The Members of Parliament have been notified to report at the parliamentary secretariat on 17 September.   View Original Announcement

Press Statement

The Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamshala, India is organising the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign from 30 January – 2 February 2013 in Delhi. The objective of the campaign is to express solidarity with the Tibetans inside Tibet, raise awareness and seek international support for the tragic situation in Tibet.

For the press statement in Tibetan,Hindi, Chinese.

Despite the Central Tibetan Administration’s repeated appeals not to do so, in the absence of space for conventional forms of protests, there has been an unprecedented wave of self-immolations inside Tibet. Since 2009, 99 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet. The most recent one being Kunchok Kyab who self-immolated on 22 January 2013. The messages they have left behind are testaments to their motiviation and aspirations for freedom and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Instead of looking into real causes of the self-immolations, the Chinese government always blame His Holiness the Dalai Lama and outside forces.

The Chinese government has responded to the self-immolations with more repressive measures. They have locked down the restive areas and banned journalists, tourists and other visitors to Tibet. Moreover they have flooded the restive hotspots with armed personnel from People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and People’s Armed Police (PAP). Thus it is evident that Beijing is attempting to contain the new force of resistance through more draconian measures. Criminal prosecutions are being carried out to target the families and friends suspected to be involved.

Over 60 years of alien policies- political repression, cultural assimilation, population transfer, racial discrimination, economic and educational marginalisation and massive environmental destruction have led to further genocide in Tibet.

While the Central Tibetan Administration welcomes the statements of concern expressed by various governments around the world, including that of the United Nations, more needs to be done to call upon China to engage in peaceful dialogue with envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a mutually beneficial solution to the issue of Tibet through the Middle Way Approach.

The Central Tibetan Administration stands in solidarity with the Tibetans inside Tibet and appeals to India and the International community to urge China to:

• Allow unfettered access to Tibet for the media, the United Nations and International fact-finding delegations to investigate and report on the real causes behind the self-immolations;

• Allow governmental, parliamentary and diplomatic delegations to visit Tibet in order to ascertain ground realities in Tibet;

• Review its failed hardline policies in Tibet and address the genuine grievances of the Tibetan people by resolving the issue of Tibet through dialogue.

Dr Lobsang Sangay                        Mr Penpa Tsering

Sikyong                                         Speaker                                                                                             

(Political leader of Tibet)               Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile                    

Date: 29 January 2013

Prof. Ron addressing the children

DHARAMSHALA: ‘Mobile Science Exhibition’, a project funded by US Embassy, New Delhi and supported by Department of Education, CTA kicked off at Upper TCV School on 7 October. The exhibition provides children and science teachers with an opportunity to witness interesting working models in science that explains basic scientific concepts in a fun and counter-intuitive way. Most of the exhibits were developed by the students of Upper TCV School under the mentorship of project leader Mr Gyaltsen and science teachers Mr Tenzin Jamyang, Mr Tenzin Ngodup and Ms Dikyi Dolkar.

Prof. Ronald Vale from United States was the Chief Guest for the inaugural exhibition at Upper TCV School. He is the Vice Chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California. Prof. Ronald is one of the three scientists who received the 2012 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, the award which is sometimes referred to as ‘American Nobel’ because many recipients in the past have subsequently won Nobel Prize. Mr Ngodup Tsering, the Secretary of the Department of Education and Mr. Thupten Dorji, the General Secretary of Upper TCV School also graced the occasion.

According to Mr Gyaltsen, the primary aim of the project is to enhance children’s interest in science and inspire the science teachers to incorporate hands-on/activity-based learning in their classrooms.

Children who participated in the event had an interactive session with Prof. Ronald Vale in the afternoon. He shared his personal story and entertained questions from the students. A group of class VIII students also performed a Science Role play on plant and animal cell during the exhibition.

The Mobile Science Exhibition will tour six Tibetan schools in Dharamsala region (Lower TCV School, Petoen School, TCV Gopalpur, TCV Chauntra, STS Chauntra and TCV Suja) in the upcoming weeks.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the ‘World Meet for Peace and Harmony’ at the Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi on 11 Sept, 2012. (Photo/OHHDL/Choejor)

(dalailama.com)

NEW DELHI: Although, following the tragic events of September 11th 2001, this day is remembered by many with sorrow, it also commemorates an occasion of bright significance. It was on 11th September 1893 that Swami Vivekananda fired the imagination of his listeners with his speech to the first Parliament of Religions held in Chicago. It was perhaps the first occasion that anyone had acknowledged the existence of other faith traditions with respect and had suggested that they were paths to the same goal and so could live in harmony with one another. The Ramakrishna Mission, a philanthropic, volunteer organization that conducts extensive welfare and educational work, founded by Swami Vivekananda four years later in 1897, celebrated the event today with an All Faiths Prayer Meet at their temple in New Delhi.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was welcomed as a guest while representatives of the Vedic tradition, Nichiren Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Bahá’í, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism and Hinduism sang or recited prayers from their respective traditions. His Holiness was invited to speak at the end. He greeted his spiritual brothers and sisters and began by comparing the numbers of followers of the various traditions in the world. It was agreed that probably Christianity has the largest number of devotees, followed by Islam and Hinduism, but His Holiness noted that while Zoroastrians may now be one of the smallest religious communities in the world they exercise their freedom to worship in India without fear.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at the All Faiths Prayer Meeting at the Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna in New Delhi. (Photo/OHHDL/Choejor)

He said, “I am grateful for all our religious traditions, because, despite their differing philosophical views, they all convey the same message of love and compassion and counsel us to live a simple life. In a world of 7 billion human beings with different ways of life these different traditions are necessary for humanity. Realistically speaking we need these different approaches to achieve inner peace and peace in the community.”

He went on to say that while prayer is good on a personal level, he has come to the conclusion that it is not always effective in the wider world. Violence and war persist in many places and prayer seems insufficient to stop it. What we need to do is to take action. He also advised that if religious teaching remains in a book that we only read occasionally, while we lead our lives in another direction, there is something wrong and it does not serve much purpose. At the same time he was all praise for India for its long-standing tradition of religious harmony. Occasional outbreaks of religious friction may take place, but these are understandable and of minor significance compared to the example of harmony and respect that otherwise prevails.

Next, His Holiness participated in the inauguration of a well-presented exhibition focussing on the life of Swami Vivekananda, which included viewing a short 3D film on his life. As part of the Ramakrishna Mission’s celebrations of the impending 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s birth it is holding a World Meet for Peace and Harmony. For today’s inaugural session the Chief Guest was former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The Guest of Honour, Srimat Swami Smaranananda Maharaj was unable to attend for health reasons and was represented by Swami Vagishananda, who said although we have a dream of peace and harmony, division persists. He quoted Swami Vivekananda saying, “If you want peace of mind, don’t find fault with others.”

