Special Frontier Force pays tribute to Jimmy Carter on President’s Day 2024Whole Dude – Whole Thanks: Special Frontier Force – Establishment 22. This Shoulder Badge represents a military alliance/pact between India, Tibet and the United States of America.
Special Frontier Force Celebrates President Jimmy Carter’s Birthday
Special Frontier Force celebrates President Jimmy Carter’s Birthday.
On Monday, February 19, 2024 President’s Day, Special Frontier Force celebrates 39th US President’s birthday which falls on October 01. President Jimmy Carter, in 1977, lifted Visa and Travel Restrictions imposed upon His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama by 37th and 38th US Presidents.
Special Frontier Force Celebrates President Jimmy Carter’s Birthday.
Special Frontier Force celebrates President Jimmy Carter’s birthday.
October 01, 1924
On this day in 1924, future President James Earl Carter is born in Plains, Georgia. Carter, who preferred to be called “Jimmy,” was the son of a peanut farmer and was the first president to be born in a hospital. Carter was raised a devoted Southern Baptist and graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1946. He married Rosalynn Smith later that year.
After graduation, Carter served in the Navy’s new nuclear submarine program and was looking forward to a career in the Navy when his father passed away in 1953. The Carters dutifully returned to Georgia and took over the family farm. Back in Plains, Carter became involved in local politics, serving first on the school board and working his way up to a seat on the George State Planning Commission. In 1962, he was elected to the George Senate and, nine years later, he became governor.
A liberal Democrat, Carter launched a campaign against Republican presidential incumbent Gerald Ford in 1974, when the American electorate was still reeling from the Vietnam War, which ended in 1973, and former President Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal. Ford, who assumed office immediately upon Nixon’s resignation in 1974, pardoned his former boss, enraging many who thought Nixon should have had to stand trial. Carter’s “Washington outsider” persona helped him win the White House in 1976.
Carter’s tenure as president was most notable for his alternative-energy policies, racial-equality programs and friendly overtures toward Russia. He was instrumental in brokering a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and signed an arms-reduction treaty with the Soviet Union (SALT II). These triumphs, however, were overshadowed by his inability to lead the nation out of a crippling energy crunch caused by the OPEC oil embargo of 1973.
On top of his administration’s failure to effectively combat the energy crisis, which in turn contributed to rapidly rising inflation, Carter’s administration was forced to deal with another crisis. In 1979, an Islamist student group in Iran stormed the U.S. embassy in Teheran, holding 70 Americans hostage for 444 days. Carter’s failure to secure the release of the hostages, the ongoing recession and a growing movement toward conservatism in America contributed to Carter’s loss to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential campaign.
The Carters have since stayed active in national and international affairs. In 1982, they founded the Carter Center in Atlanta to advocate for human rights and to alleviate “unnecessary human suffering” around the world. Since 1984, the Carters have given their time each year to build homes and raise awareness of homelessness with the international charitable organization Habitat for Humanity. In 2002, Carter won the prestigious Nobel Prize for his efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights and to promote economic and social development.
Special Frontier Force Celebrates President Jimmy Carter’s Birthday.
HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA LIVES IN EXILE TO DEFEND FREEDOM IN TIBET
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet lives in exile to defend Freedom in Tibet. Potala Palace in Lhasa is witness to the long history of Tibetan Independence.
Since March 1959, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet is living in exile not to defend his own life but to defend Freedom in Occupied Tibet. After 58 years of life in exile, Tibetans hope to restore Freedom, Peace, Justice in Tibet. Tibet’s military occupation since 1950 cannot obliterate the reality of long history of Tibetan Independence.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Arrives Safely in Tenzingang, Bomdila
April 4, 2017
By Staff Writer
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet lives in exile to defend Freedom in Tibet. He is on a visit to Tibetan Monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives in Tenzingang Tibetan settlement in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh, 4 April 2017. Photo/Yasmina K.
Bomdila: The most revered spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived safely in Tenzingang Tibetan settlement, Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh today on 4 April 2017.
His Holiness was received by Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, MLA, Japu Deru and Phurpa Tsering, West Kameng District Commissioner Dr Sonal Swaroop and former minister and National Convener of Core group for Tibetan cause-India, Mr. R K Khrimey and other important dignitaries.
Members of Tibetan community in Bomdila gave a rousing welcome to His Holiness as he arrived in his motorcade this afternoon.
Tomorrow, His Holiness will give a teaching and confer a White Tara Long Life Empowerment (drolkar tsewang) in the morning at the Buddha Park, Teaching in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.
On 6 April, His Holiness will give teachings in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh. His Holiness will give teachings on Geshe Langri Thangpa’s Eight Verses of Training the Mind & Guru Yoga and confer the Avalokiteshvara Permission in the morning at Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery.
From 8 – 10 April, His Holiness will confer teachings in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
On April 8 & 9 mornings, His Holiness will give teachings on Kamalashila’s The Middling States of Meditation & Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva at Yiga Choezin.
On April 10 morning, His Holiness will confer the Rigzin Dongdup Initiation at Yiga Choezin.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet lives in exile to defend Freedom in Tibet. He is on a visit to Tibetan Monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Local Tibetans in Bomdila organize a traditional welcome for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 4 April 2017.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet lives in exile to defend Freedom in Tibet. He is on a visit to Tibetan Monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Tibetans and ardent followers welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Tenzingang, Bomdila. Photo/Soulful tours
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet. Tibet’s military occupation cannot obliterate Tibet’s long history of Independence.
In 1574, Mongol Emperor Altan Khan offered Sonam Gyatso,Tibetan High-ranking Lama, the title of ‘Dalai Lama’ which literally means ‘Ocean of Wisdom’. As the title was applied posthumously to two of his preceding Lamas, Sonam Gyatso became the Third Dalai Lama of Tibet. In 1588, he died while teaching in Mongolia. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama founded the Ganden Phodrang Government of Tibet in 1642. The successive Dalai Lamas have headed the Tibetan State for nearly four centuries.
