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Friday, January 21, 2011
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Issue ID: 2011/01/21Compiled by Nima Dorjee
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Contents
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1. Hu Pushed on Tibet Dialogue
2. Tibet overshadows Chinese leader Hu Jintao's US visit
3. An open letter to Hu Jintao
4. China leader warns US on Tibet, Taiwan
5. Hu Jintao bristles: Back off on Tibet and Taiwan
6. Chicago prepares to host Chinese leader
7. Chinese harrasment prompts monk's suicide in Nagchu, youth jailed for
chatting: source
8. Transcript of Video-Conference with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
Chinese Activists
9. 25-yr-old first Tibetan to be Indian citizen
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1. Hu Pushed on Tibet Dialogue
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2011-01-19 RFA
The U.S. president calls on his counterpart to restart talks with the
Dalai Lama for greater Tibetan autonomy.

U.S. President Barack Obama raised the plight of the Tibetan people
directly with visiting Chinese leader Hu Jintao on Wednesday, calling on
Beijing to resume talks with the Dalai Lama on greater autonomy for the
Himalayan region.

As Obama and his counterpart sparred over human rights at a rare press
conference, the U.S. leader said Beijing should make better efforts to
reconcile differences with the Tibetans, who complain their rights are
being eroded under Chinese rule.

³Even as we, the United States, recognize that Tibet is part of the
People¹s Republic of China, the United States continues to support
further dialogue between the government of China and the representatives
of the Dalai Lama to resolve concerns and differences, including the
reservation of the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan
people,² Obama said.

Some see Obama¹s move to publicly raise the Tibet issue as an attempt to
make amends for what was widely considered to be a snub of the Dalai
Lama during the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader¹s visit to Washington
last year.

Obama finally met with the Dalai Lama at the White House in February
2010 after declining to meet with him during his previous visit to
Washington in October 2009.

But some advisers had argued against the delay, which was widely panned
at home as an appeasement of China. At the meeting that was finally
held, the president agreed only to a brief meeting with the Dalai Lama
that was closed to the press and held in the White House basement Map Room.

Little progress

The Dalai Lama¹s representatives have met with Chinese officials a total
of nine times to discuss Chinese rule in Tibet, but little progress has
been made in the talks. The last time the envoys sat down with Chinese
officials was in January last year, when the two sides met in Beijing.

Hu did not respond directly to Obama¹s comment about Tibet, but did
admit later that as a developing country with a large population and in
the midst of reform, China could do better to protect the rights of its
people.

³China still faces many challenges in economic and social development.
And a lot still needs to be done in China, in terms of human rights,² he
said.

He added that China would be willing to engage in dialogue and exchanges
with the United States ³on the basis of mutual respect and the principle
of non-interference in each other¹s internal affairs.²

ŒMake change happen¹

Mary Beth Markey, president of the International Campaign for Tibet,
said that while it was atypical of Obama to make such a strong statement
about Tibet on the public stage, his message was ³nothing new.²

³That is what the president has been saying to the Chinese privately.
And yes, it¹s enormously gratifying to have him say it publicly. But
again, it¹s not new Š and it¹s something that Hu Jintao would have heard
many times before,² Markey said.

³It is Hu, and it is only President Hu, who has the authority to make
change happen in Tibet. So it would have been much more gratifying to
then have President Hu say something and Š he was pretty dodgy on those
human rights issues,² she said.

³[But] the Chinese do not like to appear to be acting at the behest of
U.S. concerns for Tibet.²

Many Tibetans have chafed for years under Chinese rule, which they say
has eroded their national culture and curbed their freedom to practice
Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama has accused China of perpetrating "cultural genocide" in
Tibet, and is regarded by Beijing as a dangerous separatist.

Call for concern

As Obama and Hu fielded questions at the joint press conference,
hundreds of Tibetan and other demonstrators converged on Lafayette Park
outside the White House, protesting against what they called China¹s
human rights abuses.

Some chanted "Who is a liar? Hu Jintao is a liar" and "Killer, killer,
Hu Jintao."

