Dorje Shugden Monks refused entry into India

[dakinishell]

Appeal to our Dharma brothers and sisters

 

For the second time in less than a year, Tibetan refugees devoted to the Buddhist protector Dorje Shugden have been denied permits to enter India. The denial by the Indian Embassy to eight refugees on May 9 was based on false allegations of collusion with China, by officers of Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Nepa. If the public fails to pressure Indian authorities to abandon this practice, Society officials believe it could dry up the ability of Shugden followers to seek asylum in India and join Shugden monasteries in South India, Shar Gaden and Serpom Monasteres.

The latest denial of entry permits occurred on May 9, 2011, after the eight Tibetans, who had fled to Nepal, were brought to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. There they were asked questions through a translator assigned by the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center.  After the interviews, their translator told them, “The embassy will not issue you a permit because Chinese escorted you up to Shigatse.”  Shocked, the refugees replied in a single voice that this allegation was not true. But their protests persuaded no one, and within hours, after a 15-day stay, they were thrown out of the Reception Center, left in a strange country, speaking a strange language, with nowhere to go.  They are now in a most difficult situation.

The previous year, on June 3, 2010, Tibetan refugee Jampa Gyaltsen, 18, met the same fate.  In both instances, the refugees were denied entry, it is believed, because their religious faith in the deity Dorje Shugden. For last 15 years, the Tibetan government in exile has taken an aggressive and increasingly public stand against the worship of the deity Shugden.  For reasons it’s been unwilling to debate, the government in exile has spread propaganda linking Shugden devotees to China in order, turning other Tibetans against them, denying them services offered other Tibetans,  and generally making their lives miserable.   

 The latest Tibetan newcomers, who fled Tibet to seek asylum so they can study Tibetan Buddhism in India, are from Chating province of Kham Tibet, where Shugden worship is prevalent.  It is feared  that the translator at the Tibetan Reception Center furnished false information against these Tibetans so that their permits would be rejected. No Tibetan newcomer can enter India without the entry permit.

The monks of Shar Gaden and Serpom Monasteries are deeply concerned that the refusal of permits based on false and baseless allegation will continue unless someone in authority delves into the refusals.  If concerned Indian authorities do not investigate and interrupt this trend, allegations without substance will shut the door for Shugden Tibetans who want to seek asylum in India. That would satisfy blind followers of the Tibetan government in exile who naively believe and spread all manner of false and baseless allegations against Tibetan newcomers who have background of Shugden worship.  But it will make it difficult to ensure a steady flow of monks to study in the Shugden monasteries, creating a dried up pool of those trained in the love, wisdom and compassion of this great protector deity.

As Shugden devotees, we are religious and law-abiding residents who want nothing to do with politics.  Yet for years, we have been reviled, scapegoated, and smeared by those ignorant of the love, compassion and wisdom of Dorje Shugden.

Please, if you are so moved, intervene into this situation immediately.   Urge concerned authorities to investigate the matter, and get these eight Tibetans to Indian embassy for entry permit.  With faith and strong supplications to our protector, there will come a time when we will no longer be persecuted for our beliefs.   For now, though, we can help by motivating someone in the Indian government to have the courage to listen to our stories and act.  But we must persevere.  To make your voice heard on this matter, please write to the following address.  Please put your requests into your own words.  Form letters don’t have nearly the power of communications delivered in peoples’ own voices.


1) Honorable External Affairs Minister
Shri. S.M. Krishna
Fax : 0091 11 23013254 / 23011463
Email : [email protected]
http://meaindia.nic.in/
2) Foreign Secretary
Smt. Nirupama Rao
Fax : 0091 11 23016781
Email : [email protected]; [email protected]
3) Sh. Rakesh Sood
Ambassador
http://www.indianembassy.org.np/embassy.php
Email : [email protected]
Fax: 00977 1 4420130
4) UNHCR IN NEPAL
Stephane Jaquemet
Representative
Anil Kuti, Maharajgunj,
Kathmandu, P.O.Box 2374 ,
Nepal.
Fax : 977-1 4412853
Email : [email protected]
Website : http://www.unhcr.org

[thor]

I saw an appeal to protest against the unfairness facing Jampa Gyaltsen last year, and I wrote in, together with some others from my Dharma center. As Shugden practitioners, I feel it is our duty to do what we can to protect and defend our protector and his practitioners. If we don't, who will?