Dalai Lama preaches to Buddhist worshipers and monks at the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Complex in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 20 November 2016. The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled Buddhist leader is on a four day visit to Mongolia despite China’s objection, testing Mongolia’s ties with it neighbour.
The 14th Dalai Lama is on a four day visit to Mongolia despite Red China’s objections. His visit strengthens centuries-old Tibet-Mongolia Relations.
Beijing Doomed – His Holiness teaches in Mongolia.
Beijing Doomed – Dalai Lama in Mongolia strengthening centuries-old bonds and connections between the two countries.
Tibet’s Supreme exiled Spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama addresses those gathered at Buyant Ukhaa Sport Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, November 20, 2016.
12 QUOTES FROM THE DALAI LAMA – THE FIGHT AGAINST INNER ENEMY
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy
Indian Tradition describes Kaam (Lust), Krodh (Anger), Lobh (Miserliness), Moh (Infatuation), Mada(Arrogance), and Matsarya (Jealousy) as six Internal Enemies that steal, rob, and plunder man’s Peace of Mind and deny man experience of Happiness. To fight against External Enemy, man has to constantly prepare himself by fighting against Inner Enemy. With wisdom from Defender of the Earth, let us join hands to fight against our Enemies.
12 quotes from the Dalai Lama to make your day happier and calmer
As the Dalai Lama rings in the 82nd year of his life, let his inspirational words set your tone for the day.
HEMU GOEL
July 6, 2016 | UPDATED 12:52 IST
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
Known as Lhamo Thondup at birth, the 14th Dalai Lama was born on July 6, 1935, to a farming and horse-trading family in Amdo, Tibet. When the search for the 14th Dalai Lama was on, among other omens the one that finalised the choice of the current Dalai Lama was when the head of the embalmed body of the 13th Dalai Lama turned from its original position to face the north-east, which was taken as a cue about the direction in which his successor would be found.
Though he was rechristened Tenzin Gyatso (short for Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, meaning Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom), it’s only when he turned 15 that he formally attained the position of the spiritual and political leader of Tibet.
The Dalai Lama’s struggle against the Chinese government has been inspirational. It’s his affable manner and his sense of optimism with which he manages to convey the message that continue to cement his position as one of the most popular religious leaders across the world. On his 81st birthday, here are 12 quotes from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, that will help you see things in a whole new light.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
12 Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
Quotes From the Dalai Lama – The Fight Against Inner Enemy.
OpEdNews Op Eds 6/22/2016 at 08:53:29 The Dalai Lama addresses joint session of California Legislature By SHAWN HAMILTON
Note to Readers: The Dalai Lama isn’t always easy to understand due to his accent, and I hope this general overview helps people better appreciate the message he delivered to California’s top politicians. I have added brackets to indicate omissions or additions of words required to make the prose easily readable. In some cases I had to listen to a segment three or four times before I could determine a word). The Dalai Lama begins to speak about 15 minutes, 30 seconds into the video. Shawn Hamilton
What is Happiness? Sunshine in Occupied Tibet. The Dalai Lama greets members of Legislature, California Capitol, 20 June 2016.
The Dalai Lama greets members of legislature, California Capitol, 20 June 2016 (image by SHAWN HAMILTON )
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalia Lama, opened his June 20th address to the California legislature (15:30) acknowledging “respected leaders” and the general audience as “brothers and sisters”. He light-heartedly kidded the legislators about their official formality before presenting a major theme of his talk–that we should concern ourselves with the welfare the 7 billion member family called humanity. Mentally, emotionally, and physically, he said, we are all the same, and assuring others’ happiness is key to our own. “Since we are social animals, the best way to take care of oneself [is to] take care of others. Others–community–is the basis of our own happy future,” he said. Throughout his talk, he stressed the common factor of the innate humanness behind people of all religions and ethnicities, indicating, specifically, various sects of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. “This religion, that religion,” he said. “It doesn’t matter.”
Dalai Lama, California Capitol, 20 June 2016 (image by Shawn Hamilton )
Another of the Dalai Lama’s themes involved the importance of children feeling parental love after their birth, and he made an interesting, and perhaps controversial, observation. He pointed generally to the assembled legislators and said that many successful people pursue ambitions tenaciously to compensate for their inherent lack of security.
He said he’d talked with scientists who had demonstrated that compassion is the natural state of humankind. Anger, jealously, and the other “poisons”, as they’re referred to in certain Buddhist teachings, arise out of “disturbance[s] of mind” rather than being innate qualities of a healthy human being. It’s an important point. Anger and violence, greed, jealousy, etc. are not normal modes no matter how much we rationalize and justify the actions that spring from them.
This is a cause for hope, the Dalai Lama said, reminding us that happiness and peace are internal states, which external riches, titles, influence, etc. can’t ultimately provide. Again he seemed to subtly let some air out of some inflated legislative egos when he said that even homeless people can be happy if they are surrounded by a community of friends who care about them–“happier even than successful businessmen or politicians,” he said smiling. “My number one commitment is [the] promotion of human love and compassion, irrespective of whether someone is a believer or non-believer, or between this believer and that believer,” he said.
A particularly interesting part of his talk comes at about 29:15. He specifically defends Muslims, apparently trying to coax listeners out of their prejudices.
What is Happiness? Sunshine in Occupied Tibet.
Unthinkable! Using religion as an excuse for killing, Dalai Lama (image by Shawn Hamilton )
“More than five decades I spent in India. In India you can see [different types of] believers live together.” He admitted that occasionally there are some problems, but he said (with a twinkle in his eye) that it is understandable, considering there is over a billion people living there. There’s bound to be a few problems. “India’s not heaven,” he said. “It’s part of the world. Some mischievous people must be there.” He went on to make his larger point that religious harmony in India is generally pretty good. “Indian Muslims [are] wonderful. It is wrong [to persecute Muslims]. We create some bad impression [that[ “Muslim” [and] “Islam” are “militant. I have a number of friends from the Muslim community. Wonderful people! All religious traditions have [the] same potential–to create a sensible human being, a compassionate human being,” he said.
