How Does the Dalai Clique Carry Out His Separatist
Activities?
Starting from the point of maintaining the unification of the motherland
and national unity, the central government adopted an attitude of
patient waiting towards the Dalai Lama after he fled abroad. His
position as a vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee was preserved
until 1964. However, surrounded by foreign anti-China forces and
Tibetan separatists, the Dalai Lama completely renounced the patriotic
stand which he once expressed and engaged in numerous activities
to split the motherland.
-- Publicly advocating that "Tibet is an independent state." In
June 1959, the Dalai Lama issued a statement in Mussoorie, India
which read "Tibet had actually been independent." In March 1991,
during his visit to Britain, the Dalai Lama told the press that
Tibet "is the biggest occupied country in the world today." He proclaimed
on many occasions that "the task of realizing the independence of
Tibet has fallen upon all Tibetans in and outside Tibet."
-- Setting up the "government in exile." In the early 1960s, the
Dalai clique convened the "people's congress of Tibet" in Dharamsala,
India, which established the so-called "Tibetan government in exile."
A so-called "constitution" was promulgated, which states that "the
Dalai Lama is the head of state," "the ministers shall be appointed
by the Dalai Lama" and "all work of the government shall not be
approved without the consent of the Dalai Lama." The 1991 revised
"constitution" of the Dalai clique still stipulates that the Dalai
is "the head of the state." The Dalai Lama and his so-called "government
in exile" kept levying an "independence tax" on Tibetans residing
abroad, established "offices" in some countries, published magazines
and books advocating "Tibetan independence" and engaged in political
activities for "Tibetan independence."
-- Reorganizing the armed rebel forces. In September 1960, the
Dalai clique re-organized the "religion guards of the four rivers
and six ranges" in Mustang, Nepal, which carried on military harassment
activities along the Chinese border for ten years. Its first commander-in-chief
Anzhugcang Goinbo Zhaxi wrote in his memoirs Four Rivers and
Six Ranges that "a series of attacks were organized on Chinese
outposts" and "sometimes, 100 or 200 Tibetan guerrillas went as
far as 100 miles into the area occupied by the Chinese." The Dalai
Lama wrote articles praising Goinbo Zhaxi.
-- Spreading rumors and calumnies and plotting riots. Ignoring
facts, the Dalai Lama fabricated numerous lies to sow dissension
among the various nationalities and incite the Tibetan people to
oppose the central government during his 30-year self-exile abroad.
He said that "the 17-Article Agreement was imposed on Tibet under
armed force"; "the Hans have massacred 1.2 million Tibetans"; "owing
to Han immigration, the Tibetans have become a minority in Tibet";
"the Communists in Tibet force women to practice birth control and
abortion"; the government opposes religious freedom and persecutes
religious people; traditional Tibetan culture and art are in danger
of extinction; the natural resources in Tibet have been seriously
depleted; there is severe environmental pollution in Tibet, etc.
The riots in Lhasa from September 1987 to March 1989 were incited
by the Dalai clique and plotted by rebels who were sent back to
Tibet. The riots incurred severe losses to the lives and property
of Tibetans.
The Dalai's words and deeds have showed that he is no longer only
a religious leader as he claims. On the contrary, he has become
the political leader engaged in long-term divisive activities abroad.
'Tibetan Independence' Brooks No Discussion
The central government has adopted a consistent policy towards
the Dalai Lama. It urges him to renounce separatism and return to
the stand of patriotism and unity.
On December 28, 1978, the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said to
AP correspondents that "the Dalai Lama may return, but only as a
Chinese citizen"; "we have but one demand -- patriotism. And we
say that anyone is welcome, whether he embraces patriotism early
or late." This indicates the central government's attitude of welcoming
the Dalai Lama back to the motherland.
The Dalai Lama sent representatives to Beijing to contact the central
government on February 28, 1979. On March 12, Deng Xiaoping met
the Dalai Lama's representatives and said to them, "The Dalai Lama
is welcome to come back. He can go out again after his return."
With regard to the central government's negotiation with the side
of the Dalai Lama, Deng pointed out, "Now, whether the dialogue
to discuss and settle problems will be between the central government
and Tibet as a state or Tibet as a part of China? This is a practical
question." "Essentially Tibet is a part of China. This is the criterion
for judging right or wrong."
The central government did everything possible to persuade the
Dalai Lama and his followers, through negotiations, to give up their
separatism and return to the motherland. The central government
leaders have since 1980 met a number of delegations sent back by
the Dalai Lama and reiterated on many occasions the central government's
policy towards the Dalai Lama.
To satisfy the desire of both local and overseas Tibetans for visits
and contacts, the central government has formulated and practiced
the policy of free movement in and out of the country. It has also
made clear that all patriots belong to one big family, whether they
rally to the common cause now or later, and bygones can be bygones.
