Posted by: ssNY May 21, 2008
Login in to Rate this Post:
0 
? 
?
Nepali citizens: Isn't it time that we all stood with the Tibetans in solidarity?
By Ang Dawa Sherpa
Published in the 'GORKHAPATRA DAILY' official newspaper of the Government of Nepal, 18 May 2008.
We, the people of Himalayan region of Nepal such as Sherpa, Tamang, Lhopa, Yolmo, Manang, Dolpo, Lemi, Mukumpa, Gyasumdo, Tsumpa etc share with the Tibetans a common religion, culture, spiritual teacher, costumes, habits, language, ultimate wish for enlightenment and seek refuge in the same three gems. Although geographically and politically we are citizens of different countries but we all belong to the same Bhotia race and no body can separate us.
It is a human nature that whenever your neighbor is in trouble, especially when they share with you the same religion and culture, we must extend all possible help. We have generally seen that even animals, if attacked by a different kind, collectively resists by shouting, by biting, by crying and by all means in order to try to escape from the enemy. We are supposed to be wiser than animals.
Today we have seen and heard about the situation in Tibet. I cannot say whether people who voluntarily pretend not to see and hear are being bribed/ paid or not. But if they blindly choose to jump down the cliff in full sense, I have nothing to say.
We all must know very clearly that the Tibetan Government in Exile is not demanding independence. They are not demanding the boycott of Olympics. Clearly, they are demanding equal rights as a nationality, freedom of religion, freedom of religion, preservation of old monasteries and building new monasteries, freedom to join monasteries for the spread of Buddhism. In short, what our Buddhist brothers and sisters are demanding are freedom of religion and culture. We have seen how in Lhasa they are brutally suppressed for demanding these basic human rights.
Survival of Tibetan Buddhism will depend on the survival of rich cultural heritage of Tibet. It is absolutely necessary to strive for the preservation of this rich cultural heritage of Tibet, which is based on Buddhist philosophy, if we are aspiring for peace and stability in China, Tibet, India, our country Nepal and the world. This does not mean that we love a particular country and support that and hate another country and protest. This is related to our own country's peace and security.
According to international laws, people have the right to protest peacefully for basic human rights. It is unfortunate that in Tibet peaceful protesters have been gunned down, brutally suppressed, their movements restricted causing difficulty to earn their livelihood, monasteries locked and thousand of monks and nuns arrested and beaten brutally. This is a real emergency situation.
Therefore, we, the Nepali Buddhist citizens of Himalayan region, must stand in solidarity with the Tibetans in their difficult times. It is our moral responsibility to help our neighbor. Although we may not be able to help physically and financially, yet even expression of our concerns and our solidarity will contribute towards reliving some pain and suffering.
I would like to say further that recently our Nepali police have been arresting revered Buddhist monks, nuns from Soyambhu, Boudha and Jwalakhel areas in the name of stopping Tibetan protesters. Even the people of Himalayan region of this country are subjected to this lawlessness of the Nepali police which is causing immense harassments to their daily lives. The police proudly and easily announce that they have instructions from the government. Such statements are causing great harm to the image of Nepal internationally. It is time that we expressed our concerns seriously.
We do understand that once a protester reaches the venue there must be a prescribed law in dealing with them according to the nature of protest. However, if the police continue to arrest monks and nuns arbitarily while walking on the streets, an unprecedented sectarian violence may erupt in our country. In such eventuality the concerned authorities in the government including the police will be held fully responsible.
Finally, I sum up by asking this vital question to all the Nepali citizens of Himalayan region who share the same religion and culture with the Tibetans, Isn't it time that we all stood up with the Tibetans in solidarity?
May Buddha and Boddhisattvas give us the wisdom and the courage to distinguish between good and evil and promote the positive virtues of cause and action. May there be peace and stability in Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha.
