10 JULIO, 2018
The Buddhist monk who founded the “House of Tibet”” in Catalonia visited Argentina. Thubten Wangchen, member of the Tibet Parliament for the European Union generated links in Buenos Aires with the press, the academic community and study centers. It is the most representative voice of Tibet for the entire Spanish-speaking world.. We access your testimony, not to talk about Buddhist philosophy, but to know the position of Tibet, your claim, his relationship with India and his complaints about China.
Ask: Venerable Tibetan Monk Thubten Wangchen, We would like to start by asking you what brought you to Argentina.
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: It is the third time I come to Argentina. On this occasion I came at the invitation of an Aztlan school of philosophy and psychology., from Buenos Aires, who invited me to teach a course for which I traveled to Argentina.
Also through the efforts of Dr. Suarez, who is the Consul of India for the interior of the country. We want to make known the reality, culture, philosophy of Tibet and the defense of human rights. As well as my life experience.
Ask: We understand that you have experienced very particular situations, ¿Can you tell us your life story??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: My name is Thubten Wangchen and I am a Tibetan monk.. When I had 5 years the Chinese government invaded my country. Then I had to go into exile in Nepal., India, being a refugee. I ran away with my father because my mother was killed by the Chinese invasion. We went around 80 a thousand Tibetans who escaped.
I have been a beggar child, out of money, without food, homeless; but thanks to the Indian government and Dalai Lama I have had an education. A very humanitarian policy of the Indian government was to search for lost children from the streets and provide them with education and social assistance.. India let us be Tibetans without passports, gave us protection and freedom. With that freedom I was able to study, learn and follow my culture, my traditions, language and customs.
To the 16 years I decided to be a monk and I have been very lucky, because I was able to enter the Dalai Lama's private monastery to study with him, that was the best gift in my life. When I had 27 years, in 1982, years I moved to Barcelona, thanks to some Spanish hippies who were interested in receiving teaching in Buddhist philosophy, Meditation, yoga. They were looking for someone who spoke English., that's when they invited me to go. I considered it an opportunity to learn Spanish, since no Tibetan speaks it. I interpreted that it could be a possibility to make Buddhist philosophy and culture known to the entire Spanish-speaking space.. So, with permission of the Dalai Lama, I traveled to Spain. In this way, I have been able to set up the foundation of the Tibet House in 1994, a cultural center.
Ask: An essential question that we would like to share is, so that our public knows, ¿What is the specific request of Tibet?? ¿What degree of autonomy do you aspire to have??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: Tibet has a long history, does 2145 years since the first king. Tibet has never been a Chinese territory, China is a neighboring country. We have our own government, currency, language, bandera, until in 1959 China when it invaded us. We have lost our country and nation. Now, politically, Tibet belongs to China.
With the Dalai Lama and the 150 thousand refugees in India, we dream of returning soon. But actually, after 60 years, Still the international community and the United Nations do nothing and Tibet remains in the same situation. there is 6 million Tibetans and now almost 8 Chinese millions, This imbalance is dangerous due to the fear of losing Tibetan identity and losing the Tibetan language., because they are forcing you to learn the Chinese language.
We have fought to achieve a free Tibet, but through negotiations. Between the exiles and those of us who fight in different parts of the world, We have discussed our request. We have asked ourselves what was better, whether to ask for independence, self-determination or autonomy. Most of us have agreed to achieve autonomy and not separation from China. These are not stages of any process at all., only an autonomy of freedom of religion, education, of movement and respect for mother earth. It is the will of the majority of Tibetans, decided democratically.
Ask: at the moment, ¿How is the negotiation or dialogue process with China??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: currently there is nothing. This reflects that there is no spirit of dialogue. From 1978 until the 2007 was 8 o 9 rounds of dialogue, but then they passed 10 years with frustrated attempts to return to dialogue and we have not yet achieved it. Us, The Tibetans, we are ready to talk, but the Chinese government does not give us the opportunity.