Two actors wearing 12-foot-tall skeleton costumes played out an attack
on others portraying a Chinese dragon in front of a banner that read,
"Hu has Tibetan skeletons in his closet."

"We're here to urge President Obama to raise the issue of human rights
and freedom for the Tibetan people during his talk with President Hu
Jintao, publicly and vigorously, because these are universal values and
especially ones that us Americans ... cherish," said Tenzin Dolkar of
Students for a Free Tibet.

Written by Joshua Lipes.

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2. Tibet overshadows Chinese leader Hu Jintao's US visit
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Belfast Telegraph, Thursday, 20 January 2011

As President Obama welcomed Hu Jintao of China to the White House
yesterday with pledges of a new era of co-operation between their
countries, he punctured the pomp of an opening ceremony on the south
lawn with a pointed reminder of the world's dismay at Beijing's
reluctant record on human rights.

Mr Obama specifically raised Tibet at a Press conference saying that
while the US recognises it is a part of Chinese territory, it is urging
Beijing to engage in fresh talks ³to resolve concerns and differences
including the preservation of the religious and cultural identity² of
the Tibetan people.

³We have some core views as Americans about the universality of certain
rights that we think are very important, that transcend cultures. I have
been very candid with President Hu about these |issues,² he said.

The comments came after Mr Obama and President Hu stood alongside each
other on a podium as a 21-gun salute marked the start of an intricately
choreographed formal visit by the Chinese leader that was to culminate
with a star-studded state dinner last night.

Barely had the day's serious business begun, including talks between the
two heads of state, than the White House was |unveiling a $45bn (£28bn)
new export agreement with China that it said would protect 235,000
American jobs.

But while Mr Obama was already going further than his predecessor,
George Bush, to accord Mr Hu full honours in Washington ‹ last night's
occasion was to be the first state dinner for a Chinese leader in 13
years ‹ there could be no ignoring the gaps between them on human rights.

While Mr Obama is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mr Hu leads a country that
has this year's |winner of the prize, Liu Xiaobo, behind bars.

Saying that he saw his visit as an opportunity to ³open a new chapter in
co-operation as partners², President Hu also sharpened the atmosphere by
serving notice that China and America will not see eye to eye on
everything and that the two countries should exercise ³mutual respect²
of each other's positions.

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3. An open letter to Hu Jintao
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19 Jan 2011
The Asian Age

Dear Hu Jintao,

As the Chinese leader most closely associated with Tibet, you have
declared Tibet to be one of the most sensitive ³core issues² in the
US-China relationship. We expect that it will be high on the agenda of
your discussions with President Obama this week.

Mr Hu, you began your rise to power as Party chief in Tibet (although
you didn¹t enjoy the altitude in Lhasa), and you have been instrumental
in setting and implementing policy on Tibet. As the succession process
begins in the Chinese Communist Party, what will be your legacy on Tibet?

Tibetans have not forgotten that you presided over that terrifying time
of martial law in Lhasa in 1989 ‹ and you were one of the first regional
leaders to congratulate those who ordered the troops to open fire on
Tiananmen Square three months later.

Today, there is a deepening crackdown in Tibet. Tibetans have risked
their lives to express their loyalty to their leader the Dalai Lama and
their anguish as a result of more than 50 years of suppression. Your
response has been to strengthen the very measures that caused the
largely peaceful wave of protests that swept across Tibetan areas of the
PRC from March, 2008 onwards. You have tightened control to suffocation
point, imposing new measures that weaken the institutions of Tibetan
Buddhism and undermine Tibetan language, bedrock of its culture.
Although you are leader of a Communist state that promotes atheism, you
have even declared that Tibetan lamas cannot be reincarnated without
government permission.

Your actions point to profound contradictions in China¹s leadership
today. While you demonstrate increasing strength and aggressive
authority in your assertions towards global leadership, you regard
peaceful disagreement with the juggernaut top-down policies of the
Communist Party as a threat to your nation¹s ³security². The latter is
not the approach of a strong state. As Tibetans, we are not alone in
believing that the measure of greatness of a nation is not only based on
turbo-charged mercantilism. We believe that ultimately if China is to
achieve greatness you must lead with a moral authority and take into
account the wishes and genuine grievances of the Chinese and Tibetan
people.

