Slogans Changed, Not Principles: Kalon Tripa

“A genuine nationality regional autonomy for all Tibetans”, the rallying cry of Kashag, is synonymous of what His Holiness the Dalai Lama has articulated as “a genuine autonomy for a democratic Tibet, consisting all its three (traditional) provinces,” Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said, addressing a query during an open public forum organized on 18 May, by the Tibetan Election Commission. “I can downright say that there is no difference in the meaning of these two expressions,” while one envisages Tibet’s territory, the other its inhabitants, Kalon Tripa said, adding, “we cannot do without the status of a genuine nationality regional autonomy, as provided in the constitution of People’s Republic of China, is granted to both “all three provinces” and “all Tibetans”.

“The policy of Middle-Way Approach pursued since 1979 will not change, nor should there be any foreboding of change. Because, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has already pronounced, in his statement on 10 March 2005, that as long as he is at the helm of Tibetan leadership, there shall be no change in his Middle-Way policy.”

When asked about the personal security of His Holiness, if he visits China, the Kalon Tripa said that, under the present circumstances, the Kashag could not in any way urge His Holiness to make this visit, even if the efficacy of such a visit is palpable. As His Holiness himself has expressed his wish to make such a visit, and also conveyed the same through his envoys, we have full faith in the wisdom of His Holiness, the Kalon Tripa said. “Although the global politicians, including the Chinese, believe that the personal security of His Holiness is more assured in China and Tibet than in anywhere else, the Kashag can never, ever assume responsibility for His Holiness’ security [there]. His Holiness views this visit as very important, and we respect that. We are only facilitating him,” the Kalon Tripa added.

Kalon Trisur Juchen Thubten Namgyal, the only other contender for the second directly-elected Kalon Tripa, also addressed the forum attended by Tibetan NGOs and media people, on a wide range of questions, which were broadcast live on the local cable.

Speaking to the news people on the margins of the forum, Kalon Tripa also said that if he were elected for a second term, his administration would not change the present policy or approach, even though the Sino-Tibetan dialogue will always remain a tall order. When asked about his priorities in the next term, he said, “My priorities will be same as of my first term. First and foremost is to engage with the PRC leadership and find an amicable solution to the Tibetan issue. My second priority is to look after the welfare of the Tibetans settled in India, Nepal and Bhutan, including education of the young.” When asked on youth composing a significant part of the recently elected 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, he said, “younger generations are now rightfully taking their responsibilities. I hope they will bring a lot of changes in the Assembly.”

Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, who raked in 82.66 percent of the total votes cast in the primaries conducted earlier this March, also won the final round of elections conducted on 3 June 2006 with an overwhelming majority of nearly 91 percent of total 32,205 votes cast. Kalon Trisur Juchen Thubten Namgyal won nearly 3,000 votes. As we went to press, the date for the oath-taking ceremony was not finalized.

Limitations on Shugden Should Sustain: His Holiness

In addition to promoting Buddhism in general and, in particular, overcoming the challenges facing the Gaden tradition of (Tibetan) Buddhism, the limitations put on the worship of Dorjee Shugden, by the Great 5th Dalai Lama, Gaden Tripa Ngawang Chokden and many other great lamas down the ages must be sustained conclusively, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, in his message to a day-long religious conclave on 29 May in Dharmshala.

His Holiness has often advised against worshipping Shugden, saying it fuels sectarianism among the four different traditions of (Tibetan) Buddhism and that the devotees tend to place Shugden above the teachings of the Buddha who is the ultimate guide. His Holiness also says that the continued worship of Shugden contributes to the degeneration of Buddhism to spirit worship and therefore, urged those who worship Shugden, not to seek teachings from him, as this would violate the spiritual bond between the teacher and his disciples.

Speaking to the heads and representatives from all the great monastic seats, including over 40 lamas and 20 lay observers, the Kalon for Religion and Culture, Lobsang Nyima, candidly spoke on the need to demonstrate more overtly one’s support for limiting the worship of Shugden, adding that “the prevailing restrain or expediency on this matter would be highly detrimental.” Notwithstanding the ultimatums it receives every now and then, the exile Tibetan administration remains resolute in discouraging the worship of Shugden, added Kalon Lobsang Nyima, representing the exile Tibetan administration at the conclave on “the preservation of the sacred lineages of empowerments and oral transmission of the Geden tradition”, organised by the Geden Phacho Bucho Project.

The project, under the supervision of the UK-based, Lelung Dharma Trust, aims to secure the great legacy of Je Tsong Khapa and (the lineages of his oral teachings) “for at least the next five decades” by compiling a working reference catalogue to serve as a master copy of all the lineages belonging to the Geden tradition; determining a programme and process of oral transmissions; and facilitating the oral transmission of all the known Geden lineages to the most appropriate students.

Kalon Tripa prof. Samdhong Rinpo-che, who attended the conclave in his individual capacity, said that when the chains of oral teachings or trans-missions (that can be traced back to the Buddha) are fractured, they become the greatest factor for the eventual extinction of Buddhism. Lauding the pioneering initiatives of the Project Director, Lelung Rinpoche, “on whom His Holiness has placed high hopes”, Kalon Tripa said that his administration will continue to provide moral support—the easiest of all supports, he added

The Train Arrives Lhasa

What is viewed as the longest high- altitude railway, the Golmud-Lhasa [Ch: Qinghai-Tibet] railway completed its maiden voyage in about 47 1/2 hours.

