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

ssNY!
Let me ask you first of your own candid and honest opinion on this article.

Thanks

I fell sorry for the Tibetan, don't like anyone to get hurt no matter which country, but I'll never get convienced with a article from  maiost like And Dawa Sherpa. It's hippocrate too see such maiost who can never fell the pain of their own brothers and sisters in their own land and trying to be insenly act smart showing sympathy on others. I don't even know are these maiost human ? are they really made up of flesh and blood ? Do they really have heart ?

I am sorry, if anyone gets hurt by my opinion, but listening to such maiost  who have ruined so many peoples life in Nepal, will be the last thing in my world. I hate them, will hate them up to my last breath.

Damn!!  A Maoist elected official supporting the Tibetan cause (going against dumazz Mao's progeny)...Nice!  Finally, I find one sensible commie in the Maoist legislature.  Being of Buddhist origin from the frontiers of Nepal and Tibet, I feel it is our every responsible to support the cause that Tibetans world-wide have undertaken.  Freedom and basic human rights are something we all take for granted since we were never at the dearth of it.  Once curbed, only then would we realize the necessity of such rights.  An autonomous Tibet is something we all can ask for even though it may never happen...But the key word here is "ask."  BTW, my solidarity with the Tibs lie in the fact that I often feel that though we, the Himalayan Buddhists classify our country as Nepal, our traditions, religions and culture are more in line with those of Tibets...And by us, I mean, the majority of people from Manang, Soul & Khumbu, Helambu, Mustang, Dolpa, Taplejung and the areas around the upper Himalayan belt.  Nepal has given our people a lot of opportunity and rights but at the same time, only our fore-fathers know of the discrimination they had to undergo under the bureacracy headed by the people who controlled the social structure...Hell, these Himalayan Buddhists were not even a part of the four varnas...Lower than the damn untouchables (or as Neps back in the 70s called us, "the peeps who never washed their faces"!!  Atleast today, with the advent of education and entrepreneurship, we've proven ourselves as good if not better than the so-caller upper echelon among the social heirarchy of the Nepali civil-life system.  My fellow Himalayan bros, let us, the new gen wipe the tears our forefathers wept at the discrimination they underwent.  Never shall you forget this.  And this should only motivate you further!! 

ssNY dai, nice article!!

I have one question for the Ang Dawa Sherpa. Why did you(THE MAOIST GOVERNMENT) let the police beat up PEACEFUL TIBETAN DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY ?

Its like Jo Chor Uskai Thulo shoor or rather Chor ko Khutta kaat ?

Before you start going around lecturing TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR. he he

An elected representative threatening yet with another cilvil war this time Buddhist sectarian violence within the Nepalese territory to back up refugee rights is either simply preposterous or even worse - plain insane. How does it sound to you when you hear the phrase Buddhist sectarian violence?

To deal with the Tibetan issue, the elected officials needs to reach a consensus via concerted brainstorming during  a parliamentary session where the situation is dealt with diplomatic, humanely and legal way.

During the 80s when the Gorkhaland conflict was in full bloom, Nepal did not interfere with India's  handling of the situation. And that was a right thing to do to serve Nepal's own interest as a nation. Now the same kind of stance needs to be adopted by Nepal when it comes to Tibet as Nepal does not enjoy so much power and influence as her neighbors.

I am telling you there are so many people in nepal who don't have mirrors..

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stone at other's.

AngDawa Sherpa.. what is he trying prove??? ... If nepal is not willing to help bhutanese refugees problem... you want nepal to give sympathy to Tibetan's.. wake up son..

You must be dreaming.. Nepal will let each and every Tibetans die -- if china or india tells us not to help them... Who is Kidding Who???

I feel your pain, but sorry nothing can be done, and you believe in what this Maoist is saying, all for his own selfish reason's.... gimme a break!!!