Peace March Statement
The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) is organizing an All-India Peace March starting on 12th March 2005. The Peace March coincides with the 46th anniversary of National Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day. The March will take place simultaneously from four different regions: Dharamshala to Chadigarh and Dehradun to New Delhi in northern India, Siliguri to Kolkata in north-east India, and Pune to Mumbai in southern India.
This Peace March actively seeks support towards the ongoing process of confidence building measures between H.H. the Dalai Lama’s envoys and the Chinese leadership. In March 1997, the members of the TWA unanimously resolved to support the Middle-Path Approach proposed by H. H. the Dalai Lama, also endorsed by the majority of Tibetan people in exile to proactively solve the issue of Tibet. TWA strongly calls on the Chinese leadership in Beijing to immediately engage in formal negotiation with H.H. the Dalai Lama and his envoys and thereby usher in a positive political arrangement in Tibet without further waste of time. We sincerely appeal to the United Nations, governments, parliamentarians, long-time foreign supporters of the Tibetan cause including our Chinese friends for more enhanced support in realizing an actual negotiation on the issue of Tibet.
Through this Peace March, TWA makes the following demands from the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC):
- To immediately establish direct contact with H. H. the Dalai Lama without any preconditions. Negotiation must focus on the genuine self-rule of the Tibetan people wherein Tibet’s ethnic and regional autonomy of the three major provinces of Tibet is preserved. Such an arrangement will ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in Tibet and China if pursued by the Chinese leadership as earnestly as is proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The leadership of PRC must recognize the wisdom in the Middle Way proposal which if achieved will mutually benefit both Tibetan and Chinese people.
- To stop economic exploitation of Tibetan people and ensure protection of Tibet’s environment which is the source of Asia’s biggest rivers that serves as a lifeline to millions of Asians.
The Great Western Development Strategy undertaken by the government of PRC to “develop” Tibet has spawned harmful economic policies intended to destroy the traditional occupation of the Tibetans. The increasing economic marginalization of the Tibetans has contributed to the gradual destruction of the entire Tibetan race. In its bid to modernize Tibet, China has undertaken major ‘development’ plans and its excessive exploitation of Tibet’s rich natural resources causing adverse effect on Tibet’s fragile environment.
- To respect the fundamental rights and freedom of Tibetan people as enshrined in the constitution of the PRC government and reaffirmed in 2004 by the additional provision: “…the state respects and preserves human rights.”
TWA notes with interest the 2004 amendment of the Chinese constitution that provided an unprecedented constitutional protection of human rights. We call on the leaders of PRC to ensure that along with its own people; the human rights of the Tibetans are also protected in light of the new provision. The fundamental rights of Tibetan people are a hollow provision in China’s constitution.
- To release unconditionally all Tibetan prisoners of conscience being held in prisons in China and Tibet, notably Gendhun Choekyi Nyima-the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Lobsang Tenzin etc. and thereby contribute a positive reciprocal gesture to the ongoing process of confidence-building.
- To allow independent access to foreign experts, governments, parliamentarians and exile Tibetans to observe the real situation inside Tibet without any precondition. Particularly, access must be given to those investigating in specific areas of concern as the government of PRC is party to many international covenants that require them to act in accordance with international law.
The Tibetan Women’s Association welcomed the re-establishment of contact in September 2002 between the envoys of H. H. the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership following a 9-year communication stalemate since 1993. To date, the Tibetan delegation has, on three different occasions, met the Chinese leaders and toured some parts of Tibet and China. The Tibetan delegation during their press conference have stated that the meetings went well with the Chinese leaders, with both sides recognizing mutual responsibility in creating conducive atmosphere for a formal negotiation. However, it must be noted that the agreement to create a conducive environment has not been respected adequately by the Chinese leadership. The Tibetan delegation has also expressed the existence of ‘major fundamental differences’ about which TWA is seriously concerned. TWA believes that differences can be discussed and gaps bridged through meaningful dialogues and eventually arrive at an understanding that is mutually beneficial to both sides. The Chinese leadership should seriously consider the significance of the Middle-Path approach proposed by H.H. the Dalai Lama who holds the key to the peaceful solution of the Tibet issue. It is in the best interest of both Tibet and China to negotiate on Tibet’s future during his lifetime.
