HE Hu Jintao
President of China

Your Excellency,

On behalf of all the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, the Tibetan Parliament in Exile wishes to express our deep anguish and concern at the prevailing critical situation inside Tibet. As a human being, we are sure you will very much understand why people resort to extreme measures such as self-immolation. However, the harsh and brutal repressive measures adopted by your government on the peaceful demonstrators leave us in no doubt that your government has no value for fundamental human rights, dignity or lives.

As President of PRC, you have professed harmonious relationship between nationalities as one of the cardinal principles for nation building. However, what you said and what is implement is self contradictory. You very well know that Harmony can be built only through mutual understanding and trust and not through brute force and repression.

China has grown economically and militarily over the years and is considered a world power to reckon with. China’s growing influence globally has turned itself into a brash and arrogant monster with no regards for other’s sentiments and welfare. Material wealth alone does not bring happiness. Development has to go hand in hand with respect for human freedom and human dignity.

We have heard your leaders, over and over again that the western world does not treat China on an equal footing. And may we ask, do you treat your nationalities on an equal footing? Your leaders quote Confucious ‘Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do to you’. But do you apply the same principles to the Tibetans, Uighurs, Inner Mongolians, Manchurians and others?

As a world power, you have to earn respect by respecting others but not through force. You can earn this moral power only by granting basic human rights and resolving conflicts through dialogue. That is for the long term benefit of China as a nation and Tibetans and others as people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration have for several decades taken a very pragmatic, mutually beneficial, long lasting solution to the Issue of Tibet by not asking for separation. But your leadership has always turned a blind eye; stalled dialogue on flimsy grounds and expected the Tibet issue to die a natural death. By now, you must have realized that the Tibetan spirit remains indomitable and it shall remain till a mutually agreeable solution is found.

Every time, Tibetans manifest their frustration by way of peaceful protest, instead of looking into the causes of these incidences, your government has always chosen to clamp down violently. Any human rights violations by the State are cloaked under national security barring transparent and independent investigation.

For the larger and long term interest of China and Tibet, we urge you to undertake the following:

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.

Given the present day realities and the interdependence of the globalized world, it is high time that your government give serious consideration to a peaceful transformation of China that provides freedom, respect and dignity to all. Otherwise, the day may not be far when the Chinese nation and its people become victims of its own creation. That will be the saddest moment in Chinese history.

We express the above sentiments with hope in our hearts that positive sense will prevail over you and your colleagues and immediately respond to the legitimate concerns. failing which you and your government will be held solely responsible for any adverse consequences if the matters are not addressed in a humane way.

Sincerely,

Tibetan Parliament in Exile

 Because of gruesome acts such as these and the systematic repression of Tibetans, the resentment and anger amongst Tibetans against Chinese government has only grown since the massive uprising of 2008.

 Ever since the invasion of Tibet, the Chinese government has claimed that it seeks to create a socialist paradise. However, basic human rights are being denied to Tibetans, the fragile environment is being destroyed, Tibetan language and culture is being assimilated, portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are banned, and Tibetans are being economically marginalized. Tibet is in virtual lockdown. Foreigners have been barred from travelling to Tibet now and the entire region is essentially under undeclared martial law.

 I urge the Chinese leadership to heed the cries of the Tibetan protestors and those who have committed self-immolation. You will never address the genuine grievances of Tibetans and restore stability in Tibet through violence and killing. The only way to resolve the Tibet issue and bring about lasting peace is by respecting the rights of the Tibetan people and through dialogue. As someone deeply committed to peaceful dialogue, the use of violence against Tibetans is unacceptable and must be strongly condemned by all people in China and around the world.

 I call on the international community to show solidarity and to raise your voices in support of the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people at this critical time. I request that the international community and the United Nations send a fact-finding delegation to Tibet and that the world media be given access to the region as well. The leaders in Beijing must know that killing its own “family members” is in clear violation of international and Chinese laws, and such actions will cast further doubts on China’s moral legitimacy and their standing in world affairs. 

I want to tell my dear brothers and sisters inside Tibet that we hear your cries loud and clear. We urge you not to despair and refrain from extreme measures. We feel your pain and will not allow the sacrifices you have made go in vain. You all are in our heart and prayers each and every day.

To my fellow Tibetans, I request you not to celebrate Losar (Tibetan New Year), which falls on February 22 this year. However, please observe the basic customary religious rituals such as going to temple, burning incense and making traditional offerings.

To demonstrate our solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, I urge Tibetans and our friends around the world, to participate in a worldwide vigil on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Let’s send a loud and clear message to the Chinese government that violence and killing of innocent Tibetans is unacceptable! I request everyone to conduct these vigils peacefully, in accordance with the laws of your country, and with dignity.

