23 settembre 2015. Da qualche tempo i giornali e le televisioni di tutto il mondo stanno dando molto spazio alle contestazioni rivolte al Dalai Lama dai seguaci di una setta integralista tibetana conosciuta con il nome di “Shugden community”. Dagli Stati Uniti all’Europa, gli aderenti al culto di questo “spirito” non hanno risparmiato violenti attacchi al Dalai Lama e all’Amministrazione Centrale Tibetana, accusati di voler impedire ai devoti di Shugden la pratica della loro religione.

E’ accaduto anche i giorni scorsi durante la permanenza del Dalai Lama nel Regno Unito dove il leader spirituale tibetano, arrivato il 13 settembre per una visita di 9 giorni, ha partecipato a una serie di importanti eventi pubblici e ha incontrato i parlamentari inglesi  nel corso di un convegno organizzato dal Gruppo Parlamentare Inglese per il Tibet.

I seguaci del culto si sono puntualmente radunati all’esterno dei luoghi dove si tenevano gli incontri dispiegando striscioni in cui si accusava il Dalai Lama di mentire e lo si definiva addirittura “falso Dalai Lama”. Una coalizione di 37 organizzazioni buddhiste del Regno Unito ha preso la distanza da queste manifestazioni definite “aggressive, fuorvianti e amorali” ed ha accusato la Cina di utilizzare il controverso culto della divinità per dividere i tibetani.

Nel corso di un’intervista concessa il 22 settembre alla BBC il Dalai Lama ha dichiarato che i seguaci della divinità, da lui stesso venerata in passato, devono informarsi meglio ed approfondire l’argomento senza lasciarsi influenzare dai sentimenti di collera che offuscano il loro giudizio. Read the rest of this entry »

La visita del Dalai Lama negli Stati Uniti, prevista per il mese di ottobre, è stata cancellata. Il leader religioso buddista è giunto a Rochester, nel Minnesota, all’inizio della scorsa settimana per accertamenti clinici presso la clinica Majo. Al termine degli esami clinici i medici hanno consigliato al Dalai Lama un periodo di riposo per tutte le prossime settimane.

Questo l’annuncio dell’Ufficio del Tibet che in un comunicato ha precisato che “Sua Santità non ha problemi di salute. Gli esami clinici sono buoni e il Dalai Lama farà presto ritorno a Dharamsala”. Qualche settimana fa il primo Ministro Lobsang Sangay aveva annunciato che il conferimento dell’iniziazione di Kalachakra officiato dal Dalai Lama e previsto per il mese di gennaio 2016 era stata rinviato al 2017. La decisione si ritiene dovuta alla fittissima agenda personale del Leader religioso tibetano che ha visto la sua partecipazione alle celebrazioni svoltesi in tutto il mondo per il suo 80° compleanno. Il Dalai Lama è inoltre reduce da una visita di nove giorni nel Regno Unito.

Fonti: Phyul – Students for a Free Tibet – Tibet Post, http://www.italiatibet.org/2015/10/02/obama-incoraggiamo-la-cina-al-dialogo-con-il-dalai-lama-cancellata-la-visita-negli-usa-del-leader-tibetano/

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Cancels October U.S. Visit

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in the United States for a medical check-up. The doctors have advised His Holiness to rest for the next several weeks. As a result, His Holiness’ planned October U.S. visit has been cancelled. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this decision and apologize to all the people who have worked so hard in organizing the visit as well as to the public. We thank you for your support and understanding.

The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dated: September 25, 2015 http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1321-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-cancels-october-us-visit

Interfaith Meeting and Action for Happiness Event

London, England, 21 September 2015 – Before he left for the day’s other engagements this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an interview to Christiane Amanpour of CNN. She began by asking: “What are you trying to do here?” and he replied:
“What’s important is that all human beings, wherever they are, whether they are rich or poor, educated or uneducated, have a right to live a happy life. Many think that happiness is to be found outside ourselves in material things, but actually happiness is something that comes from within. So I try to present the importance of inner values not on the basis of religious quotations, but by taking a secular approach based on scientific findings and common sense.

