Lukar Jam’s car windows were smashed in. No theft was reported.
On March 23, 2017 the Tibetan community woke up to news that Lukar Jam Atsock, former Sikyong 2016 candidate, had been made the victim of a violent attack of vandalism. Lukar Jam, who had recently been accused of speaking against His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said that as a result of the attack his family now feel threatened by anti-social elements. Sadly, this is not the first time the Tibetan community have reacted in such a manner against someone perceived to be speaking against the Dalai Lama. Dorje Shugden practitioners, for example, have been threatened and harmed for the last 20 years because the Tibetan leadership repeatedly and consistently paints them as traitors of the Tibetan people, the Tibetan cause and specifically the Dalai Lama, although none of this is the case.
Lukar Jam is the latest unfortunate example of how the Tibetan leadership deals with dissent. Those who have thoughts that do not match the leadership’s often find themselves the targets of violent attacks organised by the Tibetan leadership themselves. The modus operandi is always the same – a person or group is identified as refusing to toe the leadership’s policies. The person or group is then talked about by the leadership, in this case either the Sikyong Lobsang Sangay or the Dalai Lama. The person or group are then labelled as ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ or ‘anti-Tibetan independence’, and the leadership strongly implies that these people can be targeted for any kind of consequence (usually violent). In this way, the Tibetan leadership incites their public to do the dirty work for them.
In the case of Dorje Shugden practitioners, they are a group who were identified as refusing to give up Dorje Shugden practice, as per the leadership’s diktats. For over 20 years, His Holiness the Dalai Lama talked about them on repeated occasions, emphasizing that they harm his life or the Tibetan cause, although none of this has ever been proven true. As a result, the Tibetan community turned against them and many Dorje Shugden practitioners have been beaten, threatened, stabbed, had their properties seized and in some cases even murdered.
The world can see clearly now that the Tibetan leadership’s methods are all for political gains, to the point they will pit their own people against one another in a kind of real-life ‘Hunger Games’ to see who emerges the winner. In this case, the winner is usually The Capitol, or the tyrannical upper echelon ensconced in the relative safety of Dharamsala watching as their people tear one another to pieces, in a political game of their own design. Now that the rest of the world has entered the 21st century, it is time that the Tibetan leadership, a self-proclaimed democracy, learns the proper and correct way of dealing with dissent and certainly, directing violence against their own people is not the way to go.
Lukar’s car vandalized, says his family feel ‘threatened by anti-social elements’
Phayul [Thursday, March 23, 2017 19:18]
By Tenzin Dharpo
Police inspecting the car following Lukar’s complaint/FB page/Pema Choedon
DHARAMSHALA, MAR. 24: Tibetan writer and former Director of the Gu-Chu-Sum organization, Lukar Jam Atsok, who has been at the center of controversy and condemnation for an alleged troll against the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has said he and his family – his wife and two children – feel “threatened by anti- social elements”.
The statement from the man who was also one of the candidates for the last Tibetan general elections came after he found his car vandalized by unidentified miscreants last night near his rented house near Norbulingka institute in Sidhbari area here.
Lukar Jam and his wife Pema Choedon have filed a police complaint regarding the matter. In their complaint letter addressed to the Superintendent of Police, Kangra at Dharamsala, the couple appealed for a thorough investigation saying that “anti social elements fulfilling other party’s agendas may be active within the community.
The copies of the letter have been sent to SHO, Dharamshala Police station, the Indian Intelligence Bureau, as well as the Security Department of the exile Tibetan government (known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration).
Jam found out about his car’s broken windows early this morning after his neighbor informed him. In his complaint with attached pictures, Jam wrote that the windows and wind shield of his car was broken with a rock. Jam’s wife Pema Choedon wrote on her Facebook page that she was certain it was not a random act of vandalism or attempt at thievery. She also wrote that the “attack on property” was preceded by incidents when her husband was openly “challenged, warned of physical harm”. However, the family said that they suspected the culprit to be anti social elements within the (Tibetan) community although they have “no specific suspects”.
