October16

Through My Eyes

Saturday October 16

(We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he continues to tell of the Tibetan uprising.)

" During the 1980s, his son, who was a member of the delegation forced to sign the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement', came to India, where he wrote a detailed account of what really happened. But later, someone was actually killed.

I was appalled at the news. Something had to be done to defuse the situation. It sounded to me as though, in a fit of anger, the crowd might even be tempted to attack the Chinese garrison. A number of popular leaders had been spontaneously elected and were calling for the Chinese to leave Tibet to the Tibetans. I prayed for calm. At the same time I realised that whatever my own personal feelings might be, there was no question of my going over to the Chinese headquarters that evening. Accordingly, my Lord Chamberlain telephoned to pass on my regrets, adding, on my instructions, that I hoped normality would be restored very soon and that the crowds could be persuaded to disperse.

However, the crowd at the gates of the Norbulingka was determined not to move. As far as the people and their leaders were concerned, the life of the Dalai Lama was in danger from the Chinese and they would not leave until I gave a personal assurance that I would not go to the Chinese military headquarters that night. This I did, via one of my officials. But it was not enough. They then demanded that I should never go to the camp. Again they were given my assurance, at which point most of the leaders left and went into the city, where further demonstrations were held; but many of the people outside the Norbulingka remained. Unfortunately, they did not realise that their continued presence constituted a far greater threat than if they had gone away.

That same day, I sent three of my most senior ministers to meet with General Tan Kuan-sen. When eventually they reached his headquarters, they found that Ngabo Ngawang Jigme was already there. At first the Chinese were polite. But when the General arrived he was in an ill-concealed rage. He and two other senior officials harangued the Tibetans for several hours about the treachery of the 'imperialist rebels', adding the accusation that the Tibetan Government had been secretly organising agitation against the Chinese authorities. Furthermore, it had defied the orders of the Chinese and refused to disarm the 'rebels' in Lhasa. They could now expect drastic measures to be taken to crush this opposition.

When they reported back to me that evening in my audience-room at the Norbulingka, I realised that the Chinese were issuing an ultimatum. Meanwhile, at about six o'clock, around seventy junior government officials, together with the remaining popular leaders and members of my personal bodyguard, held a meeting outside the Jewel Park and endorsed a declaration denouncing the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement', adding that Tibet no longer recognised the Chinese authority. When I heard of this, I sent a message saying it was the duty of the leaders to reduce the existing tension and not to aggravate it. But my advice seemed to fall on ears that could not hear.

Later that same evening a letter arrived from General Tan Kuan-sen suggesting, in suspiciously moderate tones, that I move to his headquarters for my own safety. I was amazed at his effrontery. There was no question of doing any such thing. However, in order to try to buy time, I wrote him a conciliatory reply.

The next day, 11 March, the crowd leaders announced to the Government that they would post guards outside the Cabinet office, which was situated within the outer wall of the Norbulingka. This was to prevent any ministers from leaving the palace grounds. They feared that if they did not take the law into their own hands the Government might be forced into a compromise by the Chinese authorities. The Kashag in turn held a meeting with these leaders and requested them to call off the demonstration as it was in danger of precipitating an open confrontation.

A day later, the women in Lhasa staged a mass demonstration. Meanwhile, the crowd leaders showed some willingness to listen to my ministers, but then two more letters arrived from General Tan Kuan-sen. One of these was addressed to me, the other to the Kashag. To the former, which was similar to the first, I again replied politely, agreeing that there were dangerous elements within the crowd which sought to undermine relations between Tibet and China. I also agreed that it might be a good idea if, for my safety, I went to his headquarters.

In his other letter, the General ordered the ministers to instruct the crowd to take down the barricades that had been erected on the road outside Lhasa that led to China. Unfortunately, this had a calamitous effect. It seemed to the crowd leaders that, by saying that they wanted these removed, the Chinese were making a clear indication that they planned to bring in reinforcements which would be used to attack the Dalai Lama. They refused."

( A terrible situation. 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.