The Dalai Lama also spoke about the importance of protecting the global environment. “This planet is the only place we can live happily, “breathe happily” he said, adding that the moon is beautiful but we can’t live there. Our only hope is to take care of Earth. “There’s no other choice except [to] fully protect our own home,” he said, taking the opportunity to say that those working for the benefit of the environment are engaged in something very important and necessary.
One controversial topic the Dalai Lama raised was gun control. “Real gun control must start here,” he said, pointing to his heart. He said that in order to demilitarize the world, there must be inner disarmament, an inner demilitarization. He cites anger and jealousy as examples of two internal causes of external violence. He showed a serious and firm side of himself when he mentions how people sometimes exploit religious faiths as a rationale for killing. “Unthinkable! “In the 20th century our way of thinking is [that] whenever we have some differences, some conflict, we always think [we can] to solve this by force That way of thinking is out of date,” he said confidently. “In this century, any problem [has to be] solved through talk–meet[ing] face to face. Now some of these people who create some sort of problems–so-called terrorists–these [problems] also have to be solved through human contact. [Keeping a] distance and using force, I don’t think, is the proper solution. That’s my belief,” he said, adding, “It’s our problem and our responsibility. Make some contribution for a better world, a happier humanity.”
Shawn Hamilton is a reporter and teacher in California. He began his teaching career in Taiwan (ROC) in 1989 when large rallies were supporting the protesters at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.
TROUBLE IN TIBET – DANCING WITH RED DRAGON. WHO CAN FIGHT A WAR AGAINST RED DRAGON?
Tibetans lived in serene, calm, peaceful, and undisturbed condition for several centuries making it possible for the reincarnations of Dalai Lama. Unprovoked Communist aggression of 1950 changed the lives of Tibetans. Dalai Lama’s reincarnation remains on hold while Tibetans cope with dangers posed by ‘Dancing With Red Dragon’.
TROUBLE IN TIBET – DANCING WITH RED DRAGON. WHO CAN FIGHT A WAR AGAINST RED DRAGON?
I am not surprised by the decision to keep the issue of the Dalai Lama reincarnation on an indefinite hold. Even Jesus Christ who promised His Second Coming has not yet returned while people of faith have been spending lives in hopeful expectation for over 2,000 years.
Trouble in Tibet – Dancing With Red Dragon. Who Can Fight a War Against Red Dragon? The Fall of Evil Empire with Second Coming of Christ.
Dalai Lama reincarnation or Second Coming of Christ will follow the Fall of Evil Red Empire.
WHY THE DALAI LAMA SAYS REINCARNATION MIGHT NOT BE FOR HIM
TROUBLE IN TIBET – DANCING WITH RED DRAGON: NO REINCARNATION OF DALAI LAMA WITHOUT FREEDOM IN OCCUPIED TIBET.
Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says he may be the last in the line. China says he doesn’t have a say. “The title of Dalai Lama is conferred by the central government,” the government says.
Sean Silbert
The Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual authority, says he may not reincarnate after he dies.
Adherents of Tibetan Buddhism believe the Dalai Lama, the religion’s highest spiritual authority, has been reincarnated in an unbroken line for centuries. But the current Dalai Lama says he may be the last. In an interview with the BBC this week, the 79-year-old Nobel Peace Prize recipient said that he may not reincarnate after he dies.
“There is no guarantee that some stupid Dalai Lama won’t come next, who will disgrace himself or herself,” he said. “That would be very sad. So, much better that a centuries-old tradition should cease at the time of a quite popular Dalai Lama.” But what does reincarnation mean, and why would the Dalai Lama not want to have a successor?
How do Tibetan Buddhists believe reincarnation works? Tibetan Buddhism teaches that after death, nearly all of us are flung back into the world of the living under the influence of harmful impulses and desires. But through compassion and prayer, a few can choose the time, place and the parents to whom they return. This affirms Buddhist teachings that one’s spirit can return to benefit humanity; it also serves to maintain a strong theological and political structure based around monasticism and celibacy. There is no guarantee that some stupid Dalai Lama won’t come next, who will disgrace himself or herself. — The Dalai Lama The process through which reincarnated Buddhist masters, known as “tulkus,” are discovered is not uniform among the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. But generally, through dreams, signals, and other clues, senior monks identify candidates from a pool of boys born around the time the previous incarnation died. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th in the line of the Gelug school. The son of a farmer, he was recognized in 1950 after he correctly picked out objects owned by his predecessor, such as a bowl and prayer beads, jumbled among unfamiliar items.
So why would the Dalai Lama refuse to reincarnate?
Almost certainly to prevent the Chinese government from inserting itself into the process for political ends. Tibet was incorporated into China more than 60 years ago; the Dalai Lama went into exile in India in 1959 amid a revolt. China’s government has denounced him as a separatist, but the Dalai Lama currently says he only seeks a high degree of autonomy for Tibet. In the mid-1990s, the Dalai Lama identified a 6-year-old boy as the Panchen Lama, a position second only to the Dalai Lama himself. But Chinese authorities took custody of the child, and his whereabouts remain unclear. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities identified another youth as the Panchen Lama, but he never won the trust of Tibetans. In 2011, the Dalai Lama wrote: “Should the concerned public express a strong wish for the Dalai Lamas to continue, there is an obvious risk of vested political interests misusing the reincarnation system to fulfill their own political agenda.” He said then that he would reevaluate whether the custom should go on when he was in his 90s.
Why the statement now?
In fact, the Dalai Lama has claimed that as early as 1969 he made clear that the Tibetan people should decide whether reincarnations should continue. He has previously stated that he would not reincarnate in Tibet if it were not free, and he has mused that the Tibetan people should select their religious leaders democratically. To that effect, he has already divested the political power of his role to an elected official, based in India. In September, the Dalai Lama stepped up his rhetoric on this point, raising the suggestion that he might be the last of his line. “If a weak Dalai Lama comes along, it will just disgrace the Dalai Lama,” he told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
What do Chinese authorities say?
