Yabshi Vs Yabshi
Whatever unbelievable sights and sounds the Tibetans were prepared for when they first came into exile, this certainly was not it. Two members of the Dalai Lama’s family—known as the Yabshis—are at loggerheads. Fortunately for the exile community, it is not a personal feud out difference of opinion on what the future course of action for the Tibetans, in terms of returning home, ought to be. The eldest in the family, Thubten J. Norbu, wantes to go all our for restoration of total independence while his younger brother, Gyalo Thondup, favours acceptance of a more benevolent variety of Chinese domination. Both apparently are quite serious about their beliefs. Norbu resigned as head of Tibet office in Tokyo in protest against what he saw as the pussy-footing policy of the Tibetan government. Thondup stepped down temporarily from his pedestal as chairman of the Council of Ministers in order to facilitate a fair investigation of the charges levelled by Norbu.
Although both brothers have pronounced their respective stands unambigously, neither the cabinet nor the assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies have issued a public comment on the war of the words. Instead, an investigative committee has been formed, presumably to find out who has been telling the truth.
But wait a minute. What truth? If one had accused the other of saying something which he denies, then an investigation might justifiably be launched. But such is not the case here. Both have willingly gone on record; Both have voluntarily resigned; no outside force was ever applied. Subtle politicking might be going on at high levels but the main in the street is baffled as to the reasons for instituting an investigative committee. All that the government had to do was declare whether it sees complete independence as a realistic goal or not. Everything hinges on this point. Since neither of the Yabshi brother are likely to publicly change his mind, one of the resignations has to become permanent. In fact the public was led to believe that ‘complete independence’ as the goal of the Tibetan government was decided upon during the last session of the parliament. So once again we have to ask, what is under investigation now?
If two ordinary Tibetans were making all this fuss, there would have been no need for anyone else to worry about it. But the two involved are not ordinary Tibetans. They would have been ‘ordinary’ in a democratic society. But not in the Tibetan society—whatever democratic trappings it has recently acquired. Until their resignations, one was the Dalai Lama’s representative for the Asia Pacific region and other was the elected head of the cabinet, which, under the present set-up, means the highest ranking Tibetan after the Dalai Lama. However, for Tibetans what is even more important is the fact that they both elder brothers of the Dalai Lama. SO the controversy cannot be ignored. However, one wishes it was attended to directly and speedily so that normal life can resume. Instead we have to wait for the bureaucratic procedure to take its courses with committees, reports and whatnots.
Whatever unbelievable sights and sounds the Tibetans were prepared for when they first came into exile, this certainly was not it. Two members of the Dalai Lama’s family—known as the Yabshis—are at loggerheads. Fortunately for the exile community, it is not a personal feud out difference of opinion on what the future course of action for the Tibetans, in terms of returning home, ought to be. The eldest in the family, Thubten J. Norbu, wantes to go all our for restoration of total independence while his younger brother, Gyalo Thondup, favours acceptance of a more benevolent variety of Chinese domination. Both apparently are quite serious about their beliefs. Norbu resigned as head of Tibet office in Tokyo in protest against what he saw as the pussy-footing policy of the Tibetan government. Thondup stepped down temporarily from his pedestal as chairman of the Council of Ministers in order to facilitate a fair investigation of the charges levelled by Norbu.
Although both brothers have pronounced their respective stands unambigously, neither the cabinet nor the assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies have issued a public comment on the war of the words. Instead, an investigative committee has been formed, presumably to find out who has been telling the truth.
But wait a minute. What truth? If one had accused the other of saying something which he denies, then an investigation might justifiably be launched. But such is not the case here. Both have willingly gone on record; Both have voluntarily resigned; no outside force was ever applied. Subtle politicking might be going on at high levels but the main in the street is baffled as to the reasons for instituting an investigative committee. All that the government had to do was declare whether it sees complete independence as a realistic goal or not. Everything hinges on this point. Since neither of the Yabshi brother are likely to publicly change his mind, one of the resignations has to become permanent. In fact the public was led to believe that ‘complete independence’ as the goal of the Tibetan government was decided upon during the last session of the parliament. So once again we have to ask, what is under investigation now?
If two ordinary Tibetans were making all this fuss, there would have been no need for anyone else to worry about it. But the two involved are not ordinary Tibetans. They would have been ‘ordinary’ in a democratic society. But not in the Tibetan society—whatever democratic trappings it has recently acquired. Until their resignations, one was the Dalai Lama’s representative for the Asia Pacific region and other was the elected head of the cabinet, which, under the present set-up, means the highest ranking Tibetan after the Dalai Lama. However, for Tibetans what is even more important is the fact that they both elder brothers of the Dalai Lama. SO the controversy cannot be ignored. However, one wishes it was attended to directly and speedily so that normal life can resume. Instead we have to wait for the bureaucratic procedure to take its courses with committees, reports and whatnots.
posted by editorla at
9:09 PM
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