Richard Gere from UN ICT

Richard Gere Sends Encouraging Word to Tibet From UN

Richard Gere, Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) also had attended the Indefinite Fast for Tibet gathering with hunger strikers outside the United Nations building in NYC. He stated in a message to all Tibetans in Tibet, "There is a correlation to be a member of the United Nations that you implicitly agree to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are legally bound to give you basic human rights: freedom of assembly, freedom of language, freedom of religion, and access to health care, all the basic rights that most of the rest of the world have.

Gere pointed out, "We are at the United Nations to make it be clear: You deserve to be treated a certain way.... These hunger strikers are very good representatives of your views of forgiveness, love and compassion, and there is no anger and no hatred associated with the hunger strike. It is a strike for world responsibility."

Chinese Officials Now Infiltrating All Monasteries Permanently

But the Tibetans (inside Tibet) had been dealing with big changes in their regions. Major tensions had already been intensified on January 4, 2012, when Chen Quanguo, the Party Secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, had announced that the Chinese government or party officials would now be permanently stationed in all monasteries inside Tibet.

Human Rights Watch considered this official decision a troubling indication that China is becoming increasingly controlling and invasive in its religious repression in Tibet.

These current policies obviously contributed to the enhanced tensions that exacerbated the current self-immolations and protests by the monks and nuns, a culmination of increased intimidations occurring since 2008.

At present, there are 1787 Tibetan monasteries still allowed to operate in the TAR. Chinese officials state that they are establishing "harmonious monasteries" and that they are ensuring that "monks and nuns have the freedom to perform their religious rituals."

The Human Rights Watch director in China, Sophie Richardson, states, "Although the Chinese government has placed many restrictions on the practice of religion in Tibet, these new regulations represent an entirely new level of intervention by the State. This measure, coupled with the increasing presence of government workers within monasteries, will surely exacerbate tensions in the region."

She added, "If the Chinese government is committed to reducing tension in Tibetan areas, it should repeal these policies immediately."

China's Premier Wen Jiabao stated this week, "We should respect Tibetan compatriots' freedom of religious belief, and treat all of our Tibetan compatriots with equality and respect." But the monks and nuns would not be protesting so adamantly if this "respect" were being given. Possibly they are resisting a "re-education" by Chinese forces. These policies are hitting the core of the being of all Buddhist Tibetan monks and nuns who have been practicing their Dharma given to them by H.H. the Dalai Lama. This cultural, spiritual connection and loyalty is at the heart of Tibetan Buddhism.

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