Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 21, 2008
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/QA_The_Chinese_have_been_razing_our_culture/articleshow/2885691.cms
Introduction: Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister
of the Tibetan government-in-exile, is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He tells
Divya A that Tibetans can gain autonomy by waging a non-violent struggle:
Q.: The government-in-exile wants autonomy
under Chinese rule. Is this acceptable to Tibetan youth?
A.: If China is sincere about giving us autonomy, we can definitely protect
our culture and spiritual heritage. We may be able to take care of our environmental
and natural resources. But this is only if China grants autonomy in letter
and spirit. As per chapter 6 of their constitution, barring diplomatic relations
and economic policy, everything else will be under local government once autonomy
is granted. As for the new generation, they have the right to ask for independence.
His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) encourages people to speak out, there is no
rift in our society.
Q.: The Dalai Lama has spoken about China
committing cultural genocide in Tibet. Can you please elaborate?
A.: Intentionally or unintentionally, the Chinese have been razing our culture
in the occupied territory for the past 50 years or so. First, there has been
a major demographic problem. Many non-Tibetans have now come to settle in
the China-occupied region.
Second, our education system has been greatly
hampered. China is interfering in our subjects of study under the garb of
re-education and patriotic religion. They are not allowing our history and
culture to be taught in schools and monasteries. They have even restricted
the number of monks being admitted to monasteries. My monastery in Tibet had
8,000 monks, but now the number is just 4,000. All this is nothing but cultural
genocide.
Q.: You have demanded that China should allow
inter-national teams to visit Tibet and verify premier Wen Jiabao's statement
that no genocide has taken place.
A.: Cultural genocide is not a hygiene thing; it can be verified. We will
surely approach neutral international agencies like UN Human Rights Council,
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch to send teams to Tibet and assess
the situation. Many people in China also would not know what is happening
in Tibet. We are open to neutral Chinese agencies investigating the situation
in the region.
Q.: The Dalai Lama has threatened to step
down if calm is not maintained. Is his influence on the wane?
A.: I don't think his influence and aura are on the decline. It's just that
people are so emotionally charged due to brutalities and bloodshed that they
refuse to let conscience prevail, whereas His Holiness, like Mahatma Gandhi,
is committed to peace. He doesn't like angry protests, so he is just expressing
his dislike in the strongest possible terms. He won't even like any sabotage
of Beijing Olympics. He has just stuck to his principle of ahimsa. If non-violence
could get India complete independence from British rule, i am sure it will
help us get autonomy.
