By Tsering Tashi
LONDON, July 10 – The 69th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that falls on 6 July was celebrated here today with colourful Tibetan traditional songs and dances to the delight of Tibetans, their supporters and others who filled Westminster Cathedral Hall. At the start of the ceremony, nine monks from the re-established Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India, accompanied by religious music walked to the stage in procession with the portrait of the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader for its enthronement. They then lead prayers for the long life of His Holiness along with members of the Tibetan Community’s Dance Group.
Mr. Tsering Tashi, Secretary, Office of Tibet, then read the Kashag’s statement on the occasion of His Holiness’ 69th birthday. The statement said that “As the Tibetan people, both inside and outside Tibet, place great hope and trust in His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it is but natural that he is the spokesperson as well as the only leader representing the true aspirations of the Tibetan people. Therefore, to think about the future of the six million Tibetan people is his natural responsibility, a responsibility that he cannot shirk.”
On the White Paper on Tibet issued by China on May 23, the Kashag statement said that it contains “much ultra leftist rhetoric” and that the Tibetans disagree with views presented on a number of issues. It added that periodic white papers on Tibet cannot hide the true sad state of affairs in Tibet.
“Obviously there are two different views and versions – a Tibetan and a Chinese – of issues relating to Tibet. We need to recognize this reality. It is our firm belief that these differences need to be reconciled through dialogue and negotiations and not imposed. It is the basic approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama not to dwell on the past but to look forward to the future and seek a relationship that ensures genuine friendship, mutual understanding and respect between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples,” the Kashag said.
For the time being the Kashag has decided not to respond publicly to China’s White Paper on Tibet. The statement said that this decision has been taken in the larger interest of finding a resolution to the issue of Tibet in the best interest of the Tibetan and Chinese peoples through dialogue.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sonam Frasi, Member of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, representing Tibetans in Europe, said that it is important for the Tibetans and supporters to have a proper understanding of the policies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. He said the policies are clear and that the Middle Way Approach of His Holiness being pursued by the Tibetan government is in accordance to the mandate given by the Tibetan people after holding of a referendum that took place in 1995. He said the efforts being made by the exiled Tibetan government is sincere and that there should be no doubt about this.
The programme ably conducted by Mr. Chonpel Tsering, Secretary of the Tibetan Community, concluded with the singing of the Tibetan national anthem. This year on the initiative of the Tibetan Community the programme was extended until 9 pm to enable everyone to socialise and enjoy ‘gorshey’ (Tibetan circle dance) for a longer period of time. The programme was jointly organised by the Office of Tibet, the Tibet Society and the Tibetan Community in Britain.
