Murder of Tibetan Monks...again :-(

Well, here we go.......again. As the Olympics approaches, the tension rises.....and brutal repression is stepped up....again.

Below is an article, reprinted with permission, that was written by Nirmala Carvalhoof Asian news and posted on http://www.phayul.com ( a site you might like to visit for many more articles on Tibet)

In brief, the article outlines the recently staged "suicides" of two important elderly monks who lived in the monastery at the Panchen Lama's home. The Panchen Lama is typically the person who runs Tibet's secular activities, in the stead of the Dalai Lama.

Throughout time, as a Dalai Lama passes, the Panchen Lama often fills in for him until another is chosen/located and educated...and visa versa. As such, the Chinese Govt. finds this position to be a great opportunity to 'manage' the Tibetans by controlling the Panchen Lama. The true Panchen Lama has been held prisoner for many years by Chinese authorities; while they try to present their hand-chosen Panchen Lama as the real one. Through this young man, they hope to control Tibetans once the Dalai Lama is dead. Is the Dalai Lama soon to die? We all hope not; but it wouldn't be for lack of effort to kill him. The man the whole world knows as the 14th Dalai Lama has been under constant threat of murder since the 1950's; from Mao himself, on. He was successfully poisoned once....and almost died then. And, the Chinese Govt even tried to get his older brother to kill him! Instead, he used the opportunity to escape prison and warn the Dalai Lama of the seriousness of the situation. This in turn, led to the Dalai Lama's escape into India. His brother came to the United States, and founded the Tibetan Mongolian Center at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

http://www.tibetancc.com/info/Main.aspx?Page=Our%20Founder

This past fall I was lucky to attend all the events in Atlanta for the Dalai Lama's visit to Emory University. Then, I was privileged to take my Mongolian Buddhist monk houseguests onto Indiana University, at Bloomington, for a week of his teachings; and to the Tibetan Mongolian Center. I mention these things, and include pictures, in this article not to brag....but to provide proof positive, first-hand, experience to attest to the accuracy of these reports and events.

It's difficult to imagine, in our view of the world, that people really do these things. We also get bombarded with news reports of violence and bad things all over the globe. Eventually, it's easier to block these things out.....or pretend they don't exist. But, I caution you, we do this at our own risk. Recent events should reaffirm that statement. The recall of Chinese made toys, and the final springing of the financial trap that has been laid for Western countries in the recent massive sell-off of financial assets to disrupt our economy.

As hard as it is to accept, we must. Chinese govt. aggression is expansionistic; and more than South Korea,Taiwan, Nepal, and surrounding countries are at risk. Tibet was just the start of a very long, and very patient plan to exert world dominance. Many years ago, there were the Opium wars. The Chinese have never forgotten the dependence that was created when addiction of the masses was used to overcome them. They have cleverly turned the tables on Western countries, by meticulously engendering an addiction to things by selling us cheap imports. The trade imbalance with the United States alone has been well over $400 billion a year! This deficit has been maintained by pegging their currency, the Yuan, at a fixed rate to the U.S. dollar. What have they done with all that money? Bought our govt bonds, our stocks, our properties. They now "own" us coming and going. And, we 'gave' it to them.

So, what do these economic things have to do with old monks being killed?The oldest monks are the only ones who can speak to pre-invasion Tibet.....and can provide factual evidence to refute the propaganda lies that will be presented to visiting media during the Olympics. Even without being murdered, that whole generation is already fading fast. Millions of Tibetans have died, and over 6,000 monasteries have been destroyed, since the 1950's. In Mongolia, the Buddhist monks were hung from the rafters of monasteries, and then the buildings burnt. They didn't resist, and it was cheaper than using bullets. Many escaped, but age has taken them. Still, many very brave and very determined monks purposely stayed in Tibet, under cover, patiently spending their lives in the quiet preservation of their culture; and with the expectation of helping when the Dalai Lama could return. So, like the Dalai Lama, they are a threat to total domination by Chinese communists.

Why is the Dalai Lama a threat? Because he teaches a philosophy that stresses inner-peace over unhealthy attachments to material goods, excessive emotional expressions, money, and power. It is the very anti-thesis of blind aggression, control, manipulations, and greed. Add to that the fundamental tenant of Tibetan Buddhists (the daily practices to develop personal behaviors that build compassion towards others as a pre-requisite to real happiness), and you have THE most powerful method of resistance to domination: There is nothing that can be done to corrupt/blackmail you. Not even guilt works. If a person does nothing that they would regret, then how can they be castigated later through guilt?