The need for change is urgent. Your government and Party have engaged in
a systematic attack on the rule of law and civil society. You
characterise two of the most progressive and important voices for peace
on the world stage today ‹ our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
Chinese scholar Liu Xiaobo ‹ as ³criminals². Tibet is under virtual
lockdown, with ever longer prison sentences being imposed as ultimately
futile attempts to silence the peaceful expression of views. Do you want
the leitmotif of your legacy to be a hellish, constricting fear?

Mr Hu, you can no longer say that what happens in Tibet is simply a matter

of China¹s ³internal affairs². Tibet is a ³core issue² for the world,
not just for China. Tibet is the earth¹s ŒThird Pole¹ with the world¹s
largest reserves of freshwater outside the Arctic and Antarctic. The
fragile ecology of the Tibetan plateau, the source of most of Asia¹s
major rivers including the Yangtze, is of critical importance to the
water-dependent societies in downstream nations. And yet you have
developed and are pursuing fast-track economic strategies and damning
projects that are known to contribute to the adverse effects of global
warming and risk devastation in downstream communities, including India.

Twenty-first century thinking requires us to move beyond 19th century
nation-building based on the exploitation of natural resources. There is
an increasing consensus among Chinese, Tibetan and Western scholars that
your policy of settling nomads in Tibet is leading to environmental
degradation and increasing poverty. Scientists say that the traditional
ecosystem knowledge of Tibetan nomads protects the land and livelihoods
and helps restore areas already degraded. The involvement of Tibetans is
essential to sustaining the long-term health of the land and water
resources that China and the rest of Asia depends upon.

Mr Hu, a new generation of leaders has a responsibility to listen to
voices for change from Tibet and China, and to deal responsibly with
Tibet policy.

It is not too late for you to take an important and historic step before
the succession runs its course, with regard to another important
succession.

The Dalai Lama is recognised by the world as the pre-eminent
representative of the Tibetan people. The potential for instability
increases, not decreases, after he passes away. Now is the time for a
far-sighted Chinese leadership to engage with this moderate, influential
leader ‹ who is revered by thousands of Chinese, too ‹ before it is too
late.

We hope that your visit to Washington is fruitful.

Tencho Gyatso, Tsering Jampa, and Pema Wangyal are from the International

Campaign for Tibet
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4. China leader warns US on Tibet, Taiwan
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(AFP) January 20, 2011

WASHINGTON ‹ Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday warned the United
States to respect Beijing's sovereignty over Taiwan and Tibet but
assured that his country had no interest in engaging in an arms race.

Hu repeatedly urged "mutual respect" and cooperation between the Pacific
powers as he delivered a policy speech on a state visit in which his
hosts have repeatedly pressed him about human rights.

At a luncheon with senior US officials and business leaders, Hu said
that Taiwan and Tibet "concern China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity and they represent China's core interests."

"A review of the history of our relations tells us that US-China
relations will enjoy smooth and steady growth when the two countries
handle well issues involving each other's major interests," Hu said.

"Otherwise our relations will suffer constant trouble or even tension,"
he warned.

President Barack Obama, at a joint news conference with Hu on Wednesday,
had urged China to engage in talks with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled
spiritual leader, although he reaffirmed the US view that the Himalayan
territory is part of China.

The United States and its allies, particularly Japan, have repeatedly
voiced concern about China's double-digit growth of military spending.
China tested a stealth fighter this month just as US Defense Secretary
Robert Gates visited.

Hu dismissed concerns, saying: "We do not engage in arms races or pose a
military threat to any country. China will never seek hegemony or pursue
an expansionist policy."

However, much of Hu's speech was conciliatory. He urged cooperation
between the world's largest developed and developing nations on issues
from reviving the moribund Doha trade liberalization talks to fighting
climate change.

"China and the United States should pursue global cooperation as
partners to fulfill common responsibilities and meet common challenges,"
Hu said.

