CHINA: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

• China is presently the world’s most populous country with 1,336,280,000 people.
  
• China is world’s 2nd largest by land area.
  
• China has largest border with 22,117 km covering 14 nations (more than any other countries except Russia).
  
• China’s People's Liberation Army with the strength of 2.3 million active troops is the world’s largest Military.
  
• China recently became the world's largest exporter ($130.7bn). China will overtake Japan as the second largest economy in the world by 2010.
  
• China is the largest holder of U.S Treasury with 894.8 billions (dec 2009).
  
• China is one of the permanent Security Council members of the United Nations.
  
• China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with multi cultural diversity.
  
• Communist Party of China with 75,931,000 members, which is considered the world's largest political party.
  
• China has an estimated 926,000 researchers, second only to the 1.3 million in the United States.
  
• China currently has the most cell phone users in the world with over 700 million users in July 2009.
  

But on the other hand:

• Mao Tsetung, the great helmsman of China is on the top of world largest genocide in the human history with 49-78 million.
  
• China, the "factory of the world", is the most polluted country in the world.
  
• China has 20 of the world's 30 most polluted cities
  
• China is one of the top corrupted nations in the world.
  
• China is one of the worst human rights violators in the world.
  
• China's wealthiest 10 percent families make up 45 percent of the total wealth of urban residents whereas 10 percent the families with the lowest income account for only 1.4 percent of the total income of the families in the whole country.
  
• China’s average per capita national income is $3,000 in 2008 despite being the world third largest economy.
  
• China has as many as 10 million active prostitutes at any given time who contribute as much as five percent to the country’s annual GDP as most of the earned income.
  
• China has about 700,000 HIV positive, but less than 50,000 receive antiretroviral treatment.
  

SOME QUOTES OF FREEDOM

Today, on March 10, Tibetans and Tibetan supporters all over the world commemorate the 51st Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day with various campaigns and activities. Kashag stated that Tibetans are enduring hardships and the Tibetan spirituality, polity and race have suffered irreparable demages. Inside Tibet, many Tibetans, young and old, men and women, monks and nuns, educated and uneducated, rich and poor sacrificed their life for the cause of freedom. Many still are languishing in prisons bearing all inhuman treatments, torture and suffering. On this occasion, we pay tribute to all the martyrs who laid down their life for the Six million Tibetans. In the future too, there is no doubt that many Tibetans will give their bloods and soul for the cause of Tibet until freedom shines over Tibet.

CHINA: POWER WITH A BARREL OF GUN

"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"- Mao Tsetung

Early this year, 5th Tibet Work forum was concluded in Beijing with the aim of controlling Tibet rigorously by supressing people's freedom in the name of stability. In doing so, injecting economic developments to the Tibetan areas are considered a panacea to integrate Tibet into Middle Kingdom without giving any considerations to the aspirations of Tibetan people.

Hu Jintao, the premier of People's Republic of China (PRC) who was once a party secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), is carrying a huge banner of Harmonious society since he became the supreme leader of PRC. It is by now considered as the great legacy of Hu Jintao of advancing China's soft power into the global politics. However, his policy on Tibet became rhetoric with an implementation of annihilating the Tibetan identity and races. Two decades ago, he took a similar steps of crushing the Tibetans by launching Martial Law in Tibet when the Tibetan protested in Lhasa. The recent strike hard policy on Tibet with the detention of more than 400 Tibetans in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, prior to Tibetan National Uprising Day anniversary is an indication that China's attitude towards Tibet is worsening.

Economic Development: Not a solution

Since the time of Mao Tsetung, China claims to spent millions of Yuan for the development of Tibet. After the economic liberalization of PRC in 1979, during Deng Xiaoping's era, China pumped millions of yuans in Tibet based on the decisions made upon the consecutive Tibet Work Forums. But Hu Yoabang, General Secretary of CCP, during his maiden visit to Tibet in 1980's proclaimed that the Central government's money allocated in Tibet were literally thrown into Lhasa Kyichu. That clearly indicates the party cadres in Tibet were corrupted and had not utilize the money efficiently. Late Panchen Lama also criticized the Central government of digging Tibet's resource more than what they sanctioned for Tibet. To the outside world, China projected Tibet as a tourist destination and tourism is considered a pillar of development inside Tibet. But the projects which the Chinese government carried out in Tibet were of heavy projects which insufficiently helped Tibetans to sustain their livelihood, Many of projects are heavy projects such like railway, roadways, hydral power, airports and industries have minimal role to play in protecting Tibet's unique culture and heritage. Rather, it is purposefully aimed to control Tibet into their iron grip thus by encouraging heavy influx of Chinese migrants into Tibet.