So, then, what do desperate people do when they can't control something or someone? They try to destroy it. Hence, the "suicide" of wonderful monks. How can I say that? Because I met these monks, and many like them, on my travels through Tibet. A few even 'saved' me, by warning me of dangers I didn't perceive.....allowing me to escape. Can we even imagine the strength that it takes to retain hope, while living 40+ years under constant threat of death and the denial of a basic human right to be spiritually pure people?

Want a good 'feel' for the reality of Tibetans? Watch the Martin Scorsese movie: "Kundin." It is brutally accurate, though toned down so not to be overwhelmingly painful to watch. That movie shows how monks were slaughtered during the invasion and occupation of Tibet. Well, its happening again......only through 'suicides.'

Its time to support all of our politicians and govt officials in their efforts to escape Chinese Govt domination....if only for the reason of avoiding a similar fate to that of the Tibetan peoples. Write and email to your congressmen, senators, and all presidential candidates. Tell them that you will show your support by boycotting the purchase of Chinese made goods. Turn our economic crisis around by bringing jobs back to the United States. Buy American, British, and even French! Look at that label on each product before you purchase it. It's a label that was proscribed during World War II to allow customers to see the origin of their purchases; so they wouldn't inadvertently be supporting our enemies. Well, I hate to say it, but economically and spiritually the Chinese govt is our enemy. If the slaughter of child-like monks isn't a clear enough warning, maybe the encouragement of an addiction to a consumerist driven 'life' is. Whatever your religion, or beliefs, its time to differentiate between economics and real life. Life isn't consumption. This isn't the message we tell ourselves in a present 'culture' of mass and conspicuous consumption (as a measure of a person's true "worth"). But if we look back at history, it's clear that economics is an artifice of some humans; not a path to salvation, true happiness, nor enlightenment towards ways to achieve either.

Movies to watch....available at most video stores, and Netflix:

The Incredible Movie Kundun, a true story about the Dalai Lama and Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet, an outside view of Tibet,the Dalai Lama, and the invasion

Formore ongoing information on the struggle for Tibetan's freedom on Gather:

The FREE TIBETGroup on Gather

Tibetan monks commit "suicide," victims of pre-Olympic repression

Asia News[Friday, January 18, 2008 18:31] Nirmala Carvalho (reprinted with permisson, see http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=19068&article=Tibetan+monks+commit+%e2%80%9csuicide%2c%e2%80%9d+victims+of+pre-Olympic+repression&t=1&c=1 Urgen Tenzin, executive director of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, tells AsiaNews that the death of Gyaltsen Tsepa Lobsang and Yangpa Locho is full of unanswered questions, part of an increasingly nasty repression campaign waged by Beijing ahead of this summer's Olympic Games. Dharamsala, January 18: The suicide over the last few months of two elderly and well-respected Tibetan monks "under mysterious circumstances must be seen against a background of increasing pressure by Chinese authorities on Tibetans. Before the Olympics the government is in fact trying to rid itself of all those social elements who might cause problems," said Urgen Tenzin, executive director of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy. http://www.tchrd.org/press/ Speaking to AsiaNews, Tenzin said that the two monks, Gyaltsen Tsepa Lobsang and Yangpa Locho, both 71-years-old, were found hanged in Tashilhunpo Monastery, the official seat of the Panchen Lama and scene of one of the most violent anti-Chinese demonstrations ever seen in Tibet. According to some local lamas, the government and the monastery's abbots had always humiliated and ostracised the two monks, guilty in their eyes of training those who instigated the mass anti-Chinese revolt of he mid-nineties, but especially blamed for recognising the 11th Panchen Lama, who was later seized by Communist authorities. Furthermore, the monks (at least those still alive) who recognised the Panchen Lama are consulted on recognising the new Dalai Lama. Both suicide victims were thus on the list of those who would have searched for the reincarnation of the current Tibetan leader, seen by Beijing as a "secessionist." According to Tenzin, "the lack of religious freedom and the tight restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on how Tibetan Buddhism is practiced tend to drive many monks to desperation. Some end up take desperate measures. However, in this particular case we are not sure that the two monks actually took their own lives. They did not talk about it to anyone and did not leave any message." China's attitude is "getting worse by the day as the Beijing Olympics approach. The central authorities have given strict instructions to Communist leaders in Tibet, who use violence and whatever means necessary to maintain security and impose the so-called social harmony. But this does nothing more than exacerbate the situation because if our monks can come so close to desperation, the crisis in Tibet's population is not far off."