McleodGanj.Dharamsala.Kangra valley

"Close to Heaven"

Dalai Lama back in Dharamsala after US visit

The Tibetan Spirtual leader The Dalai Lama returned to Dharamsala after his successful fortnight-long visit to the US, a spokesman of the Tibetan government-in-exile said from its headquarters here. US Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky called on him April 21 at the University of Michigan.

The State Department has stated that the meeting was part of the ongoing efforts to facilitate dialogue between the The Dalai Lama and the Chinese government.

Anti-China protests engulf Dharamsala

Thousands of Tibetans held anti-China protests in this seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile Thursday coinciding with similar demonstrations against the Beijing Olympics flame in the Indian capital. A prayer meeting was held here in the morning in solidarity with the protests in New Delhi.

By afternoon, thousands of Tibetans including Buddhist monks and nuns and children assembled in upper Dharamsala and marched for several kilometres on the winding road to lower Dharamsala.

Many had covered their mouths with red bands. It signified that “in Communist China Tibetans have no right to speech”, said a protester.

Many held placards and posters saying “Allow free press into Tibet” and “Free detained prisoners”. The Tibetan Solidarity Committee organised the protests.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama Says He’ll Resign if Violence Escalates

His Holiness invited international observers, including Chinese officials, to scour his offices here and investigate whether he had any role in inciting the latest anti-Chinese violence in tibet . He also threatened to resign as leader of Tibet’s government-in-exile in the event of spiraling bloodshed in his homeland.

He said he remained committed to only nonviolent agitation and greater autonomy for Tibetans, not independence. He condemned the burning of Chinese flags and attacks on Chinese property and called violence “suicidal” for the Tibetan cause.

In a clear effort to quickly seize the higher moral ground and at the same time poke at China’s important aspirations, he complimented Beijing for having met three out of four conditions to be a “superpower” — he acknowledged it has the world’s largest population, military prowess, and a fast-developing economy.

“Fourth, moral authority, that’s lacking,” he said, and for the second time in two days he accused Chinese officials of a “rule of terror” in Tibet, the formerly Himalayan kingdom he fled for exile in India 49 years ago.

The Dalai Lama’s remarks to reporters on Tuesday, here in the seat of the Tibetan exile movement, also revealed thathe has been unnerved by the violence across the border in Tibet and by the increasingly radical calls from Tibetan exiles in this country.

The 72-year-old spiritual leader of Lama Buddhism said he would step down from his political post if things “get out of control.”

He said he planned to meet Wednesday with those who have vowed to march 900 miles from here to Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and convey his “reservations” about their effort. The march has been a source of embarrassment to New Delhi. The first batch of marchers that set off from here last week was arrested by Indian police; the second batch was allowed to continue, but they are still well inside Indian territory. The Dalai Lama chided their ambitions. “On border, some clash with Chinese soldiers, what use that?” he said.

He acknowledged there was growing frustration and a feeling that his “Middle Way” approach — no independence for Tibet but a large degree of autonomy — had achieved no concrete gains. But but dismissed talk of any other path as impractical.

“Last few days I had a sort of feeling, a tiger, of a young deer in a tiger’s hand,” he said, in the most intimate confession during the winding, two-hour long exchange. “Deer really can fight the tiger? Can express. But actual fight? Our only weapon, only strength is justice, truth. But effect of truth, justice sometimes takes longer time. Weapons power is immediately there.”

No sooner had he finished speaking that protesters outside the gate of his compound torched a Chinese flag, shouting Hu Jintao Murdabad,” which in Hindi is literally “death to Hu Jintao,” the Chinese president. Two hours later, they burned more Chinese flags. Earlier, monks chanted prayers and walked in thick columns through the hills. Gory photographs were pasted across town, of Tibetans allegedly shot and killed by Chinese forces.

The Dalai Lama said he remained open to resuming peace talks with Chinese officials, and in an impish reference to the criticisms by Chinese leaders, said a solution could be reached swiftly if there were “mutual respect” and a willingness to take Tibetan grievances seriously.

There was no direct criticism of either Mr. Hu or China’s Premier , only of local officials whom the Dalai Lama accused of creating “artificial facts.” “Prime Minister,” he said, addressing Mr. Wen, “Come here and investigate thoroughly.”

