Boy self-immolates, Sikyong is responsible

[dsnowlion]

It is a shame that the CTA does not do anything to stop this because every self-immolation, in Tibet or in exile is a chance for the CTA to get some publicity. On their own, they have not accomplish much that is news worthy for Tibetans.

It is sad that India has to speak up for Tibetans in exile and the CTA while nothing much has progressed. Nine rounds of talks had taken place between the China and Tibet (in exile) since 2002, but had not produced any break through in the Tibetan issue, and since 2010 the talks had stalled. It has been 7 years.

OMG Pema you just hit the nail on the head alright. You said it and THAT IS THE TRUTH... REALLY CTA DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING NEWS WORTHY and so THEY ARE HAPPY WHEN SOMEONE DIES FOR THEIR CAUSE! What a sick sick sick fake, corrupted, abusive, did I say fake, foolish, nonsensical, rubbish of a government would be happy for their own people to kill themselves?

Look at all the kind of news they give out. Nothing about progress, nothing about improving their relationship with CHina or plans to invite His Holiness back to CHina.... what happened to all the so called spirit they worship and their predictions, how come Nechung's predictions are always wrong? But you do not hear one single word about Dorje SHugden's predictions came out wrong.  There are so many things wrong with CTA, and if they cannot do a good job, then at least let others who can do it and stop sucking up the millions of resources for their own agendas.

[michaela]

Finally, after so much questioning from the public, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay made a move to discourage self-immolation. But before he did so, two lives have been lost within a month. What a shame!

------
CTA President Discourages Self-immolation Protest, Urges Tibetans to Contribute Substantially to the Cause

Dharamshala: The President of Central Tibetan Administration, Dr Lobsang Sangay today discouraged self immolation protests and urged Tibetans to pursue more powerful means by honing one’s educational, professional and personal competency to substantially contribute to the Tibetan cause.

“While we understand the intention behind the act of self-immolation, we must remember that the life of every Tibetan is precious and that we must be alive to fight for our cause. In a free country, we have the freedom to embark on all possible methods to contribute substantially to advancing our cause. The life of every six million Tibetan is precious and every life lost is a huge loss for us and for our cause,” said the concerned President.

President Dr Lobsang Sangay was speaking to the press at the prayer service for Passang Dhondup, who succumbed to his burns after self-immolating on Saturday, 29 July 2017. Click here to watch.

President further said Kashag is considering not to attend prayer meetings in the future for self immolation protests in exile.

Speaking to the press today, CTA President said, “As a Tibetan and a Buddhist, we are here to offer prayers for the deceased, but the Kashag has consistently and categorically discouraged self-immolation, especially in exile where Tibetans have the complete freedom to pursue any meaningful means that would contribute to the Tibetan cause.

“While we understand the plight of Tibetans inside Tibet and the situation under which they have to resort to such actions, Tibetans in exile have the freedom to participate in protests in any form one chooses to do. We have had other cases of self immolation in exile; parents of the self-immolators have voiced the same concern and have urged the youth to pursue more powerful means such as education.

“We therefore discourage all Tibetans, especially the youth in exile from resorting to such drastic actions and urge them to pursue more powerful means to substantially contribute to the Tibetan cause.” the President said.

“There are other numerous means to make meaningful contribution to the cause, President Dr Sangay said. “First is education; focus on achieving excellence in your educational field, become a resourceful member of the community and go on to represent Tibet in governments and parliaments around the world.

“Second, preserve Tibetan identity, language and culture. Third, be a part of various NGOs and organise activities to garner support and awareness on the Tibetan issue. Even in schools, one can organize awareness events such as panel discussion, art and literary festivals and educate people on Tibet.

“One can also write articles on Tibet or even organise a march for Tibet. There are multiple opportunities for us to contribute to the Tibetan movement, without resorting to self-immolation,” the President noted.

Passang Dhondup’s body was cremated this morning following the prayer service at Lhagyalri.

Representatives of Central Tibetan Administration including members of the Kashag and members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile attended the prayer service as a mark of solidarity with Passang Dhondup’s family and friends. The prayer service and the funeral were organized by Norbulingka Institute.

Passang Dhondup, 48, was a wood painter at Norbulingka Institute. Originally from Gyaltse in Shigatse Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, Passang arrived in India in 1991 and had worked from 2012 as a wood painter at Norbulingka institute.

Despite the CTA’s repeated appeals to Tibetans not to resort to drastic measures such as self-immolation as a means of protest against Chinese rule, 149 Tibetans inside Tibet and 10 Tibetans in exile have set themselves on fire.

http://tibet.net/2017/08/cta-president-discourages-self-immolation-protest-urges-tibetans-to-contribute-substantially-to-the-cause/

[Celia]

After so many deaths through the years, isn’t it clear that self-emulation would not spur a change in China about the Tibetan cause? Yet CTA refuses to take a stronger position to curb such grisly suicides when they are clearly in position to do so. In fact, CTA only gave some half-hearted after thought plea as lip service when more and more people are questioning about CTA’s inaction.