He also said China sought to work with the United States around Asia,
despite growing concerns in Japan and Southeast Asian nations about
Chinese assertiveness in recent months over myriad territorial disputes.

"We should stay committed to promoting peace, stability and prosperity
in the Asia-Pacific region, engage in open and inclusive regional
cooperation and turn the Asia-Pacific into an important region where
China and the United States work closely together on the basis of mutual
respect," Hu said.

The leader of the world's most populous nation also hit back at the sour
US mood over China's economic clout. Hu met earlier Thursday with US
lawmakers, many of whom accuse China of killing American manufacturing
jobs by keeping its currency artificially low.

Hu, citing an unspecified study, said that "quality yet inexpensive
products" from China have saved US consumers 600 billion dollars over
the past 10 years.

In China, more than 70 percent of US companies stayed profitable even
during the worst of the global economic crisis, Hu said.

"The China-US relationship is not one in which one side's gain means the
other one's loss," Hu said.

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5. Hu Jintao bristles: Back off on Tibet and Taiwan
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chinese President Hu Jintao, addressing business leaders in Washington,
said any US-China relationship must be based on mutual respect, calling
Tibet and Taiwan core Chinese interests.

By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer

Christian Science Monitor: posted January 20, 2011 at 6:04 pm EST

Washington ‹

Chinese President Hu Jintao used a lunch address with US business
leaders Thursday to underscore the theme he has sought to establish for
his state visit to Washington: Both countries as well as the world can
benefit from enhanced US-China cooperation, but it must be cooperation
based on mutual respect.

Just in case it was unclear to anyone what Mr. Hu meant, he spelled it
out with two examples. The US, he said, must recognize that Taiwan and
Tibet are ³issues that concern China¹s territorial integrity and China¹s
core interests.²

In other words, stay out. Hu cited the examples a day after President
Obama referred to Tibet and the Dalai Lama in a press conference with
Hu, and just hours after Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leader, brought
up the issue of Tibet in a meeting with Hu.

RELATED: Seven questions about Hu Jintao's visit

The House minority leader also conveyed ³the concerns ... on both sides
of the aisle² over the continued detention of Chinese human rights
activist Liu Xiaobo, she said in a statement. Ms. Pelosi noted the fact
that Mr. Liu was not permitted to travel to Norway in December to
receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Obama, the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
laureate, refrained from publicly citing Liu¹s case Wednesday.

Hu¹s words, delivered at a luncheon in his honor sponsored by the
US-China Business Council and the National Committee on United
States-China Relations, suggested areas of potential future tension
for example, if the US continues to sell arms to Taiwan.
Military-to-military relations between China and the US are only now
beginning to recover from the freeze they experienced after the Obama
administration announced arms sales to Taiwan more than a year ago.

Those flies in the ointment aside, Hu focused mostly on the benefits for
both countries of increased economic and security cooperation.
Addressing the commonly held view in the US that China is more of an
economic threat than an opportunity, Hu said that in fact, China had
been a bright spot for US business through the global recession.

³For many US companies, their China operations have become the most
profitable of their global operations,² he said.

From Washington, Hu was to continue to Chicago, where he plans to visit
a Chinese-owned auto-parts factory. Such a visit will put the emphasis
on a China that creates US jobs, rather than destroying them.

Some US business leaders say they are holding out hope that Hu¹s visit
will mark a genuine turn in China toward the ³level playing field² for
US and other international companies that Obama called for Wednesday.
During Hu¹s visit, China committed to opening markets wider including
for government procurement contracts and to honoring foreign
companies¹ intellectual property rights.

As one example, the Chinese government announced on Wednesday that it
will audit government-office software use and publish the audit¹s
results. ³If the audit is thorough, the additional transparency on this
issue should result in greater software sales for US companies,² said
John Frisbie, president of the US-China Business Council, in a statement.

Only 1 in 10 users of Microsoft software in China has paid for the
product, said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft¹s chief executive officer, in a
White House meeting Wednesday with US business leaders, Hu, and Obama.

Even as Hu called for mutual respect and a sense of equitable
cooperation particularly in the Asia-Pacific he also fell back on
the notion of China as not-quite-yet a developed global power.

