Chinese Intellectuals’ Message on the 25th anniversary of Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1989.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama on December 10, 2014, several Chinese writers, lawyers, scholars and political activists have sent messages highlighting his contribution. These have been published on Chinese news websites, including in Boxun. ICT has translated four of them into English. One is posted below, while the other can be read on our website.
From Yan Jiaqi, former political advisor to Premier Zhao Ziyang:
The Dalai Lama has great love in his heart, with three aspects: one is his selflessness, with over half a century of endlessly striving for Tibetan rights, Sino-Tibetan unity, and peace in China and the world. The second is his compassionate spirit, comprised of the fair and broad-minded way he treats people equally. The third is his spirit of non-violence.
The Dalai Lama’s influence over the Tibetan cultural sphere and the entire world isn’t limited to Tibetan religious faith, but is also related to his personal noble character.
Exile was an option of last resort for the Dalai Lama, but despite this predicament His Holiness has always been able to play his role as Tibet’s spiritual leader, and fifty-five years into his exile he has made three great contributions for Tibetans and all mankind:
First, spreading Tibetan Buddhism across the world.
Second, the Dalai Lama is the defender of Tibetan rights, proposing the Middle Way Approach, the core of which is defending Tibetan rights and maintaining Sino-Tibetan unity. Over 55 years in exile he has pushed Tibetan cultural circles in India and Europe towards the path of democratization and modernity.
Third, the Dalai Lama is an advocate of interfaith dialogue and solidarity, and a defender of world peace.
Central Tibetan Administration releases “Silver Jubilee” message commemorating the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay of the CTA
The Kashag statement reads in part:
Over the past twenty-five years, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has unwaveringly continued to confirm and strengthen the ideals of the Nobel Peace Prize. His Holiness, who regards himself a simple Buddhist monk, continues to prove himself to be a shining beacon of peace, non-violence and compassion to millions of people across the world. Through the decades, His Holiness has relentlessly endeavored to achieve his three commitments: promotion of basic human values, inter-religious harmony, and preservation of Tibet’s peaceful and non-violent Buddhist culture.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has travelled the five continents, meeting presidents, prime ministers, religious heads, kings, scientists, academics, youths, ordinary citizens, the poor and the underprivileged. He has been lauded with 151 major awards and honors. Even fellow Nobel Peace Laureates refer to him as a “Super Laureate”.
For the rest, please see the CTA website.
EU raises human rights abuses in Tibet during EU-China dialogue
Following calls by ICT and others to raise the “counter-terrorism” campaign in Tibet as well as the increased use of force by police and violations of freedom of religion during the December 8-9 dialogue, an EU statement confirmed that the Tibet issue was indeed raised. One day after the dialogue, on the occasion of the International Human rights Day and to mark the 25th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama in 1989, the Tibetan Community in Belgium held a demonstration in front of the European Parliament.
Rinchen Khandro Choegyal profiled for “Women Struggling for Human Rights”
Tibetan women demonstrate outside the Potala Palace, 1959 (AP image)
Tireless Tibetan activist, politician, and leader Rinchen Khandro Choegyal is described as leading a life dedicated to teaching Tibetan values in this series, presented by RFA. Please see their site for the full story:
Nurturing Tibetan culture and Buddhist values and teachings in her life, Rinchen Khandro has become over the years one of the most gracious yet forceful representatives of Tibet in exile, always insisting that exile is temporary and that Tibetans—wherever they live—are a community in which women have a role to play.