I have no position and no power, but I can write a letter, sign my name to it and send it halfway across the world. And if enough people like me do this, someone's gonna sit up and pay attention.

I am going to write a letter now. If you are reading this, spare a few minutes and do something that could make a difference in someone's life. And get your friends to do the same. 

ps: just a thought... perhaps some of the more literary-inclined on this forum would like to draft some letters that others can download, print and sign and send off... it would be a great help!

[Vajraprotector]

I fully agree with Thor. If we do nothing, then nobody will stand up for Shugden practitioners. Also, this is not the first and will not be the last. Definitely some drafts would be of help so that many of us can share it and more people can send the letters in. 

It is very sad to know that the discrimination is still happening. I was of the hope that the new Kalon Tripa would put an end to this? 

[heartjewel]

I feel the denial for the recent entry into India by the fresh Refugees from Chating, Tibet has been wrongly translated in the conversation by the officers of the Tibetan Refugees Reception Center in Nepal. The officers may have thought since these Refugees have come from Chating where all Tibetans have been practicing Dorje Shugden, it may have been taken for granted that these new Refugees may be practicing also. Or It may be that the officers at the Tibetan Refugees reception center may be spies in league with the Tibetan Government to stop the Refugees from entering India.

[DharmaDefender]

What I've sent. I've decided not to go on the Dorje Shugden line, and go on the human rights basis. After all, Dorje Shugden or not Dorje Shugden, human is human and suffering is suffering, and these monks need to get in.

G

----

To the Right Honourable Shri. S.M. Krishna;

I read with much sadness and concern recently about the denial of entry for Tibetan refugees into India.

With respect, Tibetan politics have little to do with Indian politics, and it should be the Indian government's right to oversee the entry of refugees, not the right of the Tibetans. After all, aren't the people who are seeking asylum coming into INDIA, and not Tibet? And aren't the people seeking asylum not human too, whatever their religious beliefs?

The Tibetan freedom movement promotes the concept that Tibetans deserve a free and independent Tibet based on the universal human rights of freedom of movement, freedom of thought, freedom or beliefs and freedom to practise religion. How do these freedoms apply to one group, and not to another? I believe India is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - please remind the world that India continues to commit to the declarations and treaties they sign, and set a precedence for other governments to follow.

India and your democratic government was founded on the very honourable principles of standing up for the weak and oppressed and, with respect, I would like to request for you to use your influence, to persuade the refugee centre to reconsider the decision that has been taken against these refugees.

With respect,
Gaz

[thaimonk]

Does anyone have any information on the latest situation? It is very tragic that this type of open discrimination exists right under everyone's noses by the so called democratic govt of Tibet in exile. The Tibetan Govt is suppose to be Buddhist, open and peaceful. Yet the discrimination they create due to religious differences are really from the middle ages. They do this to their own people and yet they want the world to support Tibetan independence and autonomy. I don't think so. No wonder they have gotten nowhere in their fight for either.

This type of discrimination should stop then there might be hope of autonomy. Lift the Dorje Shugden ban, do a massive Shugden puja sponsored by the Tibetan Govt then talk to China.

[Losang_Tenpa]

I will be leaving for Phegyeling in about 3 weeks. This is where the monks are now staying. I hope to meet them and maybe see what can be done for them at that time. I will update as soon as I get to Phegyeling.

[thaimonk]

Any news and hopefully it's good news about these brave monks will be very welcomed. I am sure everyone is looking forward to it.

[Mana]

So far no news yet as to the fate of the 8 monks refused entry. We are asking our contacts for updates if there are any. If we hear, we will post.

