By Kalsang Rinchen
New York August 10, 2008-Nepal Buddhist Federation demanded an apology from the Police for hurting the religious sentiments of Buddhists. The Nepal police reportedly hit a portrait of the Dalai Lama with baton and tore down Buddhist flags. The incident occurred on the morning of August 7 when about 4000 Tibetans and Nepali Himalayan Buddhist sympathizers carrying Buddhist and Nepalese National flags gathered at Chuchepati Taragaon in Katmandu.
“Nepal Buddhist Federation strongly condemns the vilification of our spiritual master and seek formal apology from the police for destruction of the photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and tearing down Buddhist flags. We call upon the government to take immediate steps to control the situation before it turns into ugly sectarian communal violence”, a press release issued today by the Nepal Buddhist Federation said.
“Nepali Buddhists are closely observing that, of late, Buddhist monks, nuns and all Himalayan people in traditional dress are constantly harassed by the police. Even some sections of political Media have increased attack on the person of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the name of maintaining diplomatic relation with neighboring country”, said Acharya Norbu Sherpa, Secretary for Nepal Buddhist Federation.
The peaceful gathering organized by the Tibetan Young Buddhist Association suddenly became tense after police lathi charged the big portrait of the Dalai Lama and tore down Buddhist flags angering many devotees present there. Many of the people who witnessed the incident cried while urging the police to respect their religious sentiments. The organizers controlled the crowd from erupting into further emotional reactions.
“Ever since the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet in the 7th century Himalayan Buddhists of India, Nepal and Bhutan used to go to Tibet for studies in the various monasteries and after the closing of northern border in 1959 Himalayan Buddhists continue to go to monastic educational institutions in India and return to their respective countries after graduation to serve their communities. The unbroken close spiritual bond between the Dalai Lamas and the Buddhist followers of Himalayan region began 363 years ago during the great 5th Dalai Lama and is continued even today. The Dalai Lama is our root Guru”, the press release added.
“Tearing down the photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Buddhist flags has hurt the religious sentiments of the Buddhist community in Nepal. We consider this the first barbaric act since the time of Rana regime. Such acts in total violation of the fundamental religious freedom and expression enshrined in the constitution of Nepal will not be tolerated in secular Nepal and campaigns to restore respect to our faiths, our spiritual masters and international image of our country will be launched.”
Nepal Buddhist Federation is a registered non-political organization representing all schools of the Mahayana Buddhists organizations and institutions in Nepal.