Christiane Amanpour of CNN interviewing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London, England on September 21, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

Ms Amanpour remarked that China is changing because of its rapidly developing economy and yet the authorities still refer to His Holiness as a ‘splittist’. He told her that Tibetans had not been seeking independence since 1974 and everybody knows that. She mentioned concern about who will succeed him. He replied that as far as Tibetan Buddhism is concerned the 10,000 monks and nuns who are studying and practising today will be able to preserve it. He made the point that the Buddha’s teaching has survived for 2600 years without there being a recognised reincarnation of the Buddha. He conceded that while he might be the last Dalai Lama, he may yet appoint a successor from among qualified lamas before he goes.

Asked how he sees the persecution of Rohingyas in Burma His Holiness said: “It’s very sad. I have appealed to Burmese Buddhists to stop and think. When they feel angry or resentful of these people, remember the face of the Buddha. I believe that if the Buddha were there, he would offer the Rohingyas his protection.”

Finally, noting that President Xi Jinping will shortly be visiting the USA and the UK, Ms Amanpour wanted to know what His Holiness would say to him if he had the opportunity to do so. He answered:
“Perhaps I’d say that that although historically we were an independent country, as records of the 7th to 9th centuries show, we are not seeking independence now. We can benefit from the development we get as part of the People’s Republic of China, but we must be able to preserve our language, culture and Buddhist traditions. I’d remind him that last year in Paris and Delhi he said that Buddhism plays an important role in Chinese culture. Buddhist values can be of help at a time when the injustice and corruption he seeks to contain are widespread.” Read the rest of this entry »

Talks on Ethics and Ahimsa

London, England, 20 September 2015 – When BBC news journalist Clive Myrie came to interview His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning, many of his questions touched on the refugee crisis confronting Europe. He wanted to know if there was not a general lack of compassion in the indifference and hostility being expressed. His Holiness responded:
“It’s about suspicion and mistrust. We have to explore how to bring peace and reconciliation to those places where violent conflict is compelling these people to seek an alternative”

Clive Myrie of the BBC interviewing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London, England on September 20, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

When Myrie quoted former Archbishop George Carey’s advocating the use of military force, His Holiness said: “He has his own view. I don’t see things that way.”

Myrie suggested there are young Tibetans who feel that non-violence has failed their cause. His Holiness countered that they too are entitled to their opinion, but that it’s not true to say the Middle Way Approach has failed when it draws continuing support and admiration from Chinese citizens. He reported that many Chinese who come to meet him apologise for what has happened in Tibet.

When asked about the pro-Shugden demonstrations, His Holiness answered that the people concerned should do more research and not let themselves be driven by anger that clouds their judgement. He suggested they go to South India and see the monasteries in the Tibetan settlements where about 2000 monks’ practice is unconstrained.
His Holiness denied that he is disappointed not to be meeting Prime Minister David Cameron on this visit, saying that he has no political agenda. He repeated that whether or not a 15th Dalai Lama is sought and found will depend on the wishes of the Tibetan people. He concurred, as he has elsewhere, that if there is another reincarnation, it could be woman. Read the rest of this entry »

Greeting Tibetans, Tibet Supporters and Addressing the Public at the O2 Arena

London, England, 19 September 2015 – This morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama set off on a ferry from the Millbank Millennium Pier near the Tate Britain. His destination was the O2 Arena nearly 10 miles downriver. Under grey skies, the journey took him past many London monuments, from the Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Palace to the London Eye and the Shard, and ultimately the O2 Arena itself. He disembarked at the Greenwich Yacht Club, from where it was a short drive to the O2.

His Holiness’s first meeting was with 700 Tibetans from Britain and other countries of Northern Europe. Entering the O2 Indigo theatre he was presented with a sea of proffered white silk scarves. He laughed and greeted old friends from the stage before taking his seat to peruse the report being read out by Tsering Passang, who said:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to members of the Tibetan community at the O2 Indigo Theatre in London, England on September 19, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming

“We Tibetans have a special karmic connection to have been born as Tibetans under your leadership. We are united because of you. We are doing our best to contribute to the Tibetan struggle.”

The report clarified that there are more than 700 Tibetans in the UK today, and of those a third are less than 18 years old. It also outlined the funding and support that UK Tibetan community is giving to education among Tibetans in terms of scholarships and so forth. His Holiness responded:

“During this difficult period in our history I haven’t been able to do very much. But I’ve done what I could and you’ve placed your trust in me.

