Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI906
2008-03-28 14:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

DALAI LAMA FEARS INFLUX OF HAN CHINESE WILL WIPE

Tags:  PHUM PREF PREL CVIS CH IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7585
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHLH RUEHPB RUEHPW RUEHVC
DE RUEHNE #0906/01 0881409
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 281409Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1106
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000906 

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STATE FOR TIBET COORDINATOR DOBRIANSKY
NSC FOR HADLEY/ABRAMS
H PASS TO SPEAKER PELOSI, REPRESENTATIVES MARKEY,
MCDERMOTT, MILLER, SENSENBRENNER, INSLEE, HOLMES-NORTON,
SOLIS, ESHOO AND HOLT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL CVIS CH IN
SUBJECT: DALAI LAMA FEARS INFLUX OF HAN CHINESE WILL WIPE
OUT TIBETAN BUDDHIST CULTURE

REF: A. NEW DELHI 850

B. NEW DELHI 882

C. 07 NEW DELHI 4125

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID C. MULFORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000906

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STATE FOR TIBET COORDINATOR DOBRIANSKY
NSC FOR HADLEY/ABRAMS
H PASS TO SPEAKER PELOSI, REPRESENTATIVES MARKEY,
MCDERMOTT, MILLER, SENSENBRENNER, INSLEE, HOLMES-NORTON,
SOLIS, ESHOO AND HOLT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL CVIS CH IN
SUBJECT: DALAI LAMA FEARS INFLUX OF HAN CHINESE WILL WIPE
OUT TIBETAN BUDDHIST CULTURE

REF: A. NEW DELHI 850

B. NEW DELHI 882

C. 07 NEW DELHI 4125

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID C. MULFORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a March 28 meeting with the
Ambassador, His Holiness the Dalai Lama sketched out two
scenarios for Tibet: a positive scenario, where the PRC
agrees to dialogue and permits a degree of Tibetan autonomy;
and a negative scenario, where the PRC continues to flood
Tibet with ethnic Han Chinese and wipes out Tibet's
distinctive Buddhist culture by reducing the Tibetan
population to an insignificant minority. He praised India
for its 50 years of support for Tibetan refugees, hosting
Tibet's government-in-exile, and educating Tibetans in India
about their religion, language and culture. He also
amplified his request to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Ref A) for the
U.S. to accept Tibetan refugees, either from Nepal or from
the overcrowded refugee camps in India. Describing his April
12-22 trip to Seattle, Ann Arbor and Hamilton, NY, the Dalai
Lama suggested he might seek a meeting with the President.
After submitting to fingerprinting for his U.S. visa in the
privacy of the Roosevelt House, the Dalai Lama quipped that
all are equal under the law -- except the Chinese. End
Summary.

TWO SCENARIOS
--------------


2. (C) After the Ambassador showed him a map of Tibetan
demonstrations in China since March 10, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama stated that the crisis had caused Chinese leaders
to realize how much resentment had built up over their rule
in Tibet. He outlined two scenarios, one positive and one
negative. Under the first scenario, Beijing would come to
understand that Tibetan nationalism and religious and
cultural separatism cannot be suppressed. China's leaders
would review their Tibet policy in light of ongoing protests
and the realization that even if stability were restored,

latent Tibetan resistance would continue to build. The
crisis showed that "the entire Tibetan population is part of
the 'Dalai clique,'" according to the Dalai Lama. He related
a story in which an "old communist retiree" from Tibet
prostrated himself before the Dalai Lama and, with tears in
his eyes, told the Dalai Lama that in 50 years he had never
doubted Buddha and never doubted the Dalai Lama.
"Ninety-five percent of Tibetans feel that way," according to
the Dalai Lama. Older Tibetans had become somewhat content,
as they were no longer subject to daily harassment, but
younger Tibetans would only continue to follow the Dalai
Lama's non-violent approach as long as he remains alive.
After his death, increasing desperation and frustration will
lead them to violence, the Dalai Lama predicted. He
expressed hope that the PRC would "take a new look" at
Tibetan reality, and stressed his continuing commitment to
the "Middle Way" approach. (Note: in an earlier meeting with
Embassy staff reporting in Ref C, the Dalai Lama defined the
"Middle Path" as a commitment not to seek independence as
long as the Chinese government respects the distinctive
character of the Tibetan people, permitting them to enjoy
genuine regional autonomy. End note.) "My moral authority
can be used to cool down resentment," the Dalai Lama
declared, offering to help the Chinese government end the
crisis if it permits greater autonomy. He added that the
United States could help by urging the PRC to acknowledge
reality in Tibet. President Hu, he continued, wants to build
a society based on "harmony," but can only do so if he
respects the views of individuals and resolves conflict via
dialogue, not through the use of force.


