Dharamsala, 15 July 1996

On 15 July the Cabinet of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile issued an announcement stating that it had formed a Special Committee to deal with disputes on the issue of Dholgyal propitiation. The following is the full text of the announcement:

The Tibetan Administration has instituted a nine-member Special Committee to look into allegations of religious persecution against the devotees of a particular spirit, known as Dholgyal (Dorje Shugden).

The Tibetan Administration's basic policy on the issue of Dholgyal propitiation was spelled out in the unanimous resolution passed on 6 June 1996 by the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies. The resolution stated that the government departments and their subsidiaries, as well as monastic institutions functioning under the administrative control of the Central Tibetan Administration, should be strictly forbidden from propitiating this spirit. Individual Tibetans, it said, must be informed of the demerits of propitiating this spirit, but be given freedom "to decide as they like". The resolution, however, requested the propitiators of this spirit not to receive vajrayana teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The allegation of Dholgyal devotees being dismissed from government jobs and schools, and of humanitarian assistance being denied to them were found to be totally baseless. As a matter of fact, at the Tibetan Children's Village School in Dharamsala and Tibetan schools elsewhere in India, there are many children of Tibetans spearheading the anti-Tibetan Administration campaign over this issue. Furthermore, the Tibetan Administration has invited anyone to visit Tibetan settlements and ascertain the truth.

Despite these facts, vested interest groups have continued with their campaign of allegation against the Tibetan Administration.

We have, therefore, set up this committee to enable all to bring their complaints and establish the truth. From now on, any genuine complaint of persecution against Dholgyal devotees must be addressed to:

Mr Lobsang Dhargye Shewu

Chairman, Special Committee

C/o Department of Education

Central Tibetan Administration

Dharamsala - 176215, H.P.

India.

Issued by:

The Kashag

Central Tibetan Administration

Gangchen Kyishong

Dharamsala - 176215, H.P.

India.