Author Topic: Nothing To Celebrate  (Read 7149 times)

vajratruth

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Nothing To Celebrate
« on: January 17, 2013, 09:06:06 AM »


The Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares a light moment with Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay on the commemoration ceremony of the 52nd anniversary of the founding of Tibetan democracy at Tsug-la Khang courtyard in Dharamshala, India. This year completes 52 years since His Holiness the Dalai Lama declared democracy for Tibetans in 1960 and promulgated a constitution for a future Tibet, based on the principles of modern democracy, September 2, 2012.


It is good to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama in good cheer but I wonder if Dr. Lobsang Sangay should have anything to be happy about. Even as Tibet celebrated its 52nd anniversary of being declared a democratic country, there are very little signs to show that Tibetan government has come of age. In fact, there is more evidence to show that democracy was a stillborn infant to a very reluctant parent in the CTA.

It is now 53 years since the Dalai Lama declared Tibet to be a democracy and other nations in the world that have achieved independence around the same time have indeed acclimatized to the idea of freedom for the people and even progressed with improving constitutional apparatus to preserve that freedom.

But the picture is quite different for the Tibetans in exile. If indeed the CTA is a democratic government, then it should immediately lift the ban on Dorje Shugden that it imposed and started to enforce in 1996. No true democracy will ever prohibit its people from practicing their own traditional religious beliefs, let alone use it to oppress them. No democratic government in the world could survive such an obscene manipulation of something sacred to control its population. But the CTA did and today it continues to deprive Shugden practitioners of the basic rights such as the right to vote, the right to state medical facilities and the right for Shugden children to attend public schools. For Shugden practitioners, there is no democracy to enjoy.

A very clear indication that the Tibetan government in exile is not ready for democracy can also be seen in their forced closure of Mang-tso the only independent Tibetan newspaper, in 1996. That in itself speaks volumes – “mang-tso” means democracy. The newspaper was started in 1990 and was did well to pave the way for Tibetans to open up their minds to freedom of expression. Mang-tso published translations of Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago and George Orwell’s Animal Farm to give the Tibetans a reflection of their on situation. The Tibetan-government-in-exile was never completely at least with Mong-tso’s publications.

When the newspaper criticized the Tibetan government for not doing its job to protect the Dalai Lama from the bad press His Holiness was receiving as the result of his association with the leader of the Japanese Aum sect, Shoko Azahara, it provoked the ire of the CTA. The newspaper also exposed a minister of the Kashag, forcing him to resign after he ran up a 70Million Rupee bill in opening Tibetans offices across the globe including places like places like Moscow, Canberra, Geneva, Budapest and Paris.

Of course Mang-tso has forced to close soon after. Not exactly a democracy if the Tibetan government finds criticism of their grave errors to be intolerable.

And recently, we see how the CTA has been implicated in the Radio Free Asia scandal by firing without cause, a long serving Director who refused to toe the government line and allow RFA to be part of the propaganda machinery in support of the unpopular CTA’s Middle Way approach with China. This act alone prompted a long-time supported of the Tibetan cause, US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher to call into question the integrity of certain members of the CTA.

For Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay to be seen to so joyfully celebrate Tibetan’s non-existent democracy is to add insult to injury. Dr Lobsang Sangay is now the Prime Minister of the Tibetans-in-exile and in just over a year of his tenure, a US Congressman is investing “machinations” within the CTA to deprive the Tibetan of their freedom of expression. There is actually no need to probe too deeply to discover the truth. A government that can ban an ancient religious practice is already bankrupt of all democratic values. And until it removes the ban, it is all a show of smoke and mirrors with the CTA.


beggar

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2013, 03:56:35 PM »
Again, a question that I had asked in another thread:

While Lobsang Sangay and his cabinet may very well have good intentions for their people, how much say do you think they really have in the affairs of the people? Bear in mind that Tibet has lived under the sole leadership of the dalai lama for hundreds of years - it's in the fabric of their entire culture and being. People don't just see him as a leader but maintain a spiritual connection with them. You might even say they're born into this faith and it becomes natural, second nature for them to defer everything to the Dalai Lama.

