Free Tibet - One Way or the Other
(By Tsoltim N Shakabpa | The Los Angeles Times | July 28, 1996)

The Dalai Lama struggled for more than 25 years to regain Tibet's independence through nonviolent means. Then in 1988, believing that the political leadership in China was in a state of flux and worried that his country and his people would eventually become extinct, the Dalai Lama proposed a "Middle Path" to reach a solution with the Chinese. This proposal essentially involved acquiescence to Chinese rule, while preserving Tibetan lives and identity. Although many Tibetans urged His Holiness to withdraw from this approach, the Dalai Lama continues to believe his formula will eventually save his people.

Tibetans believe the Dalai Lama to be the reincarnation of Chenrezig--the Lord of Love and Compassion. Every Tibetan, no matter what his background, believes in the Dalai Lama and his teachings. But while there is no wavering of faith in the Dalai Lama, there are differing views on what to do for the future.

Many Chinese and Western observers mistake this difference in view to mean that Tibetans no longer support the Dalai Lama. But faith in the Dalai Lama means belief in his teachings, not necessarily in his political analyses or his political leanings.

The divergent views among the first family in Tibetan society should not be mistaken or maliciously misconstrued as disunity within the family. Rather, the family's courage in openly differing on political issues should uphold the strength of the Tibetan democratic spirit and the fearless willingness of the first family to set an example to all people constrained by religious or political dogmas.

The views of the Dalai Lama's brother, who is also a recognized, high-ranking incarnate teacher, differ from his brother's. The Dalai Lama wishes to nonviolently preserve the basic human rights and identity of his people, though reluctantly under Chinese rule, because he feels independence may be too long in coming and that the Chinese may wipe out the Tibetan race before then.

His elder brother, Taktser Rinpoche, wishes to nonviolently regain Tibet's independence along with all the basic rights of the Tibetan people. He feels that this is the only way Tibetan life and liberty can truly be saved and preserved. While in both instances, there is not only compassion but virtue, the tricky question is: Would Tibetans be selling themselves forever to the Chinese or would they be fighting a losing battle? Who is right? No Tibetan should feel he is sacrificing his religious belief and faith in the Dalai Lama if he chooses the "path of independence." That choice is a democratic choice and a constitutional right, which the Dalai Lama himself so wisely promulgated in the new Tibetan constitution. Neither should any Tibetan speak ill of the Dalai Lama's "independent-minded" brethren, as that critic himself would be breaking a cardinal rule of nationalism and patriotism. China was never invited to come and rule Tibet. Tibet was made a part of China but China, as in the case of Hong Kong, promised a different system of rule. Slowly but surely, the Chinese reneged on the agreement. The freedoms promised were unashamedly withdrawn and the noose around the neck tightened with each move made by the Tibetans in protest.

The stories that have since trickled through the closed borders of Tibet have been sad and gruesome: 1.2 million Tibetans killed and thousands brutally tortured and imprisoned; nuclear waste dumped into sacred rivers and lakes. Also, the Chinese government kidnapped a 6-year-old boy regarded by the Tibetans as their highest-ranking reincarnate lama, second only to the Dalai Lama.

Tibetans are a peaceful, patient and religious people, carefree in appearance but determined in spirit. Therein lies their strength. My late beloved father, Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa, chose the "path of independence" because he firmly believed in the principles and values upon which his nation was built and because he did not want his people or his children to suffer in Chinese hands. I, too, have chosen the "path of independence" for the same reasons. My father lived and died for Tibet.

Tsoltim N. Shakabpa is executive director of the Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa Memorial Foundation.

Tibet, China and India: The Middle Path
(By Prahlad Shekhawat, Director Alternative Development Center)

India's efforts to improve relations with China are laudable in every way. At the same time our moral and democratic conscience should urge us not to ignore the Tibetan cause and put the record straight. Genuine autonomy for Tibet as proposed by the Dalai Lama is in the long term interest of both China and India. Amartya Sen has documented how massive famines and deaths occurred in China in the sixties inspite of claims of a huge food production and without any body outside China coming to know of it, precisely because free press and civil liberties were not functioning in China. .