“According to archaeological findings, Tibetan civilization is ancient. The Tibetan Emperor, Songtsen Gampo, took a Chinese wife and a Nepalese wife. Both of them brought statues of the Buddha to Tibet. In the 8th century, Trisong Deutsan, despite existing close relations with China, specifically turned to India as the source for bringing Buddhism to Tibet. He invited top Nalanda scholar Shantarakshita, a philosopher and logician to teach. Shantarakshita encouraged the translation of Buddhist literature into Tibetan. He is said to have even begun to learn Tibetan himself. Samye Monastery was founded with separate departments for Vinaya, translation and so on.” Read the rest of this entry »

Interviews in Cambridge, Meeting Children in London

London, England, 18 September 2015 – Before leaving Cambridge today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a couple of interviews to the press. Fiona Wilson of The Times talked to him about ‘What I have Learned’, some of her questions being personal, others topical. When she asked what he thinks of the situation of refugees in Europe, he replied: Read the rest of this entry »

Second Day of Growing Wisdom, Changing People

Cambridge, England 17 September 2015 – A bright sun shone in a clear blue sky as His Holiness the Dalai Lama took the short drive to Cripps Court today. Theme for the morning discussions was ‘A Vision for Education’ and Ed Kessler was the moderator.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting friends in the audience on his arrival at Sir Humphrey Cripps Theatre at Magdalene College in Cambridge, UK on September 17, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

Lord Rowan Williams opened the conversation with observations about education. He noted the significance of the early months and years of life and suggested that the size of classes is a cause for concern. He questioned whether education is about more than pouring the contents of one vessel into another and asked how we imagine a system that produces a creative, compassionate person. He recalled that when his wife was giving teaching support in schools there were times she talked to children who had never been spoken to seriously by an adult before.

His Holiness began by describing the model that in Tibet has come down from ancient India in which a teacher works with a few students. He painstakingly explains the text in hand. Students study and then exercise what they have learned with each other on the debate courtyard. Employing logic they bring doubt and scepticism to the conversation, which is helpful for sharpening the mind. He outlined three steps to knowledge:
“The teacher’s words or what you read are the source. Then you explore and think about what you’ve learned; you contemplate it. Read other books and take many other points of view into account. Study the variety of Buddhist and non-Buddhist schools of thought and why these views are proposed. The third step is to deepen this knowledge through experience.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during the morning session on the second day of dialogue at Magdalene College in Cambridge, UK on September 17, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming

His Holiness mentioned that coming to understand how the mind and emotions work, observing the effects of, for example, anger, anxiety and frustration is important. It also gives perspective to cultivate a sense of the oneness of all human beings. To think primarily of my nation, my community in the context of our globalized world is out of date. He pointed out that where the church used to foster a sense of humane values, as its influence has waned, responsibility for this has not been taken up by schools and education institutions. It needs to be, which is why His Holiness has proposed the incorporation of secular ethics into modern education and has encouraged the creation of appropriate curriculums to do so.
Lord Williams agreed and suggested that religious institutions also need to talk more about human well-being and our growing interdependence. In response to a question from the floor he said that education should be less about providing certainties than about confidence. He said he’d like to put a sign over school gates that reads, “Don’t panic”. Read the rest of this entry »

Migliaia di Tibetani partecipano all’iniziazione di Kalachakra in Amdo, Tibet.

Migliaia di Tibetani partecipano all’iniziazione di Kalachakra in Amdo. Prosegue a Delhi lo sciopero della fame dei tre attivisti del TYC.

21 settembre 2015. Si conclude oggi al monastero di Kumbum, nella regione nord orientale dell’Amdo, l’iniziazione di Kalachakra, la “Ruota del Tempo”, una delle più importanti cerimonie della religione buddhista. Migliaia di devoti (nella foto) sono affluiti al celebre monastero per presenziare all’evento, iniziato il 18 settembre ed officiato da Geja Rinpoche, uno dei più venerati leader religiosi dell’area.

Secondo alcune fonti tibetane una folla di 200.000 persone, tra tibetani, mongoli e cittadini han ha preso parte all’iniziazione che, a quanto sembra, non ha incontrato l’opposizione delle autorità cinesi. Spesso, infatti, il personale addetto alla sicurezza sorveglia strettamente o addirittura vieta grandi assembramenti di folla nel timore del dilagare di proteste antigovernative. Lo scorso anno, i dipendenti governativi della vicina regione del Gansu non poterono prendere parte ad una analoga cerimonia pena la perdita del loro impiego se non avessero rispettato il divieto. Read the rest of this entry »

Dialogue on the Theme ‘Growing Wisdom, Changing People’

Cambridge, England, 16 September 2015 – The roads were wet as His Holiness the Dalai Lama took a short drive to Cripps Court, Magdalene College’s conference venue, this morning. Groups of Tibetans and other friends and well-wishers were gathered on either side of the gate with flags and banners, quietly chanting to welcome him. Inside he met with his host Lord Rowan Williams, moderator Baroness Patricia Scotland, and organizer of Inspire Dialogue Foundation, Cameron Taylor, before entering the Sir Humphrey Cripps theatre.

