Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet will be hara-kiri

[DharmaSpace]

India has many things at stake for it to sit and watch Dharamsala’s influential lobbies hand over a living Dalai Lama to China.

 

Recently Dr Lobsang Sangay, the “Sikyong” (i.e. “President”) of Tibet’s “government in exile” in Dharamsala, created waves among Tibetans and Tibet watchers by announcing that the time had come for the Dalai Lama to return to his Potala palace in Tibet and “rejoin” the Tibetan people. Speaking at the inaugural function of the year-long “Thank You India” events, he presented the idea as one of Dalai Lama’s last unfulfilled dreams.

In the past too there have been many occasions when the idea of Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet, or going on a short pilgrimage to the Chinese Buddhist shrine Wu Tai Shan, was discussed. But each and every time that idea came from the Beijing side, where Chinese leaders have been desperate since decades to have the Dalai Lama back in their fold before he is dead and before the search for his next reincarnation starts. This is first time that the idea of Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet has been floated by a Tibetan leader who occupies the second highest position after the Dalai Lama himself in the exile hierarchy.

CHINESE ­ENTHUSIASM FOR ­DALAI LAMA RETURN

It was in the late 1970s that China was successful in enrolling Gyalo Thondup, the most ambitious of Dalai Lama’s elder brothers, to try and persuade him to return to Tibet. Following his efforts, a dialogue started between Dharamsala and Beijing, which has been running in fits and starts over the past four decades. In response to China’s invitation to him to return to, or visit Tibet “to see the truth with his own eyes”, a highly sceptical Dalai Lama offered to send only his representatives to get a feel of the ground reality inside Chinese controlled Tibet. He knew of too many instances of China going back on its promises to accept its invitation at the first go. One of the worst examples before him was that of the Uyghur leaders who were invited in 1949 for a “friendly” and “heart to heart” exchange of views with Chairman Mao. This was in response to the fierce resistance offered by the Uyghurs to Mao’s PLA against China’s takeover of their country, “Republic of East Turkistan”. The plane carrying the cream of all major Uyghur clans exploded midway and the resistance mellowed down, as expected. Their country was later rechristened as “Xinjiang” by its colonial masters in Beijing.

Beijing’s leaders, who had been consistently fed with fabricated and flattering reports from local communist leaders about the Tibetan masses’ love for Chairman Mao and their hatred for the exiled Dalai Lama (whom the Chinese regime has been trying to paint as a “gang of serf owners”) took the bait from Dalai Lama and allowed five of his delegations to visit various parts of Tibet. The visits were abruptly cancelled before the last delegation could complete its tour, because Beijing was shocked at the uncontrollable and mammoth public welcome given to the Tibetan delegates.

UNENDING DIALOGUE

The dialogue was resumed by China at least twice again in the past 35 years. The last one, which lasted between 2002 and 2010, was held by Beijing after European Parliament issued an ultimatum to China in 1999 that if it failed to settle the Tibetan issue with the Dalai Lama in the next three years, it would recommend its member governments to recognise the Dalai Lama’s Dharamsala establishment as the real government of Tibet. While Dharamsala consistently termed these meetings as a Tibet-China “dialogue” about the “future of Tibet”, Beijing snubbed it every time by stating publicly that the delegates were on a “private” visit to China and the only subject of discussion would be to chalk out the details of Dalai Lama’s return to the “great Motherland”. So Dr Sangay’s statement about Dalai Lama’s return to Potala to “reunite” with Tibetans is nothing short of an official and public endorsement of the Chinese agenda on Dalai Lama and Tibet by Dharamsala.

As the “political head” of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Dr Sangay occupies an almost equal status as the Dalai Lama himself. This follows Dalai Lama’s decision to change the Tibetan Constitution, transferring his political powers to the Sikyong and the CTA. Technically speaking, Dalai Lama is now only the supreme religious leader of Tibet, while the Sikyong is the political Head of State. Dr Sangay’s statement is, therefore, nothing short of being the official political policy of Dharamsala on Tibet’s future. It is interesting to note that while declaring his political plans about Dalai Lama’s future, Dr Sangay is using Dalai Lama’s personal dreams as the guideline for setting the future agenda of the Tibetan nation.