From Mao to Hu Jintao, the economic transformation and integration is regarded as the forefront policies to integrate Tibet. But, material development alone can not solve the problems. It is interesting to see that whenever the Chinese leaders talk about their policy in Tibet, first thing they utter is stability, then the economic development comes later. Economic development without a considerable freedom certainly will not be effective. Over the years, history proves that Tibetans are not happy with the government's economic policy which is focus not on uplifting the status of Tibetans but rather focused on mitigating the Tibetan identity and culture. Masterminding Han superiority is the ultimate agenda of the CCP inside Tibet.

Stability: Importance of People's engagement

China feels that Tibetan will bend its knee to the social contract scheme of introducing economic prosperity by forsaking culture. But, assuming such thing makes a blunder as Tibetan cultures are deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of all Tibetans. How can a sixty years old corrupted policy tends to change thousand years old rich cultures. Is stability an ultimate goal of Mighty China, It is simply not, but it is the ultimate goal of Chinese Communist party (CCP) who is ruling China for the past six decades. Fear of unstability inside China is the biggest worry of Chinese leaders who felt the coming collapse of CCP. So by any means, CCP tries to maintain stablity by introducing various means which largely include voilent means and approaches. Such is the case that China is ruled by the leaders and not by the laws. Stabilty is primarily an initiative of people who engaged with the social contracts. But such stability shouldn't be forced upon public without any desirable engagment from the public. For example, Fulong Gong practioners were mercilessly tortured, Christian churches are going undergrounds and Tibetan buddhism is on the verge of complete distruction in the name of stability. It is not China but CCP who fears of instability. Therefore, without peoples engagment, stability can not enforce and sustain. If CCP succeeded to supress the people by the virtue of having a power with the barrel of gun, it will not sustain for the long run. Sooner or later, CCP will collapse if continues to envisage their dream of stability without people's role.

In Tibet also, the promotion of stability thus need to attach with the promotion of Tibetan cultures and identity. Any such policies of exterminating Tibetan cutures will not help stabilize Tibet. China's current policy on Tibet is certainly a nemesis in retaining their soverienty over Tibet.

BLESSED ARE WE

Blessed are we, the sons of great ranges

and the wish fulfilling turquoise lakes,

spread across the distant horizon of snow clapped mountains

descend into a realms of south asian prairie.

Blessed are we, the sons of great kings

and the sages of great wisdoms and intellects,

who stretched and conquered to the furthest of its reach

accumulated prodigious knowledge adhere to Buddhism.

Blessed are we, the sons of Chenrezi, lord of compassion

and the boddhisatvas of all manifestations,

giving birth to MevuDhondrug1, an ancestral blood of Tibetan

strived to protect Tibet for centuries and hereafter.

Blessed are we, the sons of Cholkasum2

and the warriors of fearless and undying spirit,

blossomed with tranquility and peace

endeavor to safeguard the territory from intrusive evil forces.

Blessed are we, the sons of Yeshi Norbu3

and the chosen one with much affinity and care,

remain faithful to the sacred words of non violence

awaken to rise up for the freedom of Tibet.

Blessed are we, the sons of all countrymen

languishing in cells with the echoes of cries, bloods and tears

call upon justice and freedom to our fatherland

Shall break the chains of tyranny once and for all.

Blessed are we, the sons of new generation

Tibet, our country, so dear to our hearts,

Shall pledge to crumple the challenges we face

till the sun of freedom shines all over Tibet.

Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up!

1. Six original ancestors of the Tibetan people: the six tribes called Se, Mu, Dong, Tong, Dru, and Ra

2. Three provinces of Tibet (U-Tsang, Dotoe and Domey)

3. Wish Fulfilling Gem (Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama)

KALON TRIPA ELECTION: CRUCIAL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY

Ever since the Tibetan Government in Exile was established in India, the initial twin objectives of rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and restoring freedom in Tibet were put into actions. Different administrative departments were formed to look after welfare of the people. As of now, more than 52 major and minor settlements were established along with 77 different schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Under the restoration of freedom in Tibet, the Commission of Tibetan People's Deputies (Tibetan Parliament in Exile) was instituted and hence after the Tibetan Government in Exile became a democratic institution in 1960. Many democratic reforms were subsequently introduced and the most significant one was the direct election of Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister), which is of great importance to the survival of Tibetan issues.

