The advent of the new millennium saw an invigorated and a vital role for the Fourth Estate wielding a power that could make or break the world. Its contribution towards the all-round development of the world has been tremendous as well as amazing. The role of media, especially in its humanitarian efforts to garner and coordinate relief efforts during the natural catastrophes like the recent Tsunami disaster were exemplary, invaluable and a major pride for the human kind.
However the negative onslaught by a section of media to fulfill their ulterior motives has earned itself an unwarranted bad reputation. Over the years, the misuse of this power has destroyed many an innocent individual and nations. Very few fortunate ones have been spared from becoming the victim of their ‘sensational’ stories. These negative developments have negated the great contributions made by the Media in the promotion of peace, stability and progress in societies the world over. Therefore abiding to the code of conduct by the media has been of great significance duly overseen by the respective governments.
The code of conduct requires the media to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards striving to ensure that the information disseminated is fair and accurate. It must avoid the expression of comment and conjecture as established fact and falsification by distortion, selection or misrepresentation. No journalist shall knowingly cause or allow the publication or broadcast of news that has been manipulated. A journalist shall not lend himself/herself to the distortion or suppression of the truth because of advertising or other considerations.
The Chinese propaganda machinery apart, sections of other media too have been totally committed towards hampering the Tibetan community in exile and create differences amongst the Tibetan people. Earlier on, efforts were made to discredit and project His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a wrong context. But when the impregnable reputation of the world’s most respected and loved leader could not be shattered, efforts were made to project Tibetan Youth Congress as a terrorist outfit especially with much vigor after the September 11 terrorist attack on United States. But this too fails to yield result. Then efforts were made to project a gnawing difference between the TYC and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Exile Government taking advantage of the difference in the political stand. In the last few years efforts in this direction had been tremendous, with the result on several occasions these have succeeded in infusing a sense of doubt on some naïve and indiscreet well-wishers.
In an article titled, Young Tibet up in arms, released on 3rd July, 2003, in The Statesman, by Rituparna Bhowmik, TYC President Kalsang Phuntsok was mis-quoted as “ready to raise the banner of revolt against the Dalai Lama …. and to defy the Dalai Lama, even to the extent of considering ‘guerrilla activities’ ”.
Likewise, in an article titled, “Radicals oppose Dalai Lama olive branch to China” by S.N.M. Abdi in Khaleej Times, last month, again quoted TYC President Kalsang Phuntsok as saying, “The ground reality is that there is no scope for any negotiation. There is no option but to fight for an independent Tibet. We do not support the Dalai Lama at all.” This when the scribe has not at all met or talked to TYC President Mr Kalsang Phuntsok. Similarly in the same article, TYC Information Secretary, Mr Dondup Dorjee was grossly misquoted as having said this to the writer, “ His Holiness the Dalai Lama wants a solution in his lifetime. At 70, he is a man in a hurry.” Such referenes reveal the writer’s clear lack of understanding of the degree of devotion by a Tibetan towards their spiritual and temporal leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Similarly, on 18th of this month, The Telegraph published an article on the recent visit of Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao, titled, “Youth signal to Dalai Lama” by Mr Manjeet Sehgal Warrior, quoting Tibetan Youth Congress, Vice-President Lobsang Yeshi as saying that “the point of the protest was to send a clear message to the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile that the younger generation is not pleased with the Tibet policy being pursued by him”. Any ordinary mortal can, effortlessly, understand that the protest is directed against the visiting Chinese Premier and not else.
Notwithstanding these efforts to discredit Tibetan Youth Congress and its leaders, TYC has always emerged more resolute and stronger in the eyes of its brothers who supported and nurtured the Organization to the hilt in order to realize the interest of the 6 million Tibetans. The unstinted struggle and contribution towards the Tibetan cause by TYC and its members have also earned the love and admiration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for all these years. TYC members needs no reminding over their allegiance towards His Holiness the Dalai lama, which is an indispensable and a fundamental prerequisite of ones membership to the Organization. Today TYC is consistently committed to its goals and also dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the world continues to ignore our plight.
History bears testimony to the fact that whenever crisis strikes, we have always emerged stronger and more united to confront the fate of the nation. The difference in the political stand cannot be used as a tool to tear apart TYC from its leader and the Government. The organization that has struggled for the past 35 years for the cause, with total dedication and sacrifice, cannot be undone by a few distorted and fabricated allegations. Such attempts will not come to fruition, as TYC and the Tibetan struggle cannot be bogged down by such malicious campaigns. TYC will continue with its movement undaunted and with steadfast resolution.