He went on: “Since we are not seeking independence, actually we are helping the Chinese government to build harmonious society, happy society and Tibet remain within the People’s Republic of China, happily. I am helping them, if they look at the situation calmly. But so far it’s full of suspicion, so therefore they cannot see reality.”

Tibetans Expect Help From World

Nearly six decades of struggle against the might of China has taught the Tibetans one thing: Ask the world for little, expect less.

As Tibetans rose up in recent weeks against China's harsh rule over the Himalayan region and China sent forces to quell the protests, Tibet's government-in exile-sent its envoys to far-flung capitals with appeals for help.

But guided by the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, they kept their requests modest. They know few countries have the appetite to cross China, particularly at a time the world is counting on the emerging superpower to keep the global economy ticking as the United States appears headed into a recession.

"His Holiness says we have to be realistic," said Tenzin Taklha, a senior aide to the 72-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who has come to embody the Tibetan struggle since he fled to India in 1959 in the wake of a failed uprising against China.

From the exiled Tibetan leaders, there were no calls for sanctions, like those imposed when Myanmar suppressed pro-democracy protests last year, or even a boycott of this summer's Beijing Olympics.

It's an approach that reflects the pragmatism of the Dalai Lama, who has long sought an accommodation based on his "Middle Way" dialogue with Beijing aimed at autonomy for Tibetans under Chinese rule.

Instead, the Tibetans appealed for international pressure on China to act with restraint, to open the area to international investigators and the media and for organizations like the International Red Cross to be allowed in to ensure wounded Tibetan protesters get treatment.

"Specific things are very difficult. No one is going to send in a peacekeeping force," said Taklha.

The Tibetans have, however, won the moral support of many nations.

On Friday, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi lent her voice, calling China's crackdown "a challenge to the conscience of the world."

Pelosi was the first major foreign official to meet the Dalai Lama since the start of the unrest, visiting him in Dharmsala, the hilltop town in northern India where he has his headquarters.

But it is difficult for most countries to do more than call on China to show restraint, finding themselves walking a tightrope between their sympathy for the Tibetans and their very real economic and strategic needs to maintain good relations with Beijing.

China reacts harshly against countries offering overt support to the Dalai Lama, whom it accuses of masterminding the uprising in an attempt to secure Tibet's independence and undermine the Olympic games.

China this week expressed "grave concern" over a planned meeting between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Dalai Lama.

And last year China temporarily barred U.S. warships from docking in Hong Kong after President Bush presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian honor.

No country faces this dilemma more so than India. On the one hand, it hosts the Tibetan exiles. But it also now has its closest ties to China since the two Asian neighbors fought a 1962 border war. Last year, two-way trade reached $37 billion.

India has allowed the Tibetans to protest peacefully, but detained several dozen who planned to march from India to Tibet to coincide with the Olympics, saying India would not tolerate actions that embarrassed China.

In Dharmsala, hundreds of demonstrators marched Saturday to condemn China's crackdown in the region.

"We pray that the Dalai Lama's peaceful efforts to negotiate with China bear fruit," said Prem Sagar, a rally organizer.

In London, more than 300 people, including many exiled Tibetans, marched past the Chinese Embassy.

Some argue that only international pressure has stopped China from completely crushing the Tibetans long ago.

Still, for the many Tibetan exiles who lack the Zen-like patience of the Dalai Lama, the absence of concrete action from the international community, particularly the United Nations, is galling.

"We want justice from the U.N., it is the only place where we can go to seek justice for the people killed in Tibet," said Zamba Tshering, 26, a Tibetan exile protesting outside U.N. offices in Katmandu, Nepal.

While U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on both sides to show "restraint" earlier in the week, the U.N. has shown little interest in getting involved in the issue, perhaps an acknowledgment of China's status as one of the Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members.

The Security Council has never debated the Tibet issue and it has not been raised in the broader General Assembly since 1965.

"The U.N. has so many procedures, so sometimes genuine issues don't come up," said Sonam Dagpo, a senior official in the exile's Department of Information and International Relations.

Others were less tactful.