After the Dalai Lama’s statement in September, the Chinese government issued a firm rebuttal. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters, “The title of Dalai Lama is conferred by the central government.” China, which is officially atheist, will follow “set religious procedure and historic custom” to select a successor, she said. Other officials have followed suit. “Only the central government can decide on keeping, or getting rid of, the Dalai Lama’s lineage, and the 14th Dalai Lama does not have the final say,” Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the ethnic and religious affairs committee of a high-ranking advisory body to China’s parliament, told the state-run Global Times newspaper this week. “All [the Dalai Lama] can do is use his religious title to write about the continuation or not of the Dalai Lama to get eyeballs overseas.”
What happens next?
It’s unclear what will happen when the Dalai Lama dies, but the decision is a sensitive one that will put pressure on the Chinese government. If the Chinese government does select a successor, its choice could be rejected by Tibetans, and that could exacerbate strained relations. But the Dalai Lama has made nonviolence a key tenet of his teachings, and losing him – and any reincarnation – could also be risky. Wu Chuke, a professor of social science at Beijing’s Ethnic Studies University, said that if the position is left empty, “many of the Tibetan Buddhists in China will feel like that the not being able to be reincarnated will be due to restrictions from the government and will further damage the relationship between them. This will put new pressure on the Chinese government in how they will deal with this problem.”
Trouble in Tibet – How to defeat the Red Revolution?
Whole Trouble – Tibet needs Blonde Revolution to defeat the Red Revolution. PAINTING BY FERDINAND VICTOR EUGENE DELACROIX GIVES ME HOPE. “LIBERTY” WILL LEAD BLONDE REVOLUTION TO CAST AWAY EVIL FORCES OF RED REVOLUTION FROM TIBET.
Red Revolution of October 1949 heralded birth of People’s Republic of China and Tibetans experienced different kind of pain and anxiety when Red China’s Founding Father and Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed his political doctrine of Expansionism. Ever since 1950, Tibet is in Trouble because of Red Revolution.
Supreme Ruler of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama proclaimed that there is a chance that he may reincarnate as “Mischievous Blond Girl.”
In 1830, Eugene Delacroix painted ‘Liberty Leading The People’ to commemorate the French Revolution. His painting depicts events of July 28, 1830. ‘Liberty’ is the symbol of French Republic, also known as Marianne. I am hoping for ‘Blonde Revolution’ in Tibet to wipe out the Evil Forces of Red Revolution from the Land of Tibet ushering in a New Era of Liberty.
TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” DALAI LAMA MAY REINCARNATE AS BLONDE WOMAN CALLED “LIBERTY” DEPICTED IN FERDINAND VICTOR EUGENE DELACROIX PAINTING OF 1830.
China official says Dalai Lama ‘making a fool’ of Buddhism
BEN BLANCHARD Mar 28th 2016 9:23AM
BEIJING/DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) — Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is “making a fool” of Tibetan Buddhism with suggestions he may not reincarnate, or reincarnate as something inappropriate, and the faithful are not buying it, a Chinese official wrote on Monday.
The comments came as early election results put the leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, on course for a second term, part of a strategy to sustain a decades-old struggle for greater autonomy for its Chinese-ruled homeland.
China says the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, is a violent separatist. He denies espousing violence and says he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet.
China says the tradition must continue and its officially atheist Communist leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama’s successor, as a right inherited from China’s emperors.
The Nobel Peace Prize-winning monk has suggested his title could end when he dies. China accuses him of betraying, and being disrespectful towards, the Tibetan religion by saying there might be no more reincarnations.
Writing in the state-run Global Times, Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the ethnic and religious affairs committee of the top advisory body to China’s parliament, said the Dalai Lama had to respect tradition.
“The Dalai Lama continues to proclaim his reincarnation is a ‘purely religious matter’ and something only he can decide, but he has no way to compel admiration from the faithful,” wrote Zhu, known for his hardline stance on Tibet.
“He’s been proclaiming he’ll reincarnate as a foreigner, as a bee, as a ‘mischievous blond girl’, or even proposing a living reincarnation or an end to reincarnation,” he added.
“All of this, quite apart from making a fool of Tibetan Buddhism, is completely useless when it comes to extricating him from the difficulty of reincarnation,” wrote Zhu, who was involved in the past in Beijing’s failed efforts to talk to the Dalai Lama’s representatives.
A senior aide to the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Taklha, said there was “no way” Tibetans would accept a successor appointed by China. “The Chinese are following an absurd agenda and we continue to reject it,” he said.
In 2011, the Dalai Lama called on exiled Tibetans to nominate an elected leader, or “Sikyong,” to lead the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Sangay was on track to win re-election with over 65 percent backing in the March 20 vote.
“I hope to do much better. Both on political terms, by holding dialog with the Chinese, and working on welfare issues in the next five years,” he told Reuters.
China does not recognize the CTA, which is based in India’s Himalayan town of Dharamsala and represents nearly 100,000 exiled Tibetans living in 30 countries including India, Nepal, Canada and the United States.
TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” TIBETANS NEED “LIBERTY” REINCARNATION TO CAST AWAY EVIL FORCES OF RED REVOLUTION.TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” REINCARNATED “LIBERTY” WILL CAST AWAY EVIL FORCES OF RED REVOLUTION.Trouble in Tibet – Hoping for Blonde Revolution. Hope inspired by July Revolution of 1830.TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” HOPE INSPIRED BY PARIS REVOLUTION of 1830.Trouble in Tibet – Hoping For “Blonde Revolution.” Hope inspired by Paris Revolution of 1830.Trouble in Tibet – Hoping For “Blonde Revolution.” Hope inspired by Paris Revolution of 1830.TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” HOPE INSPIRED BY “LIBERTY” LEADING PEOPLE OF PARIS DURING FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1830.TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” DALAI LAMA MAY REINCARNATE AS BLONDE WOMAN CALLED “LIBERTY” DEPICTED IN FERDINAND VICTOR EUGENE DELACROIX PAINTING OF 1830.TROUBLE IN TIBET – HOPING FOR “BLONDE REVOLUTION.” DALAI LAMA MAY REINCARNATE AS BLONDE WOMAN CALLED “LIBERTY” DEPICTED IN FERDINAND VICTOR EUGENE DELACROIX PAINTING OF 1830.