Through my eyes

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day spinning for you then continued working a bit on the weaving of the backstrap with the grapevine bark which with us working two as one together is going quite well! After that I headed up to the Grove to continue work on the water system. First I put screening over the opened parts of the head assembly then continued with the draining of the driplines. There were a few repairs to make on lines I'd cut with the scythe as usual of course. Two as one we've gotten the water system prepared for the winter ready for next spring! After that I continued bringing food to our trees and native plants. Two as one pulling strongly together we're working on the grapes now! After that I rested for a bit by your Medlar tree then headed down to our studio to continue helping Mom with the window plastic until it began to rain. After that I worked in our studio on our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages. There certainly were a lot of them this week! I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite; I'll put this up for now 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 October 16 (We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he continues to tell of the Tibetan uprising.) " During the 1980s, his son, who was a member of the delegation forced to sign the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement', came to India, where he wrote a detailed account of what really happened. But later, someone was actually killed. I was appalled at the news. Something had to be done to defuse the situation. It sounded to me as though, in a fit of anger, the crowd might even be tempted to attack the Chinese garrison. A number of popular leaders had been spontaneously elected and were calling for the Chinese to leave Tibet to the Tibetans. I prayed for calm. At the same time I realised that whatever my own personal feelings might be, there was no question of my going over to the Chinese headquarters that evening. Accordingly, my Lord Chamberlain telephoned to pass on my regrets, adding, on my instructions, that I hoped normality would be restored very soon and that the crowds could be persuaded to disperse. However, the crowd at the gates of the Norbulingka was determined not to move. As far as the people and their leaders were concerned, the life of the Dalai Lama was in danger from the Chinese and they would not leave until I gave a personal assurance that I would not go to the Chinese military headquarters that night. This I did, via one of my officials. But it was not enough. They then demanded that I should never go to the camp. Again they were given my assurance, at which point most of the leaders left and went into the city, where further demonstrations were held; but many of the people outside the Norbulingka remained. Unfortunately, they did not realise that their continued presence constituted a far greater threat than if they had gone away. That same day, I sent three of my most senior ministers to meet with General Tan Kuan-sen. When eventually they reached his headquarters, they found that Ngabo Ngawang Jigme was already there. At first the Chinese were polite. But when the General arrived he was in an ill-concealed rage. He and two other senior officials harangued the Tibetans for several hours about the treachery of the 'imperialist rebels', adding the accusation that the Tibetan Government had been secretly organising agitation against the Chinese authorities. Furthermore, it had defied the orders of the Chinese and refused to disarm the 'rebels' in Lhasa. They could now expect drastic measures to be taken to crush this opposition. When they reported back to me that evening in my audience-room at the Norbulingka, I realised that the Chinese were issuing an ultimatum. Meanwhile, at about six o'clock, around seventy junior government officials, together with the remaining popular leaders and members of my personal bodyguard, held a meeting outside the Jewel Park and endorsed a declaration denouncing the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement', adding that Tibet no longer recognised the Chinese authority. When I heard of this, I sent a message saying it was the duty of the leaders to reduce the existing tension and not to aggravate it. But my advice seemed to fall on ears that could not hear. Later that same evening a letter arrived from General Tan Kuan-sen suggesting, in suspiciously moderate tones, that I move to his headquarters for my own safety. I was amazed at his effrontery. There was no question of doing any such thing. However, in order to try to buy time, I wrote him a conciliatory reply. The next day, 11 March, the crowd leaders announced to the Government that they would post guards outside the Cabinet office, which was situated within the outer wall of the Norbulingka. This was to prevent any ministers from leaving the palace grounds. They feared that if they did not take the law into their own hands the Government might be forced into a compromise by the Chinese authorities. The Kashag in turn held a meeting with these leaders and requested them to call off the demonstration as it was in danger of precipitating an open confrontation. A day later, the women in Lhasa staged a mass demonstration. Meanwhile, the crowd leaders showed some willingness to listen to my ministers, but then two more letters arrived from General Tan Kuan-sen. One of these was addressed to me, the other to the Kashag. To the former, which was similar to the first, I again replied politely, agreeing that there were dangerous elements within the crowd which sought to undermine relations between Tibet and China. I also agreed that it might be a good idea if, for my safety, I went to his headquarters. In his other letter, the General ordered the ministers to instruct the crowd to take down the barricades that had been erected on the road outside Lhasa that led to China. Unfortunately, this had a calamitous effect. It seemed to the crowd leaders that, by saying that they wanted these removed, the Chinese were making a clear indication that they planned to bring in reinforcements which would be used to attack the Dalai Lama. They refused." ( A terrible situation. 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. Through my eyes ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day spinning for you then continued working a bit on the weaving of the backstrap with the grapevine bark which with us working two as one together is going quite well! After that I headed up to the Grove to continue work on the water system. First I put screening over the opened parts of the head assembly then continued with the draining of the driplines. There were a few repairs to make on lines I'd cut with the scythe as usual of course. Two as one we've gotten the water system prepared for the winter ready for next spring! After that I continued bringing food to our trees and native plants. Two as one pulling strongly together we're working on the grapes now! After that I rested for a bit by your Medlar tree then headed down to our studio to continue helping Mom with the window plastic until it began to rain. After that I worked in our studio on our a land of Tibet. Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages. There certainly were a lot of them this week! I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite; I'll put this up for now 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!)