Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 23: Eight Tibetan non-governmental organisations held a press conference on Monday, strongly condemning the defamation and death threats directed at His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the revered exiled spiritual leader. The coalition of NGOs denounced the actions and views of an individual identified as Senge, known online as Gangser, a Tibetan resident of Adelaide, Australia
In a video, Senge is seen inciting the assassination of the Dalai Lama and the sabotage of the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration. The video surfaced on micro-messaging apps, sparking discussions during the recently concluded 2024 parliamentary session.
The NGOs labeled his actions as “terrorist behaviour,” asserting that they threaten Tibetan unity. The statement emphasised that Senge not only issued life-threatening remarks against the octogenarian spiritual leader with the intent to undermine the Tibetan government in exile but also incited others to defame His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Additionally, he portrayed the exile government as an enemy through his actions and inflammatory rhetoric.
The NGOs called on the Central Tibetan Administration to pursue legal action and ensure the matter is addressed according to the host country’s laws. They pledged full support for any campaigns or legal measures undertaken. They also committed to providing the Indian government and relevant local authorities with information on the audio and visual materials Senge has circulated publicly, as well as details of his background. The group said that they will appeal to prevent his entry into India, citing concerns for the safety and security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Dawa Tsering, President of the U-Tsang Cholkha Central Executive Committee, told reporters, “We are committed to providing both financial and human resource support. As discussed in parliament and stated by the Security Minister, this act is illegal and will face prosecution. We will not leave this responsibility solely to the Central Tibetan Administration. All members of the eight organisations will contribute as much as possible to ensure legal action is taken.”
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), a global network of activists headquartered in New York, also issued a statement on September 20, condemning the video as a “promotion of political violence and hate speech”. The statement reiterated that both non-violence and rangzen (freedom) are core tenets of SFT’s mission. “We will continue to teach and train young people and activists around the world to use strategic nonviolence as the most effective path to achieve freedom in Tibet,” the statement affirmed.