³We are keenly aware that China is still the largest developing country
in the world,² he said. A day after publicly acknowledging China¹s
shortcomings in the respect of human rights, Hu said, ³We still have a
long way to go.... Development holds the key to all our problems.²

Hu was introduced to his audience by Henry Kissinger, the former
secretary of State and national security adviser whom President Nixon
dispatched on a secret mission to China in 1971, which led to the two
adversaries reestablishing diplomatic relations.

Recalling that Chinese leader Zhou Enlai had told him that renewed
US-China relations ³will shake the world,² Dr. Kissinger said that the
current generation of US-China leader ³has different task.... We are
working to build the world, not to shake it.²

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6. Chicago prepares to host Chinese leader
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chicagotribune.com
By Antonio Olivo
Tribune reporter
10:35 AM CST, January 19, 2011

As Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived to Washington today, Chicago is
preparing to play host to the visiting head of state during the last leg
of his American trip on Thursday and Friday.

Several hundred Chinese Americans will gather outside the Hilton Chicago
hotel Thursday to welcome Hu, who will be guest of honor at a reception
there hosted by Mayor Richard Daley. Nearby, hundreds of protesters also
will mark Hu's arrival, hoping to raise awareness of alleged human
rights violations in Tibet, Taiwan and against practioners in China of
Falun Gong beliefs.

³We want Mr. Hu to know he¹s not welcome here,² said Lobsang Wangdak,
head of the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, who plans to be among
demonstrators from as far away as Minneapolis. ³We know he is the one
who is holding a firm grip on the Tibetan issue.²

During his visit to Chicago, the Chinese president plans to visit the
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, home to the Confucious
Center Chinese language program, and will tour several Chinese-owned
businesses in the region, city officials said.

In eager anticipation of what they see as new economic opportunities
brought through Chicago¹s strengthening relationship with China, local
Chinese American leaders have been posting Hu welcome signs in Chinatown
and areas of the South Loop.

³Chicago residents should be honored that Chicago is the only city
outside Washington DC that he selected to visit,² said Hong Liu,
president of the Chinese American Association of Greater Chicago, an
umbrella group of more than 100 Chinese organizations that is planning
³street welcoming activities² outside the Hilton Thursday. ³He¹s going
to bring a lot of businesses to Chicago and promote friendship, not only
between China and the U.S. but Chicago and China¹s friendship.²

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7. Chinese harrasment prompts monk's suicide in Nagchu, youth jailed for
chatting: source
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Phayul[Wednesday, January 19, 2011 17:50]

By Kalsang Rinchen

Dharamsala, January 19 News have emerged from Tibet that a Tibetan
monk had hanged himself to death in his monastery quarter in Sog County
in November 15, 2010, a Tibetan living here with contacts in the region
told the Voice of Tibet radio service.

Lobsang Palden, a 48 year old monk of Dradhel monastery in Trido
township in Nagchu prefecture¹s Sog County, was found dead in his
quarter on November 15 last year.

Lobsang had hung himself to the ceiling of his quarter after Chinese
officials from the local Religious Affairs Bureau constantly harassed
and threatened him on grounds of his connection with the Tibetan leader
Dalai Lama, whom he met during a visit to India in 2007, the Tibetan
source said who requesting anonymity. China reviles the Tibetan leader
the Dalai Lama as a ³separatist² and ³a wolf in monk¹s robes².

The officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau had subjected him to
several hours of questioning days before his death, according to the
source. ³He was threatened against living in the monastery by the
officials before his death. Several monks and residents had seen his
suicide note,² he added.

Lobsang had initiated several developmental works in his monastery and
his town for which he was loved and respected by the local Tibetans.
Lobsang¹s death has shocked the local Tibetan residents who deeply mourn
his death, the source said.

Local Tibetans who knew Lobsang described him as a very loving and
respected monk of the monastery, and several families in Trido township
voluntarily offered post-death rituals and prayers for him, according to
the source.

