By William Jackson
Fifty-two years ago this month, a 15-year-old monk was propelled into power by circumstances utterly beyond his control. A year before, a large army had occupied the north-eastern regions of his country. And only one month before, 40,000 troops invaded the south-eastern borders. Despite this ? indeed, in large part because of it ? the boy was made head of state, resolving in his naivety that he would maintain peace, safeguard independence, and protect his culture from the threat of annihilation. In opposition to some, he refused to leave his people and flee into exile.
Forty six years ago this month, the now 21-year-old monk traveled to India to discuss possible political asylum with that country?s Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. But China?s Premier, Chou Enlai, promised that the quickly deteriorating state of affairs in the monk?s home country would be rectified if he returned. Once again ? and once more against the judgment of many ? he opted to return to his homeland to defend his people.
The young monk-turned-ruler, of course, is the Dalai Lama, and in the end, he was forced to leave Tibet in the face of probably death.
And now, decades later, the 67-year-old spiritual leader of Tibet continues to fight the same losing battle.
On the surface, it would seem that in many ways the world has learned from the efforts of this ?simple monk?, as he often calls himself. Congresses and parliaments worldwide have applauded his endeavors to raise human rights awareness. World leaders have enthusiastically granted him one-on-one audiences to discuss issues of global concern. Hundreds of universities have welcomed him to address vast audiences. In 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for, according to the prize?s official Web site, ?conferring the greatest benefit on mankind? for that year.
But despite the obvious respect for the Dalai Lama?s plight, that plight has been in basically every respect a grand failure.
A look at this month of November 2002 may illustrate:
This month, five Tibetans were arrested on charges of praying for the Dalai Lama.
This month, a recently-released Tibetan nun addressed a Tokyo crowd, relating experiences in a Chinese prison in Tibet that included regular beatings, executions of inmates for singing independence songs, and electrocution. She was 14 years old when her term began and was arrested during a peaceful demonstration.
This month, during the Communist party congress, the executive deputy party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region refused to show reporters any evidence to back up his claims that the 13-year-old Panchen Lama (a position second in spiritual importance only to the Dalai Lama) was ?living a very happy life?. The boy and his family were kidnapped over seven years ago by the Chinese government and have not been seen since.
This month, a Tibetan prisoner of conscience, Lobsang Dhargyal, suffered a brain hemorrhage during a torture session that resulted in his death. He was in a Chinese forced labor camp.
This month, Hu Jintao replaced Jiang Zemin as President of the People?s Republic of China. Hu headed the Communist Party in Tibet from 1988 to 1992 and his policies there included administrative interference in cultural and religious affairs and the imposition of martial law.
Though the world has sympathized with the Tibetans and even agreed that their cause is just, nothing has happened to rectify the situation. Like Chou Enlai, empty promises are given to pressure change in Tibet but ultimately dissipate in the wake of foreign investment and ?good economic relations.?
Let the world learn a lesson from the Dalai Lama and the Tibet he has tried, seemingly in vain, to save. Without a doubt, the traditional priorites of nation-states ? that is, economic and military dominance ? must now make space on their platform for a third, relatively new, even greater precedence: human rights.