Click here to listen to the audio of the discussion forum.

Phayul correspondent

Dharamsala February 2 - For most of the Dharamsala people the Losar hangover still lingers, but those who attended Lhasang Tsering’s talk this warm winter afternoon found themselves not only captured by his most impassioned talk but deeply moved as they returned to their warm quarters after three hours of talk and discussion on Tibet and Beijing 2008 Olympics.

The third public talk in the series of the discussion forum initiated by Phayul.com and National Democratic Party of Tibet today was addressed by former President of Tibetan Youth Congress Lhasang Tsering. Speaking on “2008 Bejing Olympics, an opportunity”, Lhasang touched base and tried to redefine opportunity. “Opportunity for what?” he asked. “If it is to ‘make Tibet a part of China’ –as the exile government wants– it’s an opportunity to do that by working for China who has bad PR now, but I am not interested in that. On the other hand if it’s for ’Free Tibet,’ it’s an amazing opportunity as we can fight them when they would be most needed to be ‘well-behaved’ and we can expose their brutality by getting into creative protest action.”

Further talking about the opportunity, he said: “When China makes its biggest show of power and money, we must remind the world three things:

1. China’s ongoing process of Genocide of Tibet
   
2. Chinese colonialism in Mongolia, East Turkestan, Manchuria and Tibet
   
3. 2008 Beijing Olympics is like 1936 Berlin Olympics

And then he cautioned: “At the same time we must message that free Tibet movement is not ‘anti-Chinese’, it’s for the freedom of Tibet, and if we are successful in this, we might even get support from the Chinese people themselves, as they could relate to us what they are undergoing under the corrupt communist regime.”

Talking about strategizing, keeping in mind the realistic strength of China’s military, economic and political power, he said that for quite sometime he has been talking about his idea of the “Strategy of the Mosquito.” He said: “the muscular and nuclear armed China has no protection from mosquitoes who barge into bedrooms bringing in epidemics. For a committed activist you don’t need CIA’s support to cut a telephone line in Beijing or throw an iron rod on the power cables in Shanghai. These kinds of sabotages can be done by any ordinary person, and can weaken the power from inside. Sometimes the whole city goes dark by one simple but technically correct act.”

World peace he said: “sounds good only in conferences and seminars but when it actually comes to your own interest, just like all the other people, we too have to be practical, especially us, when it’s a life and death matter. I seek freedom in this world, while I am alive, not freedom from this world. If people want freedom from this world, great saints like Milarepa had set examples; people should go up into the mountains, and leave matters of political freedom for people who choose mundane freedom.”

Talking about various issues like the dialogue process, situation inside Tibet and others, Lhasang was in his eloquent best, not only did he make absolutely clear his opinions on those issues, but also made criticisms of the Exile governments policies with most intelligent remarks that evoked peals of laughter in the audience. For example, he said that for a hand shake you need hands from both the sides, and China didn’t respond for our 20 years wait, but to punch somebody in the nose, he said raising his fist in the air, your commitment is enough.

As if the talk not exciting enough the Question-Answer session was livelier and emotion packed as few questions touched the freedom fighter’s heart, and at few moments Lhasang’s otherwise strong voice appealed with tears. Reminiscing at one point he mentioned how he sold the pair of shoes Thaktse Rinpoche gifted him as he was short of money for his work.

Fielding a question from Dr. Kunchok in the audience on how to keep one’s spirit alive in day-to-today life, he spoke with pain that, when the goal of our struggle is today lost, and it’s about making Tibet a part of China, he said he sympathizes with the Tibetan youth that the struggle is not inspiring. Giving a sidekick he said earlier in his speech: “One step forward by one who does not know the way is better than sitting in one place by the one who knows the way.”

Answering another question, but this time bold one on what he would do during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he said “so long as the goal of the struggle is not restored to Independence, neither am I willing to work, nor will I ask others to risk their lives. But once the goal of the struggle is restored to the independence of Tibet, I am willing to do anything required in whatever capacity.”

Gone were days of 1970s and 80s, when Lhasang Tsering and some of his contemporary thinkers, writers and activists were jeered at from some corners of the Tibetan community and even issued threat of physical harm when they were critical of the Exile government’s policies. Today’s Lhasang seem to enjoy a good following among the Tibetan youngsters. Most of the 200 people in the audience were young Tibetans, who not only came to listen to Lhasang la, but took active part in discussing issues. These are the same youngsters who are usually in the Tibetan activism scenario.

Interpreting the present situation he wound up his talk saying: “We are a cornered mouse, and there is a huge hungry cat in our face, if we just sit there praying, hoping that the cat becomes vegetarian or would change its mind, we are wasting time. We have to take a risk and make our last jump. Our struggle is for survival, and we have no luxury of time.” Again talking about the opportunity, he said: “Looking at the earth-shaking damage being done by China’s railway into Tibet and other mechanisms of oppressive rule, the Olympics maybe the last opportunity, and it’s a battle for us to survive.”

Chimey Youndrung the moderator for public discussion forum introduced the subject and wound up thanking all participants and the speaker. He said this ongoing process of public discussion will continue to take topical theme for public discussion.

Click here to listen to the audio of the discussion forum.