Editor’s Note: On Dec. 9, 2011, Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitungmagazine(FAZ), a national daily newspaper of
Germany interviewed Zhu Weiqun, visiting Executive Vice Minister of the United
Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China. Based on this exclusive
interview, FAZ published the report by Von Michael
Radunski, The 14th Dalai Lama is a non-violent figure? Absolutely a
joke! on Jan.5,2012. Following is the full text of the report in
English.(Click to view the original version in German: Den Dalai
Lama als gewaltlos zu bezeichnen, ist ein Witz)
——Again clashes occurred between the
Hans and Tibetans, which may have caused several deaths during the protest; the
14th Dalai Lama sticks to his promotion of "genocide", senior
official Zhu Weiqun said.
According to the report of the Tibtan
exiled administration, another self-immolation was reported, the fifteenth
occurrence in less than one year. They were desperate, the 14th Dalai Lama
said. Tibetans want to draw people’s attention to the "suppression over
local lamaseries".
Zhu Weiqun shook his head to such
statements. "Crappy propoganda." Zhu Weiqun said, "We respect
and protect the freedom of religious faith." ("We"here refers to
the Chinese central government in Beijing). Zhu is the Executive Vice Minister
of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China in charge
of Tibet-related affairs. Zhu Weiqun pays frequent visits to Tibet, and
actually he was right there for researches just weeks ago.
The weather was bleak, but Zhu Weiqun
came to Berlin as usual, with some data to support his discourse. He said:
China has invested a total of 137 billion yuan (around 17 billion euros) in
only five years from 2006 to 2010. Starting from 2011, in the next five years,
an estimate of RMB 330 billion yuan is expected. "Tibet has seen a
consistent increase in the regionl gross domestic product, per capita
income as well as the average life expectance."
But the Dalai Lama seriously insists
that Tibetans suffers and will be extinguished. On the contrary, since the
peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1959, the Tibetan population has increased from
one million to three million. Counterview says the poplulation increase is due
to the Han's migration, but was refuted by Zhu who said that most are Tibetans
while Han and Hui ethnic groups contributed the minority. However, this cannot
be separated in statistics. As a matter of fact, there have been
altogether ten different co-inhabited ethnic groups in Tibet.
Western
countries hold sightless trust in the Dalai Lama
Besides
all the evident data, the Chinese vice minister specially pointed out another
factor: time. This was already shown at the beginning of this interview. The
Chinese government has been constantly blamed since they are ambiguous or
reluctant to touch on topics related to Tibet or the Dalai Lama. Zhu wants to
change, saying that we urgently need to express ourselves properly. The West
holds sightless trust in the Dalai Lama whose stratey is easy to see through.
The
Dalai Lama was once the political and spiritual leader of the Tibetans in at
least decades. In 1960s and 1970s, he once called loudly on the "Tibet
Independence", but from the year 1988, he turned to propose his
"Middle Way" approach. However, Zhu said, it is just a game of words
for the Dalai Lama whose pursuit remains the "indenpendence of
Tibet".
Zhu
said, firstly, the Dalai Lama still refuses to admit that Tibet is part of
China. He says Tibet was occupied in 1951, "which runs counter to
historical facts."
Secondly,
the Dalai Lama continues advocating a "Greater Tibet", which he
claims to include all areas where ethnic Tibetans live in, incluidng Qinghai
Province. "But this place has never been part of Tibet. Today, Tibet
covers 1.2 million square kilometeres, but would reach as much as 2.5 million
square kilometers according to the Dalai Lama. That’s about one fourth of China
as a whole."
Thirdly,
the Dalai Lama requires that all amy forces retreat from the so-called
"Greater Tibet", so as to build an "international area of
peace" instead.
Fourthly,
according to the Dalai Lama, all other ethnic groups are to be dispelled from
the so-called "Greater Tibet", which would involve at least 7.5
million Han people in all.
Fifthly,
the Dalai Lama also demands that all affairs except for military and diplomacy
on the 2.5-million-square-kilometer "Greater Tibet" be under his
control, and the Central Government would just stay with hands off anything
there.
Dalai
Lama "use violence again and again"
"That
is the 'self-autonomy' that he claimed," Zhu Weiqun leans backward and
asked: "Would the German congress accept such an autonomy in a region
whose acreage occupies a quarter of the whole country ?" He stared at the
listener with his arms across. "Now all of you have also seen through that
the so-called autonomy that the Dalai Lama mentions is 'Tibet Independence'. Tibet
has been an inseparable part of China and later on it will always be,"
said Zhu, Executive Vice-Minister of the United Front Work Department of the
CPC Central Committee.