Cameron Taylor welcomes the audience to the opening session of the dialogue on ‘Growing Wisdom, Changing People” at Magdalene College’s Cripps Court in Cambridge, UK on September 16, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming

Cameron Taylor welcomed everyone to the start of two days of meetings and invited Hillary Williams-Papworth, one of the supporters of the Dialogue to speak about her husband Bill Papworth who died a year ago. She mentioned that His Holiness jokingly remarks that when he meets people of a similar age to himself he wonders, “Who’ll go first?” “Well, Bill went first,” she said. He was a year and a month older. Thupten Jinpa, scholar and His Holiness’s principal English translator, described Bill as a great ally of Tibetans and all humanity. He was a firm supporter of the idea of dialogue and faced with a challenge and wishing to help would always ask, “What can I do?”

Barrister and former Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, as moderator of the first plenary session, opened proceedings. She introduced His Holiness as an embodiment of wisdom and Lord Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, for his legendary ability to listen. She described herself as honoured and humbled to be joining them both and invited His Holiness to speak first.

“Respected elder brothers and sisters, as well as younger brothers and sisters,” he began, “I come here as just another human being. When I talk to other people I don’t think of myself as anything special, not as an Asian or a Buddhist. When I meet anyone, I think, ‘Ah, another human being who has problems like me.’ We all live on this small blue planet, where the reality is that our lives are interdependent. Because of that we have to think on a global level, not thinking only of my nation or my community, which is simply out of date. Read the rest of this entry »

Photography, Interviews, Meetings and a Journey to Cambridge

Cambridge, England, 15 September 2015 – At the start of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s second day in Oxford, President of Magdalen College, Prof David Clary, escorted him through the library in the President’s House. Amidst shelves stacked with old leather-bound volumes, they stopped to examine some of the oldest books and other artefacts

His Holiness the Dalai Lama looking at the oldest book on display at the library of the President’s House at Magdalen College in Oxford, UK on September 15, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

In a room behind the library, Prof Clare Harris gave a presentation about early photography in Tibet in which His Holiness took a keen interest. It had been thought that the date of the earliest photograph taken in Tibet was 1889. Prof Harris revealed an image of a rock formation, possibly near the Indus, that can be attributed to Philip Egerton’s 1863 expedition into Tibet at the behest of the Viceroy of India, Lord Elgin. Egerton managed to reach 10 miles into Tibet before he was expelled.

Nearly 40 years later, a Buryat, Gombojab Tsybikov, took the first photograph of the Potala Palace in 1900, which was then widely reproduced. Prof Harris suggested that a photograph of Gyantse Dzong taken three years later may have been prompted by Lord Curzon’s disgruntlement that the Russians got to Lhasa first.

In addition to foreigners taking photographs in Tibet, there were also Tibetans who took up the skill. Among them Jigme Taring and Tsarong Dzasa are well-known. Other previously unacknowledged photographers include the 9th Panchen Lama and the 13th Dalai Lama. Prof Harris showed striking photographs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama aged 3-4 in 1939 at Kumbum Monastery and another of him in Dromo / Yathung in 1951. She also showed a clear portrait of Samding Dorje Palmo, who His Holiness refers to as the highest female reincarnation in Tibet. He clarified that the photograph of him that appeared on the cover of Time magazine when he escaped from Tibet in 1959 had been taken in 1956. Read the rest of this entry »

New Delhi: Lo sciopero della fame ad oltranza dei tre attivisti tibetani.

New Delhi: Lo sciopero della fame ad oltranza dei tre attivisti tibetani.

Dal 10 settembre, a Delhi, tre attivisti tibetani membri del Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), l’organizzazione che conta il maggior numero di sostenitori dell’indipendenza del Tibet, stanno attuando uno sciopero della fame a tempo indeterminato. Il loro gesto di estrema protesta è iniziato a due giorni di distanza dalle pompose celebrazioni organizzate dalla Cina in occasione del 50° anniversario della costituzione della cosiddetta Regione Autonoma Tibetana.