Dr AJP Abdul Kalam pointed out that overcoming poverty in the world is a precondition for peace and harmony. He quoted Tagore as saying, “If you want to know India, study Vivekananda, in him all is positive, nothing negative.” He suggested that when there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character and when these two exist there is harmony in the home and order in the country. The question he asked is how to ensure that young minds cultivate righteousness in the heart and told his listeners that, in his experience the answer lay in the power of great teachers.

Requested to offer some words of benediction, His Holiness first expressed his admiration for his friend Dr AJP Abdul Kalam, “He comes from a Muslim family, trained as scientist and became president of the most populous democratic country in the world; in fact the country where the most sophisticated philosophical views have developed.”

He went on, “As I mentioned earlier, all the world’s religions are found in this country, both homegrown religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism and others from outside like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Bahá’í. They all flourish and live together in harmony, so in India this harmony is not just an idea or an aspiration, but a reality.

“Swami Vivekananda is no longer with us, but the spirit of what he achieved is alive and growing. He had great foresight and I feel I am a follower, trying to implement his dream of creating inter-religious harmony in the world. However, while respecting Swami-ji’s vision, I would like to say something about the Parliament of World Religions, which I have attended in Cape Town and Melbourne. I think there is a risk of these meetings just becoming occasions for religious leaders to exchange calling cards. I feel we need to make more effort if we are to actively foster harmony among our traditions. In Melbourne I said that effects come from actions not mere talk.

“As a Buddhist monk I pray and it is of some help for my own peace of mind, but as for world peace, it has little effect. A couple of years ago in Patna I was invited to attend the inauguration of a Buddhist park, during which the Chief Minister asked that by the Buddha’s blessings his state might prosper. When my turn came to speak I said that if the state’s prosperity depended on the Buddha’s blessings it should have happened long ago and that what was really needed was for a capable Chief Minister to take action. Action is the meaning of karma, while prayer is a little like wishful thinking. For example, climate change is a reality that I think probably cannot be affected by prayer.”

His Holiness commended the Ramakrishna Mission’s emphasis on education. He said education is the way to achieve far-reaching results, it is the proper way to promote compassion and tolerance in society. Compassion and peace of mind bring a sense of confidence that reduce stress and anxiety, whereas anger and hatred come from frustration and undermine our sense of trust. He described many of our problems as our own creation, why? because of ignorance. Education, however, is the instrument that increases our ability to employ our own intelligence. While praising the Ramakrishna Mission’s educational work, he urged its members to consider how to introduce moral ethics into the modern curriculum. He said he thought it was possible to talk about warm-heartedness without needing to talk about God or Buddha, for example.

Finally, he mentioned the increasing gap between rich and poor and the problem of corruption, saying, “When so many people are still poor, how can you let corruption go on. In this country, people are very religious minded, many offer puja to the gods every day and yet in their daily lives it seems to make little difference when it comes to issues like corruption. If you believe in god and karma, how can you not care when this kind of behaviour goes on. If I have been too frank today, or have offended anyone with what I’ve said, I apologise. Thank you.”

On this auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the supreme saviour of all sentient beings, the master of the entire corpus of the Buddha’s teachings extant on this earth; a great champion of world peace; the human embodiment of Avalokitesvara, the spiritual king of the three realms and Supreme leader, protector of symbol, of Tibet and the Tibetan people, I, on behalf of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, extend my greetings with great pleasure to all the guests who are present here.

For the sake of all sentient beings in general, and especially for the sake of the sentient beings of the Snowland of Tibet, whom he had especially assumed the obligation to bring under the realm of His spiritual guidance, His Holiness took birth amid numerous amazing signs and omens on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Wood- Pig Year of the 16th Tibetan Royal Sexantry, corresponding to the 6th of July 1935, as a son to His father Chokyong Tsering and mother Dekyi Tsering at Taktser Village in the Kumbum region of Dhomey Province. On this perfect, auspicious occasion, we offer our greetings to His Holiness by worshipfully holding over our heads the soil on which He has trodden and with unwavering devotions of body, speech and mind. On this basis, we forever remain in prayers to His Holiness, day and night, beseeching that He, the saviour and true refuge of all the Tibetan people in the Land of Snows, and a champion of world peace, to live for a hundred aeons so that we may receive the nectar of His omniscient guidance in a continuing stream from its pristine, original source.

By assuming obligation to bring the people of the Land of Snows under the realm of His spiritual guidance, and appearing in human form in such numerous and diverse capacities as kings, ministers, Bodhisattvas and so on, His Holiness has carried out vast and varied religious and humanitarian roles. From the time of the Great Fifth, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had assumed temporal and spiritual leadership of Tibet and exercised unquestioned authority over the Tibetan people in accordance with the principles of the co-existence of religion and politics. In particular, for the benefit of the people of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama had, with a great sense of commitment and resolute drive, expressed desires and undertaken initiatives to introduce historic reforms in the system of governance in Tibet for the benefit of the Tibetan people. However, by then Communist China had already begun its invasion of Tibet and His sacred wishes could not be carried out. In addition, by 1959, the entire territory of Tibet was already under the occupation of Communist China. Therefore left with no other choices, nearly 100,000 Tibetan people fled into exile to the neighbouring country India. Immediately on reaching India, His Holiness especially established Tibetan schools, monasteries, settlements, and other kinds of Tibetan centres. In particular, since introducing democracy in the Tibetan community in exile in 1960, steps were taken in a continuous series of moves to attain a genuine democratic system. In this connection, a new system was introduced in 2001 by which the Tibetan people directly elected the head of their government, the Kalon Tripa. Thereafter, in 2011, His Holiness devolved to the directly elected leaders of the Tibetan people his entire political and administrative authorities. He thereby oversaw the transition of the Tibetan administration in exile into a legitimate, stable democratic system fully based on law. The entire deeds of great magnitude He carried out in both spiritual and political fields has earned His Holiness the Dalai Lama plaudits from across the world, which has presented to Him hundreds of awards and certificates, including the Nobel Peace Prize. In the immediate past one year alone, for example, he was presented the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace, reiterated with the awarding of recognition as the master of all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, awarded the peace prize of the University of California San Diego, and presented an honorary degree by Loyola University in the US city of Chicago. In particular, for His constant and unrivalled accomplishments in the courses of advocating kindness and compassion, universal responsibility, and peace and non-violence as well as for his promotion of interfaith harmony and friendship, and the inter-relationship between Buddhism and science, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was presented the famous Templeton Prize.

