His Holiness says protestors concern about rights abuse in Tibet

Saturday, 19 April 2008, 12:18 p.m.

---

Dharamshala:His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed a large gathering of media persons, including 50 print and television media, during his visit to Ann Arbor in US on 18 April.

Olympics

His Holiness said: "Right from the beginning, I have fully supported the Olympics."

His Holiness said he was sorry at the incidents that took place in London and Paris, but fully understood the demonstrators' desire to express their feelings.

Expressing his views on a Japanese temple's decision to oppose the Olympics torch relay in Japan, His Holiness said concerns expressed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are good. China has a poor record on human rights, religious freedom and the environment. He said it is worthwhile to remind the concerned Chinese authorities that in order to be a respected host with dignity of the Olympics they need to look at their poor human rights record.

His Holiness said he was fully committed to democracy and the exile Tibetan community's structure was fully democratized. His Holiness further said, since 2001, we now have an elected Tibetan leadership and he himself was in semi-retired stage. With provisions given in the Tibetan Charter, people have the right to freedom of speech and expression.

On the Current US visit

His Holiness began by talking about the objective of his current visit to the United States. His Holiness said his visit to Seattle was related to his first commitment, namely the promotion of human values. The visits to Ann Arbor and Colgate in New York are connected to his commitments of religious harmony and human values respectively, His Holiness added.

Responding a meeting with Canadian parliamentarians held prior to the press conference. His Holiness began by saying he is an honorary citizen of Canada and so the parliamentarians came to see him at this difficult period to express their solidarity with him.

His Holiness said that he has no intention to meet State Department officials during his current visit.

Contacts with Chinese leadership

On his contacts with the Chinese leadership, His Holiness said soon after the recent crisis in Tibet, he had written an appeal letter to President Hu Jintao on 19 March.

On the prospects of future contacts, His Holiness said, "We are making "effort" to reach out to the Chinese Government "through private channel" and we did not have anything "concrete" as yet.

Relations with the Indian government

His Holiness expressed his gratitude to India's help without which the Tibetans would not have been able to survive in exile.

Role of spirituality on environment

His Holiness said, from a Buddhist viewpoint, the environment is closely connected to the Buddha's life. The Buddha was born outside under a tree, achieved his enlightenment not on a rock, but under a tree, and his death took place not in a monastery but under a tree. He said when he was in Tibet he did not have the type of environmental awareness that he had after meeting with experts after he came out. He said caring for the environment is as important as caring for one's own home.

 

His Holiness addresses the media in Ann Arbor, Mich, Friday, April 18, 2008(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Threat to Tibetan Culture

Expressing his grave concern on the Tibetan culture, His Holiness said whether intentionally or unintentionally there is cultural genocide in Tibet. Expanding on the unintentional reasons, His Holiness said, in Lhasa, the two-thirds of the population were Han Chinese and although there are Chinese Buddhists, but many of those in Lhasa did not seem to have much interest in Buddhism. He said Tibetans thus end up having to use Chinese language most of the time.

His Holiness also referred to the changed Tibetan character by comparing those Tibetans who have grown up under the Chinese in Tibet with those Tibetans growing up in India. His Holiness said the overwhelming Chinese population is changing the Tibetan characteristics.

Secondly, His Holiness said that the Chinese Government, on account of over suspicion, viewed Tibetan Buddhist faith as a source of danger. He said 10 years ago, Chen Kuiyuan, the party secretary of TAR, had said that the ultimate source of Tibetan separation is the Buddhist faith.

His Holiness spoke about the "political education" campaigns carried out Chinese authorities in Tibetan monasteries and nunneries. His Holiness also said in Lhasa University the Tibetan studies section is not much emphasized.

His Holiness said the Tibetans, like the Uyghurs and the Mongols, have its own distinct culture. "If Tibetans did not have a culture, a written language, then things would be different, adding, "People who have long culture must respect their culture," His Holiness added.

Advice to President Bush on Iraq War

His Holiness said President Bush is a straightforward person and he has developed a close feeling with him since their first met him. But, on Iraq and Afghanistan, His Holiness said he had expressed his reservations on some of the policies adopted by President Bush.

Meeting with Chinese Youths in Rochester

His Holiness said Chinese youth were filled with emotions, when they understood that he is not seeking independence and not against the Olympics in China.

Underlining the need of Sino-Tibetan friendship group, His Holiness suggested that there is a need for more face-to-face meetings between Tibetans and Chinese, rather than staying distant with unnecessary suspicion, negative feeling and harmful atmosphere on both sides.

Message of love, compassion...

His Holiness said the messages of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, self-discipline were the same to all the religion.

Role of Youth

His Holiness said his generation was ready to say "bye bye" and the youth are really taking the lead in shaping the new century. His Holiness said his basic belief was that we needed the right view to look at things from all dimensions.