Political Struggle for the Land of Snows

"Throughout human history, dictators and totalitarian governments have
learned that there is nothing more powerful than a people's yearning for
freedom and dignity. While bodies may be enslaved or imprisoned, the human
spirit can never be subjugated or defeated. As long as we uphold this human
spirit and determination, our aspirations and beliefs have the power to
ultimately prevail", H.H. Dalai Lama, 10th March 1993.

In March of this year Tibetan refugees everywhere observed the 34th year of
their uprising against the invasion of their homeland, and their life in
exile.  During these observances I spoke with some recent arrivals from Tibet
about their lives and journey to Dharamsala, the current residence of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan government in exile (CTA).

Choepal, a middle aged, dark, weathered man with a face of old leather
framing incredibly bright eyes greeted me with the open handed gesture of his
people.  He spoke in quiet rhythmic tones about his 3 month journey by foot
across the worlds highest mountain range. He often had to walk at night to
avoid detection by Chinese troops, only to have all his possessions
confiscated after he crossed the frontier by Nepali border police.  He was
then taken into custody where he feared that he would be sold to the Chinese,
as has reportedly happened, but his release was obtained by a Tibetan support
group that came to know of his incarceration.  He risked this journey solely
to catch a glimpse of the spiritual leader of his people, the Dalai Lama, and
to hear Buddhist teachings from him.

I asked him, "How well known is the Tibetan government in exile, within Tibet
today?" He answered, "Everyone knows the Dalai Lama is here, and that there
are Tibetans living with him outside Tibet.  We have learned this from our
papers.  The Chinese print many stories of how horrible the conditions are
for Tibetans living outside Tibet.  They print them so often the opposite
must be true!  Also, many people can receive the Tibetan language radio
broadcasts from abroad, even though the Chinese try to jam them."

80,000 Tibetan refugees have left Tibet by the route Choepal travelled, and
now live scattered throughout thirty-four communities in India and Nepal. In
these communities they have worked hard to keep their culture alive.  They
have rebuilt and improved the Tibetan education system, and now have an
institution recognised to grant doctorate degrees. Institutes of Art and
Theatre keep their communities alive.  The School of Tibetan medicine
provides them with doctors to keep them healthy.  Freedom, granted by the
Indian government, to participate in trade allows them to prosper.  Their own
democratically developed governmental structure keeps all this organized, and
represents their struggle to the world through thirteen foreign missions. 
Their survival as a living and vibrant community is, in itself, the Tibetans
most potent act of defiance to continued occupation and subjugation of their
land by the Communist Chinese.

Guiding their development as a community are the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. 
To support the continued understanding of these teachings, the refugees have
built more than 200 monasteries in exile in which nuns and monks receive
teachings no longer available in their homeland.  One of the highest Buddhist
teachings, according to the Dalai Lama, is Compassion.  When asked how this
applies to the Chinese, he told me, "If we have compassion, we can build a
peaceful and truly fair society.  This is the difference between a Buddhist
society and a Communist one.  Communism is based on hatred, and therefore, by
nature, is destructive.  It was good that Communism destroyed the old system.
The liberation of serfs from feudal exploitation may have been the final
victory for Communism.  Although we oppose Communism, we do not hate the
Chinese.  The Chinese are a great people.  If you look at their
accomplishments, you can only respect them.  Buddhism teaches us to send our
Metta (feeling of loving kindness) to all beings, everywhere, in all realms. 
The Realms may be a bit distant", he laughs, "but the Chinese are our Eastern
neighbours.  We must send them our compassion, for they too are suffering."

His Holiness is not only concerned for the liberation of Tibet, but sees
their struggle as a process whereby an independent Tibet can contribute to a
more peaceful Asia.  Impressed by his visit to Costa Rica two years ago, he
proposes Tibet be a land without military forces, or armed police.  A
demilitarised zone between the nuclear weapon armed states of India, China
and Kazakistan in former Soviet Central Asia.  A frontier from which all
their neighbours can be assured of security.

Since the pro-democracy demonstrations in China in 1989, the CTA has
attempted to forge solidarity links with Chinese pro-democracy groups living
in and outside of China.  "It was difficult", said Tempa Tsering of the CTA's
International Relations Dept., "at first they related to us as barbarians,
which is how we are portrayed in the Chinese press.  Gradually through visits
they came to know us, and now we actively campaign for each other's cause."

While the CTA coordinates external campaigns and serves the refugee
community, direct nonviolent struggle continues to be waged within Tibet
itself.  Another refugee, Tenzin, tells me:"Not a month goes by without a
demonstration.  Leaflets are distributed and posters condemning the
occupation are put up on walls".  It is impressive that these activities
continue despite the risk of arrest, in a country without public printing
facilities.  Tenzin described to me how leaflets are painstakingly reproduced
in small numbers by carbon paper on typewriters, or by hand.  Posters and
Tibetan flags are made by hand, then hung during the early morning hours. 
Photographic surveillance devices, and reconstruction of the cities provide
the police with advanced methods of detection of mass actions.  Today
demonstrations involve only a few courageous participants per act.  The CTA
aids them by sending in printed matter, and video and audio tapes which are
copied and distributed underground.

Besides an intensive military and police presence, the main weapon in
Beijing's arsenal against an independent Tibet is, ironically, people.  The
Communist government has implemented a policy of migration from other areas
within China into Tibet.  Non-Tibetans now outnumber Tibetans in their own
homeland.  Many of the new arrivals are Muslims, and it is suspected by
people watching the situation closely that the Chinese authorities will use
this fact to justify their continued presence.  In the future Beijing may
portray conflict in Tibet as differences between Buddhists and Muslims, not
Tibetans and Communist Chinese.

International solidarity and understanding of the aspirations of the Tibetan,
as well as East Turkistani and Mongolian people, will be important in the
nonviolent resolution of these struggles. Refugee people have fewer resources
to work with than most other human societies, and I was inspired to see what
the Tibetan people have accomplished in exile.  Gifted spiritual leadership
and good friends have been vital to their efforts.  Emphasising their
understanding of the inter-connectedness of their struggle with others,
Tenzin said to me as I was leaving, "We cannot forget your visit.  The good
actions of people like you who visit us and learn about our hopes will
accumulate.  With good friends like you we can survive, and one day welcome
you to our own homes, in Tibet."
Yeshua Moser