The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

(The Tibet Post International 15 November 2008)-Ever since peaceful protests erupted in Tibet, starting from 10th March 2008, the Chinese government used the state's full force on the peaceful demonstrators through varies means and ways such as: arbitrary arrests, detentions, brutal tortures and conviction of many to imprisonment without due process of law.

According to a reliable Tibetan from inside Tibet, who broke out and explained emphasized that only above a mere fifty percent of news reach out to the Free world. New cases of arbitrary convictions are as follows:

1)         On 11th November, Three monks from Thangkor Sogtsang Monastery namely: Tsultrim Gyatso aged 35, Tsultrim Jungney aged 29 and Thubten alias Lobsang Thubten aged 25 were sentenced 2 years of imprisonment for taking part in the Peaceful Demonstration in March this year by Dzod-ge District People's Court of Ngaba Autonomous Region were decided to shift to Men-Young in Sichuan Province.

2)         On 5th November, a group of security personals of Dzod-ge district came to Thangkor Sogtsang Monastery and interrogated the recently released group of 16 monks. They also took a picture with them. Indication of surveillance and restrictions on the monks still continues as quarters for the district police and some of its related employees are being built in the monastery premises.

3)         In our press release dated11th November, we have stated that on 6th November Dartsedo People's Court sentenced a nun whose name is still unknown from Karze region and Pema Choetso from Badhe Gang Drongpa of Karze Region were given 4 years each of imprisonment and an announcement to pass similar judgment were circulated and put on the walls for public notice. Their detailed names are nun Lhatruk alias Lhakpa Choetso aged 24 from Drak-kar Nunnery of Karze District and Richen Dorjee's daughter Pema Choetso alias Paepae who was previously a nun of the same nunnery were sentenced 2 years of imprisonment on 7th April for taking part in the recent Peaceful Demonstration.

4)         Around 5th November, monk Tsewang Drakpa from Jangdha of Drag-go district was sentenced 5 years, monk Thubten Gyatso from Tawu was sentenced 4 years and monk Jangsem Nyima alias Karma Choephel from Zatoe district of Yulshul region,Tso-Ngon province was sentenced 3 years by the court of Dartsedo for   taking part in Peaceful Demonstration on 6th June this in Drag-go District. They have distributed a number of documents on the paper with national emblem snow lion picture.

5)      On 14th May, Bumgha from Kham Ghojo of Serta district was sentenced 6 years of imprisonment from Dhartsedo court for taking part in the peaceful demonstration recently.

6)      Tashi Woeser from Chamdo was sentenced 1 year for allegedly asking when Tibet is getting Independence to his relative in Lhasa through phone. The call was heard by the security personal.

In selecting those able to attend the special meeting, current and former members of the Tibetan Parliament in Action (TPiE) and other high ranking officials were given appropriate priority.  However, a large portion was delegated to lower ranking non-elected government employees, with only about 20% allotted to non-government Tibetans.  Sadly, as well over 95% of the Tibetan people are unable to vote, the mandate of the parliament is at best unclear, and perhaps the greatest number of objective or new ideas will not be heard. 

Therefore, it is critical to ensure that adequate opportunities exist for the voice of the Tibetan people, and for useful ideas and advice from concerned non-Tibetans, to be heard.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama has called for all "people to take the responsibility, (to) take a keen interest in the matter and…come up with the ways and means, as well as the practical actions, for the realization of our cherished goal."

We call for a greater number of non-governmental representatives from critical organizations such as the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Woman's Association to be allowed to attend or at least observe the Special Meeting.  Ideas should be gathered directly from those within Tibet.  Testimony must be taken from concerned non-Tibetans with expertise in non-violent resistance.  As the His Holiness the Dalai Lama noted, "this matter cannot be decided all at once by the convening of such an extensive meeting."  Additional steps must be laid out to continue an open dialogue and to add new information to the decision-making process.  Media representation is limited and should be opened up to increase the transparency not just of the outcome, but of the decision-making process itself.

…And the Future of Tibetan Democracy

This is part of a fundamental issue:  His Holiness the Dalai Lama has called for greater Tibetan democracy and indicated that the next His Holiness the Dalai Lama might be chosen instead of reincarnated or that the Tibetan people might choose to not have another Dalai Lama.  This uncertainty leads to confusion…

For over half a century, the Tibetan people have relied almost exclusively on the benevolence and guidance of H.H the Dalai Lama, who has risen to the challenge and brought the Tibetan people into the 21st Century.  But His Holiness the Dalai Lama is getting older; that time, and that grace, is limited.  Despite the desire for greater democracy, the reality is that the Tibetan Constitution vests sole discretionary power in the political office of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  This must be looked at carefully and a decision reached as to how to separate the political and religious duties of His Holiness, as he has promised would happen if Tibet became free, and would likely be necessary to bring meaningful democracy to the Tibetan people.

His Holiness cannot carry the burden and responsibility of the Tibetan issue by himself or forever;  the mantle must be passed in good order to the next generation to carry forward.  If the traditional method is followed of waiting for the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be identified and educated, another twenty years or more will pass, and in that time the Chinese will have completed its cultural genocide of the Tibetan people and rape of the fatherland.  Time is running out.  The larger issue at hand to grasp is for the members of the Special Meeting to engage in open dialogue as to how to create a more meaningful democracy and prepare for the transition to the next generation.