For more than 4 decades, the government of PRC has continuously gone against their stated rhetoric of ‘liberating’ and ‘developing’ Tibet. The restoration of communication links with the leaders of PRC in 2002 saw no improvement in the human rights situation in Tibet. Notwithstanding the token release of a few high profile prisoners, there are ever-increasing reports of illegal executions, arbitrary arrests and detention, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and crackdowns on religious leaders. Recent developments in the beginning of 2005, shows the increasing insecurity of the Chinese government on the issue of Tibet.
The TWA also presents the following issues that needs immediate attention and action from the international community, democratic governments, parliamentarians and the United Nations:
- In 2004, the PRC tightened its repressive control on the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and ethnic Tibetan areas citing state security and separatist activities as the reasons. The “strike hard” campaign has intensified with the authorities cracking down on what it terms “splittist activities” and a total ban on everything associated with H. H. the Dalai Lama. Tibetans are denied right to information, right to association and right to _expression. October 2004 saw a young and promising Tibetan writer named Woeser losing her job and benefits for mentioning the Dalai Lama in her book. A Tibetan singer named Ghangshun has never been seen since his arrest in February 2004. Tibetans expressing love for their country are termed ‘splittists’ and detained without trial. Amnesty International in 2004 has listed 145 known Tibetan political prisoners in prisons in China and Tibet who were arrested for peacefully protesting against the PRC’s illegal occupation.
- The PRC on the pretext of opening up Tibet to modernization, has started the world’s highest railway line from Gormo to Lhasa which is on its last leg of construction. Tibetans both in and outside Tibet are gravely concerned that this railway line will soon change the demographic structure of Tibet with the influx of large numbers of Chinese into Tibet. In 1997, the statistical records released by the government of PRC showed 300,000 Chinese residents in Lhasa alone. The number jumped to 500,000 in 2004. By these records, one can well imagine the fate of the Tibetans and their cultural identity once this project is completed.
- Crackdown on religious freedom of the Tibetan people has intensified. Patriotic re-education campaign is run extensively in religious institutions and schools to brainwash the Tibetans and to eliminate the unifying influence of H. H. the Dalai Lama. Strict vigils in the form of security cameras guard most of the monasteries and religious institutions. Compared to 1990s, further decline in the number of monks and nuns has in turn led to the fall in the number of monasteries and nunneries in Tibet. Many prominent and charismatic Tibetan lamas such as Panchen Rinpoche, Bangri Rinpoche and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche are imprisoned. Information regarding the detention places of Chadrel Rinpoche is still unknown. Eminent Lamas like Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, the former abbot of Serthar Buddhist Institute died unexpectedly.
- On 23 May 2004, the PRC government released a White Paper titled ‘Regional Ethnic Autonomy’ wherein the government claimed that Tibetans enjoy self-determination and fundamental rights and freedoms. However, the Chinese propaganda fell flat when in September 2004, a delegation of UN Human Rights experts visited China and Tibet. On their return, the delegation stated that China was lagging in bringing human rights laws into line with international agreements and suggested that this left the door open for continued abuse of dissenters. The human rights situation in Tibet has continued to deteriorate and needs immediate attention.
- There are increasing reports of forced sterilization and abortions on Tibetan women done under unhygienic conditions by unskilled medical personnel. Tibetan women are punished for going against the State’s birth policy. However China’s strict birth policy is not applicable in Tibet because Tibet has vast territory with rich natural resources and sparse population. In addition, Tibet has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world.
In almost 5 decades of Tibet’s occupation, the Tibetan struggle has always been that of empathy and constructive engagement with the Chinese leadership. Even though the Tibetans have received considerable support and solidarity for their non-violent struggle, there is now a need for more concrete and urgent action and political will on the part of the democratic governments worldwide. The world and the leaders of PRC must realize that an amicable solution to Tibet’s future is only possible during H. H. the Dalai Lama’s lifetime. Few leaders exist like His Holiness who believes not only in the well being of his own people but all sentient beings.
Today the world is undergoing a turbulent period of violence and hatred. Fear and mistrust have pervaded all over. In such a violent atmosphere, there is a looming danger of increased justification for using violence and terror as legitimate means to resolve issues. Lack of concrete action and support from the democratic governments will lead to the alienation and frustration of those who believe in a culture of peace and goodwill. The world now needs to make an “investment in peace” by supporting Tibet’s just cause. Freedom and peace in Tibet would ensure peace and stability in the Asian subcontinent and the world at large.
B. Tsering Yeshi
President
March 12, 2005
