Dalai Lama has not lost hope for Tibet: his office issues clarification to misrepresentation in international media

Some international media reports have suggested that the Dalai Lama has “given up” on finding a solution for Tibet and that he has lost hope for Tibet. Today the Dalai Lama’s office issued a clarification, including a translated excerpt of his address, which makes it clear that the Dalai Lama believes that widespread discontentment of Chinese rule means this is a critical time for Tibet and that “it would not do for us living in the free world to remain silent or inactive – as though we are oblivious to what was happening.”

The Office of Tibet issued a statement today (1) clarifying remarks made by the Dalai Lama on Saturday 25 October, which have been misrepresented.

The Dalai Lama’s address emphasised that the “ultimate objective” and “fundamental duty” of the Tibetan people must be “to bring about a positive change inside Tibet” and to maintaining Tibet’s unique national identity.  

In his comments the Dalai Lama noted that in March this year the Tibetan people “courageously articulated their discontentment with – and long-simmering resentment against – the Chinese government”. He continued that “there was no way for the Chinese government to altogether ignore this fact [protests in Tibet] and it should have come up with measures that were appropriate to what was happening on the ground. However it did not.”

In addition to its refusal to address the political crisis in Tibet, the Dalai Lama notes that “the Chinese government has accused me of inciting the recent unrest in Tibet” and “continues to hurl abuse against me”. Confronted by the Chinese government’s present unbending policy of further repression in Tibet and continuing personal attacks upon himself, the Dalai Lama concludes: “I have faith and trust in the Chinese people; however, my faith and trust in the Chinese government is diminishing.”

The Dalai Lama expands on his “diminishing” faith in the present stance of the Chinese government by stating that he is no longer prepared to be used as an excuse by the Chinese government for lack of progress in resolving the Tibetan issue.

Instead, the Dalai Lama indicates that it is time to review the strategy for engaging with the Chinese leadership. Referring to his “Middle-Way” approach – which accepts Chinese sovereignty over Tibet but which requires “genuine autonomy” for the Tibetan people in return – the Dalai Lama states that: “Taking these developments into account, it appears that my continuing to hold on to this position [the Middle Way] is creating obstacles to the Tibet problem, rather than helping resolve it.”  Stating his belief that the Tibetan issue is a matter for the entire Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama continues: “Therefore the issue of the common good of Tibet would be better decided by the Tibetan people.”

The Dalai Lama has already called upon the elected Tibetan leadership to organise a special meeting where it, together with the Tibetan people, will review the strategy for engagement with the Chinese leadership over the future of Tibet. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Dharamsala, the home of the Tibetan government in exile, between 17 and 22 November.

Reacting to the comments of the Dalai Lama, Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said:

“The Dalai Lama’s loss of faith in the sincerity of the Chinese government to negotiate must prompt a change in policy of Western governments. Those governments have for too long praised China simply for staging the talks, regardless of whether progress was being made or not. If the international community continues to hide behind these talks instead of holding the Chinese Government accountable to a worsening human rights situation in Tibet we can only conclude that it is for reasons of political expedience. This, despite claims from Governments that human rights are fundamental ‘to China’s future stability and prosperity, which is in all our interest.”

Click here for an English language translation of the Dalai Lama's statements

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