Lhasang Tsering |
Interview with Gen
Lhasang Tsering, former president of Tibetan Youth Congress, and Rangzen
activist on self-immolations of Tibetans in Tibet.
Tibet Times: What
do you think are the main hopes and aspirations of the brave Tibetans who set
themselves on fire inside Tibet?
Lhasang Tsering: Human beings, when faced with desperate situations,
either kill others or kill themselves. Those Tibetans who set themselves to
fire raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to
Tibet; some raised slogans about freedom in Tibet and there were also some who
raised slogans for Tibet’s independence. In all, it is clear that Tibetans
inside Tibet are not happy. These desperate actions makes it clear Tibetans are
suffering under the brutal Chinese occupation and their intense desire for
freedom is also clear. We, the Tibetans living in exile, must respect their
aspirations. Particularly, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile must recognize this.
Our government must respect the brave Tibetans who sacrificed their precious
lives for the cause of Tibet.
Tibet Times: What
would be the short-term and the ultimate impact on the Tibetan cause of these
self-immolations? What is your personal view?
Lhasang Tsering: It is a huge loss for the family members and relatives of
the brave Tibetan monks and nuns who set themselves on fire. They are no longer
alive. However; it depends on us whether their actions will have a positive or
negative result for Tibet and the Tibetan people. For example, if you hit
others with just a single finger, rather than hurting others, you would be
hurting yourself. However; if you hit with a firm, clenched fist with all five
fingers joined in unison; it will hurt your opponent. I heard that some
members’ in our community are debating whether these self-immolations are acts
of violence. I feel really depressed and sad to hear such debates. People who
circumambulate Tsuklagkhang and other holy sites kill insects by
trampling on them. Can you refer to this as an act of violence? Their motive is
spiritual accomplishment. It cannot be violence to sacrifice one’s life for the
sake of protecting one’s country and one’s nation and to preserve our religion
and culture. The real act of violence is being inflicted by the Chinese who
oppress our people and create these desperate situations. Shirking from the
responsibility to serve the Tibetan cause and failing to stand up to oppression
and injustice is an act of violence and deceit.
Tibet Times: How
do you define the present status of the Tibetan struggle for independence?
Lhasang Tsering: Considering the courage and dedication of Tibetans inside
Tibet, the status of our struggle for independence is highly commendable and
hopeful. However, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile has rendered our struggle
directionless. Whether it is an individual or of a community; or even a nation;
one must fulfill three conditions for a movement to succeed. Firstly; the aim
of the struggle should be clear. Secondly; one must have the necessary
confidence to achieve that goal. Thirdly; one must actively work to achieve
that goal. Apart from merely stating that it is for the mutual benefit of
Tibetans and Chinese, our present Middle Way Policy does not have clear aims
and objectives. We do not have confidence because we fear that China is mighty
and powerful. Apart from issuing statements or making speeches about our cause;
in reality; in exile we do not have enough people who sincerely care about the
Tibetan cause and no one actually leading an active struggle.
Tibet Times: Are
you satisfied with official campaigns initiated by Kashag and the Tibetan
Parliament-in-Exile to highlight the critical situation inside Tibet?
Lhasang Tsering: As I said earlier; besides merely refusing to listen to
the voice of the general Tibetan people; the Kashag is doing nothing to resolve
the issue of Tibet. Therefore; it is not a question of whether it satisfies me
or not. I am left in dejection and hopelessness. The government is an
organization to lead people. What the Tibetan Government needs to do is to lead
the struggle for freedom. The Tibetan Government-in-Exile, based in
Dharamshala, has forgotten our freedom struggle and yet it seems that it
perceives itself as running a real government. This is not right. The roof
above our heads and the soil under our feet do not belong to us. They all
belong to others. Even the general public knows that a ‘mutually beneficial’
solution for resolving the Tibet-China issue is not practical and achievable.
Even if it may be achievable, we must know that we don’t have time to wait for
long. Thousands of Chinese are migrating into Tibet even at this very moment
when I am being interviewed here. Yes; Time is running out on us.
Tibet Times: What
responsibilities and what kind of movements we Tibetans in exile must initiate
considering the critical situation inside Tibet? Could you please share your
thoughts?
Lhasang Tsering: In exile, non-governmental organizations and ordinary
Tibetans are making every possible effort towards our freedom struggle.
However, these will not bring real, meaningful result, as they cannot influence
the international community. We need a clear plan and a leader who can lead us
and unite us all. Without such leadership, it would be like laying thousands of
bricks in the wilderness. Such bricks scattered on the desert surface will not
result in a house. There are many people who appreciate His Holiness the Dalai
Lama’s decision to devolve his political power to an elected leader; but I
absolutely do not consider it a positive step. For example; if there is a
shepherd who, in the name of taking his sheep to a greener pastureland, herds
them here and there, and finally leave the sheep in the middle of a vast desert
telling them ‘now the authority is in your hands’, is the shepherd fulfilling
his duty? Of course; democracy is important, but it is an internal matter of a
free country. Is it worthwhile to argue about the shape and size of the house
and the colour of the walls before you have the land to build the house? In my
view democracy can wait; but not the struggle for freedom.
Tibet Times: All
the people who immolated themselves are monks and nuns and we often say that
our struggle is for the cause of Tibetan religion and culture, so what in your
view are the responsibilities of the Tibetan reincarnated lamas belonging to
different religious sects in exile?