Tibet is a fascinating place for a variety of reasons; the Land, the Climate, the People, the Culture, its religion, its traditions to name a few. But, there is this ‘Trouble’ in Tibet. I am not opposed to the idea of tourism that can bring people together. To bring people together, Tibet needs Freedom from Occupation. Tibet Tourism will be meaningful if it helps to emancipate Tibetans from tyranny. I thank Ms. Elissa Garay, Cruise Critic Contributor for her thoughtful review.
The Great Trouble posed by Tibet Tourism: The Chinese national flag is raised during a ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, July 1, 2017. CNS/He Penglei via REUTERS/Files
Tibet Cruise Tour Tips
Dreams of touring to Tibet’s snow-capped peaks and Buddhist temples might not instinctively point you in the direction of a river cruise line, but you’d be remiss to overlook this exceptional possibility. Most river cruise companies with a presence in China combine their Yangtze River sailings (known for the scenic landscapes of the Three Gorges region and the engineering marvel that is the Three Gorges Dam) with land-based “cruisetour” extensions further into China, with visits to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai the norm. On some exceptional itineraries, Tibet tours are available too.
Mythical Lhasa (elevation 11,975′) is the main entry point and introduction to Tibet for most travelers, and well worthy of the three days’ exploration that most cruise line tours allot here.
Despite the ongoing rush to modernization and disillusioning effects of some six decades of Chinese occupation (a politically sensitive topic), Tibet remains an intrinsically spiritual place, filled with Tibetan Buddhist shrines, symbols and devotees. That mysticism is met by awe-inspiring mountain scenery and the wonderfully humble and friendly Tibetan people, many of whom spend their lives devoted to the accumulation of good karma, and have clearly made great strides to hold onto their cultural identity in the face of great hardships.
Show Cruise Prices
Best Time for Tibet Cruise tours
The main Yangtze cruise season runs from April through October, which corresponds to the scheduled offerings for Tibet cruisetours, too. While the weather along the river is most comfortable — cooler and dryer, that is — in spring and autumn (April-May; September-October), the higher elevations of the Tibetan Himalayan region are most welcoming during the warmer summer months, from June through August (even if there might be some light rain showers).
Tibet Cruise tour Lines
Viking River Cruises is one of the largest inbound tour operators to Tibet, and is joined by a handful of other companies that tout Tibet cruisetour itineraries, too, including Uniworld, Avalon Waterways, Abercrombie & Kent and G Adventures.
Tibet Cruise tour Itineraries
Tibet cruise tours run 13 to 16 nights in duration, with land-based segments of the trip in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and sometimes Chengdu, as well as a visit to Lhasa that typically takes up three or four days of the journey. Anticipate this to include a three- to five-night sailing on the Yangtze, as well. Meals, hotels, cruise, guide services and intra-China transport are typically included in the rates.
With the exception of G Adventures, all Tibet cruisetours listed here include a hotel stay at the five-star, 2014-debuted Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa, set within walking distance of the Potala Palace. The 289 spacious rooms offer a sense of place with soothing earth tones, Tibetan design accents and majestic mountain views. A spa, pool and gym round out the offerings, though at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, you’ll most likely be spending your time in their dedicated “oxygen lounge.” On other tours, Viking also uses the upscale St. Regis Lhasa Resort for lodging, while G Adventures books its guests at the reliable, three-star Dhood Gu Hotel.
Tibet Cruise tour Highlights
For more on Yangtze River cruisetour port highlights beyond Tibet, see Yangtze River Cruise Tips. For the Lhasa portion of the trip, itineraries vary slightly, but you can generally expect the following guided excursions as the core offerings:
Potala Palace: A sight to behold, both inside and out, this monumental red-and-white hilltop palace welcomes visitors to wander through the 1,000-plus-room former winter residence of Tibet’s long line of Dalai Lamas. The current version dates to the 17th-century, though the site’s significance dates back a millennium further still. Visit the living quarters here of past Dalai Lamas, the spiritual and political leaders of Tibet, who are believed to be reincarnated manifestations of an enlightened bodhisattva (unfortunately, the current Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala, India, since 1959). Find, too, a series of sacred shrines and chapels, with impressive imagery and statuary, as well as the astonishing, towering gilded stupa tombs that contain the mummified remains of Tibet’s previous Dalai Lamas.
Jokhang Temple: The holiest temple within Tibetan Buddhism, and a popular place of pilgrimage, this nearly 1,400-year-old temple comes filled with shoulder-to-shoulder devotees and a palpable sense of faith. Join pilgrims as they venerate religious images and ancient statues (including the highly revered Jowo Rinpoche statue of a youthful Buddha), the air thick with incense and the glow of yak-butter lamps. Don’t miss the inspiring rooftop views over Lhasa and the surrounding mountain ranges.
The Barkhor: Circling the exterior of the Jokhang Temple, this ancient pathway marks a sacred kora for Tibetan pilgrims, as they circumambulate the temple in procession, filling the street with a sense of wondrous devotion. The scene is ethereal and animated (people-watching doesn’t get much better than this), as the faithful prostrate, spin prayer wheels and chant en route. Lining the pedestrianized path, too, are a series of stalls selling bargain-ready wares: prayer flags and beads, handmade jewelry and more.
Sera Monastery: This 15th-century Gelugpa mountainside monastery is the site of a trio of monastic colleges and home to about 500 monks in training (though it once housed 5,000). Of special interest to visitors is the huge assembly hall, where just outside, on weekday afternoons, monks engage in spirited debates (complete with stomping and hand gestures) meant to test their level of study.
Tibet Museum: Overlook the Chinese propaganda (the history of Tibet is rewritten to glorify Chinese policies here), and you’ll be rewarded with close-up views of ancient Tibetan artifacts, as well as insight into local culture. Statues of Buddha, handicrafts, thangkas (paintings on cloth), musical instruments and more span Tibetan history, with certain objects dating as far back as Neolithic times.
Home Visit: Several itineraries (including Viking, Uniworld and Avalon’s) incorporate home visits to see how locals live. Our visit with Viking to a traditional Lhasa dwelling included samplings of traditional yak-butter tea (an acquired taste, for sure) and home-brewed barley beer, and a peek into the family’s elaborate home shrine (apparently, the norm throughout the country).
