STATEMENT OF THE KASHAG (The Cabinet) ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN

DEMOCRACY DAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2000

Today marks the fortieth year since a new Tibetan democratic system,

founded on the marriage of spiritual and secular values, was inducted

into the exile Tibetan community. On this very auspicious occasion, I,

on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration, would like to extend my

greetings to the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet.

Democracy is the most highly treasured form of government for people all

over the world. In the case of Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

believes that the short- and long-term happiness of people can be built

only on the firm foundation of democracy. Therefore, he insistently

thrust this system on the Tibetan people, although not a single voice

had ever been raised for it. Over the years, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

has taken a number of far-reaching initiatives, including the

promulgation of a democratic constitution for future Tibet and the

Charter for Tibetans in Exile, to nurture the growth of democracy in our

society.

As a result of his initiatives, the exile population elects members of

the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies on the basis of universal

adult suffrage. The Twelfth Assemblycomposed of deputies from all the

three provinces of Tibet as well as the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism

and Bon religionis in office at the moment. The Assembly, as provisioned

by the Charter of Tibetans in Exile, is one of the most important and

powerful institutions of the exile Tibetan community. It has the full

power to make laws for the exile Tibetan Administration. The Assembly

controls Administration's budget and formulate its policies. It elects

the members of the Kashag, the apex executive body, and approves the

appointment of Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice

Commission, the highest judiciary body. The Assembly is also empowered

to keep an eye on the government's actions and take it to task for any

shortcomings.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance for all of us to ensure that the

people we elect to the Assembly are learned, able, dedicated, honest and

unfettered by regional prejudices. Only such people will be able to

commit themselves wholeheartedly to the cause of the Tibetan community

as a whole. On the other hand, if we put up people who are preoccupied

with personal and regional prejudices and work as the tool of vested

interest groups rather than the common interests of the Tibetan people,

our national cause will suffer. Now, whether we get a good Assembly or

not depends on how each and every voter exercises his/her suffrage.

We are fast approaching the time when the Twelfth Assembly completes its

five-year term of office and fresh elections are called for the

Thirteenth Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies. I request all the

voters to seriously start looking out for candidates who possess the

qualities I mentioned earlier. If any voter thinks that he or she does

not know such candidates, it may be a good idea to have discussions with

other people. However, it is important to reserve the final judgement to

oneself.

It seems that quite a number of our people do not take interest in

getting themselves registered as voters or in casting ballots either at

the preliminary round or at the final round of election. They seem to

believe that their time is better spent on pursuing the day-to-day

business of earning livelihood. This is a huge mistake and amounts to

shirking one's duty to the nation and people. This constitutes a

violation of the trust and faith His Holiness the Dalai Lama has placed

on us. Every Tibetan adult has been given the right to vote, and every

one must exercise this right. Heads of monasteries, schools, local

communities and non-governmental organizations have a responsibility to

advice the people on the importance of exercising voting rights and

ensuring the election of candidates who have the inclination and ability

to contribute to the common well-being of Tibet.

Particularly, at a time like this, when the situation in Tibet is so

critical, it is all the more important that we have an Assembly whose

members are learned, dedicated and able to represent the aspirations of

the Tibetan people and provide leadership in our struggle for freedom.

The Chinese government's propaganda machinery is making huge efforts to

deceive the world into believing that Tibetans since the "liberation" of

Tibet have become the masters of their own destiny, enjoying happiness

and fruits of earth-shaking development. Just recently, China published

a White Paper, claiming to have developed Tibetan culture, religion and

economy. This is, of course, a preposterous claim for the government,

whose leaders, from Mao Zedong downwards, have regarded religion as a

poison and unleashed three rounds of Cultural Revolution in Tibet.

The first wave of Cultural Revolution came immediately after the

complete occupation of Tibet by China in 1959. Under the banner of

"democratic reforms", the Chinese authorities destroyed over 60 percent

of Tibetan monasteries and other cultural institutes in 1959 and 1960.

Thereafter, in 1966 Maoist Red Guards started the internationally-known

Cultural Revolution in China and Tibet, leaving only eight Tibetan

cultural institutes intact in its wake. This was the second Cultural

Revolution for Tibet.

