Statement
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Forty-Fifth Anniversary of the Tibetan
National Uprising Day, 10 March 2004
Today we commemorate the 45th
anniversary of the Tibetan People’s Uprising of 1959. I pay tribute to the many brave Tibetan men and women who
have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom.
They will always be remembered.
This year marks 50 years since
my visit to mainland China in 1954 to meet with the then Chinese leaders,
especially Mao Tse-tung. I remember
very well that I embarked on the journey with deep concerns about the future of
Tibet. I was assured by all the
leaders I met that the Chinese presence in Tibet was to work for the welfare of
the Tibetans and “to help develop” Tibet. While in China I also learned
about internationalism and socialism which deeply impressed me.
So I returned to Tibet with optimism and confidence that a peaceful and
mutually beneficial coexistence could be worked out.
Unfortunately, soon after my return China was embroiled in political
unrest unleashed by radical political campaigns.
These developments impacted the Chinese policy on Tibet resulting in more
repression and rigidity leading finally to the Tibetan People's Uprising in
March 1959.
My hope is that this year may
see a significant breakthrough in our relations with the Chinese Government.
As in 1954, so also today, I am determined to leave no stone unturned for
seeking a mutually beneficial solution that will address both Chinese concerns
as well as achieve for the Tibetan people a life in freedom, peace and dignity.
Despite the decades of separation the Tibetan people continue to place
tremendous trust and hope in me. I
feel a great sense of responsibility to act as their free spokesman.
In this regard, the fact that President Hu Jintao has personal knowledge
about the situation and problems in Tibet can be a positive factor in resolving
the Tibetan issue. I am therefore
willing to meet with today’s leaders of the People’s Republic of China in
the effort to secure a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue.
My envoys have established
direct contact with the Chinese government on two trips to China in September
2002 and in May/June 2003. This is
a positive and welcome development, which was initiated during the Presidency of
Jiang Zemin. The issue of Tibet is
complex and of crucial importance to Tibetan as well as Chinese peoples.
Consequently, it requires careful considerations and serious
deliberations on both sides before taking any decisions.
It will take time, patience and determination to lead this process to a
successful conclusion. However, I
consider it of highest importance to maintain the momentum and to intensify and
deepen this process through regular face-to-face meetings and substantive
discussions. This is the only way to dispel existing distrust and
misconception and to build trust and confidence.
Consequently, I have instructed
my envoys to visit China at the earliest date to continue the process.
I hope that they will be able to make this trip without much delay.
This will help in building trust and confidence in the present process
among Tibetans as well as among our friends and supporters around the world –
many of whom remain strongly skeptical about the willingness of Beijing to
engage in a genuine process of rapprochement and dialogue.
The current situation in Tibet
benefits neither the Tibetans nor the government of the People’s Republic of
China. The development projects
that the Chinese Government has launched in Tibet – purportedly to benefit the
Tibetan people – are however, having negative effects on the Tibetan
people’s distinct cultural, religious and linguistic identity. More Chinese settlers are coming to Tibet resulting in the
economic marginalization of the Tibetan people and the sinicization of their
culture. Tibetans need to see an
improvement in the quality of their life, the restoration of Tibet’s pristine
environment and the freedom to decide an appropriate model of development.
I welcome the release of Ani
Phuntsok Nyidrol, even as we recognize the injustice of her sentence and
continue to urge for the release of all political prisoners in Tibet.
The human rights situation in Tibet has not seen any marked improvement.
Human rights violations in Tibet have a distinct character of preventing
Tibetans as a people from asserting their own identity and culture.
The violations are a result of policies of racial and cultural
discrimination and religious intolerance.
Against this background we are
encouraged and grateful that many individuals, governments and parliaments
around the world have been urging the People’s Republic of China to resolve
the question of Tibet through peaceful negotiations. Led by the European Union and the United States there is
growing realization in the international community that the issue of Tibet is
not one of human rights violations alone but of deeper political nature which
needs to be resolved through negotiations.
I am also encouraged by the
recent improvements in the relationship between India and China.
It has always been my belief that better understanding and relations
between India and China, the two most populous nations of the world is of vital
importance for peace and stability in Asia in particular and in the world in
general. I believe that improved
relations between India and China will create a more conducive political
environment for the peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue.
I also strongly believe India can and should play a constructive and
influential role in resolving the Tibetan problem peacefully.
My ‘Middle-Way-Approach’ should be an acceptable policy on Tibet for
India as it addresses the Tibetan issue within the framework of the People’s
Republic of China. A solution to
the Tibetan issue through this approach would help India to resolve many of her
disputes with China, too.
It is 54 years since the
establishment of the People’s Republic of China. During Mao Zedong’s period much emphasis was put on
ideology, while Deng Xiaoping concentrated primarily on economic development.
His successor Jiang Zemin broadened the base of the Communist Party by
enabling wealthy people to become part of the Communist Party under his theory
of “The Three Represents”. In
recent times Hu Jintao and his colleagues were able to achieve a smooth
transition of leadership. During
the past decades China has been able to make much progress.
But there have also been shortcomings and failures in various fields,
including in the economy. One of
the main causes of the shortcomings and failures seems to be the inability to
deal with and act according to the true and real situation.
In order to know the real and true situation it is essential that there
be free information.
China is undergoing a process of
deep change. In order to affect
this change smoothly and without chaos and violence I believe it is essential
that there be more openness and greater freedom of information and proper
awareness among the general public. We should seek truth from facts – facts
that are not falsified. Without
this China cannot hope to achieve genuine stability.
How can there be stability if things must be hidden and people are not
able to speak out their true feelings?
I am hopeful that China will
become more open and eventually more democratic. I have for many years advocated that the change and
transformation of China should take place smoothly and without major upheavals.
This is in the interest of not only the Chinese people but also the world
community.
China’s emergence as a
regional and global power is also accompanied by concerns, suspicion and fears
about her power. Hosting the
Olympic Games and World Exposition will not help to dispel these concerns.
Unless Beijing addresses the lack of basic civil and political rights and
freedoms of its citizens, especially with regard to minorities, China will
continue to face difficulties in reassuring the world that she is a peaceful,
responsible, constructive and forward-looking power.
The Tibetan issue represents both a challenge and an opportunity for a maturing China to act as an emerging global player with vision and values of openness, freedom, justice and truth. A constructive and flexible approach to the issue of Tibet will go a long way in creating a political climate of trust, confidence and openness, both domestically and internationally. A peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue will have wide-ranging positive impacts on China’s transition and transformation onto a modern, open and free society. There is now a window of opportunity for the Chinese leadership to act with courage and farsightedness in resolving the Tibetan issue once and for all.
I would like to take this
opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for this consistent support
that we have been receiving throughout the world.
I would also like to express once again on behalf of the Tibetans our
appreciation and immense gratitude to the people and the Government of India for
their unwavering and unmatched generosity and support.
With my prayers for the
well-being of all sentient beings.
The Dalai Lama
March 10, 2004
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Last updated: 10-March-2004