Ansprache/Speech

Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet Bureau, 19. August 2010, Wiesbaden

Your Excellency Mr. Roland Koch, Frau Koch, Distinguish Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen and my fellow Tibetans,

75 years ago, on 6 July 1935 a boy was to a poor family in the small village of Taktser in Eastern Tibet. Four years later he was recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet. We Tibetan believe the Dalai Lamas are manifestations of Buddha of Compassion.
In 1950 at the age of 16, His Holiness was called upon to assume full political power after China’s invasion of Tibet. Sadly in 1959, with the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by the Chinese troops, His Holiness was forced to escape into exile. Since then he has been living in Dharamsala, northern India.

Over the years His Holiness has travelled all over the world. Germany is the most visited country in Europe – over 35 times, indicating the tremendous public interest and support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan issue.

When asked by journalist why His Holiness visits Germany so frequently. He has said, “Ich liebe Deutschland”. His Holiness highly commends German people’s determination and has said that after the Second World War, Germany rose from the ashes and built a very strong democracy and economy for its people.

In 1989, His Holiness was awarded the *Nobel Peace Prize and the citation *said, “The Committee wants to emphasize the fact that the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.”

His Holiness has three main commitments in life - *Human Value*, highlight the compassionate nature in all human beings and promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. His Holiness’ second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. And as the Dalai Lama of Tibet to speak about the Tibetan issue.

In 2008 uprising across Tibet sent a clear and strong message to China that Tibetan people are not happy under Chinese rule. Over 200 Tibetans were killed and thousands arrested, disappeared and injured.

Recently Human Rights Watch released a report “*I Saw It with My Own Eyes’: Abuses by Security Forces in Tibet, 2008-2010 .*” The report details Chinese security forces using disproportionate force in breaking up protests, proceeding to large-scale arbitrary arrests, brutalizing detainees, and torturing suspects in custody. This report decisively refutes the Chinese government’s claim that it handled the protests in line with international standards and domestic laws.

Unfortunately, many violations continue today, including disappearances, wrongful convictions and imprisonment, persecution of families, and the targeting of Tibetans suspected of sympathizing with the protest movement.

Communist China’s systematic polices are aimed at destroying Tibetan religion, culture, language and our identity. Everyday, the high speech train from Beijing to Lhasa bringing thousands of Chinese and only a few return. China wants to make Tibetans a minority in our own country. This is China’s final solution to the Tibetan issue. We need your support to stop this immediately before it is too late.

Recently 3 brothers in Eastern Tibet all involved in preserving Tibet’s rich environment were sentenced to between five and fifteen years. We nee

*His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion, tolerance, mutual respect and non-violence *has become even more important during this difficult period in our history. Emphasizing the need of Universal Responsibility in a world becoming increasingly interdependent won him worldwide.

His Holiness followed the same principles in finding a solution to Tibetan issue. Ever since direct contact was established in 2002 with Beijing, he tried to find a mutually beneficial and acceptable solution based on his Middle Path policy of not seeking independence but a genuine regional autonomy in accordance with the principles and provisions of the Chinese constitution.

China has no moral legitimacy in Tibet. Legitimacy must be earned by responding positively to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s call for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people. The dedication and sacrifice of Tibetans to self-guard Tibetan issue must never be forgotten. Their resilience and steadfastness has give us strengthen, courage and belief in the non-violence struggle.

I would like to thank Friends for a Friend for organizing the 75th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama celebration. Your Excellency on behalf of the Tibetan people we would like to sincerely express our gratitude for your friendship and support.

Finally, when I was a small boy growing up in Dharamsala, I always heard elderly Tibetans praying that His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for tens of thousands of years. I too would like to pray today that His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for tens of thousands of years.

Thank you.