Tibetans offer Solace to China Quake Victims through Prayers

Monday, 19 May 2008, 2:46 p.m.

The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration organised a special prayer session for the victims of the powerful earthquake that rocked southwestern parts of China, at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamshala, India, on 14 May 2008/File Photo

Dharamshala: Thousands of Tibetan people congregated at the Tsuglagkhang (main temple) here Monday to offer their deep sympathy and prayers to the families of those thousands of people killed and injured in the two recent natural calamities - cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake that struck southwestern parts of China.

Similar prayer sessions are also held simultaneously in all the Tibetan settlements across India, Nepal and Bhutan under the aegis of local Tibetan solidarity committees.

According to official Xinhua news agency, the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that jolted Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province in southwest China on 12 May, has caused deaths over 22,000 and 4.8 million people have lost their homes.

In his address, Karma Chophel, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in his address said: "The Central Tibetan Administration and all the Tibetan people in exile convey their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the devastating earthquake and stands in solidarity with the Chinese people in this hour of grief and sadness."

As a mark of respect, the speaker appealed to all Tibetans to put off protests in front of Chinese embassies until the end of May.

Speaker Karma Chophel addressing a press conference after a special congregation organised at the main Buddhists temple in Dharamshala, India, on 19 May 2008/Photo: Bangchen

He said: "We welcome Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the affected areas to bring solace and take stock of the situation in a time of such disaster."

The speaker, however, condemned the Chinese government's double standard attitude towards handling of crisis in China and that of Tibet. He said the earthquake in China drew immediate attention of the highest echelons of the communist party, with both the Premier Wen Jiaboa and President Hu Jintao visiting the affected areas and mobilising troops to expedite saving human lives. On the contrary, in Tibet, hundreds of Tibetans have lost their lives and injured and thousands have been as a result of the Chinese military crackdown on peaceful protesters.

He expressed concern that Tibetans might have affected by the earthquake, since the largely hit areas by the powerful quake also include Tibetan inhabited Lungu county (Ch: Wen Chuang), Tashi Ling county (Ch; Lixian), Sungchu county (Ch:Song Pan), Trochu county (Ch: Xiao Jing) and Maowen county (Ch: Mao Wen) under Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP) in Sichuan Province.

"In this hour of tragedy, we hope and appeal to the Central Government of the People's Republic of China to deliver timely rescue and relief to all the affected areas, without any distinction of people and place," he added.

He also urged the Chinese government to halt all repressive measures in Tibet and to respect Tibetan people's sentiment by adopting a realistic approach of reviewing its policies in Tibet.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake hit China, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration extended deep sympathy, heartfelt condolences and prayers to those affected families.

On 14 May, a special prayer congregation was organised by the Department of Religion and Culture at the main temple here, led by monks of the Namgyal Monastery.