Showing posts with label Dalai Lama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dalai Lama. Show all posts

Friday, December 25, 2015

"Nepal Should Not Become 'Boxing Arena' For India, China"



Nepal should not become 'boxing arena' for India, China: Wang Yi
China today said Nepal should not become a "boxing arena" between India and China vying for influence in the Himalayan nation even as it called on New Delhi to treat Kathmandu as an equal partner..... "A stable Nepal enjoying development fully serves the interests of both China and India. So in other words I would like to say that

Nepal is a great place for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and India, not a boxing arena for China and India," he said.

..... "China, India and Nepal are close neighbours connected by the same mountains and rivers. This makes three of us a natural community of shared interest. This is why China has proposed the development of a China-India-Nepal Economic Corridor. It is all about common development and prosperity. Ultimate goal is to form community of shared future of the three of us," he said. .....

Both Wang and Thapa avoided any references to the Madhesi agitation while praising the new Constitution which has led to a major internal political crisis in Nepal.

...... On India-Nepal relations, Thapa said "immediately after the promulgation of the constitution there has been some misunderstanding between Nepal and India. Because of the India imposed unofficial obstruction on transit and supply of fuel and other essential commodities," he said referring to the transport blockade that Nepal alleged had been imposed by India but which has been strongly refuted by New Delhi. ...... "That caused a severe impact on the Nepalese society. It also had a negative impact on our economic growth. But I am very happy to say at this point of time that things are moving and improving," said Thapa who is also Deputy Prime Minister....... Referring to his two visits to India recently, he said "it seems that we are now able to clear the air of mistrust and misunderstanding and slowly things are moving and coming back to normal"...... Thapa also said besides agreeing to open new border points, China is willing to consider Nepal's request for long term supply of petroleum products through Tibet at concessional rates due to high altitude transportation and taxation costs...... He thanked China for supplying 1,000 MT of petroleum products at the height of the Madhesi agitation. ....... Thapa said the treaty would enable Nepalese to access travel and goods from other countries through Chinese ports and a joint working group will identify the transit points. .....

Thapa also assured that Nepal will continue to crackdown on Tibetans crossing from Tibet to Dharmasala to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama....... "We have consistently followed the one-China policy. I would like to reiterate once again that Nepal will not allow any activities that infringe on China's sensitivities on Tibet," he said.

....... The Indian media at the event was not given an opportunity to ask questions..... "Similarly with China we have so many common areas socially, culturally also we are bound together.

The peace harmony, compassion, philosophy propounded by Lord Buddha has alway remained as a cementing factor in our relations.

..... "For Nepal there is no need to play each other. We have our own type of relations with India. Similarly we have special relations with China. So we are very happy with that and will continue in future with strengthening relations with both the countries.

That is the density that we have to live with," Thapa said.

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Tibet Was An Independent Country For Most Of History



That is just a historical fact. For China to insist that the Dalai Lama say it ain't so is rubbish. Let's assume the Dalai Lama says what China wants him to say. Will that change history? Not at all. Tibet was an independent country for most of history. Nepali history books are full of references to Tibet. (Tibetan Empire)

What the Dalai Lama can say and has been saying is that he is not seeking independence for Tibet. He just wants to be able to visit. That is a fair, simple thing to ask for. Why can't a Tibetan visit Tibet?


The Tibet Question

Speaker Pelosi presented the first Lantos Huma...
Speaker Pelosi presented the first Lantos Human Rights Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning in the Capitol Visitor Center. Named for the late Congressman and human rights activist Tom Lantos, the Lantos Human Rights Prize is intended to raise awareness about human rights violations and honor the brave individuals who are committed to fighting for human rights throughout the world. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Not even the Dalai Lama is asking for Tibet to become an independent country. I am not going to exceed him in my expectations for Tibet. When the Dalai Lama was in Tibet one person was the religious leader of the Tibetan people, and the same person was also the political leader. How do I feel about that? How do I feel about bullock carts compared to bullet trains? The same person being the religious and political leader by birth is a political bullock cart. It is not a modern concept. And there is no ancient boundary I am beholden to. This is the age of globalization, internet and trans-continental trains. National boundaries matter less and less. What matters is trade.

But then human rights are religion to me. Free speech is religion to me. Religious freedom is religion to me. Political reform is in Beijing's best interests. It is not true the Chinese economy is too mature to attempt double digit growth rates. But the only way China goes back to double digit growth rates now is if it engages in fundamental political reform.

But then that does not mean copying the American system. If America were to get more democratic, it would bring about fundamental campaign finance reform. If America were to become better at respecting human rights, the American police would not brutalize African Americans, and the American criminal justice would not be so skewed against them. So, just like China, America itself is a work in progress.

China moving towards political pluralism and free speech takes it to cutting edges of technology. China going federal integrates it with Taiwan.

Tibet has seen progress in the physical sphere. You see shiny trains. But its cultural heritage remains sacrosanct. And I never have never will approve of the police brutalization of peacefully protesting Tibetan protesters in Kathmandu.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

काठमाण्डु माथि मधेसीको शासन स्थापित भए पछि

काठमाण्डु माथि मधेसीको शासन स्थापित भए पछि हुने पहिलो काम तिब्बत का शरणार्थी हरुलाई harass गर्ने काम पुर्ण रुपले बंद गर्ने हुन्छ। शांतिपूर्ण ढंगले तिब्बत का शरणार्थी हरुले जस्तो सुकै राजनीतिक क्रियाकलाप पनि गर्न पाउने छन। नेपाल भनेको चीनको satellite state होइन। अरुणाचल प्रदेश चीनको होइन कि तिब्बत मधेसको हो। हजारों साल पुराना इतिहास साक्षी छ। इतिहासमा तिब्बत चीनको कहिले थियो? बुद्ध भारतमा जन्मेको भनेर कुनै नामै नचलेको पत्रिकाले कतै झुक्किएर छापी दियो भने दुनिया भरि तमाशा गर्ने नेपाली हरु तिब्बत को सवाल मा चीन को च किन गर्ने? चीनसे डरना क्या -- असत्य से डरो।