‘Please take action,’ the Dalai Lama urges Tibet supporters

Participants at the Second Special Tibet Support Groups Meeting in Dharamshala huddle around His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a photo. November 17, 2012. DHARAMSHALA, November 18: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to members of Tibet Support Groups from all over the world who are gathered in Dharamshala to discuss the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet, Saturday. Addressing the delegates as “brothers and sisters,” the Dalai Lama urged them to “please take action.” “Please take action wherever you come from,” the Tibetan leader said. “Now already in many countries there are parliamentary support groups and Tibet support groups. So, I think you should be closely in touch and mobilise more voice.” Clarifying that he is now speaking as a citizen of Tibet, after retiring from his political duties last year, the Dalai Lama said Tibetans are carrying a difficult struggle. “(The Tibetan struggle) is entirely based on non violence and compassion. We are actually passing through a difficult period” His Holiness said. “The main reason why I came here is (to show) my respect to you all. I always consider our supporters are not pro-Tibetans but rather pro-justice and pro-nonviolence.” “Your support for Tibet’s cause gives encouragement and moral support. A struggle which is strictly based on non violence, like ours, should succeed.” Speaking on the ongoing wave of self-immolation protests inside Tibet, the Dalai Lama said the fiery sacrifices are in principle non violent. “I consider these Tibetans burning - certainly these people have courage and determination to sacrifice their own life, so they can easily harm other people - but I think these people although they practiced a little bit of violence but I think in principle they still practice non violence.” He added that the younger generation of Tibetans in Tibet these days have stronger determination as compared to earlier generations. The Nobel peace laureate cautioned that the situation in China is serious. “Now, things are serious. Whether Chinese government agrees or not, there are problems and these problems are neither good for Tibetans or for the people of China. So, therefore we have to find a solution based on mutual understanding and mutual respect between Han brothers sisters and Tibetan brothers and sisters,” the Dalai Lama said. “The use force will never get satisfactory results.” “The Chinese government is very powerful militarily but just relying on using force will not solve the problems. It creates more problems, more resentment.” Around two hundred members of Tibetan Support Groups from 43 countries are attending the Second Special International Tibet Support Groups Meeting aimed at “exploring ways to press the Chinese government to end its repressive policies” in Tibet.