News and Views on Tibet

Tibet vigil observes non-violent conflict resolution

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For 10 years, a weekly Wednesday vigil outside the Chinese Embassy mourns the loss of Tibetan Independence. Attendance is variable, but resolve and belief that it achieves something persists, and persisted enough for Alice Speller, a first year student from Sussex University to organise a 24-hour, weekend vigil for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk sentenced to death in China. Twenty-eight students from eight universities stayed, with the common aim to demonstrate solidarity for the non-violent campaign to free Tibet from Chinese oppression. As Sam Pehrson from Sussex University said ‘ the specific example of Tenzin Delek allows people to connect a person and a story to the wider Tibetan situation.’ In the 44 years since the People’s Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet and the Dalai Lama fled to exile in India, Tibetans who remain in Tibet live in persecution; out numbered 2:1 with Han Chinese, whilst exiled Tibetans live as refugees, renewing their green card on a yearly basis. Despite international recognition of Tibet’s independence pre 1949, international governments have subsequently refused to recognise the Dalai Lama as Tibet’s theocratic leader yet accept him as its spiritual leader. This is incongruous- our country accepts the Dalai Lama as the spiritual leader of a nation that they refuse to accredit.

Attempts to eradicate Tibetan identity are demonstrated by the arrest of prominent Tibetan nationalists. The execution of Lobsang Dhondup on 26th January this year and the death sentence of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche prompted Amnesty International to co-sponsor the vigil, but in reality few British people know who these men are, nor do they know why they received death sentences. But for 24 hours, students from six countries talked about these men and the suppression of Tibetan nationalism within Tibet. ‘Both men were accused of involvement in an explosion,’ says Alice Speller, ‘though Tenzin Delek was convicted of ‘inciting splittism’ and whilst supposedly ‘accepting his responsibility in five explosions’ he was not convicted of orchestrating any explosion. Denied legal counsel both men were subjected to ‘coercive’ interrogation their trial and treatment has provoked international enquiries, but little or no recriminations.’

The Vigil was run under the banner of Students for a Free Tibet UK, a newly created, national coalition of student Tibet groups affiliated to the International SFT movement. Examining national objectives for SFT UK at a meeting held at the vigil, students discussed the need for education amongst students, the general public and especially our politicians. Chairing the meeting, Emilie Hunter said ‘the Tibetan movement is exemplary and deserves widespread recognition. Students clearly need to learn about non-violent conflict resolution and as the politicians of tomorrow, it is in our interests to proclaim concern at the ongoing and highly systematised persecution of Tibetans within Tibet.’ Their decision to support Act For Tibet’s campaign of persuasive rather than pugnacious political lobbying was met with approval by Isobel Losada, Managing Director of Act For Tibet ‘Many MPs are worn down firstly by apathy and secondly by aggression and criticism and paper. To have intelligent students coming to their surgery to discuss how, together, they can put real political commitment behind The Dalai Lama, Tibet and the greater cause of non-violence is a breath of fresh air. For the student it is an opportunity to make an important and valuable friend, to learn about the workings of Parliament and Government and to become involved in the democratic process through the most important issue in international politics today – the role of non-violence in the war against terror.’

During the meeting, Don Hall from New York University read ‘A Single Photograph Is All That We Have’ a poem about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama kidnapped 8 years ago, aged 6; ‘Where is he? Who is he? A child- stolen- in the night- his house invaded- indistinguishable men in uniforms at gunpoint, grabbed him- his mother and father, His teacher, bound and gagged, heaped together, maintained within the sights of an assassin’s levelled rifle.’ Images of the Panchen Lama and other political prisoners are rife in the minds of campaigners, but this is not enough- imagination is just that, a solipsistic construct bridging individual emotional response with shared information. Action will free the people who provide such memories.

Contact : Emilie Hunter, Students for a Free Tibet UK. 07766 655379

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