Tibet Cruise tour Tips
There are a few special considerations for travel to Tibet:
China occupies Tibet. China’s controversial claim to Tibet came to a head in 1959, when the Chinese occupation (or, so-called “liberation,” according to the Chinese) ultimately led to the loss of Tibetan sovereignty, the exile of the Dalai Lama to India and the country transforming into a special administrative region of China. Today, China claims Tibet as an “inalienable part of China,” and the ongoing encroachment of the Chinese is apparent in the sheer number of Han Chinese (the ethnic majority in China) who now live and work there. This ongoing political situation marks a painful and sensitive topic, and not one that Tibetans are permitted to speak freely about (our local guides had to divert guests’ questions several times); respect these restrictions, as guides and other local Tibetans can risk persecution and other repercussions from the Chinese authorities. You’ll no doubt notice the military presence, Chinese-led construction projects and distinct Chinese and Tibetan sections of the city; be sure to read up on the disturbing past rife with sad tales of genocide and cultural destruction. However, it’s worth noting that the Dalai Lama encourages tourism to the region, citing the importance for travelers to learn more about Tibet, its people and the reality of life on the ground there.
Tibet visitors need travel permits. Political sensitivities in the region have accordingly led to strict travel restrictions. Foreign travelers are prohibited from visiting Tibet independently and must arrange for travel through a guided group tour, like those on offer with these cruise lines; all necessary travel permits are typically arranged as part of the tour booking.
Beware of altitude sickness. While most itineraries afford three days on the ground in Lhasa, be forewarned that you’re more than likely to need the first day for acclimation (tour stops are usually scheduled accordingly on the second and third days). It’s a frustrating feeling to make the epic journey to Tibet and then be stuck in your hotel room, but for the first full day on the ground there, even the effort of walking from the bed to the bathroom may leave you winded and light-headed (about three-quarters of our tour group experience some form of altitude sickness, some more serious than others). Don’t underestimate your limitations in extreme elevations, and consider talking to your doctor about treatments (like Diamox) that might be right for you to help alleviate symptoms.
–By Elissa Garay, Cruise Critic contributor
Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism will be meaningful if it emancipates Tibetans from tyranny.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism has to help people to come together without barriers imposed by tyranny.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism and Tibet’s Subjugation. People need to come together to deliver Tibetans from the Yoke of Occupation. Lhasa, Tibet.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism can deliver Tibetans from tyranny if people come together. Potala Palace, Lhasa belongs to the Dalai Lama, the Supreme Ruler of Tibet.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism may bring Blessings of Freedom if people come together to oppose Chinese Occupation.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism during Changing Seasons. How to change repressive regime controlling Tibetan lives? Potala Palace belongs to the Dalai Lama, the Supreme Ruler of tibet.The Story of Tibet relates to The Origin of Man. Mount Kailash in Tibet is associated with The Beginning of Anatomically Modern Man.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism – Tibet Experience. Tsedang Yombulagang Palace. Choose Freedom For Tibetans.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism – Tibet Experience. Freedom from Tyranny.Trouble in Tibet – Tibet Tourism must bring people together to uplift Tibetans from trouble.
Tibet’s Right to Self-Preservation of its Land and its denizens
The Battle of Right against Might: Self-Defense. Whole Dude – Whole Leadership: Self-defense is a Right, it is a Duty, and it does not qualify as violence even when it involves killing the aggressorTIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. TIBET HAS NATURAL RIGHT TO OPPOSE MILITARY OCCUPATION USING FORCE OR VIOLENCE FOR OCCUPATION IS ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, UNFAIR, AND UNJUST.On bhavanajagat.com
Natural Law or Dharma, the Code for righteous or virtuous conduct commands man to do whatever is required for Peace and Self-Preservation. Direction of virtuous conduct is determined by its end or goal of Self-preservation. The more each person strives and is able to preserve his own being, the more virtue does he possess. Self-Preservation is a virtue which is common to all men, and can be equally possessed by all in so far as they are of the same nature. Virtue in the context of Self-Preservation may involve use of physical force or power to achieve its objective or accomplish its purpose. The endeavor after Self- Preservation is the primary and only foundation of Virtue or Right Conduct.
Both Tibet, and India recognize the virtue of “Ahimsa” or Non-Violence as the highest principle. At the same time, use of physical force, “Himsa”, or violence is equally the highest principle when it is used in defense of the Righteous. Indian tradition stated this guiding principle:
For occupation of Tibet using military force and violence is illegal, immoral, unfair, and unjust; under Natural Law, Tibet has Right to Self-Preservation. Tibet has Natural Right to use physical force or violence to oppose occupation and in an endeavor to Self-Preservation. In Mahatma Gandhi’s words, I want world’s sympathy in this Battle of Right Against Might.
DALAI LAMA’S ADVICE TO KAMAL HAASAN
IndiaGlitz [Wednesday, November 11, 2015]
TIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA WITH ACTOR AND FILM PRODUCER KAMAL HAASAN, AND ACTRESS GAUTHAMI.
On the day of the release of his new action thriller film ‘Thoongavanam’, Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan along with Gauthami met world-renowned Buddhist monk and spiritual leader Dalai Lama.The meeting sparked surprise for Kamal is a rationalist and kept away from spiritualism. But however the legendary’s actor’s comments issued in a press statement after the meeting seems that the meeting was mutually pleasing and delightful.Here is what Kamal had to say about his meeting with Dalai Lama:”Today (November 10) morning I met The Dalai Lamaji .Have admired his resilience and purpose. Being a fan of Gandhi ji it is not to too farfetched to become his admirer. In spite of the fact that I am rationalist and hence not spiritually bent my meeting was invigorating and felt purposeful.My lack of interest in matters of things spiritual in nature was matched by his disinterest in cinema. ‘I have not watched a single movie not even Television ” he told me with a smile.Yet he opined that I could use my craft and medium to propagate the great philosophy offered to the world by India: ahimsa.I confirmed my faith in ahimsa and said I will venture soon in that direction.For a man of his position he indulged in small talk with abandon a sign of a man who had no worldly worries.Above all he loved the company of strangers. He reminded me of Jain Tamil poetry 2000 year-old. “Everywhere is my town; All are my kin (Yaadum ooray yaavarum kayLir.)” Meanwhile ‘Thoongavanam’ directed by Kamal’s erstwhile assistant Rajsh.M.Selva has opened to phenomenally positive reviews and has been running in to packed houses.