I digiunatori, tutti membri dell’esecutivo del TYC, sono il Vice Presidente Tamdin Hrichoe, Tsewang Dolma, Segretario alle Informazioni e Relazioni Internazionali e Tenzin Wangchuk, Segretario alle Finanze. “In un recente Libro Bianco la Cina ha dichiarato che quella attuale è l’Età d’Oro del Tibet” – ha fatto sapere Tenzin Jigme, Presidente dell’organizzazione. “In realtà, dal 2009, 143 tibetani si sono autoimmolati con il fuoco all’interno del paese, ma la Cina, anziché soddisfare le loro richieste ha esacerbato la repressione in tutto il Tibet e ha duramente criticato il Dalai Lama, leader spirituale dei tibetani. Inoltre, 6000 tra templi e monasteri sono andati distrutti in seguito all’occupazione, migliaia di famiglie sono state forzatamente riallocate e nel paese imperversano l’oppressione e la discriminazione. Certamente questa non è l’Età d’Oro ma l’Età più Oscura della storia del Tibet e non vi è nulla da celebrare”.

“Al fine di sostenere le richieste di quanti si sono autoimmolati ci rivolgiamo alle Nazioni Unite che riteniamo debbano immediatamente intervenire e attribuire alla Cina la responsabilità delle sue azioni”, ha aggiunto. “Con questo sciopero della fame ad oltranza intendiamo scuotere l’apatia delle Nazioni Unite e dei capi di governo di tutto il mondo”.

Le richieste dei digiunatori si articolano in cinque punti: Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meets the Press, School-children and Fellows of the Dalai Lama Centre for Compassion in Oxford

Oxford, England, 13 September 2015 – After arriving from India yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama awoke to light rainfall in Oxford this morning. The rain let up sufficiently for him to walk through the grounds of Magdalen College, taking an interest in the shrubs and trees in the gardens, to the college auditorium where he met the Press. Mentioning how happy he was to be returning to this celebrated place of learning, he explained the three commitments he observes wherever he goes. Read the rest of this entry »

Sua Eminenza Kyabge Ciöden Rinpoce ha lasciato il corpo

Cari studenti e amici,
con profonda tristezza dobbiamo comunicare a tutti voi la notizia che Sua Eminenza Cioden Rinpoce è entrato nel dharmadhatu alle ore 1:30 (ora indiana, le 22:00 ora italiana) l’11 settembre 2015, nella sua abitazione (Labrang) al monastero di Sera Je.
Come la maggior parte di voi già sa, lo scorso luglio, il glorioso protettore degli insegnamenti e degli esseri senzienti, dotato di grande comprensione delle cinque scienze [medicina, arte, logica, grammatica e la scienza interiore del Buddismo], Sua Eminenza Cioden Rinpoce, il supremo Jetsun Losang Ghialten Gigdrel Uanciuk, ha manifestato lo stato di malattia nella prospettiva dei discepoli ordinari.
Tuttavia, per la fortunata convergenza del potere delle benedizioni della compassione di Sua Santità il Dalai Lama, delle sincere richieste dei suoi discepoli affinché Rinpoce potesse rimanere a lungo e stabile come un vajra, e delle meticolose cure mediche, la malattia era temporaneamente affievolita e Rinpoce è stato in grado di continuare a conferire insegnamenti vasti, essenziali e difficili da trovare sui profondi sutra e tantra, specialmente il ciclo di Majushri Jamyang Ciökor, ai fortunati discepoli nel tempio principale del Monastero di Sera Je.
Nei mesi recenti, per via dei meriti insufficienti di noi discepoli, la malattia di Rinpoce ha raggiunto uno stato critico, aggravandosi ogni giorno di più secondo il medico. Preoccupati da questa condizione, i discepoli più vicini di Rinpoce hanno chiesto un’osservazione a Sua Santità il Dalai Lama.

Rilevando segni nefasti, Sua Santità ha invitato Rinpoce a incontrarlo a Delhi. Il 29 agosto, Sua Santità ha avuto un incontro tranquillo con Rinpoce nella sua stanza d’albergo. Il giorno successivo Rinpoce è arrivato comodamente nella sua casa nella grande sede di Sera.