From August 1979 to September 1980, central government departments
concerned received three visiting delegations and two groups of
relatives sent by the Dalai Lama. Most of the Dalai Lama's kin residing
abroad have made return visits to China. Since 1979, Tibet and other
Tibetan-inhabited areas have received some 8,000 overseas Tibetans
who came to visit relatives or for sightseeing, and helped settle
nearly 2,000 Tibetan compatriots.
Regretfully, the Dalai Lama did not draw on the good will of the
central government. Instead, he further intensified his separatist
activities. At a meeting of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the
US Congress held in September 1987, the Dalai Lama put forward a
"five-point proposal" regarding the so-called status of Tibet. He
continued to advocate "Tibetan Independence," and instigate and
plot a number of riots in Lhasa. In June 1988, the Dalai Lama raised
a so-called "Strasbourg proposal" for the solution of the Tibet
issue. On the premise that Tibet "had always been" an independent
state, the proposal interpreted the issue of a regional national
autonomy within a country as a relationship between a suzerain and
a vassal state, and between a protector and a protected state, thus
denying China's sovereignty over Tibet and advocating the independence
of Tibet in a disguised way. The central government naturally rejected
the proposal, because it was a conspiracy the imperialists once
hatched in order to carve up China. The Chinese government solemnly
declared, "China's sovereignty over Tibet brooks no denial. Of Tibet
there could be no independence, nor semi-independence, nor independence
in disguise."
Nevertheless, the central government still hopes that the Dalai
Lama would rein in at the brink of the precipice and change his
mind. In early 1989, the 10th Bainqen Lama passed away. Taking into
account the historical religious ties between various generations
of the Dalai Lama and the Bainqen Lama as teacher and student, the
Buddhist Association of China, with the approval of the central
government, invited the Dalai Lama to come back to attend the Bainqen
Lama's memorial ceremonies. President Zhao Puchu of the association
handed a letter of invitation to a personal representative of the
Dalai Lama, providing the Dalai Lama with a good opportunity to
meet with people in the Buddhist circles in China after 30 years
of exile. But the Dalai Lama rejected the invitation.
As 1989 witnessed a new international anti-China wave, the Nobel
Peace Prize Committee in Norway, with clearly political motives,
awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama, giving its
strong support to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan separatists. Since
then, the Dalai Lama has travelled the world, advocating Tibet's
separation from China.
The Dalai Lama simultaneously intensified his efforts to incite
and plot riots in Tibet. On January 19, 1990, he said over the BBC:
If the Beijing government fails to hold talks with him on his plan
of Tibet's autonomy within a year, he will have to change his stand
of compromise with China; many young Tibetans stand for the use
of force. On April 4, 1991, the Dalai Lama said in the Tibetan language
program of the Voice of America, "All matters shall be further strengthened
for Tibet's independence." Again on October 10 the same year, he
tried instigation in a similar program, "At present, so large a
number of Hans are pouring into Tibet that many young Tibetans cannot
find jobs. This adds a further element of instability in the Tibetan
society. Therefore, new riots are quite possible."
It is because the Dalai Lama sticks to his position of "Tibetan
independence" and continues his efforts to split the motherland
in and outside China that contacts between the central government
and the representatives of the Dalai Lama have yielded no results.
In an interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters on May 19, 1991,
on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation,
Premier Li Peng of the State Council of the People's Republic of
China pointed out, "The central government's policy towards the
Dalai Lama has been consistent and remains unchanged. We have only
one fundamental principle, namely, Tibet is an inalienable part
of China. On this fundamental issue there is no room for haggling.
The central government has always expressed its willingness to have
contact with the Dalai Lama, but he must stop activities to split
the motherland and change his position for 'Tibetan independence.'
All matters except 'Tibetan independence' can be discussed."
The central government is willing to contact and negotiate with
the Dalai Lama; the door remains open. The central government's
policy towards the Dalai Lama is also clear. To be responsible for
the history, the Chinese nation and its 1.1 billion people, including
the Tibetan people, the central government will make not the slightest
concession on the fundamental issue of maintaining the motherland's
unification. Any activity attempting to realize "Tibetan independence"
and split the motherland by relying on foreign forces is an ignominious
move betraying the motherland and the whole Chinese nation including
the Tibetan nationality. The central government resolutely denounces
this kind of action and will never allow it to succeed. The central
government will continue to implement a series of special policies
and preferential measures to promote the construction and development
of Tibet so as to enhance national unity, construct a prosperous
economy, enrich culture and improve the people's livelihood. Any
activity sabotaging stability and unity in Tibet and any unlawful
deed creating disturbance and inciting riots runs against the basic
interests of the Tibetan people and will be cracked down on relentlessly.
So long as the Dalai Lama can give up his divisive stand and admit
that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, the central government
is willing to hold talks at any time with him. The Dalai Lama is
warmly welcome to return to the embrace of the motherland at an
early date and do some work that is conducive to maintaining the
motherland's unification, the national unity, as well as the affluent
and happy lives of the Tibetan people.
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