FIFTY YEARS IN EXILE – DEFEND TIBETAN IDENTITY

A PROUD SYMBOL OF TIBETAN IDENTITY AND ASPIRATION FOR FREEDOM

SOUTH AFRICA – A PUPPET CONTROLLED BY COMMUNIST CHINA

South Africa is selected as the host of 2010 Soccer World Cup Games. The Soccer Organizing Committee has planned to host a Conference on March 27, 2009 to discuss ways of using soccer to fight racism and xenophobia. Nobel Peace Laureates Nelson Mandela, Archibishop Desmond Tutu, and F W de Klerk had invited H.H. Dalai Lama, a Noble Peace Laureate to join them in this Peace Conference. Communist China which is a big investor and trade partner of South Africa has openly opposed H.H. Dalai Lama’s trips to other countries. Beijing claimed that “We resolutely oppose any country’s government having official contact with the Dalai Lama….”. Succumbing to intense pressure from Communist China, South Africa has denied a visa to H.H. Dalai Lama and consequently the Peace Conference is indefinitely postponed. South Africa has failed to act as an independent, and sovereign nation. In yielding to Chinese pressure and refusing to issue a visa to H.H. Dalai Lama, South Africa has tainted its democratic credentials and like a puppet it acted in a subservient manner.

FIFTY YEARS IN EXILE – UNDYING QUEST FOR FREEDOM

Tibetans, young and old, including monks, nuns,, and children are planning to celebrate five decades of exiled life in 35 Tibetan settlements located in different parts of India. I had visited the LugSam Tibetan settlement at BYLAKUPPE in the KARNATAKA State of India. I had personally spoken to hundreds of Tibetan boys and had interviewed them individually. I spent nearly a month and lived at the BYLAKUPPE Tibetan settlement. The boys cherished a strong sense of Tibetan identity and had a remarkable passion to seek their freedom and regain their LAND. Tashi Wangdu of Bylakuppe has stated that Tibetans would present glimpses of the TIBET experience to people across India. Tibetan identity, culture, religion, language, songs, and folk dances will be showcased at year-long ‘THANK YOU INDIA’ Thanksgiving functions and Tibetans are hosting a four day festival from March 26. H.H. Dalai Lama is hosting an Thanksgiving function at New Delhi on March 31.

Sonam Dorjee, a 70-year old Tibetan who crossed over to India with H.H. Dalai Lama in 1959 has recalled his undying spirit in the following words : “Vicissitudes of life not withstanding, we have been able to bond together spanning two generations owing to our determination to keep the hope for a free and independent Tibet alive and carry on the struggle for returning to the homeland one day or other”.

Tibetans firmly believe that they belong to an ancient race, have unique identity, language, and traditions and they wish to pass this identity to future generations whatever be the price.