Likewise, during the past one year alone, His Holiness visited numerous countries across the world, including the United States of America, Switzerland, France, Finland, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Mongolia, Japan, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Belgium, and India’s capital New Delhi. In all these places, He met with revered religious leaders, as well as important political figures, such as current and former presidents and prime ministers, and members of parliaments. He also very graciously gave lectures on profound topics of great current and future as well as immediate and long term universal relevance and benefits to the student community as well as the general public in those countries. He especially visited the physically handicapped and those devastated by flood, met with the affected people, encouraged them by counseling about the importance of having a sense of determination, gave donations and consoled them in such manners. Likewise, His Holiness visited people devastated by earthquakes, offered prayers at the affected places, as well as consoled and instilled courage in the victims of the calamities. Also especially in the past one year, His Holiness gave His 31st and 32nd Kalachakra Empowerment teachings. In Canada, His Holiness took part in the inaugural session of the 6th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet and addressed its participants. It bears no mention at all that through events such as the above, His Holiness has carried out His noble commitments and advocacy actions without subjecting himself to any kinds of limits and still continues to do so.

It also bears no mention that the happiness of the people of this world in general terms and especially the hopes for an immediate resolution of the just cause of Tibet, as also the happiness of the Tibetan people, and the sanctity thereof rises in direct proportion to the rise in the level of the roles carried out by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Given this fact, it is obvious that not even a minuscule fraction of the gratitude we owe to His Holiness for his past and continuing roles for our benefits cannot be repaid even if we were to offer to Him the entire collection of virtues and a universe filled with Seven Kinds of Precious Minerals. Nevertheless, on behalf of the Tibetan people both in and outside the Land of Snows, we, with our body, speech and mind pay obeisance and prostration, present a manner of expressing our unfathomable gratitude to Him and at the same time pray with utmost vigour that for the sake of all sentient beings in general terms and especially for the benefit of the exceedingly anguished people of the land of snows, turn His attention to this blessed land of snows and continue as before his vast and uninterrupted role of caring for them out of a compassionate feeling of special closeness.

In the year 2010, His Holiness spoke on successive occasions about His desire to retire from politics. There was no denying the fact that His Holiness made His remarks out of a great feeling of compassionate concern for the immediate and long term interests of the Tibetan people, religion and government. Nevertheless, the Tibetan people both in and outside Tibet felt greatly concerned and saddened by this development and they offered successive petitions to Him, pleading with him never to entertain any thought about taking such a step. In the course of this development, the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile too pleaded with Him, saying we the people of the Tibetan Land of Snows were sustained only by the kindness and gratitude they owed to His Holiness. On the basis of the fact that it was destined by the Buddha’s prophecy for His Holiness to have Tibet as the realm of his spiritual guidance or care, the Standing Committee entreated that He continue to adhere firmly to the oath-bound commitments he had been moved to make regarding the people of Tibet, which we said rendered it impossible for him to ever remove himself from his excellent role as the temporal and spiritual leader of the country for as long as this aeon endures. Likewise, in a background report to the First Special General Meeting of Tibetans held under Article 59 of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile in 2008; during successive sessions of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile; and especially in the very first paragraph of the final report summarizing the suggestions received from the participants in the First Tibetan National General Meeting, held at Bylakuppe in 2010, it was stated: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has thus far assumed responsibility as the Head of the great Tibetan nation and as the head of the Tibetan government. On behalf of the Tibetan people both in Tibet and in exile, we offer immense gratitude to His Holiness. At the same time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama remarked in His speech that He was already in semi-retirement. This has plunged the entire people of Tibet, both those in the county and outside it, to such depth of despair that they are no longer able to digest their food or to go to sleep in peace. In view of this development, this general meeting appeals to His Holiness the Dalai Lama never to carry out any plan for such a decision.” Such was the prayer we offered in our petition to His Holiness.

Thereafter on 14 March 2011, during the 11th session of the 14th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, a precious message was received from His Holiness, which stated thus: “Lay down the conditions by which within a definite time schedule both the political and administrative authorities will vest in a leadership directly elected by the Tibetan people. In doing so, make sure that the relevant provisions of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile are in scrupulous conformity with a republican form of democracy. Because of this development, a number of deliberations in and outside of the parliament were held over a period of four working days, during which detailed discussions were held. At the end of it, a petition was submitted to His Holiness through the Secretaries of the Private Office, stating, among other things, “We remain resolute in praying that Your Holiness continue to assume your role as the supreme temporal and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.” However, the reply we received through the Private Office was stern and firm, stating, “There will be no change in His Holiness’s wishes and the decisions which flowed from them. There is therefore no possibility to take up for consideration the provisions of the resolution of the Parliament-in-Exile. The resolution is therefore being sent back herewith.” Pursuant to this development, the members again held informal meetings, as well as group meetings with equal apportionment of the members of the parliament-in-Exile.

Thorough and indepth discussions were held in each of these committees. And for the purpose of implementing the wishes expressed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Speakers constituted a committee consisting of members of the parliament-in-Exile and members of the Kashag of the Tibetan administration in exile, with the task of drawing up draft recommendations for amending the relevant provisions of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile. And in accordance with its recommendations, a Second Special General Meeting of Tibetans was held. At that meeting too, it was amply explained that because an emphatic appeal based on our unanimous decision praying that His Holiness the Dalai Lama continue his leadership of the Tibetan nation, as was traditionally done by his successive predecessors, was turned down, an additional session of the Tibetan parliament was held from 26 to 28 May 2011 and the 25th amendment of the Charter of the Tibetans in Exile adopted. And it is a fact that in accordance with the provisions of this amendment, all the political and administrative authorities bequeathed by His Holiness were vested in leaders directly elected by the Tibetan people over the following courses of developments. Apart from that, it is important for everyone to understand that there is no reason whatsoever for anyone to give any credence or repose any trust in the exaggerated kinds of information which are totally at variance from the facts. Only a short time has passed since it finally became clear with absolute certainty that we had no alternative but to respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wish mandating that his decision to hand over all his authorities be accepted. Nevertheless, the entire Tibetan people have thus far managed to properly follow, straight on, along the path of democracy and freedom so that the situation of the Tibetan administration in exile remains in conformity with the wishes and successive advices of His Holiness. However, the Tibetan people both in and out of Tibet still haven’t stopped feeling uneasy and discomforted by the fact that His Holiness no longer exercises direct political and administrative leadership over them. We would therefore like to emphatically remind the entire Tibetan people that the current situation means that we have arrived at an especially momentous event in history when we should apply our efforts with even greater vigour to both carry out our personal responsibilities and to contribute to the collective endeavours for the purpose of upholding our end of the sacred mutual obligations.

