“As Japanese politicians, don’t we owe it to ourselves to do everything absolutely meticulously at this juncture in preparing for the meeting?”

　　　To the above appeal by Seishu Makino – a Lower House member of the Diet who belongs to the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and who has over the years been involved in matters relating to Tibet – Hakubun Shimomura, his Lower House colleague representing the leading opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), replied:

　　　“It conforms to the rules of etiquette for Japan as a member of the international community to proudly welcome His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama. His Holiness commands the respect of the world for having undauntedly protected Tibetan Buddhism over the years. All of us 91 bi-partisan members of the Diet had the honor of inviting Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay of the exiled Tibetan government to Tokyo last April; even more meticulous preparations are now being made at this stage in order to welcome His Holiness.”

　　　This is the gist of the conversations exchanged during a session of a private preparatory committee late last month attended by Diet members of the DPJ and the LDP. While I am not a Diet member, I was invited as a journalist/author who has extensively covered Tibet-related matters. Many of the attendees were among those Diet members who contributed significantly to the success of Prime Minister Sangay’s April visit to Tokyo.

　　　During the session, the committee confirmed that at least 100 bi-partisan Diet members will be present to hear the Tibetan religious leader and Nobel peace laureate speak in the International Conference Hall of the Diet Members’ Office Building; that the title of His Holiness’ address will be “Universal Responsibility and Human Values”; and that there will be a question-and-answer session after the address.

　　　Incidentally, the venue is the same conference hall as the one in which the bi-partisan Diet members’ group held the “Session to Hear the Truth about Tibet Today,” to which Prime Minister Sangay was invited as guest speaker.

　　　China’s ambassador to Tokyo, Chen Yonghua, tried various ploys to obstruct the April event involving Sangay. Realizing that none of the Japanese Diet members would heed his persistent warnings not to meet the Tibetan visitor, the Chinese envoy attempted to talk DJP Diet member Masatada Kodaira into rejecting any request for use of the conference hall in question. As Chairman of the Lower House Steering Committee, Kodaira has authority over the use of the conference hall, as well as other facilities in the Diet Members’ Office Building. Needless to say, he flatly turned down the envoy’s request.

　　　The Chinese government should be given some credit for having the commendable spy-like capability to discover the detail of the rules regulating the use of facilities the Japanese Diet manages. However, the absurd demand by its ambassador, which completely overlooked the fact that Japan is a nation practicing freedom and democracy, plainly reflects the limited authoritarian mentality of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Tibetan Protests Taking the Extreme Form of Deaths by Self-Immolation

　　　Ms Rebia Kadeer, exiled Uyghur leader and President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) based in Munich, Germany, visited Japan about a month after the bi-partisan Diet members’ session with Prime Minister Sangay. As soon as the news of her imminent arrival spread, a letter bearing the name of the Chinese ambassador was delivered to many of the Diet members interested in inviting Sangay to Japan, trying to prevent her visit.

　　　In that letter, Chen contemptuously referred to Kadeer and the 14 Dalai Lama without honorifics, calling them every name he could think of. Here’s what Chen wrote as regards His Holiness: “Dalai is the political exile who for years has hidden under the cloak of his religion, plotting to divide China and destroy the stability and ethnic unity of Tibetan society. He is nothing but ‘the grand ring leader of a political group maneuvering for Tibet’s independence.’”

　　　But Ambassador Chen’s accusations are completely false. In point of fact, His Holiness is not seeking Tibet’s independence, having already accepted the fact that Tibet exists within the framework of the Chinese constitution. The only thing he hopes for the Tibetans is that they are allowed to exist as a people.

　　　The Dalai Lama wants the Chinese government to protect the right of Tibetans to become devout believers of Tibetan Buddhism, speak their indigenous language, and enjoy the traditional Tibetan way of life, bringing up their children as authentic Tibetans. His strong appeal for preservation of the natural environment, as well as autonomy for the Tibetans in such areas as natural resources, economic development, and public health, presumably reflects the horrendous reality of today’s Tibet, in which the Chinese ruthlessly plunder Tibet’s natural resources and destroy its natural environment. I also believe the Dalai Lama is urging the Chinese government to respect the will of the Tibetans because of his grave concern over their blatant suppression by the CCP, which holds the Tibetan people in virtual confinement.

