April 10

Through My Eyes

Saturday April 10

(We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he describes the increasing conflict with the Chinese.)

" The climax of the drama occurred only a short while later when Chiang convened a meeting with the two Prime Ministers, the Kashag and all of his own officials. When it began, he announced that they were gathered to discuss the absorption of the Tibetan army into the PLA. This was too much for Lukhangwa. He said straight away that the idea was unacceptable. No matter that it was one of the provinces of the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement'. It's terms had already been broken so many times by the Chinese that it was a meaningless document. It was unthinkable, he said, that the Tibetan army would switch allegiance to the PLA.

Chiang listened quietly. 'In that case,' he said, 'we shall begin by doing nothing more than replacing the Tibetan flag with the Chinese flag.' 'It will only be pulled down and burned if you do, 'replied Lukhangwa. 'And that will be embarrassing for you.' He went on to say that it was absurd for the Chinese, who had violated the integrity of Tibet, to expect to have friendly relations with Tibetans. 'You have already cracked a man's skull,' he said, 'and that crack has not yet healed. It is too soon to expect him to be your friend.' At this Chiang stormed out of the meeting. There would be another in three days' time.

Naturally I was not present at any of these conferences, but I was kept fully informed of everything that took place. It began to look as if I would be more directly involved very soon if the situation did not improve.

The meeting was convened three days later as planned. This time another general, Fan Ming, presided. He began by saying that he was sure that Lukhangwa wished to make an apology for what he had said last time. Lukhangwa corrected him at once. He had no intention of apologising. He stood by all that he had said, adding that he considered it his absolute duty to keep the Chinese fully informed of the Tibetan point of view. People were very disturbed at the presence of so many Chinese soldiers. Furthermore, they were concerned that Chamdo had not been returned to the administration of the central Government and there were no signs that the PLA elsewhere in Tibet was about to return to China. As far as the proposals concerning the Tibetan army were concerned, there would certainly be trouble if they were accepted.

Fan Ming was outraged. He accused Lukhangwa of being in league with foreign imperialists and said that he would demand that the Dalai Lama have him removed from office. Lukhangwa replied that if the Dalai Lama requested it of him, he would gladly give up not only his office, but also his life. With that, the meeting ended in confusion.

Soon afterwards, I received a written report from the Chinese stating that it was clear that Lukhangwa was an imperialist reactionary who did not want to improve relations between China and Tibet and asking that he be removed from office. I also received a verbal suggestion form the Kashag saying that it would probably be best if I asked both Prime Ministers to resign. This saddened me greatly. They had both shown such loyalty and conviction, such honesty and sincerity, such love for the people they served.

When they came to see me to offer their resignations a day or so later, they had tears in their eyes. There were tears in mine too. But I realised that if I did not accept the situation, their lives would be in danger. So, with a heavy heart, I accepted their resignations, conscious only of my concern, if possible, to improve relations with the Chinese, with whom I must now deal directly. For the first time I understood the meaning of the word 'bully'.

It was about this time that the Panchen Lama reached Lhasa. Unfortunately for him, he had been raised under the eye of the Chinese and was only now on his way to Tashilhunpo monastery to take up his rightful position there. When he arrived, from Amdo Province, he did so with yet another large detachment of Chinese troops ( his 'bodyguard'), along with his family and tutors.

Shortly after his arrival I received the young Panchen Lama at an official meeting followed by a private lunch at the Potala. I remember that he had with him a very pushy Chinese security officer, who tried to barge in on us when we were alone together. My own (ceremonial) bodyguards moved at once to stop this man, with the result that I almost had an ugly incident on my hands: the man was armed.

In the end, I did manage to have some time alone with the Panchen Lama and my impression was of a very honest and faithful young man. Being three years younger than me, and not yet in a position of authority, he retained an air of innocence and struck me as a very happy and pleasant person. I felt quite close to him. It was just as well that neither of us knew what a tragic life he would lead."

