Karmapa concerned over unrest in Tibet (Lead)
February 6th, 2012 - 8:09 pm ICT by IANS
Dharamsala, Feb 6 (IANS) Tibetan religious head and the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje Monday expressed concern over the prevailing tense situation in Tibet and the Chinese authorities’ increasing use of force against protesters.
Moved by the plight of people in the land he belongs to, the Karmapa Monday also attacked the Chinese authorities for persistently portraying the Dalai Lama, the elderly Tibetan monk who has lived here in exile since 1959, as the enemy.
“As tensions escalate, instead of showing concern and trying to understand the causes of the situation, the Chinese authorities respond with increasing force and oppression. Each new report of a Tibetan death brings me immense pain and sadness,” the Karmapa said in a statement.
He said Tibetan demonstrations and self-immolations are a symptom of deep but unacknowledged dissatisfaction. “If Tibetans are given a genuine opportunity to lead their lives as they wished… they would neither be demonstrating nor sacrificing their lives.”
On resolving the vexed Tibetan issue, the 26-year-old head of a Tibetan Buddhist sect said the Chinese authorities persistently portray His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the enemy instead of working with him.
“The Chinese have rebuffed his repeated efforts to find a peaceful and negotiated solution to problem.”
On self-immolation protests, the Karmapa, who resides here but is visiting Bodh Gaya these days, said he was worried about the growing number of monks and nuns setting themselves afire.
“Always bear in mind that your lives have great value, as human beings and as Tibetans,” he said.
The Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamsala has sought international intervention over the prevailing tense situation inside Tibet.
“With the Tibetan New Year (Losar) on Feb 22 and the March 10 anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising coming up, we fear there will be further bloodshed and loss of lives,” Dicki Chhoyang, its information and international relations minister, told reporters here.
Noting that 16 Tibetans have set themselves afire in the past 12 months to protest China’s policies and to press their demand for freedom, it said three more self-immolations occurred Friday.
India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans and the Tibetan government-in-exile, which has never won recognition from any country.
- China, not Dalai Lama, to be blamed for self-immolations: Sangay - Mar 10, 2012
- Two self-immolations in Tibet - Mar 05, 2012
- Sangay concerned over unrest in Tibet - Jun 02, 2012
- Dalai Lama to attend prayers for peace in Tibet - Oct 17, 2011
- Unrest in Tibet: Exiles seeks global intervention - Feb 06, 2012
- Self-immolations in Tibet politically motivated: Lawmaker - May 16, 2012
- Exiles seek UN intervention in Tibet - Mar 21, 2012
- China, not Dalai Lama, cause for self-immolation: Sangay (Lead) - Mar 10, 2012
- Not encouraging self-immolations in Tibet: Dalai Lama - Nov 19, 2011
- US voices concern over monk's conviction in China - Sep 01, 2011
- Exiles predict more trouble in Tibet - Mar 17, 2012
- Adopt liberal policies for Tibet, exiles urge China - Jan 07, 2012
- Find 'middle way' for Tibet solution: Sangay - Nov 27, 2011
- Czech deputy PM concerned over Tibet situation - Mar 02, 2012
- Exiled Tibetans ask China to stop repressive policy - Nov 04, 2011
Tags: bloodshed, buddhist sect, chinese authorities, dalai lama, dissatisfaction, genuine opportunity, gyalwang karmapa, immense pain, international intervention, monks and nuns, religious head, tense situation, tibetan buddhist, tibetan government in exile, tibetan issue, tibetan monk, tibetan new year losar, tibetan uprising, tibetans, trinley dorje