Ang Dawa Sherpa is an Elected Legislator, CPM (Maoist), of Nepal. Translated from the original Nepali by Jamyang Dorjee
Phayul.com
By Ang Dawa Sherpa
Published in the 'GORKHAPATRA DAILY' official newspaper of the Government of Nepal, 18 May 2008.
We, the people of Himalayan region of Nepal such as Sherpa, Tamang, Lhopa, Yolmo, Manang, Dolpo, Lemi, Mukumpa, Gyasumdo, Tsumpa etc share with the Tibetans a common religion, culture, spiritual teacher, costumes, habits, language, ultimate wish for enlightenment and seek refuge in the same three gems. Although geographically and politically we are citizens of different countries but we all belong to the same Bhotia race and no body can separate us.
It is a human nature that whenever your neighbor is in trouble, especially when they share with you the same religion and culture, we must extend all possible help. We have generally seen that even animals, if attacked by a different kind, collectively resists by shouting, by biting, by crying and by all means in order to try to escape from the enemy. We are supposed to be wiser than animals.
Today we have seen and heard about the situation in Tibet. I cannot say whether people who voluntarily pretend not to see and hear are being bribed/ paid or not. But if they blindly choose to jump down the cliff in full sense, I have nothing to say.
We all must know very clearly that the Tibetan Government in Exile is not demanding independence. They are not demanding the boycott of Olympics. Clearly, they are demanding equal rights as a nationality, freedom of religion, freedom of religion, preservation of old monasteries and building new monasteries, freedom to join monasteries for the spread of Buddhism. In short, what our Buddhist brothers and sisters are demanding are freedom of religion and culture. We have seen how in Lhasa they are brutally suppressed for demanding these basic human rights.
Survival of Tibetan Buddhism will depend on the survival of rich cultural heritage of Tibet. It is absolutely necessary to strive for the preservation of this rich cultural heritage of Tibet, which is based on Buddhist philosophy, if we are aspiring for peace and stability in China, Tibet, India, our country Nepal and the world. This does not mean that we love a particular country and support that and hate another country and protest. This is related to our own country's peace and security.
According to international laws, people have the right to protest peacefully for basic human rights. It is unfortunate that in Tibet peaceful protesters have been gunned down, brutally suppressed, their movements restricted causing difficulty to earn their livelihood, monasteries locked and thousand of monks and nuns arrested and beaten brutally. This is a real emergency situation.
Therefore, we, the Nepali Buddhist citizens of Himalayan region, must stand in solidarity with the Tibetans in their difficult times. It is our moral responsibility to help our neighbor. Although we may not be able to help physically and financially, yet even expression of our concerns and our solidarity will contribute towards reliving some pain and suffering.
I would like to say further that recently our Nepali police have been arresting revered Buddhist monks, nuns from Soyambhu, Boudha and Jwalakhel areas in the name of stopping Tibetan protesters. Even the people of Himalayan region of this country are subjected to this lawlessness of the Nepali police which is causing immense harassments to their daily lives. The police proudly and easily announce that they have instructions from the government. Such statements are causing great harm to the image of Nepal internationally. It is time that we expressed our concerns seriously.
We do understand that once a protester reaches the venue there must be a prescribed law in dealing with them according to the nature of protest. However, if the police continue to arrest monks and nuns arbitarily while walking on the streets, an unprecedented sectarian violence may erupt in our country. In such eventuality the concerned authorities in the government including the police will be held fully responsible.
Finally, I sum up by asking this vital question to all the Nepali citizens of Himalayan region who share the same religion and culture with the Tibetans, Isn't it time that we all stood up with the Tibetans in solidarity?
May Buddha and Boddhisattvas give us the wisdom and the courage to distinguish between good and evil and promote the positive virtues of cause and action. May there be peace and stability in Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha.
Ang Dawa Sherpa is an Elected Legislator, CPM (Maoist), of Nepal. Translated from the original Nepali by Jamyang Dorjee
Phayul.com