A video message of this statement is available with the following link: www.tibetonline.tv.

On January 23rd, 2012, a large number of Tibetan civilians from several villages are reported to have demonstrated in Drakgo county in Karze prefecture (Sichuan province). According to local sources, the police opened fire on the demonstrators, at least 32 people have been reported injured including 2 with serious injuries.  Local sources have confirmed that three demonstrators were shot dead.  The unrest is said to be ongoing, including in the local Tibetan nunnery.

On January 24th, 2012, a demonstration took place in Serthar county, Karze prefecture (Sichuan province). Police opened fired on demonstrators and two individuals are reported dead.   

“The Central Tibetan Administration urges the international community to not remain passive before the current situation. It is high time for it to intervene to prevent further bloodshed.  How long and how many tragic deaths are necessary before the world takes a firm moral stand?  Silence from the world community sends a clear message to China that its repressive and violent measures to handle tensions in Tibetan areas are acceptable.  As a nation aspiring to become a world economic and political power, the People’s Republic of China cannot be permitted to behave in such immoral and violent manner” stated Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay, head of the Central Tibetan Administration based in India.

According to a reliable source inside Tibet, the Chinese police fired on peaceful Tibetan demonstrators in Kham Dag-go District and killed a layman by name Yonten today around noon Chinese time.Some other sources claim that 6 people have been killed in the indiscriminate firing and scores of others injured. The facts are being ascertained.

It all started today morning when scores of Tibetans gathered in Dag-go calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, following which the police indiscriminately fired on the peaceful demonstrators. This incident happened on the day, when whole of China is celebrating Chinese New Year.

With the self immolation of a monk, Tapey in 2009 and 17 others who set themselves on fire since March 16 this year, 12 have succumbed to their injuries. Four cases have been reported in the beginning of this year alone. Tibetans have resorted to this desperate act out of sheer frustration against the policies and programs of the Chinese authorities aimed at eradicating the Tibetan identity.

The body of Yonten is reportedly in the Dag-go Monastery and the situation continues to be very tense in the area.

The Tibetan parliament is deeply aggrieved by the incidents and condemns the Chinese authorities for resorting to such drastic acts of force and repression. We are also taken aback by the silence of the International Community when it comes to such gross violation of Human Rights in Tibet.

We call on China to respect the Tibetan people’s right to express themselves and look into the legitimate grievances of the Tibetan people. While understanding the international community’s interest in maintaining closer relationship with China, how can the international community remain mute to the sufferings of the Tibetan people. We appeal to you to rise up to the occasion and impress on China to find a lasting solution to the Issue of Tibet.

Tibetan Parliament in Exile

The self-immolation, the 16th since March last year, occurred at around 1.30 pm Tibet time in the distraught Ngaba region. Currently, there are not many details available on the Tibetan man but he is believed to be dead.

According to reports, Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene of the self-immolation and severely beat the Tibetan layman while putting off the flame. As the Chinese security personnel started to take away the man, who was believed to be dead by then, local Tibetans angered with the Chinese authorities, reportedly gathered at the site and demanded the body to be handed over to them.

In the ensuing impromptu mass protest, Chinese security personnel fired on the crowd and used teargas. One elderly Tibetan woman has been confirmed dead as result of the firing. However, other sources indicate that the number of dead could be much more.

In a release, Free Tibet quoted an eyewitness as describing the situation as “terrifying” and that people were being “beaten” while “numerous people have been detained”.

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a release today condemned the “use of violence against civilians” and appealed the international community to “intervene so as to restrain the Chinese government from further use of violence”.

“The People’s Republic of China’s government must take full responsibility for these cases of self-immolation. It is within its power to end these unfortunate incidents by adopting liberal policies for Tibet and Tibetan people,” the CTA said.

The Ngaba region in Tibet, seat of the besieged Kirti monastery has seen 11 Tibetans – monks, nuns, and laymen – set their bodies on fire since March last year.

This year alone, four Tibetans have died after setting themselves ablaze protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks at a public felicitation ceremony attended by Chief Ministers of Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh in Bodh Gaya in the afternoon of January 10, 2012 after concluding the Kalachakra teachings. The Dalai Lama was bestowed the honorary title of “the Supreme Master of Complete Teachings of Lord Buddha". (Phayul Photo/Norbu Wangyal)

“I am telling you to practice not for me but out of my experience, I know that it is helpful to you, especially, when you are down,” said the 76-year old Tibetan spiritual leader.

“If you don’t practice, then it’s waste of money and energy to have come here”.

The Dalai Lama who has been teaching and giving initiations for the past ten days urged the concerned organisers and committees to make the final financial statement transparent and to use the funds and donations for the benefit of the poor and needy.