This year, with the near completion of 50 years in exile and of freedom struggle, diasporic Tibetans are eagerly waiting for the next crucial moment of Tibetan history, which is the Election of Kalon Tripa in 2011. With just a year left, it already became a talk of the street in all the Tibetan settlements where people show an overwhelming and serious interest, which is a good sign of nurturing a healthy democracy. Kalon Tripa election is the highest-level election where people directly elect their political leader, which is supposedly rare in the present world political scenario. In a case like India, the world largest democracy, both the President and the Prime Minister are traditionally non-elected political leaders. Even in the United States, the primary presidential candidates were chosen by their respective parties and not by public. But, in our case, by the highest virtue of democracy, Tibetans in all over the world except in Tibet can franchise their vote for Kalon Tripa. This is the ultimate strength of democracy even though Tibetan government in exile is a Stateless government. But, if the Tibetan people still abstain from this election similar to 2001 and 2006 election, then, it indicates a different stories representing sick and failing democracy.


Kashag as the apex administrative body in the Tibetan Government runs under the stewardship of Kalon Tripa, it is essentially pivotal to have a efficient and charismatic leader who is dedicated, educated, decisive, and above all, a courage to carry on Tibetan freedom movement et al. Indeed, it is hard to find a quality leader from our mere one hundred and fifty thousand Tibetans settling around the globe. On top of that, with the eligibility age of 35, the number goes down even less. But, this is a test of our democracy as well as a test of our struggle for the past five decades. Since the world communities recognize Tibetan refugees as the most successful refugees in the world, which set an exemplary to the other refugee communities. Five decades of various democratic reforms with the smooth transition of political leadership to the people has been hailed all over the world.


A democratic reform: transitory to maturity
After the post colonization era, many nations adopted democracy as a result of sheer hardships and struggle. It is deemed essential for the progress of nation as it guarantees value of individual thoughts and freedom. In exile, we are blessed with democracy, generously granted by our benevolent leader. Soon after the inception of Tibetan Government in Exile, the constitution was drafted. In 1990, His Holiness the Dalai Lama relegated the then Tibetan parliament members and Cabinet ministers nominated by him. He withheld his political power and ultimately gave a right to the people to choose their parliament members.

On several occasions, His Holiness recommended earlier a need of an appropriate leader who can take a decisive authorities on political matters, but the matter was not taken seriously as majority of the Tibetans does not want to relinquish the command of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. But in 2000, with an immediate recommendation of His Holiness, Parliament in exile amended a charter and had enacted a law to provide direct election of Kalon Tripa. In 2001, the first directly elected Kalon Tripa- Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche took the oath of office on 5 September 2001 after an overwhelming and impressive win. Again in 2006, he was reelected to the post of Kalon Tripa. Since the exile charter commissioned only two terms for an individual to be Kalon Tripa, the incumbent kalon Tripa will relegate the post to his successor who will be elected later in 2011. But one has to understand that although Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche won the election twice in two consecutive terms, the participation of the people engaged in election was just a mere 30 percent of the total registered voters. It shows that the people were otherwise less involved with the whole process. This is a sad case of immature democracy or else walking on an initial transitory stage of democratic practices. In that case, few questions arise on the role of the people and the readiness of accepting a new system. Where were the majority of the people who were absent from the election? Are people politically cautious about the importance of the Kalon Tripa election?

First two elections: A call for awakening public cautious

For a decade, for two terms as a Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche was an obvious choice of the public with consideration to his educational background, long-term experiences and a thorough historical knowledge on Tibet. Within his tenure as a Kalon Tripa, so many drastic changes and developments took places on the financial system, political engagement and the sustainability of Tibetan settlements. During Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche's dual term of Kalon Tripa, many initiatives were taken, such like formulating education policy, privatization of commercial enterprises, organic farming and dialogue process with China. When Rinpoche initially joined the office in 2001, the Tibetan Government in exile laid three principles of administration based on truth, non-violence and genuine democracy. It was typically a Buddhist dogma, which if followed to an extreme may seems irrational and not pragmatic to this twentieth first century world politics.

Rinpoche carried some of the reforms within the system based on those principles and most of them except for the privatization of government owned business sectors failed. People still has many opinions on its success. Privatization of government business sectors in the early stage yielded a surplus budget due to the sale of the sectors but it clear off the possible source of income for the government in the future, just like killing a hen, rather than having eggs. With the closure of business sectors, the objectivity of self-reliant system broke into crunch and hence has to rely on voluntary contribution of the Tibetans and the foreign donors, along with the contribution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rather than privatization of the business sectors, if the government looked at the other alternatives of enhancing entrepreneurship, it could help as another source of running the government in the future.

