I can’t wait to be a Chinese citizen, says the Dalai Lama!
Peter Terpstra
May 18, 2008
I can’t wait to be a Chinese citizen, says the Dalai Lama
With his maroon robes, cheap plastic flip-flops and engaging smile, the Dalai
Lama has become a familiar figure on the world stage. After nearly 60 years as
spiritual leader of the Tibetan diaspora he is anxious to retire and has
softened his line towards China. Now, on the eve of a visit to Britain, he is
putting forward four new proposals that he hopes will ensure human rights in
Tibet and allow him to return home from exile
In his first big interview with a British paper since rioting broke out in
Tibet on March 10, I had expected the Dalai Lama to be in a sombre mood. As
the exiled leader of his nation, he has little enough to laugh about: around
200 Tibetans have lost their lives since the uprising in March and many more
have been beaten or imprisoned by the Chinese.
Meanwhile, the Chinese, who mounted a bloody takeover of the Himalayan plateau
in 1950, have been busily painting the Dalai Lama as “a demon” and “a wolf in
monk’s robes”. Never has the Tibetan leader’s dream of negotiating autonomy
for his people seemed less likely to be fulfilled. Never has he seemed less
likely to return to the country from which he fled to India as a young man,
followed by tens of thousands of refugees.
This month the Dalai Lama is once again on the move – he met members of the
German government last week and is to see Gordon Brown this week. When we met
two days ago, it was in a modest hotel suite in the Ruhr Valley with what
looked suspiciously like a Teasmaid in the corner.
In some ways he looked the same as I remembered from previous encounters:
maroon robes, saffron waistcoat, cheap plastic flip-flops. But his entire
demeanour was different. He hardly giggled – a trait for which he is famed.
And, above all, he looked unexpectedly enthusiastic, as though someone had
suddenly given him back the keys to his lost realm.
They haven’t, of course, but – rather surprisingly – he has clearly come to
terms with this. “Actually,” he told me, “I am very much looking forward to
becoming a citizen of the People’s Republic of China. At the moment I am a
refugee. But I would like to return to Tibet as a member of China’s Tibetan
minority.”
There is no doubt he means this. One of the remarkable features of the Dalai
Lama’s leadership over the past decade or so, from his government in exile in
Dharamsala, has been his willingness to risk the anger of his fellow
countrymen. Many, already frustrated at what they see as the lack of progress
being made by the so-called middle-way approach, are ready to risk all in
direct confrontation with China.
Indeed, even as we were talking, there was a small demonstration of
disaffected Tibetans in the car park outside the hotel – although admittedly
they were protesting about the downgrading of a minor Buddhist deity. The
Dalai Lama was unperturbed. “It is their right. They are enjoying themselves.
And it makes me happy that they should exercise their democratic rights – as
long as there is no violence, everyone can be happy.” He laughed. “But if they
think that they can persuade me to change my principles by shouting, they are
mistaken.”
His principles remain solid, though he is at least prepared to put some new
proposals to the Chinese and – typically, perhaps, for a man who has kept
Tibet in the news, year in and year out, by allowing the media to turn him
into a fully fledged personality – he is giving them their first public airing
in a newspaper interview. In an unexpected shift of policy, he has four
conditions which, if met, would permit him to return.
“The first sign that the [Chinese] government is taking the world’s concerns
seriously would be the opening of Tibet to foreign media,” he said. “They
should be given free rein to report all that they find, whether it is good or
bad.
“Secondly, it is important that the government accept medical aid from
outside. There are great numbers of Tibetans who have been injured in the
recent disturbances and it is very doubtful that they have received the
treatment they require.
“Thirdly, the government must release all political prisoners. Not those who
have perpetrated violence, but all who have protested peacefully. Then there
should be fair and open trials for those who did engage in criminal activity.
“Finally, there need to be substantive discussions with a view to satisfying
the Tibetan people’s aspiration to exercise their basic human rights. That is
the right way to prevent any further disturbances. And by disturbances, I mean
peaceful disturbances.”
During the riots this year, some western commentators suggested the Tibetan
leader had been slow to condemn the violence among Tibet’s restive population.
However, he is quite explicit: it is right that any Tibetans who have caused
criminal damage or physical harm should be prosecuted.
While prominent figures debate whether to boycott the opening ceremony of the
Olympics, the Dalai Lama also has no doubts about the fitness of holding the
Games in China. “I have been a supporter of China’s right to host the Olympics
from the beginning, “ he said. “It is right that China should have been
awarded them. It has the world’s largest population and a great and ancient
culture. In normal circumstances I would very much like to have gone to
Beijing as a spectator, had I been invited.”
Couldn’t he go anyway? “With the present conditions in Tibet, many people
would rightly be disappointed if I went without the Chinese government making
some genuine efforts to resolve the Tibetan crisis.”