　　　Under such circumstances, it is only natural that the Dalai Lama is strongly appealing for autonomy for the Tibetans. For the past several decades, he has continued to send the same message to the Chinese government that, under full autonomy, every Tibetan, himself included, would abide by the Chinese constitution. Against such a backdrop, China must be out of its mind to accuse him of being the “grand ringleader…maneuvering for ‘Tibet’s Independence.’”

　　　On May 25 this year, the US State Department released its 2011 annual human rights report, detailing the brazen suppression by China as the backdrop to the current harsh reality of Tibet. The report defines as the root cause of Tibet’s plight the suppressive Chinese policies forcing, among other things, implementation of patriotic education and criticism of His Holiness, along with the occupation of Buddhist monasteries by Chinese security forces.

　　　As a matter of fact, a popular Tibetan writer identified only as Gudrup (43) died on October 4 in a self-immolation protest. This was followed two days later by the death by self-immolation of a 27-year-old father of two children identified as Sangaye Gytso. Tragic deaths by self-immolation continue interminably in today’s Tibet as the continuing Chinese occupation and suppression prompt desperate Tibetans to choose this extreme form of protest.

　　　In August last year, the 14^th Dalai Lama delegated all his political authority to Sangay, a young US-educated former scholar elected prime minister. There cannot be any problem for the supreme leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who has completely retired from politics, to have a dialogue with a group of Japanese Diet members. Further, even if he did not retire from politics, there is no reason why Japanese politicians should not meet with the Dalai Lama. What actually is problematic is the fact that the government of Japan – a nation that claims to honor freedom and democracy – has yet to invite His Holiness to the Prime Minister’s Office, or arrange for a meeting with the Emperor.

Never Buckle under Chinese Demands

　　　Throughout his more than half a century of arduous exile, the Dalai Lama has consistently provided spiritual support to Tibetans. He has also been a revered role model far and wide across the international community as a practitioner of Buddhism and a man of strong moral convictions. He has steadfastly preached the significance of nurturing compassion for all living things as the supreme ideal of Buddhism and of making every effort to help every living thing achieve happiness. It was because, as the Dalai Lama, he needed to attain “a new outlook on the world” that he dared study the theories of evolution and relativity, as well as quantum mechanics. All these studies provided the Buddhist in him a scientific way of thinking which enabled him to deepen his own insight into – and understanding of – human beings. For all these reasons, the leaders of the world have unanimously accorded him every courtesy, constantly seeking a dialogue with him.

　　　Despite strong objections from China, President Obama invited His Holiness to the White House in July of 2011. Nicolas Sarkozy, then President of France, met him in Poland in December of 2008. Last May, British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg together welcomed him to London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.

　　　To the harsh criticisms and objections from Beijing over these meetings withthe Dalai Lama, every head of state has simply replied: “We certainly do not wish to see our relations with China dampened by our conversation with His Holiness.” But the real implications may be far from “simple, because there is a real chance Beijing could suspend various bilateral interchanges or sometimes go to the extreme of boycotting the products of the specific nations concerned. However, no foreign heads of state have buckled under Chinese demands as they fully recognize the importance of safeguarding such pertinent values as man’s liberty, freedom of religion, human rights, humanity, and international law.

　　　Comments Hakubun Shimomura, manager for the group of bi-partisan Diet members inviting His Holiness: “If the Chinese government is offended by the coming event, that kind of Chinese mindset itself is certainly not in keeping with Japanese, and I believe, universal values. There will someday be an opportunity for the Japanese government to officially invite His Holiness to Japan. Until that time comes, all we want is to welcome him heartily to Japan by according him every courtesy he deserves.”

　　　I find his remarks deeply touching as I believe they reflect his passion and mettle as both a Japanese citizen and politician. I am eagerly looking forward to the scheduled dialogue with His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama in Tokyo on November 13.

(Translated from “Renaissance Japan” column no. 534 in the November 15, 2012 issue of The Weekly Shincho)