“Some Buddhist institutions in the west invite me for teachings and later I heard that some of them have become rich by selling tickets and collecting donations from the teachings,” the Dalai Lama said. “So, for the last 20 years, I have been urging the concerned organisers to make the final financial statement transparent and use the money for the poor and the needy people.”

Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar acknowledged the Tibetan spiritual leader for giving the teachings in Bodh Gaya and said that the Dalai Lama’s presence and teachings have “greatly benefited” the local people in many ways.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama gestures to the crowd as he wrapped up his ten-day Kalachakra teachings on January 10, 2012. Over 200,000 devotees attended the 32nd Kalachakra teachings in Bodh Gaya, India. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal)

“Bodh Gaya is the holiest place for the Buddhist people and we have many Buddhists in our state who will be visiting this holy place constantly. It would be great if we can build hotels for the Buddhists here in this holy place,” said the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

The Chief Patron of the 32nd Kalachakra and Arunachal Pradesh Minister for WRD and Tourism, Pema Khandu thanked the Tibetan spiritual leader for fulfilling his late father Dorje Khandu’s wish to organise the teachings.

In appreciation for the conducting the Kalachakra teachings for a record 32 times and being the “messenger of Lord Buddha”, the 32nd Kalachakra organising committee bestowed the honorary title of “the Supreme Master of Complete Teachings of Lord Buddha,” on the XIVth Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso of Tibet.

Apart from a battery of chief ministers and ministers, Hollywood actor Richard Gere was also amongst the tens of thousands who attended the teachings.

Gere, who is a close friend of the Tibetan leader, offered of a copy of the Dalai Lama’s latest book ‘Beyond Religion’ for its release.

Giving a brief account of the book, His Holiness said that the book is for everyone, irrespective of religion, age and sex.

Stating that the ultimate source of happiness lies within each one of us, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that mother’s care is the “root source of warm heartedness and happiness”.

“If we study the trouble makers in this world, almost all of them, when they were young didn’t get their mother’s care and love properly,” the Dalai Lama said. “So mother’s care is very important. For instance, my mother was an uneducated farmer but she was very warm hearted and loving.”

Keeping in mind the large number of devotees, the Mandela blessings will go on till January 13. But hundreds of pilgrims, who have come here from 63 countries, have already started to leave Bodh Gaya.

“By tonight, almost all the hotels’ fare will come down to Rs 600 if it was Rs 6,000 per night during the Kalachakra teachings,” said a local hotel owner.

According to sources, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will leave Bodh Gaya on January 11 after making a visit to the Bodh Gaya temple and the Peepal tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

‘The drastic actions taken by the protesters reflect the failed policies of the Chinese government in Tibet. We urge the United Nations and the world community to exert more pressure on China to reform its failed policies especially with regard to human rights in Tibet’, the press release said.

‘Tsultrim and Tennyi, both in their early 20s, self-immolated on 6 January in Ngaba, eastern Tibet calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet’.

Tsultrim died on the spot while Tennyi died the following morning from injuries sustained from the self-immolation.

‘Another Tibetan, Sonam Wangyal/Sopa Rinpoche,(42), a venerated spiritual figure from Golok Darlag county in eastern Tibet, died after he set himself on fire on 8 January. He was also calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the restoration of freedom for Tibet’, the press release noted.

Norbu Damdul, who set himself on fire in Ngaba on 15 October 2011 also passed away on 5 January. His last remains,after being cremated had been handed over to his family by the Chinese police, the press statement further said.

A total of 15 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government in Tibet since March 2011. Out of which 11 have died and the rest were severely injured or their whereabouts are yet to be ascertained.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the first day of the Kalachakra Teaching at Bodh Gaya (Photo: Sangay Kyap

 During the teaching, His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeted New Year 2012.

 His Holiness will give Kalachakra Initiation from January 01-09, 2012, which will be concluded with a Long Life Empowerment for public and a Long Life Ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama the following day.

 Kalachakra Organizing Committee arranged simultaneous translation of 16 different languages. Tibetonline.tv and www.dalailama.com shows live telecast of whole teaching at its scheduled time.

 This is the 32nd Kalachakra Initiation conducted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. For schedules and informations on the current Kalachakra Initiation, visit www.kalachakra2012.org.

According to the official website of the private office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Kalachakra initiations will be held from January 1 – 10, 2012, with minute changes

Young monks cleaning the windows of Kalachakra temple in Bodh Gaya in preparation for the upcoming Kalachakra initiation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama from January 1 to 10, 2012.(Photo/exilelens.com)

During the first three days of the teachings, from January 1 to 3, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will be conducting rituals to prepare and consecrate the venue. These Kalachakra ritual preparations include chanting of prayers, creation of the sand mandala and other rituals.