On the margins of a booming economy in China, the recent decades in Tibet has seen development in infrastructure. “Some of which, we have always considered as positive,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said earlier this year in his 10 March statement. Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche has also said that this rail line will present greater prospects for trade in Tibet.

The position of exile administration vis-a-vis China’s “development” in Tibet has always been that “Development in Tibet is welcome and much-needed; and Tibet should not be off-limits or beyond the reach of the global community of development and environment organisations. However, development is only welcome if it benefits Tibetans themselves. Projects will be opposed by Tibetans if, in their opinion, such undertakings would harm Tibetans, their land or their best interests.”

“We firmly oppose any development projects or activities that promote or result in: violence, environmental destruction, social exclusion and economic marginalisation of Tibetans, direct or indirect population transfer of non-Tibetans to Tibet, violations of basic human rights, including involuntary displacement, confinement and eviction.” [The Guidelines for Development in Tibet is also online at www.tibet.net/en/diir/enviro/guide/data /file1.html]

History validates the efficacy of railways, when employed as tools of empire to sustain control and accelerate resource exploitation. As railways are essentially neutral technology, and in themselves, do not necessarily cause negative impacts, it is thus the political and economic forces that determine the impacts of railways.

“Our main concern is, this railway will swamp Tibet with Chinese migrants. Its impacts on the Tibetan culture and the fragile environment of Tibet would be catastrophic,” Kalon Tripa has often said. The Tibetans and their supporters across the world will therefore continue to wait and watch closely how the Golmud-Lhasa rail line impacts the physical and cultural landscape of Tibet. For, when “development” goes wrong, more often than not, it goes seriously wrong.

New Assembly Holds Its First Session

The 43 new elected members of the 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) took oath of office on 30 May. Mr. Karma Choephel and Mr. Penpa Tsering were elected as the new Chairpersons and Mrs. Dolma Gyari, the new Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly. Mr. Karma Choephel and Mr. Penpa Tsering had each polled 50% of the vote in all four rounds of election for Chairperson held among the deputies. A consensus was reached that each contender will hold the post of Chairperson of the Assembly for a period of two and half years. Mrs. Gyari won the Vice-Chairperson election by a margin of 27 votes against Ven. Yondung Gyaltsen who got 10 votes and Mrs. Dolma Tsering, who got 5 votes. Of the 43 elected deputies, 16 are new members of the Assembly. His Holiness, who appoints three members with distinction in the fields of art, science, literature or community service has deferred his nomination for the time being. The 14th Assembly held its first session on 1 and 2 June. Chairperson Karma Choephel opened the proceedings with a short speech and read His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message to the first session of the Tibetan Assembly. His Holiness conveyed his greetings and prayers for the members of the 14th ATPD and called on them to formulate sound policies and to commit themselves fully to the welfare of the Tibetan people. His Holiness urged the assembly members to focus on work and to strengthen unity in this critical time for Tibetan people. He stated that he believes the Assembly, as before, will support the mutually beneficial Middle-Way Approach in resolving the issue of Tibet through negotiations.

Fake Tibetan Medicine May Cause Serious Legal Problems

The misuse of traditional Tibetan system of medicine and the adulterated medicine on sale worldwide, if unchecked, may pose serious legal problems in future, Kalon Thupten Lungrig has said at a conclave this April, marking the second anniversary of the founding of the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine. The independent, elected body of Sorigpa doctors must assume a pivotal role in countering these problems on a global scale, the Kalon for Health and Education, told a packed house, with members of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, dignitaries of the exile administration, reputed doctors of Sorigpa, heads of Tibetan NGOs and media people.

Since the mandate of the exile administration is confined to its own community, this Council must eventually earn the authority to recognise the deserving health personnel based on the Tibetan system, including both Tibetans and non-Tibetans, by issuing registration certificates that would qualify as the standard credential of their authenticity, the Kalon added. However, exertions of the five six members of the Council, no matter how great, cannot achieve anything all by themselves. Active cooperation must come from all relevant quarters. My personal observation thus far says that the Council has not received the kind of enthusiastic cooperation that it truly deserves.”

Prior to the address of Kalon, the chairman and the secretary of the Council, Menrampa Pema Dorjee and Menrampa Namgyal Khyusar respectively, gave a detailed account of the Council’s balance of payment as on that day and its accomplishments in addressing various challenges facing Sorigpa today, like enhancing the efficacy of and obtaining wider recognition for the Tibetan system of medicine, promoting better cooperation between the Council and various indigenous systems of medicine prevalent in the Himalayan region, etc. At the function, Kalon Lungrig also awarded maiden registration certificates to Dr Pema Dorjee, Dr Tsewang Tamding, Dr Passang Gyalmo, Dr Rinchen Tenzin and Dr Tenzin Loden. The five reputed Sorigpa symbolically represent various aspects related to the development of traditional Tibetan medicine.

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