Ever since invading and occupying Tibet, Communist China set out to obliterate the Tibetan people’s ethnic identity and implemented a policy of demographic aggression. In the course of doing so, it split apart the entire territory of Tibet and separated them by merging various portions of it with a number of Chinese provinces. It banned the great monastic seats of learning in Dhotoe, Dhomey and U-Tsang from continuing their age-old practice of enrolling students from their historically connected areas and regions in Tibet within their various sections. In addition, the Chinese government especially established monastery management committees and through them forced the Tibetan monks and nuns to study, and subjected them to propaganda, about the atheist communist Chinese ideology and policies in the name of the so-called “love your nation, love your religion” campaigns. These practices continue to this day through successive campaign actions. In this milieu, any Tibetan who shows loyalty to his or her own race or work to protect the Tibetan culture is criminally branded as a separatist or splittist. And in violation of its own ethnic minority policy, China subjects such Tibetans to racially discriminatory “strike hard” campaigns, thereby making it impossible for the Tibetan people to tolerate the situation through day and night. It is no wonder, therefore, that peaceful Tibetan protest movements against the Chinese government has continued unabated.

Since the great Tibetan protest movement of the Earth-Mouse Year in 2008 and thereafter the self-immolation protest by monk Tabey in Amdo Ngaba on 27 February 2009, until 27 June, 2012 when Tenzin Choezom la at Ga-Kyegudo staged self-immolation protests, a total of 42 lay and ecclesiastical Tibetans have torched themselves in Tibet. Of them, 31 have died. These courageous men and women living in Tibet have shouted demands that, speaking in general terms, sought to uphold the just cause of the Tibetan people and, in particular, called for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, the rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people to be respected, the policy to obliterate the Tibetan religion and culture to be halted, and so on. These Tibetan made great personal sacrifices by adopting such non-violent methods as self-immolation on numerous successive occasions.  Many have lost their precious lives in doing so. In addition, much more number of Tibetans have been detained for purposes of investigation and their whereabouts remain unknown even as they continue to be subjected to all manners of unbearable torture. For all such Tibetans who still continue to suffer, and with the hope to see all their demands being fulfilled, the Tibetan administration in exile and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile jointly led from 18 October 2011 a four-day official programmes of extensive campaign actions carried out by Tibetans living across the world to make clear our sense of solidarity and feeling of communal oneness with them in hours of both happiness and sorrow. From 29 January 2012 onwards, a delegation of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile travelled to New Delhi and over a period of one week met with prominent Indian leaders as well as diplomats of various missions. The Tibetan MPs spoke to them about the tragedy of the situation in Tibet today. And on the Tibetan Water-Dragon New Year day this year, the members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, including the Standing Committee members,carried out a peaceful campaign action designed to symbolically express solidarity with the Tibetans in Tibet by leading a day-long hunger strike by the Tibetan public.  Likewise, during the third session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, an eight-point official resolution expressing solidarity with the Tibetans in Tibet was adopted. The resolution urged people across the world to lend their support to the just cause of the Tibetan people and so on. Also adopted was an additional resolution in memory of and by way of expressing solidarity with the patriotic and heroic men and women of Tibet who, in their struggle for freedom, gave up their all, including their very lives, in the cause of the religion, government, people and culture of Tibet.

Besides, at the 6th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet, discussions were held on about six agenda items which focused on reviewing and furthering the major decisions for action arrived at during the World Parliamentarians’ Conventions on Tibet since 2009 and during other similar meetings. In addition, not only agreements and decisions were reached on many Tibet related issues, but also the meeting, in which all the delegates took part, was able to come out with an Ottawa Declaration on Tibet. Likewise, through contacts and discussions with and by way of appeals to members of parliaments in various countries of the world, we were able to get resolutions and related parliamentary actions in support of Tibet being adopted. In that way, numerous and various kinds of urgent campaign actions were carried out and we plan to make more such efforts in future.

With regard to the especially important day of today, the Tibetan parliament is going to organize a worldwide campaign in the form of a “Flame of Truth” relay. In India, the relay will set off from three places, namely from Ladakh, Shillong and Kochi. All three relays will eventually conclude in New Delhi. Likewise, “Flame of Truth” relays will also set off in North America, Europe and also other places where offices of representatives of the Tibetan administration in exile have been set up, with the date for it being 2 September this year. Along the courses of the relays of the “Flame of Truth,” public gatherings will be organized at various places and lectures delivered, press conferences held, petitions submitted, signatures collected on a petition on Tibet to be sent to the United Nations Secretary General, and so on. Three separate relays will eventually come to an end on the World Human Rights Day of 10 December 2012 in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City where the United Nations Secretary General has his office, in front of the office of the United Nations Human Rights Council in the Swiss city of Geneva, and in front of the United Nations representative’s office in New Delhi.  At each of these places, the flames and a compilation of the collected signatures will be submitted and the campaign concluded. In view of this, we appeal to all Tibetans and supporters of the Tibetan cause to provide wholehearted and cooperative support when the relay campaign takes place in their concerned areas. The demands of the “Flame of Truth” relay campaign are:

1) The United Nations must discuss the issue of Tibet based on the resolutions that it had adopted in 1959, 1961 and 1965, and continuously make efforts to fulfill the substantive provisions of these resolutions;

2) An independent international fact-finding delegations must immediately be sent to investigate the ongoing crisis in Tibet; and

3) The United Nations must bear special responsibility to ensure that the basic aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet are fulfilled.