( Later in his life the Panchen Lama wrote a document to Beijing protesting Tibetan treatment at the hands of the Chinese government in Tibet; he was imprisoned and later released, dying soon after under suspicious circumstances. You may know this already of course! I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day working in our studio then headed up to the Grove where I spent the day bringing food to our trees and native plants. Two as one we've put out about 36,000 pounds! There's just a bit more to do on this feeding. After that I rested for awhile by your Medlar tree then returned to our studio to work a bit on our a land of Tibet. I'm going to put the pages on our infosite;I'll put this up so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday April 10 (We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he describes the increasing conflict with the Chinese.) " The climax of the drama occurred only a short while later when Chiang convened a meeting with the two Prime Ministers, the Kashag and all of his own officials. When it began, he announced that they were gathered to discuss the absorption of the Tibetan army into the PLA. This was too much for Lukhangwa. He said straight away that the idea was unacceptable. No matter that it was one of the provinces of the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement'. It's terms had already been broken so many times by the Chinese that it was a meaningless document. It was unthinkable, he said, that the Tibetan army would switch allegiance to the PLA. Chiang listened quietly. 'In that case,' he said, 'we shall begin by doing nothing more than replacing the Tibetan flag with the Chinese flag.' 'It will only be pulled down and burned if you do, 'replied Lukhangwa. 'And that will be embarrassing for you.' He went on to say that it was absurd for the Chinese, who had violated the integrity of Tibet, to expect to have friendly relations with Tibetans. 'You have already cracked a man's skull,' he said, 'and that crack has not yet healed. It is too soon to expect him to be your friend.' At this Chiang stormed out of the meeting. There would be another in three days' time. Naturally I was not present at any of these conferences, but I was kept fully informed of everything that took place. It began to look as if I would be more directly involved very soon if the situation did not improve. The meeting was convened three days later as planned. This time another general, Fan Ming, presided. He began by saying that he was sure that Lukhangwa wished to make an apology for what he had said last time. Lukhangwa corrected him at once. He had no intention of apologising. He stood by all that he had said, adding that he considered it his absolute duty to keep the Chinese fully informed of the Tibetan point of view. People were very disturbed at the presence of so many Chinese soldiers. Furthermore, they were concerned that Chamdo had not been returned to the administration of the central Government and there were no signs that the PLA elsewhere in Tibet was about to return to China. As far as the proposals concerning the Tibetan army were concerned, there would certainly be trouble if they were accepted. Fan Ming was outraged. He accused Lukhangwa of being in league with foreign imperialists and said that he would demand that the Dalai Lama have him removed from office. Lukhangwa replied that if the Dalai Lama requested it of him, he would gladly give up not only his office, but also his life. With that, the meeting ended in confusion. Soon afterwards, I received a written report from the Chinese stating that it was clear that Lukhangwa was an imperialist reactionary who did not want to improve relations between China and Tibet and asking that he be removed from office. I also received a verbal suggestion form the Kashag saying that it would probably be best if I asked both Prime Ministers to resign. This saddened me greatly. They had both shown such loyalty and conviction, such honesty and sincerity, such love for the people they served. When they came to see me to offer their resignations a day or so later, they had tears in their eyes. There were tears in mine too. But I realised that if I did not accept the situation, their lives would be in danger. So, with a heavy heart, I accepted their resignations, conscious only of my concern, if possible, to improve relations with the Chinese, with whom I must now deal directly. For the first time I understood the meaning of the word 'bully'. It was about this time that the Panchen Lama reached Lhasa. Unfortunately for him, he had been raised under the eye of the Chinese and was only now on his way to Tashilhunpo monastery to take up his rightful position there. When he arrived, from Amdo Province, he did so with yet another large detachment of Chinese troops ( his 'bodyguard'), along with his family and tutors. Shortly after his arrival I received the young Panchen Lama at an official meeting followed by a private lunch at the Potala. I remember that he had with him a very pushy Chinese security officer, who tried to barge in on us when we were alone together. My own (ceremonial) bodyguards moved at once to stop this man, with the result that I almost had an ugly incident on my hands: the man was armed. In the end, I did manage to have some time alone with the Panchen Lama and my impression was of a very honest and faithful young man. Being three years younger than me, and not yet in a position of authority, he retained an air of innocence and struck me as a very happy and pleasant person. I felt quite close to him. It was just as well that neither of us knew what a tragic life he would lead." ( Later in his life the Panchen Lama wrote a document to Beijing protesting Tibetan treatment at the hands of the Chinese government in Tibet; he was imprisoned and later released, dying soon after under suspicious circumstances. You may know this already of course! I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day working in our studio then headed up to the Grove where I spent the day bringing food to our trees and native plants. Two as one we've put out about 36,000 pounds! There's just a bit more to do on this feeding. After that I rested for awhile by your Medlar tree then returned to our studio to work a bit on our a land of Tibet. I'm going to put the pages on our infosite;I'll put this up so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)