Leaders are role models. Followers look up to their leaders for almost everything. If one religious leader who also secretly believes in Dorje Shugen courageously says the suppressed truth, everyone will do so. And the more number of people and lamas do that, Dalai Lama will be in shock. Democracy happens when there are followers to the leader. IF no one follows Him, there won’t be democracy. Let’s stand up, Dorje Shugden believers!
I think those of us who fortunately do not directly suffer the CTA's tyranny cannot fully understand and appreciate the circumstances under which Shugden practitioners in the exile community live. As it is, there are leaders who have stood up and declared their veneration of Dorje Shugden despite the ban, and none greater than Gelugpa giants such as His Holiness, the 101st Ganden Trisur Lungrik Namgyal Rinpoche (who as Ganden Tripa was the absolute authority on all spiritual matters within the Gelugpa sect, and regarded as Lama Tsongkapa on earth) and His Holiness Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche. Therefore it is not a matter of there not being any leaders to lead the way.
The issue is far more sinister. The CTA through it's poisonous propaganda has managed to turn unsuspecting Tibetans into lynch mobs and the threat is very real. People are afraid for their lives and even being seen with a suspected Shugden worshipper is seen as a crime. And for good reasons. In 1996 when the ban was first officially effected, a retired CTA minister was stabbed and badly wounded for questioning the illegality and irrationality of the ban and there have been countless similar incidences since, most unreported because such events are covered up by the Tibetan leadership. Even highly respected masters of Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche's calibre have not been spared death threats and given the opportunity, I am sure anti-Shugden thugs would not hesitate to do him in.
Having said that, the presence of these leaders openly worshipping Dorje Shugden in public, coupled with great efforts by Shugden defenders such as this site,
www.dorjeshugden.com have done much not only to preserve the practice and even spread it. Despite so much pressure being placed on Shugden practitioners by HHDL/CTA the practice has in fact grown over the years and now gathering strength. The growing population in monasteries such as Shar Ganden and Serpom Monastery testifies to that. The tide certainly is turning.
Personally I believe that there are more Shugden believers than people know and it is only a question of timing before a new Shugden renaissance takes place. The timing is likely to be determined by Dorje Shugden himself who has never failed anyone who believes in Him.
