Dear Friends, Dear fellow Tibetans,

For too long the international community has underestimated the gravity and urgency of the plight of the Tibetan people. To a certain extent, today’s dramatic worsening of the situation inside Tibet is clearly a consequence of the negligence of this issue by the international community.

It is against this background that today thousands of free citizens of Europe are gathered here to make clear the message: It is time for Europe to stand in solidarity with the people of Tibet and to act on Tibet with resolve and determination!

Many Western governments prefer to engage China in what is called „quiet diplomacy“. In the West there has always been a school of thought that contends that „quiet diplomacy“ is the more effective way in dealing with China. The logical consequence of this has been to exercise restraints to avoid „the loss of face“ of the Chinese leadership. It is, therefore, high time to point out that this restraint to avoid „the loss of face“ of the Chinese leadership is resulting in the loss of lives of an increasing large number of Tibetans and the overall deterioration of the human rights situation in the PRC.

Let us, therefore, make clear today: If the international community wishes China to become a responsible stakeholder of the world community then it must stop pursuing a policy of appeasement and taking the line of the least resistance in dealing with the dictatorial regime in China: It is time to stop continuing to spoil the Chinese leaders out of political expediency and it is time to stand up for your principles and values. Do not to let the sensitivity of the Chinese leadership dictate how you deal with China on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Do not let the Chinese leadership discredit and corrupt your own principles and values through coercive diplomacy.

It is the inherent nature of all human beings to yearn for freedom, justice and dignity. Human rights, democracy and the rule of law have become today universal aspirations of people all over the world suffering from oppression and persecution. But unfortunately it is often those people who are deprived of their human rights who are the least able to speak up for themselves. This responsibility, therefore, rests with those of us who do enjoy such freedoms.

The world needs Europe to play a leading role in the defense, protection and promotion of human rights. At the core of Europe’s spirit is a fundamental belief in the inherent equality and dignity of all peoples and in the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Guided by this spirit Europe succeeded in defeating and eliminating tyranny and despotism on the continent of Europe.

It is, therefore, important that this spirit of Europe does not halt at the borders of Europe. The oppressed people around the world need Europe’s commitment and dedication to these values beyond the shores of Europe.

Let us, therefore, call on Europe:

Do not shirk responsibility of standing up against dictatorships of this new 21st century. It is time for Europe to stand up against Chinese bullying and to stand in solidarity with the Tibetan people who are dying for the cause of freedom. And it is time for Europe to stand in solidarity with Chinese defenders of human rights and advocates for democracy and the rule of law who are the vanguards of tomorrow’s China.

Europe is an important leading member of the international community. As such she can be as much a player as well a facilitator in the quest for a just and peaceful resolution of the issue of Tibet. The signals Europe send help to determine whether the parties involved move towards dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution or towards deepening confrontation marked by increasing repression and resistance.

Today’s gathering of thousands of free citizens of Europe for a common purpose and with common message on Tibet is a powerful display of people’s power and sends a very clear and strong message to the Chinese government as well as to the leaders of the European Union.

For us Tibetans this is also an occasion to express to our friends from all over Europe our sincere and deep appreciation and gratitude for your sympathy, support and solidarity. Our friends from all over the world and we Tibetans have experienced together many twists and turns in the epic freedom struggle of the Tibetan people. The past has been a challenging time testing our endurance and commitment and the strength of our solidarity and friendship.

In our time of need you have been at our side walking alongside on the long journey of the Tibetan people to freedom. On this arduous and long march we shared with each other the joy and elation of battles won together and shared the sadness, disappointment and pain of setbacks and defeats. Our common commitment to freedom in Tibet and our shared values of non-violence and peace, truth and justice have made us to brothers and sisters in spirit despite the difference in our ethnicity, culture, religion and language. No amount of money or power can buy such friendship, solidarity and commitment. This is the true strength of the Tibetan cause and the strength of a culture of non-violence and peace.

There is no doubt in my heart that change will come to Tibet. This change will come by the power of truth and by the strength and force of the resolve and aspirations of the Tibetan people and by the power of solidarity and support from people across the world committed to human solidarity and the values of non-violence, peace and justice. The time of the cause of freedom for Tibet will come and will prevail. It is a cause on the side of truth and justice and a cause on the right side of the history.

Thank you.