3. (C) The Dalai Lama predicted that, if the PRC continues
to suppress the Tibet uprising, temporary stability might be
achieved, but another uprising will occur within ten to
twenty years. He then outlined a second, negative scenario,
describing the example of the Mongolian Autonomous Region,
where the influx of 24 million ethnic Han Chinese have

NEW DELHI 00000906 002 OF 004


overwhelmed 4 million Mongolians, reducing them to an
"insignificant minority." "From the Communist viewpoint," he
said, "this is the best way to create stability" in regions
such as Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia. By branding 6
million Tibetans in five provinces as part of the "Dalai
clique," Beijing is setting the stage to dilute them to an
insignificant minority, the Dalai Lama stated. He related
information he had gleaned from military circles in Lhasa
revealing that, after the Olympics, one million more Han
Chinese will be settled in Tibet.

PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS; PROTECT BUDDHIST CULTURE
-------------- -


4. (C) The Dalai Lama described the roots of the current
crisis as arising from the influx of ethnic Chinese into
Tibet. Tibetans heard talk of the Dalai Lama's resignation,
and bristled at Beijing's stepped-up criticism, according to
the Dalai Lama. He said Tibetans realized the limitations of
silence, and the hardliners recognized Beijing's strategy of
reducing Tibetans to an insignificant minority. "I hope the
world community will not allow this," he said, urging that
"real pressure" be placed on Beijing. One million mainland
Chinese have a genuine interest in Tibetan Buddhism,
according to the Dalai Lama, who added that the number of
Christians in China was also increasing. "The Chinese can
benefit tremendously from Tibetan Buddhist culture -- if they
view it holistically," he said. He added that if Beijing
only views the challenge politically, and continues its
short-sighted obsession with money, power and control, then
it will miss an opportunity to fulfill President Hu's vision
of a harmonious society.


5. (C) It is useful and wise, the Dalai Lama continued, to
view the situation in Tibet within the broader context of
human rights in China. Many Chinese retain a sense of
grievance from the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, he said, and the
Chinese masses must learn that Tibetans are not anti-Chinese,
but rather favor greater respect for human rights and
democracy. The Ambassador agreed, stating that between now
and the Olympics, more attention will be paid to the
suffering of some of China's people. The Ambassador
suggested that linking Tibetan concerns to broader human
rights concerns is a good strategy. The Dalai Lama responded
that the world should aim to bring democracy to China. "A
closed society is very unpredictable," he said, "but if the
biggest nation became an open society, that would really be
in the world's interest." He added that, as important as it
is to bring democracy to Iraq, it is doubly important to
democratize China, which is armed with nuclear weapons and
dangerous.

ECONOMIC CHANGE WILL HELP FOSTER POLITICAL CHANGE
-------------- --------------


6. (C) The Ambassador described the conflict between China's
monolithic government structure and an increasingly
market-based economy, which requires greater personal freedom
to work effectively. "In a market economy are hidden aspects
of democracy which we should encourage," he said. The
Ambassador offered that the President plans to attend the
Olympics in order to support Chinese penness, which
indirectly challenges its monolithic government. The Dalai
Lama replied that Tibetans are actively reminding the world
of China's poor human rights record, and the world's response
shows that Chinese suffering under Communist totalitarianism
has not been forgotten. "That is a real conspiracy," he
laughed, adding that Beijing does not know how to create a
peaceful transition to democracy. He continued that China's
leaders have erred by placing too much importance on
ideology, citing Jiang Zemin's desire to expand Communism so
that it embraced the middle class, and Hu Jintao's emphasis
on a harmonious society. "Freedom and the rule of law are
essential for harmony," he declared, "and it cannot be
achieved through fear and terror." The Dalai Lama expressed
hope that President Hu would begin a process of
democratization, that would cause his name to be remembered

NEW DELHI 00000906 003 OF 004


forever. The U.S. can help, he concluded.

