Dharamshala — Terming moral values as the foundation and soul of Tibetan people, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay expressed deep worry about the declining moral values among the Tibetans.
The Kashag came out with a clarification after His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed deep concern about the declining moral values among the Tibetans and called for better care and services to sick and destitute people.
"We need to be practical. Attractive appearances alone will not help, but that will be an empty glory," said His Holiness the Dalai Lama who was speaking on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute.
"We have sustained thus far. To think that it will be alright in the future as well will be wrong. We have to take responsibility and be careful, and try to stop where things are going wrong."
"We speak about moral values and ethics, but in reality, these are degenerating in our society," the Tibetan spiritual leader said while expressing his deep concern about the declining moral values among the Tibetans.
Addressing the parliament, Sikyong said that "declining morality is a serious issue in almost all communities these days. However, it is really unfortunate that the Tibetan community is also witnessing a similar trend when we have a leader like His Holiness the Dalai Lama who always advise moral upbringing and compassion."
"It is even more unfortunate that the Chinese government used election related issues to criticise the Central Tibetan Administration," Sikyong said, adding: "Even the New York Times has run an article recently denouncing the issues that were mainly focused during the election."
"All these are a dangerous development for the Tibetan movement and we should be very careful," Sikyong said, stressing that all those who participated in the Tibetan election should bear it in mind.
Speaking about His Holiness' concern over the situation of health in the Tibetan community, Dr Sangay said that "The Kashag accords highest of the highest importance to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's observation of deplorable health condition and the lack of preventive measures in the Tibetan settlements."
The Tibetan political leader told the Parliament that "since the advice from His Holiness on March 23, the Kashag held a series of discussions and provided unanimous directives and advisories to the health Kalon,"
Sikyong on behalf of the Kashag affirmed a vigorous health campaign in the next three years and assured concrete results in ensuring robust public health in the Tibetan community.
Besides these two focal issues of concern, Dr Sangay further spoke about the Kashag's efforts to alleviate poverty in the Tibetan community with particular emphasis on older Tibetans who are under the care of old age homes.
The Tibetan Cabinet also highlighted the changing political and economic situation in China, India and other neighboring countries, and its impact on the Tibetan movement.
Sikyong expressed his solidarity with the sufferings of the Tibetan people inside Tibet, particularly the self-immolators and the Tibetan political prisoners.
Dr Sangay also explained that there is no change in the repressive policies of the Chinese government in Tibet and that the Tibetans living in the free world should exert more effort to alleviate the sufferings and fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people inside Tibet. "It is only because of the valour of the Tibetans inside Tibet that Tibetans outside Tibet can walk with their heads held high," Sikyong said.