Goes to show perhaps there is much truth in the allegations that CTA actually condones such growing trend of self-immolations. After all, if CTA truly is financially benefiting through the increased donations from foreign countries and organizations after every case of self-immolation, it is no wonder that CTA won’t call for its cessation.

[grandmapele]

Too many of such cases. The heartlessness of the CTA in not calling for a stop to such a violent act is deplorable. Taking one's own life is also taking a life, a killing. This will sadly, send the poor boy to the lower realms for a very long time. How can the leaders sit back and not say anything? Worse still, they use this self-immolation to publicize and garner support and financial aid. The sad part is, there will still be gullible people who will listen to them. I shudder to think that there such monsters around.

And, it doesn't end there. This is the latest case: -
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-ctas-incompetence-claims-another-life/

How many more lives will be lost before the sponsors wake up to the terrible thing the CTA is doing in not coming out to condemn or call for a stop to them?

[vajrastorm]

The CTA had remained relatively quiet when the self-immolations occured within Tibet. While silently condoning it, and blaming the Chinese  Government for provoking the self-immolations, the CTA was using the opportunity to garner sympathy from foreign sponsors as well as huge donations! Now that within 1 month, 2 people have self-immolated in areas under CA's jurisdiction  , the  Tibetan leadersip-in-exile is speaking up against self-immolation!

Self-immolation is wrong whether it be engaged in within Tibet or outside of it.Taking of one's own life , unless it is with a Bodhisattva motivation, carries very heavy negative karma. It is an act that's a no-no for any Buddhist. How could the CTA have even silently condone it?Furthermore, each case of self-immolation is a waste of a precious human life, so rare and difficult to obtain .The saddest part of it is that it does not in any way help to gain independence for Tibet. Instead, it has  provoked more anger from China.

Again, why is the Tibetan leadership not stopping these Tibetans from committing self-immolation for the cause of Tibet's independence,especially when H.H.the Dalai Lama has officially shifted his stance to  a quest for autonomy for Tibet? Doesn't it appear as though the Tibetan leadership is going against the Dalai Lama's dictates? The Tibetan Leadership should be busy resuming negotiations with China for autonomy for Tibet.There is hardly any window of time left for them .

[Tenzin K]

This boy self-immolates for Tibetan freedom. How can it got nothing to do with the Tibetan Leadership? How can Sikyong don’t even said a word? At this age of time how can a leader still allow such sacrifices?

Why Tibetan leadership can imposed Dorje Shugden ban baselessly with violence, harassment and even spend their funding to produce video and publish reading material to discriminate and suppress Shugdenpas?

Why Tibetan leadership didn’t take step to use their billion funding to educate their people stop this harmful act? There is only one reason to explain this which is Tibetan leadership is using this play emotional card on China by sacrificing their people and with this sacrifices he can ask for more donation as a sympathy.

All Tibetan must wake up and not to hurt themselves anymore as nothing is important than live a beneficial life.

[Brian Little]

If i am so amazed by the contribution (was there any???) Then why do i need to lit myself up when he is coming for a conference? What did he and his CTA do to have inspired its people?? I don't know if the boy is actually coaxed or brainwashed to be doing so as i find illogical. Burning yourself up will not help your people to get back your homeland, CTA will get the publicity and that is when they will play the poor me card to demand for money donations to make them even more corrupt!

[Celia]

Bottom-line is that if CTA was responsible and did what they were elected to do, Tibetan youths wouldn’t be so engulf in anguish, desolation and frustration that they felt they had no other options but to take drastic measures in order to effect a change. 

And the fact that CTA is willing to allow such grisly suicides to continue and even glorify such death to milk the situation to their advantage and seemingly getting away without any repercussion is disgustingly tragic. Especially since CTA is clearly in a position to take stronger steps to prevent such unnecessary deaths. After all, if CTA can do so much to enforce and upheld an illogical ban on Dorje Shugden people, CTA can clearly do more than issue a couple of vague statements to prevent more unnecessary deaths of Tibetans.

It is really high time that CTA be made to be more accountable by Tibetans and those who are sympathetic towards the Tibetan cause. Why continue to allow, support and even enable CTA to continue capitalising on the sufferings of Tibetans?

[vajrastorm]

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay really has no time to play mind games. Already the Indian locals are questioning why the Tibetan refugees are getting more privileges than other refugees elsewhere. They are asking that these be removed. If the CTA had used the billions of aid dollars to alleviate the living conditions of all the Tibetans in Exile, then the self-immolations wouldn't have occurred in the first place. So Sikyong and CTA, time for positive actions. Resume negotiations with the Chinese Leaders for autonomy for Tibet, following the Dalai Lama's plans. Ensure all stateless Tibetans become Indian citizens. PLease don't leave them high and dry!