WHAT DALAI LAMA WILL LOSE

All said and done, Tibet cannot afford to decide its political future at the call of an individual whose own shelf life as Sikyong is just three more years. Above all, the Dalai Lama himself will have to weigh in the pros and cons of his decision about returning to Tibet. He cannot afford to ignore the fact that his popularity across the world comes from his resilience as a fighter against the tyranny of a powerful adversary through his ideals of non violence. He may not get the same respect from the world by surrendering to the tormentors of Tibet and its people. He also stands to lose his legal and moral status as a “refugee” if he returns to Tibet or even goes on a visit to China. He is bound to lose the sympathy and support of Tibet’s supporters from across the world, by surrendering to a country against which these individuals and groups have stood by him for decades. He should not hope that this support will revive if China goes back on its word. He will have to start his fight once again, right from the start.

The Dalai Lama is well aware that despite the most difficult conditions existing inside Chinese occupied Tibet, the Tibetan masses have bravely maintained their resistance to their Chinese masters. Over 150 self immolations in recent years by ordinary Tibetans are proof of this. Dalai Lama’s shaking hands with the Chinese masters of Tibet will surely deflate this national fervour for freedom forever. After destroying Tibet’s religion, culture and identity, China is bound to exploit the Dalai Lama as its main tool to present itself as the world’s Buddhist superpower. More than anything else, China will get the licence to foist its own choice on Tibet when it comes to appointing the next incarnation of Dalai Lama. That will seal Tibet’s fate, forever.

A common logic extended by the supporters of rapprochement between Dharamsala and Beijing is that this will improve the chances of the survival of the Tibetan identity and culture. But the Dalai Lama should remember what happened to the 55 non-Han nationalities over the past 70 years. In present day China, those 55 non-Han nationalities have been reduced to less than 8% of the population vis-à-vis their Han masters.

INDIA, THE BIGGEST LOSER

India too has many things at stake for it to sit and watch Dharamsala’s influential lobbies hand over a living Dalai Lama to China on a platter. With Dalai Lama’s return to the Chinese fold, all chances of rehabilitating Tibet’s historic status as a buffer between India and a bully China would be gone, forever. But worse would be the sudden transformation of the Himalayan states of India from India’s “first defence post” into a 4,000 km long belt, which will become prone and porous to Chinese machinations. Beijing is going to leave no stones unturned to influence the Buddhist communities of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal, all of whom have deep cultural and religious bonds with their root monasteries and root gurus inside Tibet. New Delhi cannot ignore how China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet” has become the main fulcrum of its ongoing aggression against India’s sovereignty and national integrity.

Vijay Kranti is a veteran Tibet-China watcher and Chairman, Centre for Himalayan Asia Studies and Engagement (CHASE)

Lobsang Sangay, the ever suspected Chinese spy touting the Dalai Lama will once again join back with the Tibetans in Tibet. Well since this is the case, why not all Tibetans in exile start their exodus back to China?

[Rowntree]

India too has many things at stake for it to sit and watch Dharamsala’s influential lobbies hand over a living Dalai Lama to China on a platter. With Dalai Lama’s return to the Chinese fold, all chances of rehabilitating Tibet’s historic status as a buffer between India and a bully China would be gone, forever. But worse would be the sudden transformation of the Himalayan states of India from India’s “first defence post” into a 4,000 km long belt, which will become prone and porous to Chinese machinations. Beijing is going to leave no stones unturned to influence the Buddhist communities of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal, all of whom have deep cultural and religious bonds with their root monasteries and root gurus inside Tibet. New Delhi cannot ignore how China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet” has become the main fulcrum of its ongoing aggression against India’s sovereignty and national integrity.

This is precisely why Lobsang Sangay can arrogantly unfurl the Tibetan flag during the Doklam crisis, spoke anti-China speech during the "Thank You" event when it was a sensitive time for the bilateral relationship building between India and China. How evil is he.