For the purpose of resolving the Sino-Tibetan dispute, the Tibetan side has made every possible effort without making any change in our mutually beneficial Middle Way policy. However, the Chinese government’s position and policy on the Tibet issue has only kept on deteriorating from bad to worse.  Besides, the Chinese government totally ignored the basic aspirations of the Tibetan people and their just demands. On the contrary, it took to allege that the self-immolation protest movement being carried out by Tibetans in Tibet has been instigated by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan administration in exile. And using that as a pretext, it has made massive troop deployments throughout Tibet and thereby subjected a thoroughly oppressed Tibetan people to intimidation and violent repression on a war footing. As a result, the situation in Tibet today is so extremely serious that a state of de facto martial law prevails there. Many tens of thousands of Chinese cadres have been deployed in all the villages throughout Tibet to clampdown on the Tibetan people with surveillance and spying operations over them. At the monasteries in Tibet, China has ordered the implementation of a policy called “Nine Must Haves” and “Six Ones”. Under this campaign, the Chinese government has made it compulsory for all the monasteries to display portraits of the top leaders of the atheist communist party leaders. Within the monasteries, communist party offices have been set up and communist cadres exercise direct control over their administration and religious functions and routines. In particular, a campaign called “Model Harmonious Monastery” and a policy of selecting and awarding what is called “Advanced, Patriotic Monks and Nuns” has been started. What all this means in realistic terms is that a system of class division and class persecution which prevailed during the period of the Cultural Revolution has been revived in the whole of Tibet. Besides, in Tibet’s capital Lhasa, Tibetans who are not permanent residents in the city are being expelled while Tibetans who wish to visit there are required to produce six different kinds of identity papers. On the other hand, ethnic Chinese are allowed to freely enter Tibet both by air and land routes without any kind of hindrance to their journeys. Tibetans who complete their higher level education in China are required to land a job there itself while Chinese graduates continue to be poured into Tibet in the name of “Aid Tibet” cadres. To sum up, the Chinese government is implementing in Tibet a policy of racial contempt, racial discrimination, and racial obliteration against the Tibetan people in a manner which is all too obvious and blatant to warrant any doubt. Recently, delegations of so-called Chinese Tibetologists undertook tours to a number of countries, including the United States of America and Canada. In the course of doing so, they spokeabout a so-called four basic points underlying the reasons why thereincarnation of the Dalai Lama would be needed to be appointed by the Chinese government. They also spoke, with obvious negative motivations, about a set of so-called four reasons underlying the self-immolations in Tibet, including an insidious suggestion that they were caused by foreign political and religious instigators. With planned and scheduled courses of actions, they have been carrying out – as they still do – various kinds of distorted propaganda campaigns borne of ill-motivated designs. A concerned official of the United Front Work Department of China publicly made a suggestion that the status of ethnic minorities enshrined in the constitution of the People’s Republic of China should be done away with altogether. His ulterior motive was to thereby eliminate the legal basis on which the system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is founded. Because of these reasons, the Tibetan Special Envoy and the Envoy in talks with the Chinese government both felt constrained to resign and the Kashag had to accept the resignations with regret.

Many educated people in China these days are opposed to the policies of their government. The existence of disharmony and power struggle within the Chinese leadership became obvious recently from the Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun episode. Premier Wen Jiabao has, at numerous places, spoken out about the need for reform in China’s political system. Within the general Chinese population too, there is a hope for a democratic transformation of their country and their desire and interest for it keeps on growing. Speaking from the point of view of a China of the future, this is a moment of great opportunity. At this juncture of imminent transformation in their political powers, the call of the moment is for the Chinese government leaders to introspect, review the erroneous policies that they have hitherto pursued on the Tibet issue, and set out on a corrective course to bring them in line with the global trend of today and thereby make changes for the better.

So far His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not been touched by even an iota of any manifest harm to his bodily, oral and mental health.That He has continued to remain in a permanent state of good health, without being marred by any moment of any dip in it, is, no doubt, attributable primarily to the sacred strength of the effect of his prayers for his obligated objects of spiritual guidance, the collective merits of the Tibetan people, and the deeds of Tibet’s sea of oath-bound protector deities. In addition to these, gratitude is owed to the central and state governments of India where Tibetans mainly reside and, likewise, to the facilitative role played by the central and local government of other foreign countries visited by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to the dedication of the officials of the Security Department of the Central Tibetan Administration, and so on. The sunshine of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s great noble deeds of today could hardly be blurred by anyone. Nevertheless, the autocratic government leaders of China continue to try to libel him in all sorts of unimaginable and degrading manners and the possibility of them trying to harm him even physically cannot be ruled out. And so, over and above the security measures and conditions mentioned above, it is of utmost importance that Tibetans at all levels must remain alert and quick to react at all times. With regard to the personal security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama especially, the main thing is to faithfully carry out all his wishes, for the entire people of all the Three Provinces of Tibet to unite and work as one oath-bound entity, and it also depends on the collective merits of the Tibetan people, as unequivocally stated in unison by all the protector deities and lamas. In view of this, the entire Tibetan people should make no mistakes about what they have to put into practice. This is the essence of the matter and we take this opportunity to again remind our people about it and thereby again beseech them emphatically.

India has become like a second home to the Tibetans in exile. Over the past more than 53 years, the government of India, the concerned state governments, and the relevant local administrative bodies have extended unimaginable help, patronage, benefits and friendship to the Tibetan people.  To both the governments and the people of India we owe unlimited gratitude and we take this great opportunity to express our thanks.

Finally, we offer prayers that His Holiness the Dalai Lama continue to live for a hundred aeons, that all his wishes be fulfilled spontaneously, that the just cause of the Tibetan people be accomplished with urgency.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
6 July 2012

(Note: Incase of any possible discrepancy in meaning, the original Tibetan text should be treated as authoritative.)

During the last nine years, from 2002 to 2010, the twelfth and the thirteenth Kashag considered the 10 March anniversary as the most important occasion to inform the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet, about issues concerning Tibetan politics and the administration. The Kashag has transparently informed the Tibetans about developments, policies, course of actions, principles and future plans regarding the issue of Tibet and its origins, Tibetan people’s strength and weaknesses, opportunities and risks, achievements and failures, and the status of Sino-Tibetan talks and the international situation. Particularly, in 2009 during the 50th anniversary of our being in exile, the Kashag commemorated and thanked the extraordinary achievements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which spans across the globe and the great accomplishments of the Tibetan people, in and outside Tibet.

Since this is the last 10th March statement of the present Kashag, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the general public and reiterate some issues as a reminder. As it was mentioned in our 10th March statement of 2009, for more than half a century, Tibet has been subjected to a series of repressive campaigns under various forms and names to annihilate the Tibetan people and its culture. This has pushed Tibet to the brink of extinction. However, at the same time, the strength of Tibetan people’s unity and solidarity has gone undiminished, which has enabled us to sustain our struggle from one generation to the next.

Moreover, with the phenomenal accomplishments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama throughout the world, Tibetan Buddhism, culture, tradition and values have gained renewed recognition and interest. Consequently, the number of Tibet supporters and followers of Tibetan Buddhism and culture, both in the West and East, have grown many fold. Lately efforts to translate Kangyur and Tengyur into various Western languages were initiated, and the speed at which contact and discussions between Tibetan Buddhism and science is taking place today are a matter of great pride and constitute positive changes. Irrespective of the absence of any concrete change in the political situation, the fact that Tibetan religion, culture and tradition are developing paves great prospects for the future. When future generations look back at our times, they may consider our contemporary times as an era of expansion and spread of the Tibetan culture.