Meanwhile, the same source said that another Tibetan from the same
locality was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for what the Chinese
government described as ³connections with outside separatist forces².
Kalsang Norden was arrested in 2009 for using the popular Chinese
chatting website called qq.com and charged with ³separatist² behavior.
It is not known if he had contents that the Chinese government had
banned like pictures of the Dalai Lama on his page. In October 2009,
Chinese government arrested 3 Tibetan men from Sog County for allegedly
posting pictures of the exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama and his
speeches on their profiles on qq.com.

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8. Transcript of Video-Conference with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
Chinese Activists
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TibetNet[Thursday, January 20, 2011 17:53]

Questions put forward to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Chinese people
from various cities in Mainland China.

1. Your Holiness, what is your view about Ngabo Ngawang Jigme? He was
the representative delegated by you to negotiate with the People¹s
Republic of China and also the one who signed the 17-Point Agreement [in
1951]. Even if you had not granted him [plenipotentiary] powers [to sign
the Agreement], you had later accepted that agreement. Eventually, most
of the time, he stood against you and acted like the spokesperson of the
Chinese government on the Tibet issue.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: I knew Ngabo even before 1950. People who
knew Ngabo at that time viewed him as an honest person, someone of
integrity. I also viewed Ngabo as progressive and trusted him. He was
then one of the main people who had my trust and confidence. After the
signing of the Agreement, when I met Ngabo in Lhasa, he told me that
they were compelled to sign that Agreement because, had they refused to
sign, it would have resulted in an Œarmed liberation¹ of Tibet. Thus, he
felt that a Œpeaceful liberation¹ was better than an Œarmed liberation¹.
He, however, also said that when they signed the Agreement, even though
they were carrying the Chamdo governor¹s official seal, they did not use
it. They instead had to use a forged seal provided by the Chinese
government.

Similarly, in 1979, after Deng Xiaoping displayed significant
flexibility, I dispatched fact-finding delegations to Tibet. At that
time, when my delegates met Ngabo, he told them to be aware about the
fact that whether in times of the Qing dynasty, or for that matter, the
rule of Guomingtang, places within the territory of Ganden Phodrang
[Government of Tibet] never paid taxes to them. Ngabo thus gave a clear
indication of his patriotism.

Similarly, in 1989, during a session of Tibet Autonomous Region People's
Congress, Ngabo refuted as factually incorrect the official Chinese
paper claiming that the Nanjing government (of Guomingtang) made all the
decisions regarding the enthronement of the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as
on matters relating to the identification and recognition of the Dalai
Lama. Ngabo said that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama was recognized
by the regent of Tibet in accordance with religious tradition and that
there was no foreign presider at the enthronement ceremony. The
aforesaid claims, Ngabo said, were not true as asserted by the
Guomintang officials. Even though I was a minor at the time of the
enthronement, I still vividly remember that there were representatives
of British India, China, Nepal and Bhutan uniformly seated in one row.
Thus, in these matters, Ngabo had done his best in clarifying the actual
facts. Following his demise, we organized a memorial service. In fact,
some of our friends criticized our memorial service for him as
inappropriate. We all know it is a fact that people under fear are
forced to speak diplomatically according to the given circumstances.
This is the reason why I always had complete trust in him. Even though
he has now passed away, I always pray for him.

2. Your Holiness, are you losing control over the behaviour of a few
Tibetans in exile? What do you think if that happens and how are you
going to work on this?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: There are over 150,000 Tibetans living in
exile, out of which perhaps 99 percent share common concern and
sincerity on the issue of Tibet. Of course, there will be difference of
opinions and it should exist since here we are following the path of
democracy. I tell my people that they have the right to freedom of
speech and freedom of thought, and they should express themselves
freely. So there will be different opinions. Take the example of the
Tibetan Youth Congress. They struggle for independence and criticize our
Middle-Way policy. During my occasional meetings with them, I tell them
Œthe Chinese government expects that I should arrest some of you¹, but
we cannot do such things here in a free country and I would never do
such a thing.