Copyright � 2015 IndiaGlitz.com. All rights reserved.
TIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. TIBET HAS NATURAL RIGHT TO OPPOSE MILITARY OCCUPATION USING FORCE OR VIOLENCE FOR OCCUPATION IS ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, UNFAIR, AND UNJUST.On bhavanajagat.comTIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. TIBET HAS NATURAL RIGHT TO OPPOSE MILITARY OCCUPATION USING FORCE OR VIOLENCE FOR OCCUPATION IS ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, UNFAIR, AND UNJUST.On bhavanajagat.comTIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. TIBET HAS NATURAL RIGHT TO OPPOSE MILITARY OCCUPATION USING FORCE OR VIOLENCE FOR OCCUPATION IS ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, UNFAIR, AND UNJUST.On bhavanajagat.comTIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. TIBET HAS NATURAL RIGHT TO OPPOSE OCCUPATION USING FORCE OR VIOLENCE. SELF-PRESERVATION IS THE PRIMARY AND ONLY FOUNDATION OF VIRTUE.
The View of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh on Gandhi’s adherence to Non-Violence
Whole Dude – Whole Leadership: Sri Aurobindo has asked us to remember the two sentences of this well-known aphorism: “Ahimsa paramo dharmah; Dharma himsa tathaiva cha”-Non-violence or Ahimsa is the highest principle, and so is Violence or Himsa in defense of the righteous.
The method of absolute non-violence that was followed during the ‘Satyagraha’ movement should be questioned. It led to the breaking of skulls and a great deal of suffering for the freedom fighters. Two questions arise in the context of the use of non-violence: 1. Was it right and healthy for the nation to go through this kind of non-violence? and 2. Does Indian culture and spirituality enjoin this kind of non-violence?
Whole Dude – Whole Leadership: Self-defense is a Right, it is a Duty, and it does not qualify as violence even when it involves killing the aggressor
Non-violence or Ahimsa is the highest principle, and so is violence or Himsa in defense of the righteous. Sri Aurobindo had also pointed out that, “Politics is concerned with masses of mankind and not with individuals. To ask masses of mankind to act as saints, to rise to the height of divine love and practice it in relation to their adversaries or oppressors is to ignore human nature. It is to set a premium on injustice and violence by paralyzing the hand of the deliverer when raised to strike. The Gita is the best answer to those who shrink from battle as a sin, and aggression as a lowering of morality.”
Whole Dude – Whole Leadership: Self-defense is a Right, it is a Duty, and it does not qualify as violence even when it involves killing the aggressor
The sword of the warrior is as necessary to the fulfillment of justice and righteousness as the holiness of the saint. Saint Ramdas is not complete without Shivaji. To maintain justice and prevent the strong from despoiling, and the weak from being oppressed is the function for which the ‘Kshatriya’ was created. “Therefore,” says Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, “God created battle and Armor, the sword, the bow, and the dagger.”
Whole Dude – Whole Leadership: Saint Samarth Ramdas and Warrior King Shivaji are the two aspects of the leadership equation.
Self-defense is a Right, it is a Duty, and it does not qualify as violence even when it involves killing the aggressor
TIBET’S RIGHT TO SELF-PRESERVATION. HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA ENCOURAGED FILM ACTOR AND PRODUCER KAMAL HASAN TO PROMOTE THE VIRTUE OF AHIMSA OR NON-VIOLENCE.
Tibet Awareness – Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet is missing the Reincarnated Spirit it hosts
Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.
I host ‘The Living Tibetan Spirits’ to promote ‘Tibet Awareness’. I acknowledge The Dalai Lama as the Supreme, Independent, Sovereign Authority, and Ruler of Tibet.
Tibet Awareness – Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet is missing the Reincarnated Spirit it hosts
The Great 5th Dalai Lama (1617 – 1682) founded the Ganden Phodrang Government of Tibet. Potala Palace was built-in Lhasa during the reign of the Great 5th Dalai Lama. The term ‘Sovereign’ is used to describe an entity that is above, superior to all others, Chief, greatest, Supreme in Power, Rank or Authority. Independence of Tibetan people is kept for much of its history as Tibet remained free of direct foreign control even while it came under foreign conquests by Mongol or Yunan Dynasty (1279 – 1368) and Qing, Ch’ing, or Manchu Dynasty (1644 – 1911). During the reign of the Great 13th Dalai Lama, Tibet declared full independence on February 13, 1913. Sovereign, Independent Tibet signed Mc Mahon Treaty in 1914 to come to an understanding about Tibet’s southern border with India. Tibet has not signed any treaty and has not concluded any agreement about border between Tibet and People’s Republic of China. The Seventeen-Point Plan or 17-Point Agreement that describe ‘measures for peaceful Liberation of Tibet’ do not compromise the power and authority of the Ganden Phodrang Government of Tibet to control Tibetan Affairs.
Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.
The New Zealand Herald
CHRISTOPHER ADAMS @chrisadamsNZ
The Business Herald’s markets and banking reporter.
LEGACY OF DALAI LAMA FADES IN NEW TIBET
5:00 AM Saturday Aug 22, 2015
Former leader runs an exile government, but at home China is in control and tourists roam the palace.
Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.
The Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace is now an attraction for Chinese tourists and its former resident lives in exile in India. Photo / AP It’s hard not to feel a sense of melancholy while passing through the Dalai Lama’s former quarters in Lhasa’s Potala Palace.
In one room visitors view the throne on which Tibet’s one-time ruler sat while addressing officials. Further on – reached through a network of narrow passageways – is his bedroom, the first of the palace’s 1000 rooms to catch the winter sun.