So let's say there IS someone courageous and progressive enough to take the Dalai Lama's cue to really separate church from state, and dares to make independent decisions regarding religious edicts - to lift the ban on Dorje Shugden for example, or to acknowledge BOTH (or neither?!) of the Karmapas. What would the repercussions of that be? Would they be allowed to speak out like this? Or risk being persecuted by other more hardline tibetans who would see this as treason to the Dalai Lama? As we've seen many times already, Tibetans wouldn't be beyond stoning each other or throwing bricks through each other's homes. Is any Tibetan really ready enough to face the consequences of standing up to the Dalai Lama?

DharmaDefender

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2013, 05:25:48 PM »
It is good to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama in good cheer but I wonder if Dr. Lobsang Sangay should have anything to be happy about. Even as Tibet celebrated its 52nd anniversary of being declared a democratic country, there are very little signs to show that Tibetan government has come of age. In fact, there is more evidence to show that democracy was a stillborn infant to a very reluctant parent in the CTA.

You bring up an important point vajratruth. I feel there is little to celebrate in the Tibetan settlements. Why? Because the ultimate goal has not yet been achieved. Secularly, they have not yet achieved a free Tibet. They have not achieved a real democracy. They have not achieved equality, freedom and liberty for all (to borrow from the French). Spiritually, so many are still so attached to the idea of independence. So what is there to celebrate, but the minor achievements over the last five decades that the CTA have continuously blown out of proportion, to disguise their wider failure?

Quote
It is now 53 years since the Dalai Lama declared Tibet to be a democracy and other nations in the world that have achieved independence around the same time have indeed acclimatized to the idea of freedom for the people and even progressed with improving constitutional apparatus to preserve that freedom.

But the picture is quite different for the Tibetans in exile. If indeed the CTA is a democratic government, then it should immediately lift the ban on Dorje Shugden that it imposed and started to enforce in 1996. No true democracy will ever prohibit its people from practicing their own traditional religious beliefs, let alone use it to oppress them. No democratic government in the world could survive such an obscene manipulation of something sacred to control its population. But the CTA did and today it continues to deprive Shugden practitioners of the basic rights such as the right to vote, the right to state medical facilities and the right for Shugden children to attend public schools. For Shugden practitioners, there is no democracy to enjoy.

Your entirely right and no, there is no democracy to enjoy. You see, I view freedom from two perspectives - inner and outer - and I judge it from the position of the two camps - Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.

Inner freedom, you can gain anywhere, whether you are inside or outside Tibet because that is a matter of developing your mind. But for outer freedom...for the Tibetans inside Tibet, they cannot do, think or say what they want, because they can be imprisoned for it. For the Tibetans outside Tibet, they cannot do, think or say what they want, because they can be ostracised for it.

The Tibetans in Tibet always say they cannot be themselves. When they practise, they have to recite their prayers quietly under their breath so as not to attract attention. When they revere the Dalai Lama, they have to hide his image in places of disrespect, so as to worship him.

But the Tibetans outside Tibet, if they live in the "right" monastery but believe the "wrong" thing, also have to recite their prayers quietly under their breath so as not to attract attention. They have to sneak around in the dark to meet their friends who have chosen the "wrong" side, the Dorje Shugden side. They have to pretend to give up their practices, to access medical care.

So what is the difference between living inside and outside Tibet?

At least the Chinese are far more unabashed about their human rights violations. They know they dont have freedom of speech. They know they dont have freedom of expression. They know they dont have freedom of worship. All this is very clear and the Chinese do not deny it, nor protest against it.

But the Tibetans claim they have democracy. They claim they have freedom of speech, expression and worship. I dont know what is worse - the person who knows they give no freedom and the population are apathetic towards it, or the person who pretends to give it and the population who accept this second rate freedom.

Quote
A very clear indication that the Tibetan government in exile is not ready for democracy can also be seen in their forced closure of Mang-tso the only independent Tibetan newspaper, in 1996. That in itself speaks volumes – “mang-tso” means democracy. The newspaper was started in 1990 and was did well to pave the way for Tibetans to open up their minds to freedom of expression. Mang-tso published translations of Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago and George Orwell’s Animal Farm to give the Tibetans a reflection of their on situation. The Tibetan-government-in-exile was never completely at least with Mong-tso’s publications.