Lhasang Tsering: I cannot speak about the views of Tibetans inside Tibet,
but Tibetans in exile must have various opinions with regard to this matter.
Some people are not able to express their views because of their faith and
devotion. Personally, I think that I have put my best possible effort in
leading movements and nurturing leaders for the cause of Tibet while I was
working with Tibetan Youth Congress. What I want to say is that if [in our
community] there are people who think there is a spiritual practice that is
more precious and sacred than serving the happiness and wellbeing of one’s
country and its people; then I request you not to live in the Tibetan
community. Please do not take benefits from our community. I cannot accept a
spiritual practitioner who seeks to achieve individual enlightenment and who
works only for the personal benefit or for the next life without shouldering
responsibility for Tibet and the Tibetan people. We Tibetans do not need such
spiritual practitioners at this moment.
Tibet Times: After
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s devolution of political power to an elected
leader, do you think we can see some change in our movement and the nature of
our struggle?
Lhasang Tsering: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been the Spiritual and
Political head of Tibet for centuries. I cannot say for sure there could be a
change in a day or two, or within the next few generations to come. On paper,
it can be written that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has devolved his political
authority to an elected leader. However; in the hearts and minds of Tibetan
people it is only His Holiness the Dalai Lama who will remain as the Spiritual
and Secular head of Tibet. When my body and mind separates from each other and
when my flesh and blood spills out, even at that moment, my consciousness will
regard His Holiness the Dalai Lama as my sole leader. [At this moment, Lhasang la took a pause
and shed tears]. Once again I request His Holiness the Dalai
Lama to reconsider his decision of devolving political authority when our
freedom struggle needs him most because our nation is on the brink of death.
The Tibetan people can change their clothes but how can we change our hearts?
Tibet Times: Do
you see some hope that the Tibetan struggle [for autonomy] will gradually move
on to struggle for Rangzen?
Lhasang Tsering: I am not a person who relies on empty hopes. If you ask
me do I think should the struggle move on to Rangzen; in reality, I would say
definitely I do. I was the one who openly expressed that it would be an
impractical [solution] when His Holiness the Dalai Lama proposed the Middle Way
Approach on 15 June 1987. At that time, there were Tibetans who even threatened
to kill me. My children also faced problems in their school because of my
position. I still keep the same political stand. I haven’t made the slightest
change to it. I believe in truth and justice. I am not a person who only thinks
about personal benefits. The Tibetan Government-in-Exile took a wrong position
right from the beginning. There is no benefit in changing the driver if one is
travelling on the wrong road. No matter how many times you change drivers, if
your vehicle is going on the wrong road there is no change. First and foremost
the Tibetan Government in Exile must change its course.
Tibet Times: What
is your view on people who believe that we cannot have dialogues with the
Chinese Government or receive international support if the Tibetans opt for
Rangzen?
Lhasang Tsering: This is absolutely rubbish. They are ignorant about world
politics. The policy of a state or nation is driven by its national interest.
There is not a single nation in the world that frames their foreign policy by
renouncing its own national interest for the sake of other nations. Between
1959 and 1965, the United Nations passed resolutions recognising Tibet’s right
to self-determination. This happened when we were advocating Tibet’s
independence. However; because of the spread of Communism in USSR and other
countries, US and other western allies gave more focus on how to defeat
Communism. As a result, Tibetan issue lost limelight then. After renouncing
Rangzen as our official policy, we have not had a single nation that came up
and extended meaningful support. Presently, as China is becoming more powerful,
it naturally affects the interest of many other countries. For their own
interests, not out of concern for Tibet, I am sure we will receive support from
these countries if we take some clear actions. Isn’t it foolish to complain
that one cannot get a sponsor for one’s child without first enrolling the child
in school?
Tibet Times: Lhasang
la, what is your expectation [from] and appeal to the Tibetans inside Tibet,
especially Tibetans who set themselves on fire?
Lhasang Tsering: First of all, I would like to bend my knees to the ground
in prostration before those valiant self-immolating sons and daughters of
Tibet. At this present critical moment, we must prepare ourselves for a
determined action. Even an old man like me has made preparations since long
time back. I registered [the ownership of] my small bookshop and bank account
in my wife’s name. We Tibetans must share our happiness and suffering together.
Whether the loss of these lives benefits our cause or not will depend on the
Tibetan Government-in-Exile and the officials working in the exile Tibetan
community. I request our government to come up with a well-planned strategy and
to take concrete step for our struggle for freedom if we really think Tibet’s
situation is critical and feel solidarity with those brave Tibetans who have
already given up their lives by setting themselves ablaze. It is not of much
use for ordinary Tibetans to go and protest in front of the Chinese embassy if
our government is not willing to lead us from the front. The Tibetan
Government-in-Exile must lead the protests and demonstrations for our freedom!
* * *
NOTE-- This is a translation of the interview in Tibetan published in the Bod kyi Dus Bab, issue 537/Volume 16/Series-32,
20/11/2011. For discrepancies, please consider the Tibetan version
as authoritative and final. The interview is translated by Sonam Gyatso, a
researcher at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
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Very true, our Govt. must come up with strategies that are suitable to Tibetans in Tibet the most. The Tibetans inside Tibet are suffering and they can determine the future directions of our land.
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