[SabS]

It is really sad to have to read about another boy attempted self-immolation to promote the Tibetan cause. It shows how severely CTA had failed their people that people had to give up their precious lives to do something. The desperation is evidence as well as the helplessness of their situation. Probably most of the people are asking if they should stay as refugee with hopes of going back to Tibet as promised by CTA or to just take responsibility and realise CTA's betrayal of never fulfilling their ultimate dream of "going home". CTA doesn't even care for the boy but instead chose to promote cases of self-immolations for sympathy which translate into more sponsorships to line their pockets with. It seems that CTA leaderships take off to meet sponsors whenever there were cases for sympathy and I would say Self-Immolation will gain top sympathy.

It takes the Self-Immolator a tremendous amount of guts and courage to set oneself on fire and yet to serve no good purpose. I would advise them instead to channel such courage towards forming a government that cares for their people. Won't it make more sense? As a truly legitimate government, many issues blown out of proportion will need to be tackled and care put into one's people, especially to reunite the people with abolishing of the Dorje Shugden Ban (4 million practitioners worldwide). Be realistic and go for autonomy as advised by the Dalai Lama. Who in the world would give up something when she has ruled for 60 years (and doing a good job of elevating the standard of living there) as promoted by Rangzen . Wake up!

[Manjushri]

It is sad that self immolation has to take place, because of the CTA's inefficiencies. Every self immolation not only demonstrates a cry for a Free Tibet, but also, the lack of doings/result from CTA. With no choice, they choose to self immolate. Why does the CTA continue to allow its people to do this? If they had done their job correctly, no one would go to this extreme as a cry for help, because they would have felt hope from what the CTA would and should have provided after all these years.

[Celia]

It is sad that self immolation has to take place, because of the CTA's inefficiencies. Every self immolation not only demonstrates a cry for a Free Tibet, but also, the lack of doings/result from CTA. With no choice, they choose to self immolate. Why does the CTA continue to allow its people to do this? If they had done their job correctly, no one would go to this extreme as a cry for help, because they would have felt hope from what the CTA would and should have provided after all these years.

Well, if CTA really cared about Tibetans and did what they were elected to do in the first place, there will not be Tibetans who would be driven to take such drastic action. One can only imagine the desperation, frustration and hopelessness felt by them resulting in them feeling that they can only use their life to be heard.

Sadly, such self-immolation does nothing for the Tibetan cause. The only one benefitting is CTA and hence they will not actively bring a stop to it. After all, more deaths translate to more sympathy prompting more donations for CTA to pocket.

When will Tibetans realise the futility of not only self-immolations but also trusting/supporting CTA?

[grandmapele]

As Buddhists and with the Dalai Lama heading the Tibetans in exile, the CTA should discourage self-immolation as killing own self is also killing, and a human life at that. how heavy the karma for those self-immolations and those not stopping it. CTA should not wholly blame China. they too are partly responsible. Own up to you responsibility as leaders of the Tibetans in exile. Don't be such cowards and sneaky blaming people.

[dsnowlion]

As Buddhists and with the Dalai Lama heading the Tibetans in exile, the CTA should discourage self-immolation as killing own self is also killing, and a human life at that. how heavy the karma for those self-immolations and those not stopping it. CTA should not wholly blame China. they too are partly responsible. Own up to you responsibility as leaders of the Tibetans in exile. Don't be such cowards and sneaky blaming people.

I don't think CTA believe in karma. Sometimes I wonder are the Buddhist because they sure do not act like one. Sorry to say this. All they do is create disharmony, problems, divide people, families, friends, Gurus, threaten people's lives... what kind of Government is this? Better not to have one!

[Celia]

As Buddhists and with the Dalai Lama heading the Tibetans in exile, the CTA should discourage self-immolation as killing own self is also killing, and a human life at that. how heavy the karma for those self-immolations and those not stopping it. CTA should not wholly blame China. they too are partly responsible. Own up to you responsibility as leaders of the Tibetans in exile. Don't be such cowards and sneaky blaming people.

I don't think CTA believe in karma. Sometimes I wonder are the Buddhist because they sure do not act like one. Sorry to say this. All they do is create disharmony, problems, divide people, families, friends, Gurus, threaten people's lives... what kind of Government is this? Better not to have one!

Totally agree. Indeed, for a government that professes to incorporate Buddhist principles, the CTA has not only failed to adhere such principles but instead has, time and time again acted in contradiction to such principles. Take this situation with self-immolation, instead of discouraging such grisly suicide when it clearly is not in tandem with Buddhist teachings about taking one’s life and karma, the CTA blatantly capitalise on the situation to deepen their pockets. After all, to CTA, the publicised deaths and deaths tally serve to tug more heartstrings which in turn bring in more financial aids for CTA and hence the vested interest to let the situation perpetuate.

By right, even on a secular level, as a responsible government, CTA should have actively discouraged such act of self-immolation instead of keeping quiet for so long. CTA only cut back on glorifying such deaths and only started vaguely saying something against it after being called out for remaining silent for so long. In other words, CTA only feebly issued vague statement against self-immolation due to the pressure to be seen to be doing something rather than arising out of genuine care for its people.