SuperSamgha, The Association of Japanese Buddhists for Tibet
condemns
the intensified crackdown on Tibetan Monks by the Chinese Government and calls
for governments to intervene immediately.
SuperSamgha, The Association of Japanese Buddhists for Tibet is a group of Japanese Monks and lay Buddhists that supports Tibet.
The coalition of
cross-denomination sects gathered together today to condemn China's
merciless crackdown, which has been intensified against monks and the people of
Tibet especially in the
Ngaba area of eastern Tibet
since a young monk set fire to himself in protest.
Nine young
Tibetans have set fire to themselves in eastern Tibet since March 2011- Seven since
26 September- and five have died.
We deeply regret
the death of these monks, and at the same time would like to express our
deepest condemnation of China's on going brutal oppression of the Tibetan
people especially in the area of Ngaba, Amdo (Ch; Shichen) and monks of Kirti
Monastery in the same area, one of the largest and most influential monastic
institutions in Tibet where seven of the self-immolations are linked to.
We ask, what is it
that these monks and former monks are crying out for by setting fire to
themselves and sacrificing their lives?
We must listen to
them and respond to these unprecedented and truly desperate acts.
China's merciless and violent crackdown
in Ngaba and throughout Tibet
is intensifying Tibetan grievances and exacerbating the resentment and
desperation felt across Tibet.
The Chinese government is busy promoting how development
has made Tibetans wealthier and thus happier.
In contrast, 'supposed to be' happy Tibetans are setting
fire to themselves, crying out for help.
Minorities under the oppressive regime sometimes result
to violence in order to bring attention to their struggle.
Tibetans, as devout Buddhists, follow the teachings of non-violence of both the Buddha
and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and they do not engage in violence, which
would harm others.
They have resorted to self-immolation in order to save their religion and
freedom.
They are under military lockdown with a media blackout
in the area, and have no way of letting the outside world know about their
plight.
The tragic act of self-immolation by these young Tibetan
people, who are merely 20 years old, simply suggests how desperate they are in
the attempt to call for the international community to intervene in the violent
repression they are suffering, so they chose to protest with the ultimate act
of self-sacrifice.
The current crackdown against Tibetans was stepped up when a young monk self
-immolated on 16th
March and later died.
They are under
constant surveillance and many have been detained. The repression has been
particularly intensified against the monastery with limits on the delivery of
food as well as the forcing of "patriotic education" to denounce their beloved
spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
We are calling for
our government and international governments to intervene in this seriously
critical situation and urge the Chinese government to review it's policy in
Tibet which leads to such an ultimate protest of self-sacrifice, and instead to
begin respecting the Tibetans' religion, culture and language.
1: Reveal the
conditions of all monks who committed self-immolation and release all that are
detained in relation to the incidents.
2:
Cease the crackdown on the people of Ngaba immediately
3: Withdraw all
military police and soldiers from and around the Kirti Monastery immediately
4:
Stop interfering with all traditional and religious practices of monks and
ordinary Tibetan people
5: Agree to an
investigation by independent international human rights bodies, lift the media
blackout and let the international media into the area as well as the rest of Tibet.
SuperSamgha, The Association of
Japanese Buddhists for Tibet is a coalition of cross-denominational Buddhist sects made
up of monks and lay Buddhists who support the Tibetan people.
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