Dharamshala — The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) today commemorates the 64th anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day in Dharamshala and calls on the Chinese government to immediately end its brutal policies aimed at destroying Tibetan religion, culture and identity in Tibet.
CTA organised a event to commemorates the 64th anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day on September 2, 2024, at the courtyard of Thekchen Choeling Tsuglakhang in Dharamshala, HP, India. Chief guest was Estonian parliamentary delegation led by honourable MP Juku-Kalle Raid, the Chair of Tibet Support Group in Estonian Parliament, the event attended by top offcials of CTA, Students and Tibetans around the Dharamshala.
The delegation from Estonia –who were specially invited by CTA for this year’s Tibetan Democracy Day celebration– consists of MP Juku-Kalle Raid, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of Estonian Parliament; MP Karmen Joller, Member of Social Affairs Committee of Estonian Parliament; and MP Ester Aruse, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of Estonian Parliament, who were joined by Coordinator for Tibet Support Group in Estonian Parliament, Roy Strider, and Reporter for Estonian Largest Daily Newspaper Postimees, Aarne Seppel.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering read out the Kashag's statement, "Under the visionary leadership and indomitable determination of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people remained resilient unfazed by the overwhelming hardship of losing their homeland to invaders and the multifarious challenges in a new environment. Within a week of His arrival in Mussoorie in India on 20th April 1959, His Holiness re-established the Tibetan Government in exile, aimed at resolving the issue of Tibet and ensuring the welfare and overall development of the Tibetan community in exile. Moreover, in conformity with the modern democratic system, His Holiness the Dalai Lama established the legislative assembly in 1960 to ensure democratic representation through the electoral system. Since then, His Holiness has initiated four historical steps towards the democratisation process, thus developing the Tibetan polity into an efficient and robust system, which is unprecedented in the exile community and a model for the entire world. Also, the fact that Tibetans in exile are freely enjoying the fruits of democracy resulted solely from the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s unwavering guidance and leadership, for which we always remain eternally grateful."
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s concept of interfaith dialogue find reflections in the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development and on Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, and the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Resolution on Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping, Stigmatisation, Discrimination, Incitement to Violence and Violence against Persons based on Religion or Belief. These resolutions reflect many of the principles of interfaith dialogue that His Holiness has long advocated," Sikyong added.
Sikyong said, "On the contrary, the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is implementing hard-line policies aimed at eradicating the distinct Tibetan identity in Tibet. This is a blatant violation of common aspirations of humanity for religious harmony, promotion of ethics, and world peace, which has been consistently reported by independent research organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as by the delegation of the EU’s European External Action Service on their visit to Tibetan areas in June this year, the US State Department’s Annual Human Rights Report, and various UN expert reports. On 5th August this year, the American Bar Association passed a resolution on Tibet, stating, “The American Bar Association urges the United States Department of State Office of Global Criminal Justice to investigate and publish updated findings on the question of genocide, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations in Tibet."
"Additionally, the PRC government is forcefully implementing an assimilationist policy called “forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation” through a three-pronged process termed as “to facilitate ethnic exchanges, communication and integration”, aimed at eradicating the Tibetan people’s identity through indoctrination programmes and Sinicisation campaigns in the religious, political and social programmes. As part of this policy to eradicate anything Tibetan, the Chinese authorities are distorting Tibetan history, erasing national identity, and forcibly changing the way of life, and destroying architectural buildings, designs and artwork with Tibetan characteristics. Over a million Tibetan children are forced into state-run colonial boarding schools to learn Chinese language and ideology without access to their families. Books related to Tibetan nationality, religion, and histories are being forcibly removed from the libraries of these schools. And pictures and statues of historical figures such as Thonmi Sambhota, who created the Tibetan script, and other ancient and modern scholars in the school campuses are being wiped out. Such alarming reports continue to emerge from Tibet," Sikyong said.
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel read out the statement of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, "Regarding our fellow Tibetans living under Chinese occupation, it is evident that they are completely deprived of any democratic political system. Instead, the brutality of the Communist Party of China’s hard-line policies, under which they continue to suffer as if in a living hell, becomes increasingly evident with each passing day. With the goal of eradicating the Tibetan race and language, the Chinese government has forcibly relocated over one million young Tibetan children to separate boarding schools, where they are subjected to policies designed to Sinicize them. Additionally, for many years, China has pursued a policy of Sinicizing Tibetan religion and culture by destroying existing centers dedicated to their practice and preservation. On July 12, 2024, the Chinese government issued a coercive order to immediately shut down the Golog Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling, an academy established in 1994 with all necessary permissions from various Chinese authorities. Over its nearly thirty years of operation, the academy had graduated over 2,500 scholars and had hundreds of students enrolled at the time of the closure order. This abrupt shutdown was a profound shock to both students and staff, and it deeply saddened the Tibetan people both in Tibet and in exile, as well as those worldwide who value Tibetan culture."
"Similarly, starting around May this year, local Chinese authorities issued an order mandating the transfer of hundreds of young novice monks from Ngaba Kirti Monastery and Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery to government-run schools, resulting in their expulsion from the monasteries. To enforce this order, the Chinese government has harassed and threatened the parents and relatives of these young monks. This policy appears to aim at eradicating the continuity of religious scholarship and practice in Tibetan monasteries, akin to cutting off a river’s source. Consequently, it is crucial for us to intensify our global advocacy and campaigning for Tibet, urging the Chinese government to immediately halt its brutal policies that seek to destroy Tibetan religion, culture, and identity," the Speaker said.
The Kashag and TPiE statements underlined the noble commitment of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to promoting religious harmony in the world and the evolution of the Tibetan democratic system in exile. They also welcomed the enactment of the Resolve Tibet Act in the United States and the adoption by the Canadian Parliament of a motion supporting the right of the Tibetan people to self-determination. They also expressed their gratitude to countries and individuals around the world who have supported the Tibetan people in exile, in particular the Government of India and its people.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering presented awards to four CTA staff for their 25 years of service and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel conferred honorary awards to 16 Tibetan PhD students. Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok presented awards and certificates to the recipients of this year’s class 12 Gaden Phodrang and Excellence awards for their academic distinction,
MPs Ester Aruse, Karmen Joller and Juku-Kalle Raid and Roy Strider then gave speeches, in which they expressed their support and solidarity with the Tibetan freedom struggle and condemned China's mistreatment of Tibetans and its attempt to eliminate their identity.
Finally, students from various Tibetan schools in Dharamshala performed traditional dances for the guests and those present.