When the newspaper criticized the Tibetan government for not doing its job to protect the Dalai Lama from the bad press His Holiness was receiving as the result of his association with the leader of the Japanese Aum sect, Shoko Azahara, it provoked the ire of the CTA. The newspaper also exposed a minister of the Kashag, forcing him to resign after he ran up a 70Million Rupee bill in opening Tibetans offices across the globe including places like places like Moscow, Canberra, Geneva, Budapest and Paris.

Of course Mang-tso has forced to close soon after. Not exactly a democracy if the Tibetan government finds criticism of their grave errors to be intolerable.

With cases like this, oftentimes I think the Tibetans are NOT ready for a real and open democracy. They are defensive, narrow-minded and refuse to consider the world at large when you KNOW that if they did so, it could only benefit their cause. Its almost as if the truth is too painful for them to bear, because deep down they know that if they compared the Tibetan situation against the global environment, they will realise there will never be a free Tibet.

As much as they accuse the Chinese of censorship and human rights abuses, the Tibetans readily overlook their own violation of human rights and even whitewash it with claims that such abuses are for the greater good of Tibetan freedom.

What a load of hogwash.

Quote
And recently, we see how the CTA has been implicated in the Radio Free Asia scandal by firing without cause, a long serving Director who refused to toe the government line and allow RFA to be part of the propaganda machinery in support of the unpopular CTA’s Middle Way approach with China. This act alone prompted a long-time supported of the Tibetan cause, US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher to call into question the integrity of certain members of the CTA.

I hope more people have the same realisations as Dana Rohrabacher about the Tibetan government, because thats one way for Dorje Shugden to be free...we need to continuously and consistently point out the hypocrisy, double standards and total lack of integrity from the Central Tibetan Administration. Theres no other way out for us, is there?

lotus1

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2013, 10:43:05 AM »
Agreed with Vajratruth and beggar.
For 52 years, the CTA is still not in Tibet but exile in India. Has the life of Tibetan been improved?  Self-immolation is happening again and again. The Shugden practitioners are still being discriminated, being denied of their basic human rights of medical treatment, the access to shops that sell daily provisions, and denial of travel paperwork. Is there any unity? Is there any harmony? So, what’s there to celebrate??

LIft the ban of Dorje Shugden, unite all the Tibetan regardless their are Shugden pratitioners or not, improve the living condition, economy and welfare of the Tibetan, then, it will be meaningful to celebrate! 

dondrup

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2013, 12:01:43 PM »
If the Tibetans in-exile really want to celebrate democracy, they must ensure no minority group’s constitutional right of freedom of religious practice is suppressed.  The ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden must be lifted immediately and Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners must be accorded the same constitutional rights as with the other Tibetans who do not practise Dorje Shugden.  It is meaningless to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the founding of Tibetan democracy if the ban is still not lifted.  It is sad that CTA can celebrate this anniversary while the Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners suffer blatantly.  Do you call this democracy? Perhaps CTA should step down and let the true champions of democracy take over the administration.  What say you CTA?

kris

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2013, 01:31:46 PM »
There were high hopes when Dr Lobsang Sangay become the Prime Minister of CTA. He graduated from Harvard, and basic human rights, equality for all the "citizens" of CTA, and democracy should be something he should be something he is familiar with. As a secular leader, he should treat all citizens the same.

However, for almost 2 years as the so called leader, I don't see much improvements in that aspect. Monks who practice Dorje Shugden are still being ostresized.

Indeed, How disappointing!! Indeed, Nothing to celebrate!!

Ensapa

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2013, 05:05:19 AM »
I doubt that there is anything to be celebrated at all with the CTA as they are still in their own little world and they have not improved ever since. They still discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners and have done nothing or little to contribute to their own community or even to contribute back to India who have been so graciously hosting them across the decades. I dont think anyone can name any achievement that the CTA has done over the many decades they have been in Dharamsala...unless you're talking about the Dorje Shugden ban that does not contribute to them being advanced in any way, neither did it give them freedom that they want so much. Essentially, the ban did nothing. But the funny thing is, they didint learn their lesson and continued with the ban.