In a notable change from the earlier schedule, the Dalai Lama, according to the website, will give a teaching (unspecified) to the public in the afternoon of January 1.

From January 4 to 6, spanned out for three days, the Dalai Lama will be giving preliminary teachings on Nagarjuna’s ‘Hymn to the World Transcendent’ (Jiigten Ley Deypar Toepa), Kamalashila’s ‘The Second Volume of the Stages of Meditation’ (Gomrim Barpa), Geshe Langri Thangpa’s ‘Eight Verses on Mind Training’ (Lojong Tsik Gyema), Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s ‘Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas’ (Laklen Sodunma) and Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen’s ‘Jewel Lamp: A Praise of Bodhicitta’ (Jangchup Sem Kyi Toepa Rinchen Drolma).

The timing for the teachings is from 13.00 hrs to 15.30 hrs (IST) each day with scheduled prayers in the morning.

On January 7, the Kalachakra Ritual Dance will be performed by the monks of Namgyal Monastery, effecting a change from the earlier schedule of January 6.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be conferring the Kalachakra initiation from January 8 -10 with January 9 corresponding to the 15th day of the 11th month in the Tibetan lunar calendar.

In the morning of January 10, after the conclusion of the Kalachakra initiation, a long-life empowerment for the public (Tsewang) and a ceremony offering prayers for the long-life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Tenshug) will be held.

In the afternoon, a public felicitation ceremony for the Dalai Lama has been scheduled.

Amongst various dignitaries attending the teachings, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar is expected to arrive in Gaya a day before the public felicitation ceremony.

Live webcast of the Kalachakra initiations can be viewed in Tibetan, English, Russian and Chinese languages at dalailama.com. 



The upcoming Kalachakra initiation will be the 32nd occasion since His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred the teachings for the first time in May 1954 at Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet. After a nine-year gap, the Kalachakra initiation in Bodh Gaya is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of devotees from all over the world including a large number of Tibetans from Tibet.

The Dalai Lama’s office says that of late, Chinese scholars from Taiwan and mainland China are regularly interacting with the Tibetan spiritual leader to understand his ‘middle-way’ policy for Tibet.

“If all Chinese citizens knew about it (middle-way approach), they would support it,” the 76-year-old Nobel laureate had remarked in Prague this month.

A group of 1,500 people from Tibet arrived here to attend a three-day teaching session from Dec 19.

Octogenarian Padma Dolma, who was part of the group, told IANS, “I am really blessed to have an audience with His Holiness. It reminds me of his early days in the Potala Palace.”

Dolma, along with the other Tibetans, is now heading to Bodh Gaya to attend the upcoming Kalachakra teaching session from Jan 1 to 10.

Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly Westerners and Asians, have been arriving in this Himalayan hill town to listen to the discourses of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who has been residing here since he fled Chinese repression in Tibet in 1959. His teachings on ethics, non-violence, peace and religious harmony have made him one of twentieth century’s most popular and revered figures.

Some people come here in search of Tibetan culture and spiritual sustenance.

The three-day teaching session from Dec 19 was organised specially for Russian devotees. “More than 1,300 Russians attended the three-day teachings,” said the Dalai Lama’s private secretary Chimme Choekyappa. Svetlana, a devout from Moscow, said she is a great admirer of his teachings on world peace, love, compassion and forgiveness.

Choekyappa said that the Dalai Lama would hold teaching sessions for Indian Buddhists for the first time. “The venue is either Dharamsala or Delhi,” he added.

The spiritual guru’s teachings are free and open to the public.

“When at home in Dharamsala, His Holiness’ teachings are held in the Tsuglagkhang temple (close to his official palace at McLeodganj). Outside India, the teachings are held at the venue of the event organiser,” Choekyappa told IANS.

He also added that the Dalai Lama’s office holds teaching sessions only at the request of followers and devotees. “Most of the requests come from Asian Buddhist countries and the West. We try to accommodate as many requests as possible. The requests include invitations for religious, social and cultural events,” said Choekyappa.

The Dalai Lama teaches in Tibetan only. On many occasions, his teachings in India are simultaneously translated into English. For people requiring translation services, there is a designated area at the teaching venue.

His Holiness’ office advises the followers to bring a FM radio, a cup and a sunhat at the teaching venue. Seating is usually reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. In the West, seating for public events is in most cases designated by ticket and seat number. In India, seating for teachings is usually on the ground.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule in 1959.

On reaching India, he first took up residence for about a year in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand, after which he moved to this Himachal Pradesh town where he continues to live.