Then, in 1996, the Chinese authorities started the "Patriotic

Education" campaign in Tibetan monasteries and nunneries to stamp out

the Tibetan people's national identity and freedom of worship. This

heralded the start of the Third Cultural Revolution. Under this

campaign, the authorities have fixed an age-limit for monks and nuns

wishing to join monasteries and nunneries. The photos of His Holiness

the Dalai Lama are banned. Throughout Tibet, "Patriotic Work Units"

force monks and nuns to denounce the Panchen Lama, recognized by His

Holiness the Dalai Lama, as an imposter and accept the one selected by

the Chinese government as genuine. Monks and nuns are asked to "love the

nation and religion", accept Tibet as part of China, and blame His

Holiness the Dalai Lama and his followers for undermining the stability

and development of Tibet. Every monk and nun is coerced to sign a

document to this effect. Thousands of monks and nuns have been expelled

from their monasteries and nunneries, and imprisoned for daring to

resist these diktats.

Similarly, learned Tibetan lamas, enjoying the respect of people, are

subjected to politically-motivated charges and imprisoned to prevent

them from performing their spiritual duties. Schools opened in Tibet by

Tibetan nationalists living in Tibet and outside were either forced to

close down or confiscated altogether.

Towards the end of last year, representatives of several "Tibet

Autonomous Region (TAR)" government departments, including the Public

Security Bureau and State Security Bureau, held a meeting in Chengdu.

The recommendations of this meeting, as communicated to Beijing by Chen

Kuiyuan, TAR Party Secretary, advocated the following actions amongst

others:

"1. We must gradually stamp out the so-called Tibetan religion and

culture until they are reduced to mere museum pieces without the current

ability to influence generation after generation of people.

2. Dalai and their so-called exile government in Dharamsala are the main

impediment to peace and stability in Tibet. Therefore, we should uproot

them."

High-profile campaigns to wipe out Tibetan religion and culture started

three years before this meeting when the "Patriotic Education" was

introduced in 1996. Since then the number of campaigns and their

ferocity have increased progressively. One of the recent documents

issued by the Chinese government decreed four prohibitions: "1)

Prohibition against faith in religion, 2) Prohibition against the

installation of religious altars, prayer flags, Dalai's photos and other

religious symbols at homes, 3) Prohibition against participation in

religious or other activities of blind feudal faith, 4) Prohibition

against sending children outside the jurisdiction to schools run by

Dalai."

This year Tibetan cadres, government employees, students, workers and

retired pensioners were ordered against visiting and circumambulating

religious places, possessing religious altars at home, putting up prayer

flags, and participation in incense-offering rituals. They were also

ordered to recall their children from schools in India and

monasteries/nunneries in Tibet. In addition, a public announcement was

issued against observance of the Saka Dawa month, the triple anniversary

of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha, in June, and

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday on 6 July this year. An array of

penalties was announced for non-compliance with this injunction. The

penalties include confiscation of residential permits, and demotion or

loss of jobs/retirement pensions.

On the positive side, however, the international support for the Tibetan

people's struggle is increasing and becoming more pronounced with the

passage of each year. This is, no doubt, due to the indefatigable

efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and unshakeable courage and

determination of the Tibetans in Tibet. The increasing international

support has succeeded in derailing some of China's insidious designs on

Tibet. One example of this is the World Bank's decision to cancel the

loan of $40 million for China's project to relocate 58,000 Chinese

settlers in the Tibetan area of Tulan. I would like to take this

opportunity to thank all those who were involved in the campaign against

this project.

Another positive development is that these days more and more national

leaders meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his overseas visits

despite China's threats and strong-arm tactics against the governments

of host countries. The Chinese leadership's efforts to obstruct His

Holiness the Dalai Lama's overseas visits and meetings with national

leaders have backfired and helped only to undermine China's own

international image and the world's trust in it. At the same time, it

has served to increase the prestige of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In this connection, I would like to mention the European Parliament's

5-July-2000 resolution on Tibet. This resolution had a number of clauses

in support of the Tibetan issue. Amongst others, the resolution calls on

"the governments of the Member States to seriously take into

consideration the possibility of recognizing the Tibetan government in

exile as the legitimate representative of Tibet if, within three years,

the Beijing authorities and the Tibetan government in exile have not,

through negotiations organized under the aegis of the Secretary-General

of the United Nations, signed an agreement on a new Statute for Tibet".

We should, thus, have no doubts about international support if we, the

Tibetan Administration and people, are able to launch systematic

campaigns from our side. The Tibetan people have so far undertaken a

great many campaigns of far-reaching significance. But in view of the

prevailing situation inside Tibet, particularly the increasing threat to

our religion, culture and language, I would appeal to the Tibetan

organizations and people, international Parliamentary Groups for Tibet

and Tibet Support Groups to redouble their efforts to end the suffering

of the Tibetan people.

Finally, I pray for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and

spontaneous fulfillment of his wishes.

The Kashag