Yet he feels clearly a sense of responsibility not only towards his own
people, but also towards the Chinese. He would like, he said, to make a
donation towards the earthquake relief efforts in China – but he isn’t sure
that such a gesture would be welcome; and he doesn’t wish to be seen as
interfering in an internal Chinese matter.
In the immediate aftermath of the March riots, about 10m Chinese internet
users posted comments on an official website that were critical of the Dalai
Lama and of Tibetans in general. One of the most frequent complaints was of
Tibetan ingratitude: most ordinary Chinese do not question the government’s
claim to have brought prosperity to an economically deprived region. In fact,
much of the money pumped into Tibet has found its way not into the pockets of
the indigenous population, but into those of Chinese migrants.
However, a few educated Chinese are willing to listen to dissenting voices and
an even smaller minority is actually willing to speak out against the
Communist party’s treatment of Tibet. The Dalai Lama was particularly
encouraged by an open letter written to the Chinese government by Chinese
intellectuals. Originally signed by 29 courageous lawyers and academics, it
eventually attracted more than 400 signatures.
“I have no doubt that the increasing education of the Chinese people will make
an enormous difference,” he said.
Does he think that he is likely to be able to return home soon? “It could
happen in a matter of hours. You see, there is nothing complicated about it.
The sticking-point is not ideological. It is political. But such things can be
put right very quickly.”
What if there is no speedy resolution? “Actually, I am looking forward to
retiring. Then the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the elected
representatives of the Tibetan people in exile. In one sense I am already
semi-retired. Since 2001 there has been an elected prime minister within the
Tibetan government in exile.” It is true that the Dalai Lama is no longer
minutely involved in the day-to-day running of an administration that serves
the 150,000-strong worldwide community of exiled Tibetans. But does he believe
that his people will allow him to retire? Surely that would create an even
longer hiatus until the next Dalai Lama emerges – “taking rebirth” as a young
boy – and is then suitably educated?
“Well,” he said laughing, “it is my human right to retire. Besides, I have
held my position as head of state since the age of 16. I am now almost 73
years old. I think that I deserve some reward. I would like to spend some time
preparing for my next life. As you know, we believe that this can be done
through spiritual practice. And also, I feel that it would be beneficial if I
were to retire while I can hope to have some years left to me. That way I can
keep an eye on what is going on.
“It would be very difficult for people if I were to keep my position until I
die. Suddenly, the Dalai Lama is gone and there is only a small child to take
his place. There needs to be a period of transition.”
In the past he has spoken of his desire to decouple the institution of the
Dalai Lama from politics, but he has never explained how he intends to achieve
this.
“Definitely, by the time I am 80,” he continued, “I shall have retired
completely. I have no desire to be in the position of Mr Mugabe.” He paused.
“Of course, the situation in Tibet is a factor.”
But not a conclusive one, it seems. “As soon as the situation does improve and
I am able to return to Tibet, I will immediately renounce all legitimate
authority. I will hand over all executive power to the local representative
government of Tibet.”
I know that it is his fondest wish to spend his last days in Reting monastery
in Tibet. For the first time, I felt that he might yet live to achieve that.
Holder of the White Lotus: The Lives of the Dalai Lama, by Alexander Norman,
is published by Little, Brown at £20. Copies can be ordered for £18, including
postage, from The Sunday Times BooksFirst on 0870 165 8585
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3952770.ece
--
Amnesty International Report 2009 on China:
http://report2009.amnesty.org/en/regions/asia-pacific/china
abia...@my-deja.com
was chosen as next Dalai Lama, my ROC government approved the
selection and gave the blessing. It was before 1949!!!
I would suggest Dalai Lama write to Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs
Commission in Taipei, Republic of China for renewing his Republic of
China Resident ID card, once he has ROC Resident ID card, he will be
automatically treated as Chinese citizen in PRC just like us.
Anyway, glad to hear Dalai Lama said that, that means, Tibet is part
of China!!!
> http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/boo...
Peter Terpstra
a1a9-791...@g23g2000vbr.googlegroups.com> :
> Dalai Lama is already a Chinese (Republic of China) citizen. When he
> was chosen as next Dalai Lama, my ROC government approved the
> selection and gave the blessing. It was before 1949!!!
>
> I would suggest Dalai Lama write to Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs
> Commission in Taipei, Republic of China for renewing his Republic of
> China Resident ID card, once he has ROC Resident ID card, he will be
> automatically treated as Chinese citizen in PRC just like us.
>
> Anyway, glad to hear Dalai Lama said that, that means, Tibet is part
> of China!!!
The results are not there yet but many thanks for your reaction!
Kind Regards,
Peter
sexy Fucking Yoni , the Hindu Cunt Goddesse
>
> read more »
rst0wxyz
wrote:
> Dalai Lama is already a Chinese (Republic of China) citizen. When he
> was chosen as next Dalai Lama, my ROC government approved the
There is no such entity or nation called "Republic of China",
abainchen slut cunt uneducated ugly fool bitch. The ROC only exists
in your mind.
> ...
>
> read more »