Ask: on the response of international organizations, ¿Could you tell us about the work of the United Nations in this regard??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: The UN is of great value to the international community, but today it has no force in many causes, in the case of Tibet, there is no capacity for action because China is opposite. In the month of March of this year I called at the door of the UN in Geneva, a 8 thousand people asking China to accept a dialogue with the Dalai Lama on respect for human rights and the philosophy of Tibet. But we haven't been heard.
Something similar happens with the European Parliament, We have contact with parliamentary groups and MEPs, but today China has big businesses and its commercial ties with Europe, an issue that seems to be above our cause.
Ask: ¿what happens to the United States? Obama tried to give attention to the Tibetan cause. ¿What expectations do you have now with the Trump stage??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: The case of the United States is very relevant in this matter.. All your presidents, from Jimmy Carter to Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Obama; everyone received the Dalai Lama. Now Trump, He has not yet received it nor does he speak or give rise to talking about our cause.. We know that the issue of Tibet is not high on your agenda..
However, In the last few days we saw a news, The US Senate approved the request to the Chinese government to renew dialogue with the Dalai Lama and for the free press to go to Tibet.
Ask: ¿Can you tell us what India's role is or what importance it has had for Tibet??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: India has a very clear position on Tibet and the Dalai Lama. It has maintained a line of protection for Tibet for a long time regardless of who its president is.. Let's keep in mind, both nations have unresolved territorial disputes, in addition to being two important actors in Asia that develop geopolitical competition. Pronto, both leaders are going to meet, Narendra Modi to travel to China. In India, There are political groups that support Tibet, We hope you have our cause among the agenda items.
Ask: and we are also interested in knowing about the Dalai Lama's successor. We know of your advanced age, of your state of health. And the question is because there is a discussion that revolves around the election of the successor to the current leader of the Tibetan people., If it is decided in a Western capital or if it emerges from what format that takes into account the voice of autonomy of its people.
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: about this, we have no concern. Soon the Dalai Lama will turn 84 years, his health is really good. He promised to live 100 years, and will soon announce what the succession process will be like. It will make everything clear, because we know that the Chinese government intends to intervene, of naming a false “Dalai Lama”. Thus, The only position that our people will respect will be the one that comes from the dictates of the Dalai Lama.
Ask: We have witnessed the rise of Buddhism, Its popularity around the world has grown significantly.. ¿This has generated more political support for their cause, thanks to philosophy or that the public can learn more about the reality of Tibet?
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: Buddhism does not seek to attract followers, Buddhism is a philosophy where everyone has freedom, Buddhism as a philosophy moves many people in the West. The message is freedom, many Catholics identify with Buddhism, there are no contradictions.
There are people who, after knowing our philosophy and the charisma of the Dalai Lama, know more about the Tibetan reality., that is certainly so. But there are also those who do not get involved with philosophy, but yes with the Tibetan culture. I couldn't quantify how you. they ask me, If because of the approach to our philosophy more people adhere to our cause; That's not the goal.
Ask: China, in these times, has one objective which is to carry out the New Silk Road. ¿Has some impact for Tibet?
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: It is known worldwide that China is a power that expands through regional connectivity in Eurasia. China even wants to be the owner of the world and with its forms and style it invades countries through “Made in China”. The route is not going to be very successful because India does not accept it. India is a country bigger than China. China wants to control all of Asia, The Indian government knows this.. That is why its success will not last long because its base is a dictatorship, in these times, there is a china boom, but it will not be sustainable in the future. The Chinese themselves, They will put pressure on another model.
Ask: In order to understand more about the Tibetan situation, ¿Can you tell us what case in international politics the situation in Tibet is similar to??
Vn. Thubten Wangchen: Tibet is not the same as Catalonia, nor Kashmir, nor Scotland, perhaps we can find some proximities to what has happened in Western Sahara. Our situation has 60 years, while there are unresolved conflicts in the world that date back a long time. Tibet has evidence of China's aggression, Even the UN itself from Geneva has reports that prove the concrete existence of an invasion.
As I live in Barcelona, I know the previous president of Catalonia and the current, talking with them, I perceived that they were comparing their issue with Tibet, but it's not the same; contrary to Tibet, Catalonia has a very high level of autonomy. We have been invaded. I take this opportunity to say that I am neither for nor against the independence of Catalonia..