"When it comes to dollars, everyone wants dollars. When it comes to human rights, it is shoved under the carpet," said Tsewang Rigzin, the leader of the Tibetan Youth Congress

Exiled Tibetans to host their own 'Olympics' in northern India

Tibetans in exile will host their own version of the Olympics in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala in May to highlight their people's plight under Chinese rule, an organizer said Monday.

The "Tibetan Olympics 2008" will be held May 15-25 in Dharmsala — home of Tibet's spiritual leader Dalai Lama and headquarters of his government-in-exile.

"This will highlight the plight of Tibetan people living in Tibet and in exile," organizer Lobsang Wangyal

Tibetan organizers will select 15 male and female athletes between the ages of 15 and 30 to take part in the games, which will include track and field events, swimming, shooting and archery, Wangyal said.

Their version of the Olympic torch relay is already traveling around the world, he added.

Wangyal — who has also organized the Miss Tibet beauty pageant in Dharmsala since 2002 — said financing for the Tibetan games was scarce and he planned to auction the torch on eBay to raise money.

India usually allows Tibetan exiles to protest peacefully, but this month it detained and prevented several dozen demonstrators from marching to Tibet, where they planned to arrive at the start of the Beijing Olympics in August.

NGOs come out in support of Tibetans, Dalai Lama

Two NGOs here have come out in support of the Tibetans and their Spirtual leader, the Dalai Lama, and condemned alleged human rights violations in Tibet.

Members of Indo-Tibet Friendship Society and Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch marched through the streets of Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile yesterday to pledge their support for the Tibetan leader and denounced China's "human rights violations" in Tibet.

"We are concerned about about what's happening in Tibet. We are here with you to show our solidarity to the Tibetan people in their struggle for freedom," Ram Swaroop, former president of Indo-Tibet Friendship Society said.

"We pray that the Dalai Lama's peaceful efforts to negotiate with China bears fruits," said Prem Sagar of the Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch (BTSM), which organised yesterday's march.

Shops and restaurants run by local Indians also remained closed yesterday.

Meanwhile, local Tibetans as part of their continued protest against Chinese "high-handedness" in Lhasa and held a candle light march here to pray for victims of the crackdown.

US House Speaker Backs Dalai Lama

Walking arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama, the U.S. House speaker lent her support Friday to the Tibetan cause, calling China's crackdown in Tibet "a challenge to the conscience of the world."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi was the first major foreign official to meet with the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader since protests against Chinese rule broke out in Tibet, and she got a warm welcome in his hilltop headquarters in northern India.

"If freedom-loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China's oppression in China and Tibet, we have lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world," Pelosi told thousands of cheering Tibetans, including monks and schoolchildren.

Pelosi, a Democrat from California, called for an international investigation into the violence in Tibet and dismissed China's claim that the Dalai Lama was behind the unrest as making "no sense."

The Dalai Lama, who has based his exile community in Dharmsala for nearly 50 years, has urged Tibetans to refrain from violence in their protests. He also expressed dismay over assaults on Han Chinese living in Tibet, while also strongly criticizing China's tough clampdown.

After protests turned violent on March 14 in Lhasa, Tibet's capital, the Beijing government sent security forces to blanket Tibetan areas of western China and crush any unrest.

"Nothing surprises me about the use of violence on the part of the Chinese government," said Pelosi, who had scheduled a visit by her congressional delegation long before the protests broke out.

"I pray for success of the speaker of such a great nation, considered a champion of freedom, democracy and liberty," said the Dalai Lama, who draped a gold scarf around Pelosi's neck.

"Perhaps it's our karma, our fate, to be with you at such a sad time," Pelosi said.

After meeting with the Tibetan leader, Pelosi said China's government should open the restive Himalayan region to foreign journalists and independent monitors.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, the ranking Republican on the trip, also expressed his support for Tibetans.

"In the U.S. Congress, there is no division between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of protecting Tibetan culture and eliminating repression against Tibetans around the world," he said.

Hundreds of people lined the roads to the Dalai Lama's compound, some with signs saying "Thank You for Your Support" and "Long Live America-Tibet Friendship." About 2,000 more people waited in the temple's main courtyard, many waving Indian, U.S. and Tibetan flags.