[dsnowlion]

Lobsang Sangay, the ever suspected Chinese spy touting the Dalai Lama will once again join back with the Tibetans in Tibet. Well since this is the case, why not all Tibetans in exile start their exodus back to China?

Lobsang Sangay the Chinese spy? Hmmm I never thought of that but now that you mentioned it, it makes me think that that could be plausible for all his very schismatic actions and how he has divided the exile Tibetan community even further now than ever. My my if he really is a Chinese spy, then all Tibetans need to rise up and get him to resign office asap and do a thorough investigation on him and his so-called MPs in their little parliament. Tibetans living in exiled under so much deception must join forces and speak up.

[Pema8]

It is indeed interesting to see Lobsang Sangay asking to fulfill the Dalai Lama's wish to go back to Tibet! Seeing what is at stake according to this article, one is indeed inclined to see Sangay as Chinese spy...

[SabS]

Since USA is reducing the funding to Tibetans in Exile and looks like it will dwindle more with each passing year or even maybe stopped altogether. Maybe Lobsang Sangay is now entertaining the idea of Chinese money looking good and tempting.......Oooo he is gonna be "Chinese Dog"....Karma is coming back at him.

[Alex]

There are some interesting changes for this. His Holiness the Dalai Lama now actually begging China to go back. He had intentionally expressed his wishes on several events about going for pilgrimage to Wu Tai Shan and also Lhasa. He is telling China directly that he wants to go back to Tibet.

Contrary to many who thinks that China would quickly accept his request and nab him while he is on their territory, China had not given in to His Holiness's requests. They do not seem to be welcoming him into their land. The situation of China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama now is different than the times where His Holiness first escaped from India.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's action is now trying to get on China's good book. He starts to acknowledge China's Panchen Lama indirectly. It is obvious that His Holiness the Dalai Lama wanted to go back to Tibet under China. Even his goal for Tibet is not Rangzen anymore which is independence for Tibet. His Holiness is aiming for Umaylam now which is more logical and possible given the situation of Tibet now.

[Harold Musetescu]

Unless the Dalai Lama publicly embraces Dorje Shugden the Chinese Government will never allow him to return.

[Tracy]

Lobsang Sangay is telling lies, he will not bring the Dalai Lama back to Tibet. The Dalai Lama has expressed many times that he wants to go back to Tibet but nothing has been done. Lobsang Sangay talks only but never acts on it.

The Dalai Lama is the money making tool for Lobsang Sangay, he will never let the Dalai Lama go back to Tibet. If he let the Dalai Lama go back to Tibet, what will happen to the CTA? It will mean there is no need for the CTA anymore, Lobsang Sangay will lose his job. He is not so stupid to let go of his position as the president of the CTA yet before he has made enough money for himself.

If Lobsang Sangay really wants to bring the Dalai Lama back to Tibet, he will stop condemning China and stop his free Tibet campaign. If the CTA does that, the Chinese government might consider having a dialogue with the CTA to discuss the matter on the returning of the Dalai Lama. But Lobsang Sangay's action clearly shows that he is not going to do that, he is just a big liar!

[Alex]

The situation with this is totally different now. It is His Holiness the Dalai Lama that wishes to return to Tibet now. He has been casually talking about him going to pilgrimage and going back to Lhasa to visit. He is definitely hinting the Chinese government that he is willing to make peace and talk it out. I wonder why the Chinese have not responded to His Holiness's request.

From Rangzen to Umaylam, Tibetans has been fighting to go back to Tibet. They have not been successful because of their leadership and His Holiness the Dalai Lama has to take matters into his own hands. The Tibetan leadership is supposed to have helped His Holiness with his dream but in the end, it all rests on His Holiness the Dalai Lama's shoulder.

I wonder why China is not responding to His Holiness's request to go back to Tibet because they have been wanting to get him for the longest time. Why they did not use this opportunity to capture him or bring him on their side since His Holiness is the one that initiated it? This will be interesting to see how it will turn out.