At the outset, let us explain the genesis of this issue. After 20 years of painstaking research and investigation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama found that the propitiation of this spirit by the Tibetan people harms the Tibetan national cause and endangers his own personal security. Therefore, he has urged the Tibetan people to stop propitiating this spirit.

However, a small number of people, including a few Western practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism have adopted a fundamentalist stand and are carrying out a campaign of defamation against the Exile Tibetan Administration and the person of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They have made allegations of human rights violations against the Tibetan Administration, which are totally baseless as the following facts will show:

First, there has been no forced signature campaign of any kind against the propitiation of this spirit. Soon after His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised the Tibetan Buddhists to stop propitiating Dholgyal, the Kashag issued a circular explaining why heeding his advice is in the best interest of the Tibetan national cause and the personal security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan people responded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's advice by voluntarily submitting signed statements: the majority saying that they have never propitiated the spirit while some vowing to give up this practice for good. This is now being misinterpreted by vested interests as a forced signature campaign.

Second, the claim that the Exile Tibetan Administration threatened to withhold financial Support provided by Western aid agencies to Tibetan refugees who refuse to give up the spirit devotion is totally untrue and lack any basis whatsoever. Such a threat has never been made.

Third, the allegations against the Tibetan Women's Association and Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) are totally false and defamatory. These are the two largest non-partisan grassroots Tibetan NGOs functioning in a totally democratic manner. They are actively involved in socio-economic and political issues confronting the Tibetan people. Following His Holiness' advice, the TYC held a general body meeting to chalk out a course of plan to educate the Tibetan people about the need to stop propitiating Dholgyal. The exile Tibetan administration can vouch for the fact that they have made no house-to-house searches, nor have they removed or destroyed the images of the spirit, nor have they beaten up, coerced or intimidated any propitiators of the spirit. A number of people have, of course, got rid of images of this spirit from their own homes. But this is purely a voluntary action and no one can say that they have no right to do so.

Fourth, another disinformation is the claim that children of parents propitiating this spirit have been thrown out of schools and Tibetan administration employees doing likewise have lost their jobs. We challenge the authors of this misinformation to produce just one evidence or case pointing to this.

We will welcome any kind of impartial on-the-spot investigation by any agency or organization to ascertain which side is telling the truth. In fact, we strongly urge such an investigation by those concerned or interested in this issue. It is easy to make sweeping allegations, but difficult to produce evidence unless one has the truth on one's side.

The exile Tibetan administration only persuades through education and information on the need to stop propitiating this spirit. It has gone no further than that and never intends to do so. The administration condemns any act of violence or coercion by anyone on anybody.

Finally, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Administration have a responsibility to advice the Tibetan people on matters affecting our national interests. However, it is up to the individuals concerned to implement or not to implement this advice.

Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration
Gangchen Kyishong
Dharmasala 176 215
INDIA

5 July 1996 [ Homepage ] [ Dholgyal ]



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