Kalsing Phuntsok, 37, a teacher who was in the crowd, called Pelosi "a very good friend of Tibet."

"America has a big role to play, a very big role," he said.

Tibetans Continue Protests in Dharamsala and in parts of Kangra Valley

"Free Tibet" and "anti-china policies" slogans

Image shows recent Peaceful Protest in the Dharamsala Town on Sunday.

Dalai Lama condemns 'cultural genocide' in Tibet

Speaking for the first time after China cracked down on protests by Buddhist monks that led to street violence in Lhasa in which 10 people were killed, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, has called for an international investigation into the reprisals by Chinese authorities to control the Tibetan agitators.

The Dalai Lama described the happenings in his homeland as "cultural genocide" and said the toll could be as high as 100.

"Some respected international organization can find out what the situation is in Tibet and what is the cause," he told a crowded press conference in the capital of the Tibetan government-in-exile, and added: "Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of genocide is taking place (in Tibet)." The statement is bound to be seen as a departure from his known position not to speak against China from Indian soil.

The remarks must also be seen in the context of an outcry among Tibetans for a probe by the United Nations into the "repressive" measures adopted by Beijing to control the uprising in Lhasa.

However, even as the Chinese security forces appeared to regain control over Lhasa, with more bodies from killings over the weekend being found, the protests spread to other areas with significant Tibetan population.

The areas included Sichuan, where a police station was burned down. Unofficial estimates now put the death toll at 80.

Apprehending a dent into their plans to hold a "flawless" Olympics, Communist Party bosses in Beijing are now trying to drive a wedge between different sects of Tibetan Buddhists by getting the Panchen Lama, who holds an important religious seat, to speak out against the riots and in support of the Chinese authorities.

We want autonomy, not separation: Dalai Lama

*The Chinese action in Tibet is a “cultural genocide”.
* The recent protests are a manifestation of the frustration simmering in the hearts of the Tibetans for the past many years.
* I can’t dictate people’s movement in a democratic society and being a servant of the people, I wholeheartedly stand by their cause.
* Tibet is facing a serious danger. Whether China admits it or not, there is a problem.
* I’m not against hosting Olympics in Beijing, but China should be reminded to play a good host and respect human rights.

Press Release : A Statement from The Dalai Lama

I am deeply concerned over the situation that has been developing in Tibet following peaceful protests in many parts of Tibet, including Lhasa, in recent days.  These protests are a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present governance. 

As I have always said, unity and stability under brute force is at best a temporary solution.  It is unrealistic to expect unity and stability under such a rule and would therefore not be conducive to finding a peaceful and lasting solution.

I therefore appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people.  I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence.

News:

While the Dalai Lama offered prayers for the peace and security of his fellow countrymen at the main temple complex here, thousands of Tibetans sat in dharna outside the temple and held a protest march from McLeodganj to Dharamsala raising anti-China slogans. At least 6,000 Tibetans and foreigners participated in the march.

A senior official of the district administration said tight security arrangements were made to avoid any untoward incident. The protesters walked over Chinese flags that were laid down on the roads of Dharamsala

With faces painted in the colours of Tibetan flag, they pledged to “take strict action against” the killings in Lhasa.

At least 10 people were reportedly killed in the largest ever demonstrations in nearly two decades against Beijing’s 57-year rule over Tibet.

“We are demonstrating against Chinese Army’s oppression and want the world to know about the situation in Tibet,” said Tashi, a monk.

Tibetans also expressed hope that the Indian Government would cooperate with them this time and they would not be detained en route as they would be returning to their homeland.

“We have resumed our march to Tibet. We were stopped earlier. Our 102 marchers are still in detention, but now we are another 50 marchers determined to go back to Tibet. We are really hopeful that the Indian Government will not stop us. We are just refugees wanting to go back to Tibet and we are requesting the Indian Government to please not stop us,” said Palkey, a marcher.

Meanwhile, a number of Tibetan activists gathered outside the Yatri Niwas, where 102 Tibetan marchers are held, to demand their release.

Meanwhile, around 70 Tibetan monks and nuns have started indefinite fast to express solidarity and support with fellow Tibetans.