The delegation of European Commission ambassadors in Beijing who visited Tibet found that: (1) there are obvious discrepancies between official information and information obtained through other sources and through visual observations. (2) Official figures that Chinese make up three percent of the population are understated. Many Chinese in Tibet are not registered locally (3) increased economic activity has brought more benefits to Chinese newcomers than to Tibetans.Many have documented how a large population of Chinese are being settled in Tibet ,changing its identity

In February 1992 the Dalai Lama announced the Guidelines for Future Tibet's polity and the basic features of its Constitution which made known that the future government of Tibet would be elected by the people on the basis of adult franchise. The Dalai Lama himself would not "play any role in the future government of Tibet let alone seek his traditional political position" The guidelines stated that "Future Tibet shall be a peace loving nation adhering to the principles of ahimsa. It shall have democratic system of government committed to preserving a clean, healthy and beautiful environment, Tibet shall be a completely demilitarized zone." China has taken impressive strides towards modernisation and economic development. In many ways it has created a more just and equal society. Yet there are environmental costs and unequal economic development among the regions especially in Tibet autonomous region and Quinghai which according to the United Nations Development Programme 1994 report is at the bottom of Human Development Index compared to other areas in China. It is much more legitimate and sustainable if reform and development specially in a deeply traditional society is done democratically through the spread of education, and while preserving desirable cultural identity. This does not seen to have happened in Chinese Tibet by all independent accounts. Probably the most experienced and independent pro-Chinese Tibetan intellectual today is Tashi Tsering. Educated in an American university, he then became a Maoist red guard with a burning zeal for modernizing the old society. Later becoming unpopular for his "independent" views the Chinese made him a political prisoner. Now in his sixties he lives in Lhasa willingly under Chinese Tibet although he had a choice to live a comfortable life in America or with the Tibetan government in exile in India. In his recent autobiography" The struggle for Modern Tibet" he writes that he does not want to return to the "old Tibetan theocratic feudal society" but the price of change and modernisation should not be the loss of one's language and culture, "revolution taught me how precious those are."

The environmental conditions in Tibet have repercussions in the entire adjoining regions because major rivers originating in Tibet including Brahmaputra and Indus flow into China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. During the last decade a contributory cause for some of the major floods in these countries has been attributed to the silting up of Tibet's rivers because of deforestation and uranium related activities. According to Nuclear Tibet the Northwest Nuclear Weapons Research and Design Academy is a secret organization based near Lake Kokonor and was concerned with designing all of Chinas nuclear bombs through the mid-seventies. Nearby are believed to be missile base with several dozen nuclear warheads. Dalai Lama in his Strasbourg proposala has stated that Tibet should serve as nuclear free buffer zone at the heart of Asia contributing to peace and stability in the region.

The Dalai Lama has clearly and consistently declared his middle path policy of seeking genuine autonomy within China where China is in charge of defence and external affairs. He has emphasized to me in an interview that he will keep to the middle path and non-violent means, as long as he was alive as the leader. He said he chose this path as a responsible leader and as matter of Buddhist principle. If the Chinese are serious about having a dialogue on genuine autonomy they may not get a better ally than the Dalai Lama. The growing impatience among many young Tibetans to use violent means is increasing.The Dalai Lama has clarified that when repressive Chinese troops withdraw from Tibet existing Tibetan administration will continue and an interim president will be appointed to whom the Dalai Lama will delegate his political powers. The Tibetan government in exile will ipso facto cease to exist.

By their presence in India Tibetans are promoting tourism and cultural ties that have existed since ancient times. The Tibetans have done much to revive the precious heritage of Buddhism in Indian soil by making Dharamsala as an international spiritual center. Tibetans as underdogs deserve all support from moral and human rights point of view and as refugees. The Indian government and people should urge China to explore dialogue with the Dalai Lama while maintaining that Tibet is a part of China. India's support for a genuinely autonomous, democratic Tibet will enhance India's standing as guardian of Gandhian principles and democratic rights. It will benefit India's interest by promoting the cause of peace (including Tibet as a nuclear free buffer zone), stability and clean environment. It needs courage to stand for human values and rights in a deprived part of the world.

Prahlad Shekhawat Director Alternative Development Center, Jaipur Formerly Associate Fellow, Institute of Development studies, Jaipur and research associate, Institute od Social Studies,the Hague.