Dharamshala: - Imprisoned Tibetan monk and writer Gartse Jigme in a heartfelt appeal calls on the Chinese government to reach out to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to listen to the demands articulated by self-immolation protesters, as a first step towards creating a truly harmonious and stable Tibet where respect for Tibetan rights and freedoms would replace oppression and suffering.
According to the Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), this essay appears at the end of the second volume of his book, "Tsenpoi Nyingtop" (The King's Valour) which was published this month in India after the author was sentenced to five years imprisonment. He is being imprisoned at an undisclosed location.
About the book, Gartse Jigme writes:
While publishing this book, I endured loads of pain. Tears drenched my heart. For the true values of truth, justice, rights, equality, peace and harmony, I sacrificed everything and wrote this book. This [book] is a source of joy to me. It is my hope for the future. The book is not at all meant to prove my heroism. This book is a way out for me to shed tears once for the suffering of my ancestors. The book is not written to prove my scholarly credentials. It is a way out for me to shed tears for the pain and suffering endured by my fellow-countrymen. To be honest, I am not a hero. I am not a scholar. I am not wealthy. I am nothing. Amid the waves of truth and justice, I cried once with the suffering of my fellow countrymen.
He writes:
My heartfelt Appeal to the Chinese Government
Gartse Jigme
"In the hearts of more than ninety nine per cent of the Tibetan population, His Holiness the Dalai Lama dwells like a ray of sun. Therefore, no Tibetan will accept the constant demonization of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Such a demonization is unbearable to the Tibetans. They will make every effort to resist it. If democracy truly exists, then the Chinese government must seriously take into account the wishes and yearning of more than ninety nine percent of the Tibetan population. They must conduct negotiations with either His Holiness the Dalai Lama or with his representatives, so that His Holiness could return to his homeland. Such an effort will reduce the conflict.
As a Tibetan, more especially as a monk, I have expressed my heartfelt views to the Chinese government. I have expressed them honestly...For the true values of truth, justice, rights, equality, peace and harmony, I sacrificed everything and wrote this book. This [book] is a source of joy to me. It is my hope for the future. The book is not at all meant to prove my heroism. This book is a way out for me to shed tears once for the suffering of my ancestors. The book is not written to prove my scholarly credentials. It is a way out for me to shed tears for the pain and suffering endured by my fellow-countrymen. To be honest, I am not a hero. I am not a scholar. I am not wealthy. I am nothing. Amid the waves of truth and justice, I cried once with the suffering of my fellow countrymen.
In short, the Chinese government, instead of ridiculing and denouncing the unbearable and tragic suffering of the Tibetan people, must make efforts to find out the root cause [of the tragedy] taking into account the truthful and just laws of Karma. With an open and liberal [mind], it should conduct negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so that the two demands of the self-immolating Tibetans [could be fulfilled]: 1) return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet 2) genuine autonomous rights for the whole Tibetan population. I have a firm faith that if Beijing fulfills these two demands, the painful and tragic issue of Tibet would be resolved. However, if the Chinese government continues to dictate through violent repression, while the masses continue to pursue the [path] of rebellion and vociferous protests, then the situation might get out of control, leading possibly to more violent and bloody conflicts [in future]. In order to prevent [such an eventuality], tears in my eyes, I have sent this appeal through wind to Beijing".
