PRAISE INDEED: The Tibetan spiritual head said that, despite obstacles, he was keen to visit Taiwan again and lauded the nation’s development and democracy
By Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTER
From politics to the Olympics, human rights to life during half-a-century of exile, the Dalai Lama shared his views on a variety of topics during an interview with the Taipei Times at his residence in Dharamsala, India, on the morning of June 6.
Without much formality and after only a brief greeting, the Dalai Lama began the conversation by praising Taiwan’s democratic achievements.
“The second transfer of power has just taken place in Taiwan … I think this shows that Taiwan is a true democracy,” he said in Tibetan. “Many people say that democracy is not suitable for Asian countries — but Taiwan’s case just proved otherwise.”
The Dalai Lama also expressed his admiration for Taiwan’s cultural diversity.
“It’s a good thing that Taiwan has been able to preserve elements of Chinese culture that has been passed down for thousands of years — most of them have already been lost in China,” he said.
“In addition to that, Taiwan has achieved outstanding economic development, pursued modern culture and democracy — it has really set a example for many in the world to follow,” the Dalai Lama said.
Recalling his two visits to Taiwan, first in 1997 and then in 2001, the Dalai Lama, switching to English, said: “I’ve got happy memories from my first visit to Taiwan. Taiwanese people — the public in general and Taiwanese Buddhists — all expressed warm feelings to me.”
“I remember one occasion when I was in Kaohsiung giving some teachings and talks, and it started to rain suddenly,” he said, “but people remained there in the rain.”
This enthusiasm was impressive, the Tibetan spiritual leader said.
“So since then, I was determined that every two years I want to go to Taiwan,” he said.
Unfortunately, political pressure from China has blocked him from fulfilling his wish.
“In 2002, we developed direct contacts with the Chinese government, hoping that there would be some concrete understandings [between China and Tibet],” he said. “They are very, very against my visiting Taiwan.”
Although the Dalai Lama assured China that any trip to Taiwan would only be concerned with Buddhism and the promotion of human values and harmony, Beijing still objects, he said.
“I told them that they can send an official with me when I’m in Taiwan, so they can check whom I meet with, what I talk about or whether there’s a secret conspiracy,” he said, but the suggestion has yet to be accepted.
“The Chinese government in Beijing is very concerned about my visiting Taiwan. So after two visits, I cannot go there [anymore], and I would like to apologize to you,” he said while bowing his head. “But Taiwanese brothers and sisters — I never forget [about you], and I’m waiting for another opportunity to go there.”
He also expressed gratitude to all the Taiwanese who offered their support and help to Tibetan communities after unrest in March following gatherings in Tibet to commemorate the March 10, 1959, uprising against Chinese rule.
Demonstrations were answered by a violent crackdown by Chinese authorities which in turn, triggered more demonstrations and protests by Tibetans in Tibetan communities inside and outside Tibet as well as pro-Tibetan sympathizers.
“I always consider our supporters not pro-Tibet or anti-Chinese, rather, they’re pro-justice,” he said.
It’s unfortunate that many Chinese people have the impression that he is anti-China, he said.
“Since the [March] crisis, I’ve visited America and Europe, and wherever I go, there would be demonstrations [against me] from local Chinese communities,” he said.
However, he said that deep in his heart, he not only has respect for Chinese people and culture, he also considers the Chinese older brothers in terms of following the teachings of the Buddha.
“Whenever I give teaching to Chinese Buddhists, I always at the beginning [give] my salutation to Chinese Buddhists, because, historically, [they] are the elder and senior students of the Buddha while we’re the younger and junior students,” he said. “So, it’s our tradition and moral responsibility to elder students.”
He also showed his wit.
“As far as Buddhist knowledge is concerned, junior students sometimes may be a little better,” he said, laughing.
He went on to reaffirm his support for the Beijing Olympics.
He said that even before Beijing was selected as the Olympic host city, “I said that the People’s Republic of China — as the most populous and an ancient country — they deserve to host the Olympics.”
“After the 10 March [incident] my [opinion] has not changed,” he said.
However, the Tibetan leader is critical of China’s manipulation of the media and its human rights violations.
“The Beijing government says [the] crisis in Tibet [came] from here — it’s the Dalai Lama’s creation, and made me a big troublemaker,” he said. “We welcome any Chinese official to come to Dharamsala to investigate all our records, the files in our [exiled government] departments and my personal talks with Tibetans, which are all recorded. So let them check whether I was behind the crisis or not.”
The Dalai Lama went on to say that on one occasion, when a reporter from Xinhua news agency asked him about China’s accusation that he was behind the Lhasa incidents and opposed to the Olympics: “I [gave] my explanation, but told the reporter ‘I don’t know if you can really print it [in] your newspaper or not.’”
“This is the problem,” he said, “the Chinese media — all under some sort of influence from the government — can only print things that suit [the government’s] policies and cannot publish things that don’t suit their policies.”
The Dalai Lama said he was not personally upset when the Chinese government called him a demon and a wolf in a monk’s robes, but it made him feel sad because “the denouncement from the news media, from the government; the millions of innocent Chinese people in Mainland China — who have no other source of information, [but] the government propaganda — see the Dalai Lama as a mogui [demon].”
What’s even worse is that Tibetans in Tibet are being forced to denounce him, he said.
“They call me a wolf in a monk’s robe — if they feel happy with that kind of denouncement, it’s okay, no problem,” he said.
“But forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama and putting those who refuse to do so in prison — it’s violation of human rights and of freedom of religion, that’s really bad,” he said.
Asked if Tibetans in exile are happy after living outside of their homeland for almost half a century, the Dalai Lama gave a positive answer.
“I think Tibetan people outside Tibet are generally quite happy, he said.
He talked about better educational opportunities for exiles, adding that freedom was the main reason behind their happiness.
However, “emotionally, we’re concerned about our own land, when [a] crisis happens there, people get very emotional,” he said.
As for himself, the Dalai Lama said he always tells people that he has been “homeless” for half a century.
“But the homeless one has found many new homes around the world,” he said, with a big smile on his face.
“If I’d remained in the Potala, I don’t think I [would] have had the opportunity to meet so many people — especially Taiwanese people like [former presidents] Lee Tung-hui [李登輝] and Chen Shui-bian [陳水扁], [US] President [George W. Bush] and his father, the Pope and many scientists and economists.”
The Dalai Lama said that, while it is a misfortune to live in exile, he always thinks positively and appreciates the opportunities that came to him because of his “homelessness”.
“In thinking this way, I’ve got my peace of mind,” he said.