In
the west the 14th Dalai Lama wins favorable impression and his activities can
be found around the world. Most important of all, his "nonviolence
views" has won a moral recognitiony. For Zhu Weiqun, that is only a
farce. "The Dalai Lama has adopted violent actions since he himself
participated in politics again and again." Whether those happened in
1960s, 1980s or during the March 14 Lhasa Riots in 2008 were plotted by the
Dalai Lama deliberately. Sometimes even directly instigated by him."
"It is really a joke if someone says that the Dalai Lama is a 'nonviolent
figure'."
Zhu
mentioned self-immolations again. "The Dalai Lama has said that these
people are his heroes. And he admires their courage." Such words will be
utilized by people to encourage their own violent actions. "This is
nothing about non-violence. The Dalai Lama is not only sinful but also
attempting to turn the peaceful and restrained Buddhism into a violent
religion," said Zhu, "The battle that we are operating is just and
has been supported by the people; that is most important."
The
severe situation seems to provide the Dalai Lama with a good opportunity. He
announced to retire from political affairs several months ago. At this moment
Zhu smiled. "I am puzzled about this point. When talking about the
meetings with the Dalai Lama, aren’t western politicians or media saying those
are non-political meetings? ! The Chinese government has nothing to get excited
at all. Is the Dalai Lama a spiritual leader of Tibetan people?! Now how could
he retire from his political post? " Zhu seems very pleasant as we mention
that topic. For Zhu and the Chinese government, it is very important to point
out the dissent.
Zhu
also talked about the current "Charter" of the Tibetan government in
exile. The "Charter" points out that the Dalai Lama is the highest
leader and teacher of Tibetan people and his guides the Tibetan people in moral
action, religion and culture, economic and social development. He himself or a
"leader who is democratically elected" can resolve the "Tibet
Issue". He has the right to meet international leaders and figures from
all circles and continues to be a delegate of offices abroad as well as a
special delegate of the Tibetan government in exile.
"One
country, two systems" is not applicable to Tibet
The
Dalai Lama has appointed the Havard graduate Lobsang Sangay as the new
political leader. If the Dalai Lama is not able to find out the method to solve
the problems, then Lobsang Sangay can do it at least. He seems eager to make
best use of the chance of the new start. According to his expectation, the idea
of "one country, two systems" can be applied in Tibet. "Lobsang
Sangay is a lawyer and his suggestion can’t be explained by ignorance,"
said Zhu, "He knows a lot about Tibet so he just wants to irrigate the
Chinese government with his suggestions." It is out of the question
for the Chinese government to adopt the way of "one country, two
systems". Zhu explained that in the current conditions of Tibet, such a
way is impossible to be applied. "Hong Kong and Macao have been occupied
by the western forces for a long time. They have been separated from China. But
Tibet has never been separated from China and it had been an indiscerptible
part of the Chinese territory. "
The
culture, economy and residents of Hong Kong and Macao have been greatly
influenced by the west. So does its economic order.When the mainland is still
adopting the socialist economy, Hong Kong has established its capitalist system
according to the British social system.
"In
order to make the return of Hong Kong, we proposed the idea of one country, two
cultures. If Tibet also applies this method, it means we would resume the serf
system then. No one should welcome that. Neither Tibetan compatriots hope that
like us."
The
door to negotiation is always open
The
Chinese government denies not only "one country, two systems"
proposal, but also the position of the so-called leadership of Lobsang Sangay.
"Lobsang Sangay is the head of a politically seperalistic group, which
that is not recogonized. We do not hope to have any contact with him, and we
refuse to negotiate with him."
Mr
Zhu said that the Chinese government looks forward to striving for more
understanding from the international community. There are once critics
that the Chinese government does not know how to answer questions of the
western media. Now, these critics do not hold water any more.
However,
the more and more clashes between the Chinese government and the
Tibetan-government-in-exil can still not be avoided. Under this circumastance,
is there a strategy to solve exsiting problems?
"We
have never closed the door to negotiations. It is the Dalai group who did
that." Mr Zhu said that the Dalai Lama must firstly give up his
seperatism, and recogonize that Tibet is a part of China, as well as abandoning
his so-called "Greater Tibet" claim. Then, "the door to talk
will still be open as before."
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