GRATEFUL TO INDIA -- AND TO THE UNITED STATES
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern about India's arrest
and harsh treatment of 140 Tibetan demonstrators, half of
whom remain in detention. He described Foreign Minister
Mukherjee's explanation that Tibetans were welcome in India
as long as they respect its laws. The Dalai Lama stressed
his gratitude for U.S. expressions of concern about the right
to peaceful demonstrations. He related that, at times, the
GoI has taken a strict attitude toward demonstrators;
however, in his view those "sad incidents" remain relatively
small. "I told Tibetans who are angry at India that they
must take a holistic view," the Dalai Lama said. In general,
India has provided "wonderful" hospitality to Tibetans for 49
years. The Dalai Lama described Prime Minister Nehru's
"guilt" after insisting on the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet
in 1956. Upon the Dalai Lama's 1957 return to India, he
tried to follow the principles of Gandhi's freedom struggle,
but the Chinese response on Tibet was much harsher than that
of the British in India. The Dalai Lama said Chinese
military documents revealed that, between March 20, 1959, and
September 1960, the Chinese military killed 87,000 Tibetans
around Lhasa. Appalled by the scale of this tragedy, Nehru
met the Dalai Lama in Mussoorie and acknowledged the tragedy
that had befallen the people of Tibet. From that point
forward, Nehru and the Indian government took "special care"
of Tibetan refugees. The government of India took full
responsibility for providing Tibetans with a modern
education, which the Dalai Lama characterized as essential
for preserving Tibetan life and culture. He praised India
for hosting the government-in-exile for the past 49 years,
and said overall the GoI adopted a "helpful attitude" with
regard to the Tibetan issue.


8. (C) The Ambassador showed the Dalai Lama a letter the
latter had sent to President Eisenhower from Mussourie in
1959 (emailed to SCA/INS). Thanking the Ambassador, the
Dalai Lama replied that he remained "one hundred percent
faithful to the U.S. as a champion of liberty and democracy."

REQUEST TO THE U.S. TO RESETTLE TIBETAN REFUGEES
-------------- ---


9. (C) Acknowledging the Dalai Lama's request to Speaker
Pelosi (Ref A) for U.S. refugee assistance, the Ambassador
said the U.S. wants to honor its commitment to resettle the
unregistered but long-term resident Tibetans in Nepal. He
noted that Embassy Kathmandu told us a short-term change in
the GoN's attitude as a result of intense Chinese pressure
was unlikely, and he described the obstacles to resettling to
the U.S. refugees who are "firmly resettled" in India. The
Dalai Lama said he had also raised the matter with the U.S.
Special Coordinator for Tibet, and with India's Foreign
Secretary and Foreign Minister. He realized that a mutually

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agreeable solution with the Chinese would be difficult in the
immediate future, but linked the refugee challenge to the
critical matter of preserving Tibetan culture and identity.
In addition to 100,000 refugees in India, Tibet's culture and
identity was shared by many in the Himalayan Range. Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh fully supports the Dalai Lama's
efforts to preserve that culture in India's portion of the
Himalayas. The Dalai Lama described the refugee challenge in
Karnataka, where India had originally set aside 3000 acres
for 3000 refugees many years ago. With new arrivals and the
birth of children, that refugee population had now swelled to
10,000, with 7000 refugees having no basis for their
livelihood, the Dalai Lama related. As it is difficult to
ask the GoI for more land, especially when so many Indians
are in need of land, the Dalai Lama had asked Canada, the
U.S. and Australia about their willingness to take in
additional refugees. Upon the Prime Minister's request,
Indian officials had agreed to resettle refugees from India
to other countries. The Dalai Lama said he had been
encouraged by Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Sensenbrenner's

NEW DELHI 00000906 004 OF 004


willingness to work with the State Department to resolve the
issue. The Ambassador suggested that, in the case of
Karnataka, it might be possible to classify the 7000
newcomers to the refugee camp as not "firmly resettled,"
adding that those without a means of supporting themselves
are extremely vulnerable and may, therefore, overcome the bar
in our immigration law.

DALAI LAMA'S APRIL VISIT TO THE U.S.
--------------


10. (C) The Dalai Lama, who submitted to fingerprinting at
the Ambassador's residence in order to obtain an extension of
his U.S. visa, laughed off the Ambassador's apology. "Every
one is equal under the law," he quipped, "except the
Chinese!" He confirmed that he would visit Seattle, WA
(April 12-15),Ann Arbor, MI (April 19-20) and Hamilton, NY
(April 22). When the Ambassador asked if the Dalai Lama
would ask for a meeting with the President, he grinned and
replied, "To create more anger in Beijing, I may (ask to) see
the President." The Ambassador urged him to keep the Embassy
apprised of his plans.
MULFORD