Dal 4 all’8 settembre Rinpoche si è impegnato, insieme ghesce e tulku senior, nelle auto-iniziazioni delle sue divinità tantriche principali: Guhyasamaja, Heruka Ciakrasamvara, Yamantaka, Tara Cittamani e Vajrayogini. I discepoli hanno notato che Rinpoce compiva le recitazioni in modo preciso senza pause. Inoltre, in accordo alle parole dei testi, dallo stato di meditazione univoca del prendere i tre corpi nel sentiero, Rinpoce ha compiuto anche i mudra con le mani senza omissioni o ridondanza. L’8 settembre, avendo completato bene i rituali dell’auto-iniziazione, Rinpoce ha mostrato l’aspetto di grande soddisfazione e ha dato le sue istruzioni finali per il futuro al suo discepolo Ghesce Ghialten. [Queste istruzioni includevano direttive per le puje e preghiere da fare dopo il suo passaggio e in futuro, consigli su come dirigere i Centri Awakening Vajra, e indicazioni riguardo la sua prossima incarnazione.] Quindi Rinpoce ha chiesto “Per favore, portatemi della buon succo di frutta e dello yogurt”, e li ha consumati. Read the rest of this entry »

His Eminence Kyabje Chöden Rinpoche’s passing away

Dear students and friends,
With great sadness, we must convey to you the news of His Eminence Choden Rinpoche’s passing into dharmadhatu at 1:30 AM on September 11
th, 2015, in his Labrang [house] at Sera Jey Mon- astery.
As most of you know, last year in July, the glorious protector of the teachings and sentient beings, endowed with great understanding of the five sciences [medicine, craftsmanship, logic, grammar, and the inner science of Buddhism], His Eminence Choden Rinpoche, the supreme Jetsun Losang Gyalten Jigdrel Wangchug, manifested the state of illness from the perspective ordinary disciples. However, through the fortunate convergence of the power of the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s compassion, the sincere requests of his disciples that Rinpoche may remain long and stable like a vajra, and meticulous medical care, the illness temporarily receded and Rinpoche was able to bestow vast, essential, hard to find teachings on profound sutra and tantra, especially the Manjushri Jamyang Chokhor cycle, to fortunate disciples in the main temple of Sera Jey Monastery.

In recent months, due insufficient merit of us disciples, Rinpoche’s illness reached a critical state, each day becoming progressively more severe according the doctor. Concerned by this condition, Rinpoche’s close disciples requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama for an observation. Observing ominous signs, His Holiness invited Rinpoche to meet him in Delhi. Read the rest of this entry »

History is against China: CTA says Tibet was never part of China.

Dharamshala — In response to the most recent white paper regarding Tibet issued by the Chinese Communist Party in August, the India based Central Tibetan Administration has released a 21-page document attempting to set the record straight regarding the historical timeline China has claimed.

While China observed its 50th anniversary of the establishment of the ‘Tibet Autonomous Region,’ the 21-page document entitled ‘Tibet was not a part of China but Middle Way remains a viable solution,’ was released by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, accompanied by DIIR Secretary Sonam Norbu Dagpo, DIIR Secretary Tashi Phuntsok and Tibet Policy director, Thubten Samphel.

The CTA revisits the elongating historical claims that China stakes over Tibet. Reminding us that, “the white paper on Tibet in 2004 claims that ‘Tibet became part of the territory of China in the 13th century.’ On the other hand, the Chinese Republican-era scholars assert that Tibet became a vassal state of China during the Qing period (1644-1911). Now, with its latest white paper, China has again shifted the goal post and states that Tibet has been an integral part of China since ‘antiquity’.” Read the rest of this entry »

tibetan democracy day

Celebrato a Dharamsala il 55° anniversario del “giorno della democrazia”
Migliaia di tibetani si sono riuniti il 2 settembre nello spazio antistante lo Tsug-lag-khang, il principale tempio di Dharamsala, per celebrare il 55° anniversario del Giorno della Democrazia Tibetana: nel febbraio 1960, a Bodh Gaya, il Dalai Lama delineò infatti il programma con il quale introduceva il sistema elettivo democratico all’interno del governo tibetano in esilio.

Il 2 settembre 1960 prestò giuramento il primo organismo democraticamente eletto. Da allora questa storica data è stata celebrata ogni anno dalla comunità tibetana.