The former political prisoner was recently in the center of a much debated issue regarding his poem that many alleged made an undue reference to the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalia Lama. Earlier last month, Jam posted a eulogy dedicated to the late Tibetologist Prof. Elliot Sperling on his Facebook page. The English translation of the original Tibetan language post which was also posted on the same page stated, “Not out of loyalty, but speaking of your ethical courageous position, you (Elliot Sperling) are the one who should have lived for 113 years”. Although the post had not made any direct reference to the Tibetan leader, the post has since been condemned by many Tibetans and attracted comments, many critical of his view.
The Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay on March 10 said, “Lukar’s remarks were objectionable and unfortunate. Such statements sow discord in the Tibetan community and gives reasons for adversaries to rejoice.” In the ongoing session of the Tibetan Parliament, PM Sangay said that Lukar Jam has a history of making denigrating remarks to the Tibetan leader. A lengthy discourse followed in the Tibetan parliament where opinions were divided on the issue.
Speaking to Phayul, Jam said, “I suspect the crime was perpetrated by someone who did not agree with my recent post or by an opportunistic agent of China aiming to plant discord within the Tibetan community. Either ways, the responsibility of the incident rests upon the CTA leadership who made public statements on the issue as well as individuals and proxy accounts online that created a ‘misunderstanding’ between him and the general public.” He also said he will leave the issue in the hands of the Indian law enforcement authorities.
Lukar Jam Atsok is a former Tibetan political prisoner who also served at the helm of the non-governmental organization Gu-Chu-Sum, a political as well as a welfare organization for former political prisoners, based in Dharamshala.
Earlier in 2016, he stood in the Tibetan general elections for the Prime Ministerial post of Central Tibetan Administration and was the sole candidate that stood for complete independence of Tibet as his core stand for the resolution of the Tibetan issue. During his campaign, he was alleged that he had made reference to the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in poor light although he has denied it later.
Originally posted on Phayul (http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=38833&article=Lukar%27s+car+vandalized%2c+says+his+family+feel+%27threatened+by+anti-social+elements)
A copy of the police report lodged regarding the incident
A copy of the letter submitted to the Police Superintendent of Dharamsala regarding the incident
A copy of the letter submitted to the Police Superintendent of Dharamsala regarding the incident
Police on the scene
Click to enlarge
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Tashi Rangzen
March 23, 2017
This is all the Central Tibetan Administration and Sikyong’s fault for criticizing Lukar Jam. Now the Tibetans are against Lukar Jam because of the poem that they think denigrates the Dalai Lama, although it was just an expression that Sperling’s demise came too early.
The CTA has won in their effort to ostracize and demonize Lukar Jam from exile Tibetan community. Despite Lukar’s clarification that his expression has no political connotation, 1 group & another association, བོད་ཀྱི་རྩ་དོན་གླིང་སྐད་འཕྲིན་ཚོགས་པ། and དྷ་ས་ས་གནས་མདོ་སྨད་རྒྱུན་ལས། declared Lukar as the “enemy of the Tibetans” by saying he works in the “ways of Communist Chinese” .
What happened to the democratic society that HH the Dalai Lama envision? What happened to all talk about Tibetan unity after the election?
I call on ALL TIBETANS to speak up for His Holiness’ democracy, one that gives genuine freedom and the empowerment of the individual, not the current Dharamshala’s version of it.
Elibuchen
March 25, 2017
I do hope sufficient security will be given to Lukar jam’s family, in the coming days by the Indian police. Lukar Jam had gone to jail for the Tibetan cause, he is a patriot.
CTA has proven again and again, they do not resolve issues, but make a mountain out of a molehill, and makes things worst. I say let Lukar Jam fight in the elections and try to bring solutions and practicality to resolve deep divides between Tibetans.
SabrinaS
March 26, 2017
Thinking of Lucas Jam’s case, I guess in a way he is ‘lucky’ that being on Indian soil, CTA is limited to inciting others to do the dirty work for them. By Indian law, these perpetrator dare not do too much yet. Otherwise, back in Tibet under the past governance, CTA would have directly accused Lukas Jam on some trumped up charge and tortured him to death, just because Lukas dared to challenge the seat. Look at the case of Methar, innocent but was skinned alive by the Dalai Lama’s Ministers for the “hidden riches” of the monastery that Methar holds account for. To the civilised West, this would be called barbaric.