But the 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, no longer walks these corridors. He fled south to India, where he established a government in exile, during the Tibetan uprising of 1959.
Nine years earlier, the army of the newly formed People’s Republic of China crossed the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and took control of Tibet. The region was formally incorporated into the communist state in 1951.
Today, the 80-year-old Dalai Lama remains in his Indian exile and an army of a different kind – hordes of Chinese tourists – file daily through his old quarters. Security guards in orange jumpsuits keep them in check, while red-robed monks stare at their smartphones or murmur prayers, seemingly oblivious to the crush of Chinese tourism surrounding them.
While access to Tibet is severely restricted for foreign journalists, the Herald was able to join an official media tour to Lhasa, the regional capital, this month. It gave a controlled yet intriguing glimpse into life in a region that, like the rest of China, is forging ahead in the quest for development.
Chinese rule of Tibet rests on a platform of economic growth and substantial state subsidies provided to the indigenous population. Hulking tower blocks are emerging from the barren earth on Lhasa’s western outskirts as investment pours in from the central government and wealthier, eastern provinces.
The region’s economy grew by 12 per cent last year, well ahead of the 7.4 per cent national rate. Access to the remote Himalayan region has been improved.
A high-altitude railway line linking Tibet to the rest of China opened in 2006 and carried 7.5 million passengers, more than twice the region’s population, in 2013. And in 2011 China’s then Vice-President, Xi Jinping, cut the ribbon on a 38km, four-lane highway running from Lhasa to the city’s Gongkar airport. It’s a feat of engineering, with numerous tunnels beneath the jagged mountains on the route.
“The driving force of the Tibetan economy is basically the investment drive, rather than trading,” said Yang Tao, of Beijing’s China Tibetology Research Centre. Despite the development, China’s control of Tibet remains a sensitive issue. Activists accuse Beijing of suppressing Tibetans’ cultural and religious freedoms amid a tide of Han Chinese migration into the region from other parts of the country.
Fatal anti-Chinese protests broke out in Tibet before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the Save Tibet organisation claims 142 Tibetans have self-immolated in China since 2009 in protest at Chinese rule of the region.
But China says its sovereignty over Tibet stretches back for centuries and the Tibetans were “liberated” from slavery and serfdom in 1951. The extent of Han migration is evident in Lhasa, where Mandarin language dominates the signs above the shops, largely run by Han Chinese, that line the city’s bustling streets.
Tibetan script is required, by law, to also appear. But more often than not, it is secondary to much larger Mandarin characters. The Chinese Government says the region’s population of more than three million remains more than 90 per cent Tibetan.
Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.
Today, the 80-year-old Dalai Lama remains in his Indian exile and an army of a different kind – hordes of Chinese tourists – file daily through his old quarters. Photo / AP Jigme Wangtso, an ethnic Tibetan and director of Tibet’s Government Information Office, said there was a misconception that the Government initiated Han migration to Tibet.
“It is normal and natural for people to migrate,” he said, adding that migration was a two-way street, as large numbers of Tibetans had migrated to Chinese provinces. But international travel remains challenging for Tibetans who, according to Human Rights Watch, can face a five-year wait for passports.
Asked about the obvious presence of large numbers of migrants in Lhasa, Jigme suggested Tibetans were being confused with Han. “Don’t judge all as being Han,” he said. “Am I Han or Tibetan? I don’t wear Tibetan costume.”
He said he saw no proof of a separatist movement existing in Tibet today. He said most Tibetans did not have “any special attachment” to the exiled Dalai Lama and instead appreciated the improvements in living standards, in areas such as health and education, which China’s “preferential policies” had brought to Tibet.
“People are happy with the system,” he said. “He [the Dalai Lama] brought nothing for me.” We do not see any obvious signs of discontent in Lhasa.
But on our first day in the city, we see a convoy of more than 40 trucks filled with paramilitary officers in full riot gear, accompanied by tanks and water cannon vehicles. Our minders say the procession is “practice” for next month’s 50th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region’s establishment.
In Lhasa’s Zhaxi community we are taken to the home of Tibetan local Communist Party chief Suolang Bazhu. His living room wall is adorned with photographs of party leaders, past and present, alongside a mural of the Potala Palace. Suolang, 72, says he has seen huge changes in Lhasa under Chinese rule.
“Ordinary people are usually very thankful for these changes because they lifted us from poverty,” he says. “We used to have nothing … but now we have everything.” State subsidies to Tibet were increased after the 2008 unrest, and in 2010 exceeded 100 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product for the first time, according to Andrew Fischer, of the Institute for Social Sciences in The Hague.
A “comfortable housing” programme has reportedly given millions of rural Tibetans new homes. Our group is taken to visit one relocation village, Dekyi, near Gongkar airport. It is part of the nationwide “New Socialist Countryside” project, which began in 2006. It aims to help the country’s more than 600 million-strong rural population catch up, economically, with those living in China’s booming cities.
In Dekyi, we are ushered into the home of Dawa, a 55-year-old farmer (like many Tibetans he has only one name). Dawa’s family was the first to move into the village, in early 2013 after their previous home was flooded. He says he received a 115,000 yuan ($27,195) subsidy to help build his new house, plus another 20,000 yuan to construct a yak stable.
The rights group Free Tibet says Tibetans often suffer in new housing colonies and towns because they don’t have the skills to compete for jobs in a different environment. There have also been accusations that many rural Tibetans have been forced to relocate.
But Dawa doesn’t have any complaints, or at least none that he will share with us. He says it was his decision to make the move, which has enabled him to increase his agricultural production “It would be impossible for me to have such a lifestyle without the subsidy of the Government,” he says.
Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.Potala Palace is built before the construction of The White House in Washington DC during presidency of George Washington. John Adams, the second President of the United States in 1797 was first to live there. Millions of tourists from Red China currently visit occupied Tibet and Potala Palace has become a place of tourist attraction for the 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile since March 1959. The geopolitical interests of all other independent, free, sovereign nations of this world will be best served by defeating Red China and evicting Red China’s occupying forces from Tibet.
Whole Dude - Whole Concept 