Furthermore, the nonviolent struggle of the Tibetan people and the transformation of the nature of Tibetan polity into a democratic system are two achievements that are source of pride and the strength for the Tibetan people. As a result, the issue of Tibet has been able to be sustained around the world and these have become reasons why the People’s Republic of China is unable to ignore the issue of Tibet.

As this miracle the Tibetans have achieved in exile is a result of the profound accomplishments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. We express our deepest gratitude to him.

Since the PRC occupied Tibet, the Tibetan people have had not even a fleeting moment of peace and joy. Furthermore, policies were implemented that aimed to annihilate not only Tibetan religion and culture and natural resources, but even the trace of Tibetan identity as well. Since repression across Tibet worsened in 2008, the Tibetan people have been languishing in an environment of constant fear and suspicion. The recent campaign, targeted at Tibetan intellectuals, scholars, writers, artists and environmentalists, has resulted in their arbitrary incarceration on concocted charges. This further validates the existence of a definite objective to wipe out Tibetan identity and heritage. As Tibetan language is the bedrock of Tibetan identity and culture, the recent move to phase out Tibetan as the main medium of instruction in schools also constitute an aspect of the strategy towards the objective of annihilation of Tibetan identity. Under such circumstances, the people in Tibet have been struggling for the
preservation and promotion of Tibetan language and culture by disregarding even at the risk of losing their lives. For this, they deserve our heartfelt gratitude.

The Tibetan and the Chinese people are neighbours and share close social, economic and commercial relations. However, if enmity between the two people grows and the relationship is strained due to manipulations by the Communist leaders then this is highly undesirable. Tibetans living in exile are trying their best to create a good relationship with the Chinese people. Likewise, the Kashag wish to request the Tibetans inside Tibet to maintain friendly relations with Chinese and other nationalities. Particularly, we would like to urge Tibetans not to engage in any violent act with other nationalities.

A series of recent peaceful people’s protests in the Middle East and North Africa to move towards freedom and democracy is a source of inspiration for us. We offer our solidarity for all those who take part in these protests and extend our support and stand with them in unity as long as their actions remain non-violent. These events prove the fact that suppression by authoritarian regimes anywhere cannot last forever.

Presently, a major cause of concern for Tibetans in and outside Tibet is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will relinquish his role as the political leader of Tibetan people, and transfer his political and administrative responsibilities to the elected leadership. As a result, a great number of Tibetans in exile from the various settlements, organisations, monastic institutions and individuals and particularly many Tibetans from inside Tibet collectively and individually have been ardently supplicating His Holiness the Dalai Lama not to take such a step. We, the Kashag, would like to make the same request in the strongest terms.

Since the institution of the Dalai Lama, as an emanation of Avalokitesvara, and the inhabitants of the Land of Snows, the spiritual domain of Avalokitesvara are intimately connected by a pure karmic bond, the Tibetan people must make all efforts to ensure that this relationship continues to last forever without change. The Tibetan people need to make great efforts to keep this bond between the successive Dalai Lamas and Tibet. In order for this to happen, we request the Tibetan people to make even more efforts to increase their collective merits.

To fulfil His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wish to relinquish the temporal responsibilities, His Holiness will issue a message to the coming session of the Tibetan Parliament-in Exile. And all future course of action will depend on how the members of the legislative body intelligently formulate legislation regarding this. The Kashag would like to urge the members of the exile parliament to consider this a matter of utmost importance and accordingly think carefully to take the ight path.

Even though there are no major achievements during the tenure of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Kashag for the last nearly 10 years, we have been able to complete our tenure without any major failures and controversy. This has been achieved because of the kind guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the sincere hardwork of the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, the cooperation and support of the general public. I and all my fellow members of the Kashag deeply thank and extend our gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At the same time, with deep regret we offer our sincere apology for our inability to work in accordance with your vision during our tenure. We beseech His Holiness to continue to lead us until we attain liberation. Similarly, we wholeheartedly thank the Tibetan people in and outside Tibet for their consistent cooperation and support. Likewise, we profusely thank all the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration who have worked with sincerity and devotion for the exile Tibetan administration only because of their commitment to the cause inspite of inadequate salary and facilities.

Taking this opportunity, we thank and extend our gratitude to all the Tibet Support Groups, heads of the governments and members of parliaments across the world who support the just struggle of the Tibetan people, and especially the general public, the leadership of central and state governments of India, for their unwavering support for the welfare of Tibetans, the preservation and promotion of Tibet’s cultural and spiritual heritage and for the realization of the Tibetan people’s aspiration.

Finally, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the spontaneous fulfilment of all his wishes. May the truth of the issue of Tibet prevail soon!

The Kashag

10 March 2011

NB: This is the English translation. Should any discrepancy arise, the original Tibetan should be considered the final and authoritative.

10 March 2010

Today — 10 March 2010 — marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people’s peaceful uprising against the Chinese authorities. On this momentous day, the Kashag pays homage to the brave men and women of Tibet who have laid down their lives for our spiritual and temporal cause. The Kashag also, in solidarity with those Tibetan compatriots who are presently undergoing torture inside Tibet, extends its best greetings and commiserations to all of them.  

As detailed in the Kashag’s 10 March Statement of the previous year, we have witnessed both positive and negative developments during the last over 50 years. On the one hand, all Tibetans living inside and outside Tibet have endured tremendous hardships and our spirituality, polity and race have suffered irreparable damages. However, on the other hand, Tibetans inside Tibet of all ages have, without losing heart and inner strength, kept alive our struggle for truth all these years. In exile also, we have made great spiritual and political accomplishments, particularly in the fields of the preservation and promotion of Tibetan spirituality and culture. Today, while remembering all these things, the Kashag would especially like to express our deep sense of gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama because all the positive results that we have been able to accomplish during these years is due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s leadership.

From the last 10 March anniversary until now, the Tibetans in exile and their administration have been organising numerous programmes, or commemorative events, to mark the 50 years of their life in exile and to express their heartfelt “Thank You” to their host countries. As a part of this programme, an informal meeting of the employees of Central Tibetan administration (CTA) was held recently to reflect upon the past experiences and to propose ideas regarding our future plans. A summary of what transpired in this meeting, which has already been brought to the attention of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, includes, among other things, the CTA employees re-pledging themselves to the path of peace and non-violence in carrying forward our struggle for truth until the eventual resolution of the Tibet issue. It is our firm belief that the larger Tibetan population inside and outside Tibet will join in this solemn pledge.