3. My question to you, my teacher, is the struggle of non-violence and
truth (non- cooperation) effective in confronting communist China? If
yes, in what ways the Tibetan people are benefited by non-violence and
truth?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: I always tell the same thing to Tibetans.
And I want to mention here that even though our consistent stand of
middle-way policy based on the foundation of non-violence has not
yielded tangible result through dialogue with the Chinese government, it
has helped us in getting strong support from the Chinese intellectuals,
students and those who are interested in and aware of the reality. This
is the result of my efforts.
It is difficult to deal with the Chinese government, but I think despite
our inability to maintain extensive contacts with the Chinese
intellectuals and public, our stand will win their support and it will
continue to grow. It was some months after the Tiananmen event, I met
some Chinese friends at Harvard University as I happened to be at that
time in the US. After I explained to them our position, they said the
entire Chinese people would support the stand of the Dalai Lama if they
know about it.

4. Your Holiness, please explain how reforming the system of
reincarnating lamas is permissible? Does such a reform contravene the
Buddha's teachings?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: From the outset, I want to ask the
questioner to read a little of the Buddha's teachings as contained in
Kagyur (teachings of the Buddha) and Tengyur (Commentaries by Buddhist
masters). The custom of recognizing reincarnate lamas did not develop in
India. Similarly, the tradition of reincarnation of lamas did not
develop in many Buddhist countries such as Thailand, Burma and China.
There is a system of recognizing someone as a reincarnation of an
enlightened being, but the system of recognizing someone as Tulku or
Lama does not exist. In Tibet, the first ever reincarnation was
recognized after a little child who clearly remembered his past life and
which was proved to be true. Later on, this system slowly and gradually
nearly became a class structure in society. Because of this I have made
it well known that there is a difference between Tulku and Lama. A Lama
need not be a Tulku and a Tulku need not be a Lama or one could be both
Lama and Tulku. The one who is qualified as a result of one's own study
and practice is known as Lama. A Tulku, even without such a standard of
education, enjoys status in society in the name of the former Lama. And
there are many who lack the Lama¹s qualification and even bring
disgrace. So I used to say since some forty years ago that there needs
to be some system to regulate the recognition of Tulku. Otherwise it is
not good to have many unqualified ones.
I consider my interest in the system of reincarnation as a service to
the Buddha's teachings. In the case of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation,
the four hundred year old tradition of the Dalai Lama as both spiritual
and temporal leader ended with the direct election of political
leadership by the Tibetans in exile in 2001. In 1969, I made it well
known in my official statement that whether the institution of the Dalai
Lama should continue or not would be decided by the Tibetan people. In
future, to decide whether to have the Dalai Lama's reincarnation and if
there is a need, it is not necessary to always follow the past
precedence but we can act in accordance with the given circumstances.
This conforms to the teachings of the Buddha and do not go against them.
When I explain about the possibility of reincarnation of Lamas in
general and that of the Dalai Lama in particular, some Tibetans from
inside Tibet and as well as Chinese friends wonder if this is in line
with our religious tradition.

5. At present there are a lot of people in China who have a deep-seated
anger and animosity to you. What do you have to say to them?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: At one point the Dalai Lama was called a
demon. On a few occasions I was asked what I thought on the Dalai Lama
being called a demon and I told them in good humor, ³I am a demon. I
have horns on my head².

This is understandable since the Chinese people have access only to
one-sided and distorted information. For example during the Olympic
torch relay, I especially requested the concerned people that the
Olympic Games were a matter of pride for the 1.3 billion Chinese people
and that we must never create any problem. Moreover, even before the
right of hosting the Olympic Games was awarded to China, when I was
visiting the US capital city of Washington, D.C., some journalists asked
me about my viewpoint. I told them that China being the most populous
country with a rich cultural heritage and history was worthy of hosting
the Games. This is a factual account.
But still the Chinese government greatly publicized that we were
creating obstacles for the Olympic Games. Because of such propaganda,
the Chinese people are not aware of the entire situation and thus we
cannot blame them.
While on the other side, there are many people around the world who
respect me.
Therefore, I want to urge my Chinese brothers and sisters to examine the
minute details and thoroughly research the information you receive from
all sources. When I meet Chinese students, I tell them that being in a
free country they should fully utilize both eyes and ears.

