ABSTRACT: On 13 April 1992, Piero Verni, Secretary of the "Italy-Tibet" Association, interviewed the Dalai Lama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and symbol of nonviolence and peaceful dialogue, at the Himalayan village of Dharamsala in India, where the Tibetan leader is in exile.
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"As well as the torture, random arrests and executions being carried out in Tibet, an attempt is also being made to completely destroy, to annhilate, the Tibetan culture. They are systematically seeking to erase even the memory of what was one of the most ancient, and important, cultures in Asia." affirms the Dalai Lama in an interview published here. Tibet is just one of the countries where human rights are violated, where life is denied to both individuals and entire peoples.
Our project aims at creating an organization capable of undertaking nonviolent action to remedy the crises that beset the world by upholding human rights and supranational laws, by campaigning to reform the UN in order that it might go beyond the principle that governs today's society: the unlimited sovereignty of the state.
(THE PARTY new - N. 7 - May 1992)
Question: "How do you view the current political situation in Tibet?".
Answer: "A number of positive signs seem to be emerging, even though the situation is still very difficult. I think that Tibet can be freed from Chinese oppression in five to ten years time. I believe that China will follow the same path as the ex-Soviet Union. In the next few years, we will see big changes taking place in our powerful neighbour".
Q: "Several Indian politicians and intellectuals criticized the New Delhi Government's approach to the Tibetan question during the Chinese Premier Li Pengs's recent visit to India. What is your position on this?".
A: "Since 1959, the Indian governments have given a great deal of humanitarian aid to Tibetan refugees. They welcomed us in India where we were able to preserve the fundamental aspects of our civilization, thanks also to the collaboration we received from the authorities".
Q: "However, India has never really helped the Tibetans politically in their struggle for democracy and, in recent years, seems to be terrified of criticizing Peking, not only as regards the Tibetan question but also concerning the human rights abuses within China itself".
A: "I don't want to comment on the effectiveness of the Indian Government's foreign policy, but I will say that the fact that the New Delhi authorities have not given specific help to the Tibetans in their nonviolent struggle for democracy causes me great suffering. They have not offered us the same political and moral support which is, in fact, given to other peoples struggling to be free, such as the Palestinians and the blacks in South Africa. Besides, a free Tibet would be in both India's and China's interests. These two great nations would no longer have a common frontier, and they would be able to utilize the enormous sums of money necessary to maintain the hundreds and thousands of soldiers along their borders for peaceful purposes and humanitarian aid".
Q: "Some people claim that the Chinese have made their own people suffer as much as the Tibetans by inflicting the same kind of horrors on them. Do you think this is true?".
A: "The politics of the Communist government in Peking have certainly caused the Chinese to suffer terribly as far as human rights are concerned. Unfortunately, it is even worse in Tibet's case because we are faced with a real and proper cultural genocide. As well as the torture, random arrests and executions carried out in Tibet, an attempt is also being made to completely destroy, to annhilate, the Tibetan culture. They are systematically seeking to erase even the memory of what was one of the most ancient, an important, cultures in Asia".
Q: "When you say "cultural genocide", are you also referring to the millions of Chinese colonies that are being set up in Tibet?":
A: "Certainly. The establishing of such colonies constitutes a direct threat to the Tibetan people and their culture. The Chinese continue to arrive in my country in vast numbers and to settle there. All the best jobs go to the Chinese who, with a few exceptions, actually govern the "roof of the world". Our way of life and cultural identity are about to disappear for ever".
Q: "Do you think that the latest declarations made by Deng Tsaio Ping indicate that Chinese politics are changing direction yet again?".
A: "It is quite probable. Today, it would seem that the moderates have taken the offensive and the extremists are losing ground. There is also a rumour that Li Peng will be replaced by someone with a broader outlook".
Q: "If this were to happen would it give negotiations between your Government and the Peking leadership a better chance?".
A: "It is difficult to say for sure. If the situation in China changes for the better it is also possible that this could have a positive effect on the Tibetan question. For my part, I am becoming more and more convinced that the drama of the Tibetan people can only be resolved by using nonviolence, establishing a dialogue, and arriving at a mutual understanding at a political level. If we are not able to create a feeling of good will and trust both Tibetans and Chinese will be the losers. This is why I am once again asking the Chinese leaders to permit me to go to Tibet. In this way, I would not only be able to explain the concept of a nonviolent struggle to obtain our rights to my people directly, but it would also give me the opportunity to sit down at a conference table with the Chinese leaders and try to create a new feeling between us, to eliminate past suspicions. It is on this basis that friendly and constructive talks could begin. At least, this is what I hope".