Of abiding concern to us is that no positive developments have taken place in Tibet since a new crisis developed on 10 March 2008. Therefore, the Kashag would like to urge the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to put an immediate halt to their inhuman and unlawful actions, including repression and violations of human rights in Tibet, as well as handing down death and long-term prison sentences to the Tibetan people without due process of law. The Kashag would also like to make an emphatic appeal to them to release all the innocent Tibetan prisoners, including the young Panchen Lama — Gendun Choekyi Nyima. Furthermore, the Kashag would like to appeal to the Tibetans inside Tibet to exercise utmost restraint and caution.

In the on-going dialogue process, we have presented to the concerned officials of the PRC the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People on 31 October 2008. In this memorandum, we have, besides articulating the fundamental aspirations of the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet, requested for the full implementation of the National Regional Autonomy provisions as enshrined in the constitution. The Chinese side has, however, sought to distort or misrepresent the requests we have made in it. In order to offer clarifications to these, as well as to make a fresh request of two points, the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Beijing this year and conducted ninth round of talks with their Chinese counterparts on 30 and 31 January. In this latest round of talks, the envoys, as advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, put forward these two points for the Chinese government’s consideration:

1) The ultimate concern of His Holiness is only the welfare of the six-million Tibetan people. Regarding this, the Chinese central government contends that the Tibetan people in Tibet are leading a happy life to their satisfaction and that there is no such issue as the Tibet issue that needs to be resolved. We believe, however, that most of the Tibetans in Tibet face tremendous hardships. There is, among them, a strong feeling of dissatisfaction or discontentment in every respect — be it religion, politics, economy, language, culture or social conditions. In the light of such divergent views between the two sides, there is a need for us to collectively undertake a careful investigation of the situation on the ground so as to understand what the reality is. We would like to, therefore, request the Chinese government to undertake the proposed investigation in a manner that affords all Tibetans the real opportunity to express their true feelings without any fear and doubts in their minds. If, as a result of such an investigation, it is found that most of the Tibetan people do not believe there is a problem in Tibet and that they are completely satisfied with their lot, then this is what His Holiness the Dalai Lama is calling for. There is, then, no need for both sides to argue about the issue of Tibet in the future. Whereas if we find that most of the Tibetans are dissatisfied, then the Chinese central government should also — treading the path of “seeking truth from facts” — acknowledge that there is a problem in Tibet and start discussions to collectively find the ways and means of solving the problem.

2) The allegation that His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his exile organisation has instigated the spontaneous and peaceful uprising that rocked the whole of the Tibetan areas since 10 March 2008 is not true. Hence, this allegation is not acceptable to us. This has been put across to the Chinese leadership during the informal discussion that took place in Shenzhen. As a result, during the seventh round of talks, the Chinese central government accepted the reality by changing its stance from the “Three Stops” to “Four Not-to-Supports”. Of late, however, it has begun to make the same kind of allegations against us. A need has, therefore, arisen for the Chinese central government to clarify now as to whether its viewpoint is same as it was during the seventh round of talks, or has it changed since then. If it has indeed changed, then the Chinese central government should undertake an in-depth investigation — both inside and outside Tibet — to determine scientifically the truth of these accusations. The verdict of such an investigation should be accepted by both the parties concerned. Moreover, we should make amends if we are found to be wrong. If we are not found to be wrong, then the Chinese central government must stop spreading lies, or making such baseless allegations, both domestically and internationally, and issue a clarification to this effect.

The Chinese government didn’t provide any clear answers to these two points and they also failed to exactly communicate our requests in its subsequent press briefings or statements. As for us, we will continue to press ahead with these two requests we made in a sincere and honest manner. If the views held by the Chinese central government — and what they say — have any truth in them, then it should not hesitate to subject these to investigation. All of us can vouch for the fact that once a proper investigation is undertaken, it will help clear things for the future, thus making it easier for all to see the reality.  

During the past nine rounds of talks, the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have stated categorically to the Chinese government that they have nothing to talk about the personal issue of His Holiness or about the issue of a few people surrounding him. The sole agenda of the dialogue process was to discuss about the welfare of the six-million Tibetan people. In none of these exchanges had they raised the personal issue of His Holiness. We have made this amply clear earlier and we would like to reiterate this today. Therefore, the Chinese government’s saying, through its official statements, that their purpose of engaging in dialogue with us is only to talk about the personal issue of His Holiness and not about the welfare of the Tibetan people is not true. This is simply irrelevant. Although there is no change whatsoever in our determination to engage in dialogue with the PRC until the issue of Tibet is resolved once and for all, the Kashag would like to emphatically state that the agenda of the dialogue process should be only about the welfare of six-million Tibetans and nothing else. Therefore we reiterate that there is nothing to discuss about the personal welfare of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Considering the Tibet problem to be a domestic issue that has to be resolved within the framework of the PRC, we are always engaging with the Chinese central government. However, the Chinese side continues to talk about His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the issue of Tibet and exert enormous pressure in connection with these issues everywhere — be it in their bilateral relations with other countries or in various international forums. It is clear to all of us that this is what actually drives the issue of Tibet towards becoming an internationalised issue.

Our struggle is based on truth and non-violence. We have no doubt that if all Tibetans living inside and outside Tibet put their complete faith in the non-violent path that we have chosen and practise, then the truth of the issue of Tibet will prevail sooner rather than later. Today, there are an increasing number of justice-loving countries, peoples as well as religious and political leaders, showing great concern and support to the issue of Tibet. A significantly large number of Chinese intellectuals from Mainland China and from abroad are now beginning to appreciate and support His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle-Way policy. Moreover, the truth about the Chinese government’s wrong policies in Tibet is becoming ever more evident these days. Particularly, the mutually beneficial Middle-Way policy does not envisage victory for oneself and defeat for others. Envied by all the people of the world, it has the strong support of the USA and many other like-minded countries. Tibetan intellectuals inside Tibet, across three regions of Tibet, also admire and support it. Hence, the issue of Tibet has achieved — and is continuing to achieve — great results that have both the short- and long-term benefits. While expressing our immense gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for formulating such a genuine policy, the Kashag would like to pledge before Your Holiness that we will continue to uphold this policy without any doubt in our minds in the future.

