Lama or his representatives can be “constructive partners for China as it deals with the challenge of overcoming continuing tensions in Tibetan areas.”
“The Dalai Lama’s views are widely reflected within the Tibetan society and command the respect of the vast majority of Tibetans,” the report says. “His consistent advocacy of non-violence is an important factor in reaching an eventual lasting solution.”
The report further argues that engaging the Dalai Lama in the talks is in the “interest of the Chinese government and the Tibetan people” and warned that the “failure to address these problems will lead to greater tensions inside China and will be an impediment to China’s social and economic development.”
“We continue to encourage both sides to engage in a substantive discussion that will work to achieve concrete results,” the State Department noted.
The report finds that in 2011, Chinese authorities continued to place Tibet under “increasingly intense and formalised systems of controls, many of which appeared to be aimed at facilitating enforcement of social stability and undermining the religious authority of the Dalai Lama.”
“Increasing official interference in Tibetan religious and cultural spheres provoked acts of resistance among the Tibetan population. These in turn led authorities to intensify to maintain control, thus creating a cycle of official repression and increasingly desperate acts by Tibetans, such as a series of self-immolations by Tibetan Buddhist clergy and laypersons in Tibetan areas.”
In June this year, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lodi G. Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, resigned from their posts citing the deteriorating situation inside Tibet and their “utter frustration” over the lack of positive response from the China as reasons for their decision.
“Given the deteriorating situation inside Tibet since 2008 leading to the increasing cases of self-immolations by Tibetans, we are compelled to submit our resignations,” Gyari and Gyaltsen said in their resignation letter.
The State Department submits a “Report on Tibet negotiations” to the Congress every year, as required by the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002.
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I really doubt the Chinese will leave Tibet alone, Tibet is mineral rich, with gold, copper, iron, lead, zinc and some petroleum too why would an occupying nation leave an occupied state that is so rich in resources. Between having a lousy reputation on human rights or the potential of bleeding Tibet dry of resources and having a poor reputation internationally, the Chinese seems to be choosing the latter and being comfortable about it, there is just too much at stake. China is no stranger in benefitting its own industries and corporates just like any other world super power.
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China has more gain in maintaining a status quo governing of Tibetan before CTA. China has more other more important tasking on other parts of its country on peace and order. China should be thankful for Dalai Lama is maintaining a peaceful order in Tibet over the years. China history stated that the Mongolian invaded and ruled China without disturbing its education system of confucianism to govern its people to ensure stability thorughout. ;D
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The Tibet-China situation is an interesting one in the context of the whole Dorje Shugden issue, considering how so much of the reason for the DS ban arose because of the Tibetan government's failure to get back their country back. So they needed a scapegoat for WHY they couldn't get independent / autonomy - and who easier to blame than a protector, a supposed spirit, than on their own incapabilities. This is indeed what happened after all, when a prediction by Nechung that Tibet would gain back its country fell through and didn't manifest. The attention then turned to Shugden, as being the primary cause for damaging the Tibetan cause and the Dalai Lama's life. Why now? All of a sudden? If he was a malicious spirit, surely he would have started concocting and enacting his evil plans many other decades ago? or perhaps even when the Dalai Lama was praying to Shugden himself!
I don't know how much the CTA knows how to make a scapegoat because within their administration, there seems to be a better candidate to put into that positiong. The protective spirit of the CTA has more credits to how he is more a spirit than Dorje Shugden.
Take a look at this link: http://youtu.be/bi1pULEARXE (http://youtu.be/bi1pULEARXE)
There are many pointers which make u think of why is a spirit chosen to advise on state, secular and spiritual matters which many a time goes downhill and shuffed under the carpet is propitiated and not a fully enlightened Buddha!
Who caused the death of HH 13th Dalai Lama?
Who said independance was possible to the Tibetans 2 decades ago?
Who gave false hope that Tibetans would eventually return to their homeland many years back?
It all didn't happen but why are such heavy prophesies being proclaimed and when it doesn't happen, no one points out and check out why?
So coming back to the point of a scape goat, isn't there a better candidate?
And when HHDL says there are encouraging signs, does it mean the shift in China means HHDL is trying to tell us that DORJE SHUGDEN isn't evil after all?
*puts his thinking cap on*
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well, China has their new leader now which is Xi Jinping and he is a Tibetan Buddhist, together with his wife and there 'should' be progress in the talks. But what I do not understand is that despite this chance more people self immolate and show their dissatisfaction with the leader which just undos whatever progress made with China. Why does CTA want to sabotage themselves over and over again? I do not understand why. If the Dalai Lama says progress with the Chinese is possible, it probably is but CTA would quickly screw themselves over by allowing the self immolations to continue (or instigating them). Lobsang sanggay's wish of having the rest of the world pressure China to give Tibet up will never happen yet he foolishly clings on to that.