6. As far as we know, the central government of the Republic of China
participated in the selection process and enthronement ceremony of the
reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. So, Your Holiness, do you recognize the
Taiwan-based Republic of China and how much of an influence do you think
the Taiwan government will again have in the reincarnation process?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: It is similar to my earlier account of
Ngabo¹s story. Generally, when I am in Taiwan, I have supported the call
for ŒOne China¹. But eventually it is up to the people of mainland China
and Taiwan to decide whether they want to be united in the future. What
is more important is that Taiwan¹s democracy, its robust economy and
Taiwan¹s good standard of education should be properly safeguarded. This
is what I usually say.
Wang Lixiong: We have virtually seen the Dalai Lama, just that, as Your
Holiness said we could not smell each other. Using the Internet in the
21st century, we consider this opportunity of interacting with Your
Holiness as of fundamental importance. Thus, if interactions like these
are deemed constructive for Sino-Tibetan relations and understanding
each other further, then in the future I think and I hope that many
Chinese scholars and concerned people will take part. Tashi Delek.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Very good. If it is convenient for you, I
am always available and fully prepared to interact using modern
technology and clear the doubts of Chinese friends. I always say, ³Han
zang da tuan jie² (Friendly relations between Chinese and Tibetans).
If we get the opportunity of frequently holding similar meetings and
interactions, it will help build genuine trust and understanding amongst
us. We will not be able to build trust by standing far apart. The
clearer we discuss our issues the more trust we will gain in each other.
If there is trust then there will be cordial relations and with cordial
relations, even if there is a problem, we can solve it.

Can you see my face clearly? Can see my grey eyebrows? See you later.
Tashi Delek. Thank You.

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9. 25-yr-old first Tibetan to be Indian citizen
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Anand Bodh, TNN, Jan 20, 2011, 01.32am IST

CHANDIGARH: Thousands of Tibetans born in India between 1950 and 1986
may have a reason to cheer. They can now become Indian citizens under
the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986. These Tibetans have 25-year-old
Namgyal Dolkar to thank, who although born in India was declined
citizenship and termed 'stateless'.

Dolkar became the first Tibetan to get Indian citizenship after Delhi
High Court ruled in her favour last month. ''I am a Tibetan at heart,
but now I am an Indian citizen. I believe one should be aware of one's
rights, and I got my rights due to my awareness,'' she told TOI.

Dolkar is no ordinary Tibetan. She is the oldest of four siblings who
claim descent from Tibet's 33rd King Songtsen Gampo, ruler of Tibet in
the 7th century. In June 2004, during a coronation ceremony presided
over by the Dalai Lama, her younger brother, Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen
Lhagyari, was ordained descendent of the first dharma King Songtsen Gampo.

Dolkar said she hoped her case would help others Tibetans struggling for
an identity in India. ''For one year, Dolkar's queries went unheard. We
sent a legal notice, but after it failed to get a response, we
approached the Delhi High Court,'' said Roxna S Swamy, Dolkar's lawyer.

Born in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, on April 13, 1986, and brought up in
Dehradun, Dolkar never thought her quest for national identity would
lead to a legal battle that would turn out to be a milestone for her
exiled community.

The battle began after she applied for an Indian passport in March 2008
in Delhi. The passport office rejected her application, saying her
parents were Tibetans. In response to her application, the passport
office wrote back on September 1, 2009 that the ministry of external
affairs had decided that she could not get a passport and be treated as
an Indian.

Dolkar then approached the high court. Justice S Muralidhar on December
22, ruled Dolkar was entitled to citizenship. The court had also ordered
MEA to pay her a compensation of Rs 5,000, and give her a passport
within two months.

''I found that Tibetans, who are eligible for citizenship as per the
amended 1986 Citizenship Act, were not aware of it,'' she said.
''According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986, any person born in
India on or after January 26, 1950, but prior to the commencement of the
1986 Act on July 1, 1987, is citizen of India by birth.'' Born in HP and
brought up in Dehradun, Dolkar never thought her quest for national
identity would lead to a legal battle.
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