Many are concerned for these monks. We at www.dorjeshugden.com wish them the speediest fulfillment to enter Shar Gaden or the Monastery of their choice with full democratic freedom.

Mana

[kris]

Dorje Shugden has indeed become very political, with countries like China which are very pro Dorje Shugden, while others such as India against them.

But I felt this controversy has indeed created a lot of attention and curiosity in people's mind and hence Buddha's teachings are spread

[thor]

I am revisiting this thread after being away from some time. After reading again, I am disgusted with the fact that the refugees were refused entry into India. And for the reason of colluding with China? I have read reports of the Tibetan refugee status in India, and most say that the Tibetan refugees are facing a harder time in India because the Indian government is getting closer to China hence the pro-independence Tibetan refugees are frowned upon. So to say that these refugees were denied entry because of Chinese collusion doesnt fly with me.

According to the most recent estimates, India is host to approximately 110,000 refugees from Tibet.[1] While the practice of Tibetan refugee hosting has, thus far, been generous and lenient, the legal framework directing the actions of the government afford the Indian government great powers of control and restriction over foreigners, including Tibetan refugees. Tibetan leaders in India consistently state that the government of India has treated them extremely well, but these understandably sincere statements of gratitude fail to testify to a changing reality—both practical and political—under which Tibetan refugees in India must live. Tibetans, as one of the only refugee groups to be officially recognised by the Indian government and thus legally permitted to stay in India, are often considered to be in a more advantageous position than other refugees in India.[2] It is, however, necessary to recognize that the proximity and strategic importance of their country of origin, China, makes their situation politically delicate. As political pressure continues to mount on India from China, human rights observers fear that the practice of tolerance and permissive freedom will give way to subtle and even overt forms of repression, which are technically supported under Indian law. 

[dorjedakini]

I thank all the monks who never give up on Shugden practice even thought they have to overcome so many problem whether they practice openly or secretly, it show how much compassion and Guru devotion they have to keep the lineage and practice. I believe in Trijang Rinpoche's prophecy, there's a bigger picture behind what Dalai Lama and Shugden are doing right now.

It is also shows that how powerful Shugden practice will be when the time is right for him to show his full power. So much negative karma need to be purified and the Lama, monks and practitioners are very kind to suffer for everyone to keep this practice.

[Manjushri]

Again, another example of pure discrimination.

Because of one's faith, one is not allowed into a country. How can this be?

Human rights and choices should pervade alll situations. This goes to show how the ban has caused a split between the people and highlights not only the severity but the extremity of the situation as well.

What proof does the officials have to prove that the monks are Dorje Shugden practitioners anyways?  

If everyone continues to stay silent and not voice concerns, then we have to prepare that situations like these will only occur again and again until the entire controversy subsides.

[shugdenpromoter]

It is very silly of the TGIE or CTA to manipulate their way with the Indian government official to refuse entry of these monks. They look very silly and narrow minded instead. Tibetan all over the world are already so fragmented. Like any nation in the world, you always will have the government to turn to for support, help or any form of advice. Buddhism being the core "product" of Tibet, they definitely make people in general very turn off by this when we read such article.

Instead of promoting Buddhism, they are demoting Buddhism with their action. Very small.

I really wonder what will happen to CTA when Dalai Lama is no longer with us.

[Ensapa]

I think its utterly disgusting to accuse people that you dont like as being Chinese spies or whatever just to get them into trouble with the authorities. If we dont talk about it from a Buddhist point of view, we can talk about it from a humanitarian point of view: what good is it to deny people a place to stay and a chance to start life anew? What kind of humans would do such a thing to deny people who have risked it all to be in India to start life over?! this is horrible beyond belief and they are followers of the Dalai Lama and claim to be Buddhist...well they're not Buddhist no matter what they claim to be and news like these really makes my blood boil that with a bit of bribe, they can get the indian officials to do horrible things! Oh what has the world come to!?