1.The Secretary - Topgyal Tsering la, from the Department of Education, CTA has come to the Tibetan Children’s Village School Gopalpur on Wednesday 13, 2014 to bring awareness on UMAYLAM as a part of the year round program initiated by Kashak for paying tribute to our beloved leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama among the students and staff members.
Before he let us know about the Central Tibetan Administration’
s stance on UMAYLAM and its evolution, he gave us a brief account of Tibetan history before 1959.
-In 1949 The People’s Libration Army of China began invading Tibet from Kham province.
-In 1951, the Chinese government forced the Tibetan representatives to sign the “17 Point Agreement against the wishes of then Independent Tibetan government”.
-In 1950s, resistance movements took place in various parts of Tibet and in March 1959, the National Uprising broke out in Lhasa – the capital city of Tibet. Chinese brutally handled the peaceful uprising of Tibetans which led to fleeing of His Holiness into exile, followed by approximately 80,000 Tibetans.
-In 1970s the Middle Way Approach was evolved after much deliberation with then Kashag. Furthermore, Deng Xiaoping stated that, ‘Apart from independence, all issues can be discussed’. So, a new chapter and contact between Dharamsala and Beijing started and China accepted Four Fact Finding delegations to Tibet in August 1979, May 1980, June 1980 and June 1985.
-In 1987, His Holiness presented a ‘Five Point Peace Plan’ in His address at the US Congressional Human Rights Caucus, urging the Chinese to get started a negotiation based on the Middle Way Approach.
-In 1987, peaceful demonstration was brutally suppressed and imposed martial law in 1989.
-In 1988, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented the Strasbourg Proposal in the EU parliament which elaborated on the Five Point Peace Plan. Beijing has shown willingness to hold negotiation and asked His Holiness to choose the date and venue.
-In 1989, His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy for a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet. The Strasbourg Proposal became invalid due to lack of concern and positive response from the Chinese side.
-In 1994 Beijing adopted a hard line policy on Tibet. This change in Beijing stance led to referendum to be held in the Tibetan community for future course of dealing with China by His Holiness. But unanimous resolution passed by Tibetans stated that His Holiness should be the sole person to take decisions on Sino-Tibetan issue.
-On 10 March, 1998 His Holiness reiterated his commitment to the Middle Way Approach and thanked the people of Tibet for trusting and placing hope in His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
-In 2001, while addressing the European Parliament, urged for resumption of dialogue.
-Since 2002, a series of talks between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and representatives of Chinese government took place in different places and so far the 9th rounds of talk based on Middle Way Approach have been held.
-2008 onwards, there have been unprecedented and widespread protests against the Chinese government’s continued political repression, religious persecution, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization of Tibetans and environmental destruction.
-So far 130 self immolations have been taken place since 2009. There is no progress in the dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of His Holiness. Tibetan people’s commitment to the Middle Way Approach is unwavering despite Chinese repressive measures. This is because of growing support from the international community towards the UMAYLAM.
Before he let us know about the Central Tibetan Administration’
s stance on UMAYLAM and its evolution, he gave us a brief account of Tibetan history before 1959.
-In 1949 The People’s Libration Army of China began invading Tibet from Kham province.
-In 1951, the Chinese government forced the Tibetan representatives to sign the “17 Point Agreement against the wishes of then Independent Tibetan government”.
-In 1950s, resistance movements took place in various parts of Tibet and in March 1959, the National Uprising broke out in Lhasa – the capital city of Tibet. Chinese brutally handled the peaceful uprising of Tibetans which led to fleeing of His Holiness into exile, followed by approximately 80,000 Tibetans.
-In 1970s the Middle Way Approach was evolved after much deliberation with then Kashag. Furthermore, Deng Xiaoping stated that, ‘Apart from independence, all issues can be discussed’. So, a new chapter and contact between Dharamsala and Beijing started and China accepted Four Fact Finding delegations to Tibet in August 1979, May 1980, June 1980 and June 1985.
-In 1987, His Holiness presented a ‘Five Point Peace Plan’ in His address at the US Congressional Human Rights Caucus, urging the Chinese to get started a negotiation based on the Middle Way Approach.
-In 1987, peaceful demonstration was brutally suppressed and imposed martial law in 1989.
-In 1988, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented the Strasbourg Proposal in the EU parliament which elaborated on the Five Point Peace Plan. Beijing has shown willingness to hold negotiation and asked His Holiness to choose the date and venue.
-In 1989, His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy for a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet. The Strasbourg Proposal became invalid due to lack of concern and positive response from the Chinese side.
-In 1994 Beijing adopted a hard line policy on Tibet. This change in Beijing stance led to referendum to be held in the Tibetan community for future course of dealing with China by His Holiness. But unanimous resolution passed by Tibetans stated that His Holiness should be the sole person to take decisions on Sino-Tibetan issue.
-On 10 March, 1998 His Holiness reiterated his commitment to the Middle Way Approach and thanked the people of Tibet for trusting and placing hope in His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
-In 2001, while addressing the European Parliament, urged for resumption of dialogue.
-Since 2002, a series of talks between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and representatives of Chinese government took place in different places and so far the 9th rounds of talk based on Middle Way Approach have been held.
-2008 onwards, there have been unprecedented and widespread protests against the Chinese government’s continued political repression, religious persecution, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization of Tibetans and environmental destruction.
-So far 130 self immolations have been taken place since 2009. There is no progress in the dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of His Holiness. Tibetan people’s commitment to the Middle Way Approach is unwavering despite Chinese repressive measures. This is because of growing support from the international community towards the UMAYLAM.