Unimaginable atrocities and cruelty of the past about 60 years have not been able to shake the spirit and determination of the Tibetan people. The Chinese government is now further sharpening its strategy of employing deceit and money to destroy the spirit and unity of the Tibetan people. The Kashag believes that the Tibetan people will not fall prey to these Chinese deceptions. The unity among all the Tibetan people, which has remained intact for a long time now, has been strengthened after the popular uprising of 2008. The Kashag would like to urge all Tibetans to make efforts to further strengthen this bond of unity and to stay clear from the incitements or machinations of the other side to drive a wedge between us Tibetans. The Kashag would like to also urge that we Tibetans should caution by refraining from indulging in internal squabbles over petty matters.

Two important issues that the Tibetans inside Tibet must give a serious thought to are: 1) Tibetan youths should be encouraged to broaden their educational horizon by concentrating on both traditional and modern education and by acquiring professional and specialised skills in their chosen fields of study; and 2) explore all possible ways and means to save the delicate environment of the Tibetan plateau from further degradation. These are non-political issues that have a strong bearing on the short- and long-term benefits of both the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. Therefore, it is very important for both sides to make collective efforts towards these ends. Similarly, everyone should make best efforts to put into practice the advices His Holiness the Dalai Lama give to the people of world in general and to the people of Tibet in particular, the advices of both spiritual and temporal aspect that have huge bearing not just in this life but also in many lives to come.

If the Tibetans, who are currently divided into many administrative units, could be brought under a single autonomous administration, it will be more helpful in devising a uniform policy to bring about all-round development in the fields of education, culture, health, etc. It will, in particular, help protect the unique culture and identity of Tibet. The request to bring all Tibetans under a single administration has now and again been made to the Chinese government since 1951. As such, during the recent Fifth Work Forum on Tibet, delegates from all Tibetan areas were summoned to deliberate upon a uniform development plan for all Tibetans. The Forum has also identified the fact that the Tibetans in general, and the Tibetan farmers and herders in particular, are lagging behind as far as the standard of living is concerned. We must take note of these developments indeed. We await the Chinese government to actually implement a uniform development programme for all the Tibetan-inhabited areas.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will turn 75 on 6 July 2010. The Kashag plans to celebrate his coming birthday more elaborately than the previous ones with major spiritual activities. Similarly, our exile democracy will complete 50 years on 2 September, this year. Therefore, we are planning to commemorate this day as well. We hope that all Tibetans will bear these upcoming events in mind. Although it is very difficult for the Tibetans inside Tibet to openly come out and celebrate these upcoming events, we believe they will be able to join us Tibetan exiles in their hearts and minds.

To conclude, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the spontaneous fulfilment of all his wishes. May the truth of the issue of Tibet prevail soon!

The Kashag

N.B. This has been translated from the original statement issued in Tibetan. If there is any discrepancy between the two, please treat the Tibetan version as authoritative and final.

Speaker Mr. Penpa Tsering delivering the Statement of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile during the Solidarity Hunger Strike on the first day of Tibetan Losar at Tsuglhakhang, Dharamshala

 Amongst the patriotic Tibetan men and women who have been committing the heroic act of self-immolations in Tibet under the two main slogans demanding “the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet” and “freedom and human rights for the Tibetan people”, Venerable Tapey of Kirti Monastery set the trend on 27^th of February, 2009. Since then, between the 16^th of March, 2011 and 19^th of February, 2012, some 23 Tibetans both lay and ordained, have committed self-immolation in Tibet for the sake of Tibet and its people. Two Tibetans have done the same outside of Tibet totaling 25 so far. Fifteen of them including three nuns have lost their precious lives in the process and we have not been able to ascertain the condition and whereabouts of the rest.

We have also come to know from reliable sources that on the 23^rd of January, 2012 which was the occasion of the celebration of the Chinese New Year, Tibetans in Tibet observed it as a day of mourning by holding peaceful demonstrations. But the Chinese police and the militia opened indiscriminate gun-fire on them and 4 Tibetans in Draggo, 2 in Serta and 1 in Zamthang totalling 7 were massacred. We have further come to know that on the 8th of February of this year, the same type of peaceful demonstrations had taken place in other places like Nangchen, Trindu, Zatoe, Golok, Chuchen, Chabcha etc while observing ‘White Wednesday’ which is the favourable prayer day for the long life of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. However, as the Chinese government had sealed of all internet and phone connection in most of the places in Tibet and especially those where demonstrations had taken place, we have not been able to ascertain the scale of oppression and the number of people killed, tortured or arrested. There is in effect, an unapparent military rule in Tibet at present and the Chinese government has declared an open “war” on the Tibetan people as whole.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has continuously been appealing to the Government of China and the International Community regarding the urgent situation in Tibet through its series of press statements. Recently, a special delegation of the TPiE travelled to New Delhi to brief a number of Embassies of different countries about the fast deteriorating conditions in Tibet. We also wrote an open letter to the Chinese President.

Through this statement, we once again appeal to the Government of China and the International Community as follows:

Appeal to the Chinese leaders:

1. Withdraw the large reinforcement of military to reduce tension immediately and take measures to give due consideration to the aspirations of the Tibetan people.

2. Allow independent, non-partisan fact finding delegations to ascertain the ground realities. If you have issues with that, allow a Tibetan fact finding delegation to visit Tibet.

3. Stop the policies and programs aimed at destroying the identity of the Tibetan people. Provide religious freedom and undertake reconciliation measures to assuage the hurt sentiments of the Tibetan people.

4. Stop sedentarization of Tibetan nomads and include Tibetan participation in environmental stewardship by using their centuries old wisdom of having lived on the Tibetan Plateau.

5. All developmental activities in Tibet must give due consideration to Tibet’s fragile environment and should accrue due benefit to the native Tibetans.

6. Release all political prisoners including Panchen Rinpoche Gedun Choekyi Nyima, just as Burma did so to create more trust between the people and the government.

7. Resume dialogue with the Tibetans with the commitment and conviction to seek a lasting solution to the Issue of Tibet, and peace and stability in the whole geo- strategic region.

 Similarly to the International Community, we call upon the leaders of the free world to not only express your concern but also seek your intervention in de-escalating the prevailing dangerous situation inside Tibet and help find a lasting solution to the Issue of Tibet for a mutually beneficial agreement through dialogue.

We are confident that while engaging constructively with China, you will not refrain from voicing your concern for the values of democracy, equality, justice and basic human rights that you so very much cherish.

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

Dharamsala: Dated: February 22, 2012

Video Message of Mr. Penpa Tsering, Honourable Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is viewable in tibetonline.tv