These photos from the day were taken by Han Vandenabeele.

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4.3.2013

European Solidarity Rally for Tibet – 10 March 2013

Tibetans and Supporters Commemorate 1959 Up-rising and call for concrete EU-Action

11 am – Start at Gare Nord; 1.30 pm Gathering at Le Mont des Arts

More than 27 Tibetan Community Associations, representing European citizens of Tibetan origin from across Europe, are organizing a mass solidarity rally in Brussels on 10 March 2013 to commemorate the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day of 1959.

Nearly 5,000 Tibetans from several European countries and friends of Tibet from different parts of Europe are expected to converge in Brussels on 10 March to express their solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet, highlight the tragic situation and the self-immolation crisis in Tibet and seek support of the European Union and its Member States for the non-violent freedom struggle of the Tibetan people.

On that day, a grand peace march will start from Gare du Nord at 11.30 a.m and will culminate at Le Mont des Arts in Brussels city centre where a mass rally will be held throughout the afternoon (1.30/2 pm). A wide range of guest speakers from the Central Tibetan Administration, the European Parliament and prominent personalities from Europe will address the rally. On 7 and 8 March, young Tibetan activists and friends of Tibet will engage in lobbying at the European Parliament to apprise them of the current situation inside Tibet and to call upon them to engage in practical steps to support the issue of Tibet.

Since 2009, 107 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet. The most recent were two young Tibetans Tsesung Kyab and Phagmo Dhondup who self-immolated on 24 and 25  February 2013. The messages these protesters have left behind are testaments to their motivations and aspirations of freedom for the Tibetan people and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Restive areas of Tibet are being kept under strict military control and journalists, tourists and other visitors are not allowed to visit Tibet. Criminal prosecutions are being carried out to target the families and friends of those self-immolating.  It is evident that Beijing is attempting to contain this new force of resistance through ever more draconian measures.

The spate of self-immolations in Tibet is one of the most drastic forms of political protests the world has witnessed in the past 60 years. We still continue to see no end to it. In response, Chinese government continues to blame His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the outside forces for these acts of self immolations, and continues to impose hard line policies of repressions on the Tibetan people which further fuel dissent and cause such drastic acts of protests by the Tibetans. The self-immolations expose a crisis in the Beijing leadership’s Tibet policy and there is an urgent need for a fundamental change in its approach vis-a vis Tibet.

The European Parliament has adopted an impressive number of resolutions on Tibet and the EU’s High Representative, Lady Ashton, has also issued statements expressing deep concern about the violations of human rights in Tibet and displaying support and solidarity with the people of Tibet.  We greatly value the support and are deeply grateful for the expression of concern, support and solidarity by the European Union. However, what has been lacking so far are sustained and coordinated efforts with a clear political strategy and agenda.  The EU-China Human Rights dialogue has failed to produce any tangible results in the past 17 years since the start of this dialogue in 1995.  During this period the human rights situation in China in general and particularly in Tibet has worsened significantly.

We, therefore, appeal to the European Union and its Member States to:

-       Urge China to review its failed hardline policies in Tibet and address the genuine grievances of the Tibetan people by resolving the issue of Tibet through dialogue.

-       Urge China to allow unfettered access to Tibet for the media, the United Nations and International fact-finding delegations to investigate and report on the real causes behind the self-immolations;

-       To instruct EU Special Representative for Human Rights to seek access to Tibet and to undertake a fact-finding mission to Tibetan areas on a priority basis;

-       To appoint an EU Special Coordinator for Tibetan Affairs with the primary task of encouraging and facilitating a dialogue between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government with the aim of finding a mutually acceptable peaceful resolution of the issue of Tibet;

The organizing Committee for the 10^th March European Solidarity Rally

Points of Contact:

- Vincent Metten, International Campaign for Tibet, EU Policy Director (media coordinator), Contact Cell Phone  +32 (0) 473990440, Office  +32 26094412

- Mr. Tashi , Media contact ( Tibetan), Contact No. +31 684 933832

- Mr. Lobsang Gangshontsang, Media contact ( English), Contact No. +41794423405

- Mr. Thupten Gyatso, Media Contact (French), Contact No. + 33680729054

In 1957 as per the wish of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rinpoche came to Lhasa and received teaching at Drepung Loseling monastery. The Central Government of Tibet, thereupon, conferred on him an honorary title, equal in prestige to the Tulku Namsum (Three Principal Tulkus).

Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Rinpoche followed H.H. the Dalai Lama into exile to India in 1959. From 1960 onwards, Rinpoche pursued higher studies in Buddhist religion and philosophy at Buxar and later at Dalhousie, both in India and received the higher vows of Buddhist monkhood from H.H the Dalai Lama in 1962.

In 1965, through popular selection conducted by the Tibetan government, Rinpoche joined a Teacher’s Training program and thereafter sought higher training in Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies at Varanasi for nine years and was duly awarded the degree of Shastri and Acharya.

For a decade since 1978, Rinpoche worked as a Research Scholar at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala. In 1984, as a Representative of the Tibetan Government in exile, Rinpoche visited Tibet and China, where he met many Chinese dignitaries and high Tibetan Lamas including the Panchen Lama.

In 1986, undergoing a strict traditional examination and debating at the three great monasteries of Sera, Drepung and Gaden in South India, Rinpoche was honored with the highest degree of Geshe Lharampa, equivalent to PhD.

From 1987 onwards Rinpoche served in various important offices of Tibetan Government in exile such as the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Political Committee, constitution Re-drafting Committee and also of member of Public Service Commission at the appointment of H.H. the Dalai Lama.

In 1992, Rinpoche reestablished the Kirti Jepa Dratsang (Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies) at Dharamsala.

Rinpoche issued thirteen point statement of advice for the Kirti Monastery in Tibet in 1993, as a result of which many monasteries in Tibet turned vegetarian.

In 1997, Rinpoche was elected to the office of Kashag. He took the oath of office of Kalon of Department of Religion and Culture of Central Tibetan Administration. In 2001 Rinpoche wrote a book titled druk cu rgan po’i re’dun as an advice for the Kirti Monastery in Tibet and brought reforms in monastic education system and regulations.

Rinpoche went into retreat for three years in 2005 at Bodhgaya, and later in 2008 he changed the Kirti ladrang to Kirti Getsa Tsokpa (Kirti Charitable Society). Rinpoche also issued a thirty two point statement of advice for his followers in Tibet in 2009.

Presently, Rinpoche is the Head of Kirti Charitable Society.

40 Monasteries under the Religious Administration of His Eminence Kirti Rinpoche

1. Kirti Kalari Gon Tashi Lhundrub in Ngaba, Sichuan is the mother monastery, which was founded over 600 years ago by the first Kirti Rinpoche Gedun Gyaltsen in 1412. At present there are over 170 monks in the monastery.

2) Taksang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Zorge county, Sichuan province, was founded by the fifth Kirti Rinpoche Drupwang Tenphe Gyaltsen in 1748, and since then became the main religious and political seat of Kirti reincarnations. One of the four Kirti debate school, the monastery presently has over 700 monks.

3) Hortsang Kirti Monastery in Sangchu county, Gansu province, was founded by the seventh Kirti Rinpoche Thupten Nyima in 1822. At present, the monastery has over 170 monks.  It is also one of the four Kirti debate schools.

4) Ngaba Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, Sichuan province, was founded by the eighth Kirti Rinpoche Lobsang Thinley Tsang in 1870. The monastery houses over 2800 monks, largest in whole Tibetan areas. It is also one of the four Kirti debate schools.

5) Tsodhun Kirti Monastery in Barkham, Sichuan province, was presented to Kirti Lobsang Thinley Tsang by Taro Jamyang in 1868. At present, it has over 350 monks and is also one of the four Kirti debate schools.

6) Kirti Jepa Monastery in Dharamsala, India, has over 180 monks.

7) Kirti Monastery in Darjeeling, India, has over 30 monks.

Others:

Given the critical human rights situation inside Tibet, it is our goal to see a huge pan-European Rally where our supporters from across the continent join us to urge the European Union to make Tibet the top priority in their bilateral relations with China and help to resolve the Tibetan issue peacefully.

We are also pleased to announce that prior to the Solidarity Rally, Tibet Lobby Days will be organized from 6-8 March, 2013. The details of the participation and the program will be available soon.

Please save the date and we look forward to seeing you all at the heart of the European Union to show our solidarity with our Tibetan people.

Chungdak Koren