Nel suo discorso ufficiale il Primo Ministro tibetano Lobsang Sangay ha tra l’altro affermato che molti tibetani, prigionieri politici, continuano a soffrire all’interno delle carceri cinesi ed ha ricordato la morte in prigione di Tenzin Delek Rinpoce, una prova di quanto la Cina continui a soggiogare il Tibet ricorrendo alla forza e alla repressione. Mentre Pechino si appresta a celebrare il 50° anniversario della fondazione della cosiddetta Regione Autonoma Tibetana “guardando alla realtà della situazione in Tibet non vi è proprio nulla da celebrare”, ha affermato il Sikyiong. “Le aspirazioni del popolo tibetano e dei 142 autoimmolati per la libertà del Tibet non sono state esaudite”. Read the rest of this entry »

Tibet, Regione “autonoma” di Pechino di Raimondo Bultrini

L’apparato di Stato cinese ha celebrato in grande stile l’8 settembre un anniversario che ritiene di grande importanza, i 50 anni dall’inizio formale del governo della Repubblica popolare e la nascita della cosiddetta Regione autonoma del Tibet. Davanti al leggendario Potala di Lhasa trasformato in attrazione turistica e per un giorno al centro della festa politica di bandiere, schieramenti militari e genti sorridenti in costume tibetano, sono stati pronunciati discorsi di orgoglio per l’”Epoca d’oro” del Tibet e i successi ottenuti sugli altipiani un tempo “arretrati” grazie al ruolo del Partito e della Cina tutta.

Alla solita sfilza di cifre delle realizzazioni ottenute in questo mezzo secolo di “progresso socialista”, come il numero di industrie prima e dopo la “liberazione pacifica”, o il reddito procapite, l’educazione e via elencando, Yu Zhengsheng, consigliere politico per i gruppi religiosi e le minoranze etniche del governo, ha aggiunto un capitolo dedicato ai nemici della Cina e del Tibet. Tra questi svetta ovviamente la “banda del Dalai Lama”, assieme a “forze ostili straniere” che starebbero “costantemente conducendo attività separatiste tra tutti i gruppi etnici”.

La garanzia ribadita per l’occasione da Mr Yu ai tibetani fedeli alla nuova “madrepatria”, ai religiosi e laici che la appoggiano, è di applicare la legge e di “rafforzare la battaglia contro il separatismo” e “salvaguardare risolutamente l’unità nazionale e la stabilità del Tibet”.

La storia insegna che le prime truppe cinesi marciarono sul Tibet orientale nel 1950. Nel 1951, mentre il Dalai lama si trovava incerto sul da farsi lungo il confine indiano a due passi dall’esilio, anche alcuni suoi consiglieri lo invitarono a tornare a Lhasa e trattare direttamente con i rappresentanti di Pechino, sebbene fosse stato appena incoronato e senza alcuna esperienza politica. In quegli stessi giorni un suo fratello maggiore era ostaggio nella capitale cinese con la delegazione che trattava i punti della resa, e aveva un fucile, non solo letteralmente, puntato alla tempia. Fu impossibile modificare quei 17 capitoli capestro del trattato in testa ai quali c’era la dichiarazione di sovranità cinese sul Tibet. Read the rest of this entry »

Tashi Kyi

Tashi Kyi, una donna tibetana di 55 anni, madre di cinque figli, si è data la morte con il fuoco la notte del 27 agosto ed è deceduta nelle prime ore di venerdì 28 agosto. Era originaria del villaggio di Ngura, uno dei “nuovi villaggi socialisti” costruiti dai cinesi per ospitare forzatamente i nomadi, situato nelle vicinanze della cittadina di Sangkhok, Prefettura Autonoma di Kankho, in Amdo.

“Quando i tibetani vicini hanno visto Tashi avvolta dalle fiamme hanno immediatamente cercato di salvarla gettando dell’acqua sul suo corpo. Sfortunatamente non ci sono riusciti e la donna è deceduta alle tre del mattino del giorno successivo”. Questo il racconto che una fonte tibetana ha fatto pervenire al Centro Tibetano per i Diritti Umani e la Democrazia. Poliziotti e funzionari cinesi sono subito accorsi all’abitazione di Tashi Kyi e hanno portato via il suo corpo nonostante le proteste dei famigliari.

Secondo altre fonti Tashi si è data la morte in segno di protesta contro la demolizione di alcune abitazioni ritenute abusive operata dalle autorità cinesi nella cittadina di Sangkhok. Inutili le manifestazioni di protesta dei tibetani molti dei quali sono stati arrestati. Read the rest of this entry »