DharmaDefender

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2013, 03:58:42 AM »
I doubt that there is anything to be celebrated at all with the CTA as they are still in their own little world and they have not improved ever since. They still discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners and have done nothing or little to contribute to their own community or even to contribute back to India who have been so graciously hosting them across the decades. I dont think anyone can name any achievement that the CTA has done over the many decades they have been in Dharamsala...unless you're talking about the Dorje Shugden ban that does not contribute to them being advanced in any way, neither did it give them freedom that they want so much. Essentially, the ban did nothing. But the funny thing is, they didint learn their lesson and continued with the ban.

Haha Ensapa, the quote "only fools make the same mistake twice" springs to mind. Well I can name one achievement that the CTA have accomplished over the many decades theyve been in Dharamsala. They havent been all bad - they have established schools, hospitals, monasteries, etc for their people and thats no easy task given (1) their not a traditionally money-minded society (2) they had nothing when they fled Tibet. They have done something to preserve the Buddhadharma in exile, but opening monasteries and providing for their monks again.

I think what I take issue with is that it all stopped there, and it all got manipulated for their own purposes. The point of establishing schools and hospitals etc is so that ANYONE can partake in their services...but if your people cannot, whats the point? The whole point of establishing a monastery is so that ANYONE can join if they wish...but if they cannot, whats the point? Instantly in both cases, you remove the core purpose of the establishments - that schools and hospitals are supposed to treat EVERYONE out of compassion for their education and health; that monasteries are supposed to spread the Buddhadharma to EVERYONE regardless of their background out of compassion for their spiritual path.

One of the reasons why I feel the CTA have got nowhere is because they havent been fully committed to the cause for independence. On the one hand, they champion democracy; on the other hand, they slap the face of Dorje Shugden supporters. So when your contradictory like this, how can you ever expect to achieve any results?

Ensapa

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Re: Nothing To Celebrate
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2013, 11:21:59 AM »
I doubt that there is anything to be celebrated at all with the CTA as they are still in their own little world and they have not improved ever since. They still discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners and have done nothing or little to contribute to their own community or even to contribute back to India who have been so graciously hosting them across the decades. I dont think anyone can name any achievement that the CTA has done over the many decades they have been in Dharamsala...unless you're talking about the Dorje Shugden ban that does not contribute to them being advanced in any way, neither did it give them freedom that they want so much. Essentially, the ban did nothing. But the funny thing is, they didint learn their lesson and continued with the ban.

Haha Ensapa, the quote "only fools make the same mistake twice" springs to mind. Well I can name one achievement that the CTA have accomplished over the many decades theyve been in Dharamsala. They havent been all bad - they have established schools, hospitals, monasteries, etc for their people and thats no easy task given (1) their not a traditionally money-minded society (2) they had nothing when they fled Tibet. They have done something to preserve the Buddhadharma in exile, but opening monasteries and providing for their monks again.

I think what I take issue with is that it all stopped there, and it all got manipulated for their own purposes. The point of establishing schools and hospitals etc is so that ANYONE can partake in their services...but if your people cannot, whats the point? The whole point of establishing a monastery is so that ANYONE can join if they wish...but if they cannot, whats the point? Instantly in both cases, you remove the core purpose of the establishments - that schools and hospitals are supposed to treat EVERYONE out of compassion for their education and health; that monasteries are supposed to spread the Buddhadharma to EVERYONE regardless of their background out of compassion for their spiritual path.

One of the reasons why I feel the CTA have got nowhere is because they havent been fully committed to the cause for independence. On the one hand, they champion democracy; on the other hand, they slap the face of Dorje Shugden supporters. So when your contradictory like this, how can you ever expect to achieve any results?

you'd really think that someone with a Harvard education would have done something more and would have a lot more exposure than just this. But Lobsang Sanggay is disappointing in the sense that he failed to do his duties as a sikyong (make statements to promote harmony between India and China, for example) and he has failed to bring much improvements. Yes, there are hospitals and schools, but what have they done to repay the kindness of their gracious host, India and all they have done to free Tibet is promoting hate against China when they should be making peace with. Not really clever if you ask me.