Over to Peking
In his statement on the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of Tibetan national uprising, the Dalai Lama lamented that the Chinese are not trying to understand the Tibetan viewpoints and aspirations. This was obviously in response to the five-point proposal concerning his return that the Chinese made public at a time when the Tibetan leader was seriously considering a brief visit to his homeland. The Chinese terms were for all practical purpose a withdrawal of their repeated call to the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan exiles to return to Tibet.
The terms, of course, were unacceptable to the Tibetans and they said so in no uncertain terms. It remains to be see whether Peking will come out with a new set of proposals or choose to stay firm. It is also tied with how the situation inTibet will develop. Will the limited relaxation that the CHinese have introduced continue? Will it be increased? Reduced? Or will the pre-1979 policy be back in force?
In the meantime, the Dalai Lama statement leaves no doubt on how he views the present situation. He has favourably compared life in exile to life under occupation, told his people to persevere “in our struggle”, and counted among their achievements the preservation of “our patriotism.” He has made it clear that freedom of thought is an essential component of what he calls “genuine happiness.” According to him, the Tibetan cause is far from hopeless. He bases this optimism on the growing interdependence of the world where no nation can remain isolated by itself. And finally, he has challenged Peking to “act according to the enlightened ideals and principles of the modern times.”
It is now for China to demonstrate—not just through wearing three-piece suits and drinking Coca-Cola, but by displaying a grasp of “the enlightened ideals and principles”—whether she is in these modern times.
In his statement on the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of Tibetan national uprising, the Dalai Lama lamented that the Chinese are not trying to understand the Tibetan viewpoints and aspirations. This was obviously in response to the five-point proposal concerning his return that the Chinese made public at a time when the Tibetan leader was seriously considering a brief visit to his homeland. The Chinese terms were for all practical purpose a withdrawal of their repeated call to the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan exiles to return to Tibet.
The terms, of course, were unacceptable to the Tibetans and they said so in no uncertain terms. It remains to be see whether Peking will come out with a new set of proposals or choose to stay firm. It is also tied with how the situation inTibet will develop. Will the limited relaxation that the CHinese have introduced continue? Will it be increased? Reduced? Or will the pre-1979 policy be back in force?
In the meantime, the Dalai Lama statement leaves no doubt on how he views the present situation. He has favourably compared life in exile to life under occupation, told his people to persevere “in our struggle”, and counted among their achievements the preservation of “our patriotism.” He has made it clear that freedom of thought is an essential component of what he calls “genuine happiness.” According to him, the Tibetan cause is far from hopeless. He bases this optimism on the growing interdependence of the world where no nation can remain isolated by itself. And finally, he has challenged Peking to “act according to the enlightened ideals and principles of the modern times.”
It is now for China to demonstrate—not just through wearing three-piece suits and drinking Coca-Cola, but by displaying a grasp of “the enlightened ideals and principles”—whether she is in these modern times.
posted by editorla at
9:10 PM
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