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."