After almost 60 years of living in exile under the auspice of Indian Government and with the past 20 years under an elected government, CTA, the mentality of many living within the refugee communities are still very much feudalistic and thats how CTA wishes to keep them, slaves to their edict. No wonder the living standard of many are kept low so that they spend most times eking out a living and not on logical thinking. With CTA’s method of rule, they expect sympathy? They expect China to accept their demands to return to Tibet with obvious blatant bad governance and who uses their citizens to do their dirty work of harassing and attacking someone not their liking or considered a threat to their comfort? Hmm CTA lead by a Harvard graduate Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, either are ignorant of public opinions worldwide or ignorant that laws apply to them as well. Wonder how long can CTA carry on as it is before the walls bear down on them and they become none.
Wake up CTA, change your rule, lift the ban on Dorje Shugden, give equality back to your people, stop all the propaganda attacks on Dorje Shugden practioners and China. Start dialogue with China before you have not basis to have the dialogue.
May Lukas Jam and his family be safe and protected under the Indian laws. This is a good platform to bring attention to audience worldwide of the true nature of CTA rule.
Tenzin K
March 29, 2017
No doubt this is nothing new and everyone knows this could happen to anyone that going against the CTA but it’s really unacceptable act. How could the government treat their own people as such and this is the fact why CTA has been failing to bring back their country. A government that create separation among their people, targeting their people with harm and violence. How could they gain respect in the eye of the world? This act is totally shameful.
I can’t see how CTA can achieve anything with this mindset. Even the young and educated tibetan has been questioning CTA nasty act and ask protection for Lukar Jam through the open letter. The world already can see how Tibetan leadership work here but only CTA still thinking that they are still the god of all Tibetan.
How could they get support from other country for freedom when they don’t even practice it with their own people. CTA still thinking to get support from other country? On what basis?
Tibetan leadership already lost their country and now they are splitting their people and only left those people that act violent and follow blindly. What is the future for them? The next generation will not buy in anymore with such action.
Who is jeopardising His Holiness Dalai Lama reputation here? Who is the traitor here. Everyone can think.
Tenzin Paljor
March 29, 2017
No doubt this is how the leaders of Tibetan exile government in Dharamshala operates. You cannot speak against them or they will find a way to demonize you and have you completely segregated. No one stops this fierce corruption and absolute power masquerading under the name of democracy. We will see more of this occurring in future as more Tibetans will speak out.
Lewis S
March 31, 2017
In the past 50+ years, CTA has successfully make their people more and more stupid, and make them not able to think on their own. What did CTA teach their people throughout the years?
If CTA wants to implement democracy, why not teach your own people the real meaning of democracy? The only reason why CTA tells the world they want to practice democracy is because they can continue to scam other countries to give them donations. In actuality, they do not want democracy. They do not allow different thoughts other than the thoughts come from CTA. Then how is this different from communist?
Do yo think CTA will try to catch the culprit? No, because CTA wants to instil the fear in people and stop people from thinking for themselves. Shame on you CTA!
Sherabz
April 6, 2017
Every government has responsible to protect its own people’s safety and prevent from the harm caused by other individuals or groups. For this instance, the relevant authorities should protect Lukar’s safety and properties based on the human rights and their entitlement to have the fairness treatment like other Tibetan community.
Many countries have paid attention to the Tibetan cause about the Dorje Shugden issue and the people treatment. The CTA leadership has a choice whether to continue or stop for taking action against those who have thoughts that do not match the leadership. A liberty and good leadership will not exclude anyone and caused people to suffer.
Camillia
April 13, 2017
Judging from the policy, the CTA and leadership from Dharamsala is clearly Fascism, intolerant of alternative views and freedom of expression. Tibetans in exile, in the true state of things are governed under Fascism led by a strong leader, HIs Holiness, who is responsible to forge national unity and maintain a stable and orderly society. Any alternative views than His will automatically be deemed as antagonist, such in the case of Lukar Jam Atsock. And political violence is being viewed as a mean to achieve their goals. Therefore it put His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the same light with Mussolini and Hilter. I wonder has His Holiness’s think tank ever thought about this?
Perhaps it is time for CTA and the leader in Dharmasala to restudy the sutra and Buddha Dharma, and put into practice the tenets of Buddha’s teaching, for example ACCEPTANCE and Be Kind and Honest with the people. Stop using malice underhand tactics to manipulate ignorant foot soilders to conduct violence against people who think or act differently.
