AUSTRALIAN TIBETAN COMMUNITY’S APPEAL STATEMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA
Since Tibet was invaded by communist China, we have endured and continue to endure unimaginable suffering. Tibetans who are gathered here are naturalised citizens of free and democratic Australia.
Today, as the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang visits Australia to strengthen the relationship between Australia and China, we as non-violent and peace-loving Tibetans could appreciate the importance of this effort and welcome the mutually beneficial and their joint efforts to foster friendship between the two countries.
Our beloved ancestral land of Tibet is veiled under a cloud of fear and our Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet are subjected to immeasurable suffering under the failed policies of the Chinese government. As a Tibetan living in a free country, it is our responsibility and we are determined to preserve Tibetan culture and identity and work towards the larger good of China. Hence, we are gathered here to voice few of our serious concerns:
1. Tibetan civilisation, stretching for many millennia and its people, culture, language, religion, and its environment are part of a larger human history of progress. In the course of its history, Tibetans have preserved its distinct culture and it is a precious part of the larger mosaic of world’s diverse culture. Tibetans have the responsibility to preserve its distinct and precious Tibetan cultural identity. The Chinese states have been actively publicising the importance of its diverse ethnic composition. Even the constitution of the People’s Republic of China has laid out provisions to preserve culture and heritage of its ethnic minorities. However, even in 21st century, under various governmental rules and interventions, Tibetans engaged in learning Tibetan language and practising their religion are vilified and are subjected to scrutiny. In its most virulent form, they are labelled as separatists and are punished in untold forms of torture.
For instance, during the reform period in China’s recent past, Tibetan lamas who were revered by Tibetans, such as — the tenth Panchen Lama, Khenchen Jigme Phunstok, Tulku Tenzin Delek, Jadrel Jampa Trinley are among many others who were found dead in mysterious circumstances. The 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, had been kidnapped as a young boy of seven and his whereabouts is still unknown.
Institutions of Buddhist learning, such as Larung Gar in Sertha, is forcefully being destroyed and the monks and nuns are being expelled. Out of desperation, since 2009, over 155 Tibetans in and outside Tibet have set themselves on fire to protest China’s rule over Tibet. Instead of taking the matter seriously, the Chinese authorities have increased oppression and surveillance, which is not just in contravention of Universal Declaration of Human Rights but — it must be reminded — is against Chinese constitutional rights promised to its citizens.
2. We take cognizant of the desires of new generation of Chinese leaders and other authorities to transform China into a clean and green country. Tibet is referred to as the Third Pole due to high concentration of glacial ice-fields, which is rivalled only by the two poles. Tibet is the source of major rivers to China, Southeast Asia and in the Subcontinent. The fragility of Tibet’s ecosystem is threatened by the influx of government-encouraged Chinese migrants, unrestrained large-scale mining and highly polluting development projects in Tibet. It is imperative that voices should be raised to avoid irreversible damage to Tibet’s environment.
To stub-out dissenting voices and in order to willfully carry out policies and projects which contravene international and domestic environmental laws, Tibetans in Tibet, concerned Chinese citizens, and the larger international community raising concerns are either labeled as separatist or are accused for meddling in Chinese internal and domestic issues.
We appeal to the Government and people of Australia to condemn such activities leading to environmental degradation in Tibet and that the Chinese authorities should consider immediate shutting down of such activities.
3. During the end of 20th century, China implemented an open door policy to allow Chinese to move freely not just within China but the freedom to travel abroad. We appreciate the opportunities made available to the members of Chinese diaspora to return to China. Sadly, Tibetans, even to this day are excluded from this largely benign policy. Tibetans are held under severe restrictions to travel freely not only abroad but within China and Tibetan regions. For instance, Tibetans who are gathered here today wouldn’t be granted visas to return to visit and meet with their long-departed families. In some cases when visas to visit Tibet were allowed, Tibetans are held under duress to sign long-winded political documents. Even as Tibetans living in a free country, we are under constant surveillance by Chinese intelligence and staff from the United Front Work Department. To be precise, by transforming Tibet into a giant prison, it is not only in contravention of Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also against the basic ethos of the Chinese constitution. Hence, we appeal to the Government and people of Australia to take serious note of this issue and hold Chinese government accountable.
4. The various incarnations of the Dalai Lamas have made great contributions towards the strengthening of Sino-Tibetan relation and its civilisations. Government and people of ethnic Han, Mongol and Manchu are aware of these contributions, even the elderly leaders, communist China’s government elites and its people have deep understating of this matter. It must be a common knowledge amongst the ruling elite.
In recent past, before His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama resumed his role as the political and spiritual head of Tibet, Tibet was laid siege to and was under severe threat from the Chinese military. Under such serious circumstances, in order to avoid direct military confrontation between Tibetans and Chinese, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, risking his personal security and under tremendous hardship paid a visit to China to negotiate the so-called “peaceful liberation of Tibet.” Chinese leadership couldn’t disregard this episode and let alone us forgetting it.
From this early initiative to His Holiness’ continued effort to this day to foster and to seek equal and mutually beneficial friendship between Tibetans and Chinese. He has proposed the Middle Way Approach, the Middle Way Approach implies not seeking independence, but genuine autonomy within the constitutional framework of the People’s Republic of China. This policy seeks rights for Tibetans as enshrined in the People’s Republic of China’s constitution and Law on National Regional Autonomy. To seek genuine autonomy for Tibet as proposed in the Middle Way Policy is a huge sacrifice for many Tibetans, however out of our respect and consideration in His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes, we resolve to put our faith in it.
However, sadly the proposals to resolve Tibet issue didn’t receive a positive hearing from the Chinese authorities. After multiple rounds of talks between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese counterpart, this had yielded no results. Instead, baseless accusations were made against His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is revered by Tibetans as their spiritual leader, look up to him for political guidance, and the embodiment of Tibetan culture and its history. These attempts by the Chinese authorities to baselessly accuse our leader and their continued repressive and divisive policies against the practice of Tibetan religion and culture in Tibet is creating discord and unbearable hurt to Tibetans.
For Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is their supreme leader; a source of all refuge in this life and the next; a man of peace who is committed to bringing harmony and understanding between various world religions. By acknowledging the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as a bridge to foster friendship between the people of Tibet and China, and his continued engagements to strive for a better future for both the nations, we strongly appeal to the Government and people of Australia to call on the Chinese government to put an immediate end to its attempt to create discord between the people of Tibet and China by imposing political and economic pressures.
5. As we stand here in presence of the Chinese leadership today, we would like to appeal to the Government and people of Australia and governments of other nations to highlight the issues of human rights violation in China, especially of ethnic minorities in China, during their bi-lateral discussions with China, and lend their open support to the peaceful Chinese dissidents, democratic activists, religious groups and its leaders.
6. Today we enjoy living in a free democratic country that guarantees freedom of speech and other basic human rights and as we reap the benefits of this circumstance to struggle for Tibet’s future, its basic rights, we feel grateful to the governments and peoples of India and Australia. With their support, our resolve and commitment to work for Tibet’s struggle is as strong as ever.
Hence, we strongly appeal to the Government and people of Australia to call on the Chinese leaders and its government to immediately stop and consider our aforementioned concerns and urge that the Chinese government tread the path of responsibility and righteousness in its effort to become a global leader.
Mr Lobsang Lungtok
President of Australian Tibetan Community Association
Ms Sonam Choedon
Secretary of Australian Tibetan Community Association