On July 6, 2015, His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama had his 80th birthday. It was celebrated for 3 days in California, billed as a Global Compassion Summit.
H.H. Dalai Lama has been living in Dharamsala, India, his exile from Tibet due to the China’s claim over Tibet and accusation towards H.H. Dalai Lama for trying to split Tibet from the rest of China. This conflict has been ongoing since 1949/50, recorded as the first time of invasion by People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Originally, there were two spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lama (reckoned as the manifestation of Avalokitesvara Boddhisatva) and Panchen Lama (reckoned as the manifestation of Amithaba Buddha). Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a kid who was born in 1989 and then was divinely recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama by Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders, however, has been kidnapped and hidden by China’s government since May 17, 1995 when he was 6 years old.
On December 8, 1995, Gyanchan Norbu was selected by China’s government as the 11th Panchen Lama, despite knowing that the reincarnation of either Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama can only be recognized and acknowledged by each other according to the tradition. This act has been considered as political strategy to rule over Tibet by using Panchen Lama to gain Tibetans’ hearts.
Due to the reason above, H.H. Dalai Lama 14th has decided that he won’t be reincarnated at all or will be reborn outside Tibet to avoid any political scheme by Chinese government the same way it was done to Panchen Lama 11th.
If we look at the history, it is highly indicated that Tibet used to be under sovereignty of China during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) and also during Qing dynasty (1644-1912) as many scholars has agreed. From 1912-1950, however, the position of Tibet was unclear as a result of Xinhai revolution and Japanese invasion to the land of China. On this basis, many of Tibetans claim that Tibet has been independent since, but government of China insists that the crisis doesn’t make Tibet independent.
When it comes to territorial issue, it is difficult to decide whether in this matter China or Tibet that we should be siding with. However, there is one certain thing that I think we shouldn’t be on gray line, the humanity issue.
Kidnapping a child as a political agenda, occupying the land forcefully without consent, and disrespecting Tibetans’ sacred tradition upon religiosity, government of PRC really seems not to care at all about human’s life but only their authority and power.
Moreover, according to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of Tibetans have been politically arrested and imprisoned, both the Monks and activists. There are serious abuses following the detention, like severe beatings at the time of arrest and electric torture during incarceration. These abuses are not exclusive incidents but rather a policy imposed dealing with political dissidents. The prisoners are also forbidden to open their mouths because they’re not allowed to chant any Buddhist prayers.
Recently a Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (or more well known as Tenzin Deleg), has died on July 12, 2015. He was accused of being involved in a bomb attack on Central Square of Szechuan’s provincial capital, Shengdu on April 3, 2002, and thus arrested on April 7, 2002. His trial began on November 29, 2002 and he was sentenced for life imprisonment. Many human rights experts including United Nations argued that the case against him is mistaken and the trial he received was unfair.
Tibetans asked for re-trial in November 2009, but were never heeded. After his death, despite being asked for the release of Tenzin Deleg’s body to determine the cause of his death, Chinese authorities cremated him without autopsy.
“Since I am a Tibetan, I have always been sincere and devoted to the interest and well-being of Tibetan people. That is the real reason why the Chinese do not like me and framed me. That is why they are going to take my precious life even though I am innocent”, Tenzin Deleg stated according to the transcript of recording of him obtained from the detention centre in Dartsedo, capital of Kardze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Szechuan province.
Should it be true that China has been imprisoning innocents for political reasons to conquer Tibet, I really don’t see how it can win over the hearts of Tibetans. What this all seems to me is that Chinese government only set the fire of hatred in Tibet, and it may cause of more protests against them.
Moreover, I think this is also the time for the world to stop any further human rights violation by mediating the conflict between China and Tibet. At the very least, we must respect and thank the H.H. Dalai Lama for having inspired many people in the whole wide world for so many years about love and compassion. What could be best gratitude we express other than helping H.H. Dalai Lama to return to his home safely and to help his beloved Tibetans set free from oppression?
I’m not saying that Tibet must be independent or not. What I’m trying to say is, whatever the decision at last, the violation against human rights should soon be discontinued.
In March 2010, an independent organisation promoting the freedom for Tibetans was founded. United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT), without any real association with United Nations (UN), is purposed to raise awareness for human rights violation against Tibetan in their own homeland by the Communist Chinese Army. The name UNFFT is intentionally used to challenge UN to finally step in this case. So far there’s no tangible action UN has ever done to advocate about the issue in Tibet.
If the whole world can contribute to help Tibet by raising awareness through social media and news, and the United Nations can help advocating the concern of human rights violation, I suppose that it will be the best 80th birthday gift for our figure of peace, H.H. Dalai Lama, showing that we concretely practice his teaching of love and compassion, not merely talk about it.
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