Karma
May 1, 2017
Poor Lukar Jam, he contributed so much towards the freedom of Tibet, he fights tirelessly for the free Tibet cause and was even imprisoned by the Chinese and this is what he gets in return. Good job Tibetan leadership! This is how you treat someone who has sacrificed his life to help your own country and people.
This reflects how the Tibetan leadership operates, they are nice to you when you’re obedient and useful, but once your view slightly differs from theirs, they will make your life a living hell. So much of a ‘democratic’ country… Shame on the Tibetan leadership. No wonder they have not improved much, they are still not independent enough to sustain their own economy and have to leech on to other countries for funds… This has to change…
Pema Norbu
September 15, 2017
You have to see this clear video showing His Holiness the Dalai Lama instructing the monasteries to expel monks that practice Dorje Shugden. Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTgYWidYw3U
George
September 28, 2017
CTA democratic governance my foot!!! Once your fellowmen have different view and different practice from yours, you make their life difficult and terrorise them. Karma is catching up on you. Oh I don’t think you believe in karma from the way how you treat your own community.
TseringD, Delhi
October 29, 2017
Nechung is ZUMA 👎 before I m think he is one of d best when I m watch dis video By Geshe Dorjee la but now I m think is not d truth n he is lie to Tibet people we r not back to Tibet yt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIDZLzXIgW8 Chithue Tenpa Yarphel la tq for talk about truth of Nechung . I m watch to this video many time la https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2dFMKIr_8 n after I hear you talk I m not belief to Nechung
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 11, 2018
What will the all the people around the world and in Tibet do now? Dalai Lama says he is happy that Tibet is a part of China and should remain a part of China. So many Tibetans self-immolated for Tibet to be independent and now Dalai Lama did a 360 degree turn and says he wants to go back to Tibet and China and Tibet should be a part of China. So unbelievable. So many are angry and disappointed.
Dalai Lama should set things right
August 12, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.
Ayana
August 16, 2018
Why doesn’t the United States and its allies end Refugee Status for the useless Tibetans? They have been refugees for 60 years now and don’t tell me they still cannot get their lives back in order?
Tibetans really know how to put on a good show and use people, take their money and do nothing in return.
Ojas
August 18, 2018
Supreme Court of India JUSTICE Mr. MARKANDEY KATJU (RETD) writes that Tibet is much better under the Chinese than it was under the lamas who only wanted to make the populace slaves. It was feudal and it will never return to the backwardness again.
Yoezer
August 19, 2018
While the government of Nepal has framed a policy to tighten the noose around non-governmental organisations, they have welcomed 30 Chinese NGOs to enter the country. These NGOs will penetrate the country’s social sector at the grassroots level. This is the first time such a large number of Chinese NGOs have entered Nepal at one time. Nepal is increasingly open to Chinese influence, a sign that ties between both countries are strengthening, while India’s influence is being reduced. The time has passed for India’s monopoly to remain uninterrupted in Nepal as opportunities to engage with China are being welcomed.
Vardaniya
August 24, 2018
The cracks in Tibetan society are starting to show, and it is now coming to the attention of local Indians who have all but identified the Tibetan leadership as the source of the divisions. According to this author, disunity amongst the Tibetans is now creating problems for Indian law enforcement agencies, and this disunity may culminate in young Tibetans holding silent grudges against their host country. It is incredible that after six decades of generosity from India, Indians are now facing the very real possibility Tibetans can be ungrateful towards India. The Tibetan leadership totally failed to impart positive values upon their exiled community, like gratitude for those kindest to them and the need to repay these kindnesses with real, tangible results. It’s also very unlikely that the Tibetan leadership will now start to do this, after six decades of failing to do so. Indians need to realise this, and see that there is no benefit for their nation to align themselves with the Tibetan leadership, and there never will be.
Maya
August 24, 2018
Although the Dalai Lama has offered an apology, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) still expressed their disappointment over his controversial comment on Nehru, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). Dalai Lama called Nehru self-centred.
The Congress said Dalai Lama being a foreigner should shun and refrain from interfering in the internal as well as external affairs of India.