The political engagement with the Chinese was restarted during Rinpoche’s tenure after a decade long gap of silence. But one may also call it a deliberate action from the Chinese side submissive to the European Parliament’s resolution on Tibet in 2000 with three years contract on China. It can be a coincidence. Rinpoche, in order to start the dialogue, instituted a task force to work on the negotiation tactics and procedures and met more than a dozen times. In the early talks, it was considered a confidence building measures. But recently after concluding the ninth round of talk, the matter still remains unresolved without any major developments except for presenting a Memorandum, which was excessively challenged by the Chinese government in 2008. In a brief, China played tricks right from the start and continues to play even now. In 2008, Olympic game and the Tibetan mass movement were the prime reasons behind the talk so that China can show cast the Olympic game in a smooth manner, without much embarrassment. In 2010, Obama’s meeting with Hu Jintao might be a factor behind the recent Sino-Tibet talk.

The best thing happened over the past decade of Rinpoche’s tenure help educated people to concentrate more on politico-social affairs. With ups and downs, along with the implementation of various policies helped create public opinion, which is one of the intrinsic parts of democratic system. With more public cautiousness on politico-socio affairs, I feel that Tibetans will participate in Kalon Tripa election with more seriousness.

Why is next Kalon Tripa important?
It is good to see general populace concerned about the next Kalon Tripa. Many group discussions and talks were held, videos were made to view the public opinions, articles and notes with jotted with thick lines, talk shows were aired on radio services, and a website was created to make people aware about this coming election. So many things are happening just for Kalon Tripa election. Do we know why everybody talks about it and why Kalon Tripa election is so important?

As the plight of the Tibetan peoples freedom movement draws a renewal attention throughout world communities, Tibetan government in exile is in need of a top executive who can stand with China to put Tibet issue on table. As a stateless governmental system, we have so many problems which need to resolve at an earnest, such like sustainability of Tibetan Settlements, Education system, unemployment, migration, health care and above all our freedom struggle. Since the Tibetan government in Exile is the sole representation of the Tibetan people in exile and in Tibet, utmost importance should be given to the freedom struggle. But, the persistence threat of voluntary marginalization of Tibetan identity and cultures due to the migration is a serious cause of concerns. In exile, most of the settlements are presently guarded by old aged people, with young ones settling in distant abroad. Some of our established schools in the settlements are near to close with the lack of pupils, graduates are scattering around Indian metros with the lack of employment opportunities in our community. Even on the health wise, HIV Aids is silently killing our community, which is unknowingly spreading wide across our community. These are some of the issues, which the Kalon Tripa needs to formulate policies.

What should we do?
We still have one year to elect our Kalon Tripa. So, first thing we need to do is to register yourself so that you will become eligible as a voter. If you are not a registered voter, even though, you are above 18 years old, your right of vote will be terminated. If we need a leader who can lead us, we all have a right and duty to vote. Once you miss the election, you lose the power to judge your government because he or she does not represent you.

Here are the options to go for the election
1) College students:
a) Write to the Tibetan Election Commissioner for opening a polling booth in your college of localities. (Considering the logistic and financial constraints)
b) If it is not possible, go to the nearest polling booth close to your localities and regions.
c) Engage in discussions, debate and choose the most eligible one (regardless of region and sectoral basis)

2) People in Scattered Areas: (including monks and nuns)
a) Write to the Tibetan Election Commissioner that you are located in such region, which is distant from Tibetan settlements and ask to designate a local election commissioner in your area. (Considering the logistic and financial constraints)
b) If it is not possible, go to the nearest polling booth close to your localities and regions.
c) Engage in discussions, debate and choose the most eligible one (regardless of region and sectoral basis)

3) Rest of the World (other than India, Nepal and Bhutan)
a) Write to the Tibetan Election Commissioner that you are located in such region, which is distant from Office of Tibet or the Tibetan Community Organization and ask to designate a local election commissioner in your area. (Considering the logistic and financial constraints)
b) If it is not possible, go to the nearest polling booth close to your localities and regions.
c) Write to the respective Office of Tibet about the election procedures.
d) Engage in discussions, debate and choose the most eligible one (regardless of region and sectoral basis)