Tibet's journey towards democracy, peace with justice and dignity

We also should never forget the solidarity shown by the international organisations, including millions of individuals that stood side by side with our non-violent freedom struggle icon and demanded a united democratic society in exile. International pressures, marches and public defiance campaigns against failed Chinese policies served to decisively weaken China to answer almost all the Tibet questions over nearly past six decades. Tibetans cannot be done it alone.

As we celebrate the democracy day on September 2nd this year, we once again do not only express our gratitude to our brothers and sisters inside Tibet for their unshakeable and tireless encouragement and strength but also the international community, particularly the great India and her people who never changed their tireless support in our struggle for freedom.

There is no question that Tibetan community in exile is today a better environment to live in than it was and now in Tibet. The democrat freedom we enjoy in exile today will must take "gift" for those in Tibet; it will never voluntarily give by the Chinese oppressors in our motherland. Our people fought tirelessly for more than 50 years to free themselves of the oppressive system of China. We also must remember those hundreds of "leaders" and "freedom fighters" who made immense sacrifices to give hope to dreams and aspirations of the six million Tibetan people.

It is through their blood, sweat and sacrifice that we understand freedom is not a free. The haunting last words of those Tibetans, including 130 self-immolators remembered not only this day, but will forever echo through time. "The return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland Tibet." "Freedom for Tibet." "Tibetans must be united" to continue the fight.

As we promise to follow in their footsteps, let us continue our history with remembering their sacrifices by joining in celebrating democracy day. Perhaps you see images of flag-waving youth in Dharamshala or Washington or Brussels. Or maybe you heard the optimistic words of some politicians or journalists about happy life of Tibetans in Tibet. Yet one thing is clear once again we heard the reports heavy military crackdowns during the Shoton Festival in the Lhasa city recent days: freedom or fundamental rights for a human being in the Himalayan region that still does not actually exist for Tibetans, seems will not change much in the lives of the people there so far.

However it is clear how much the Tibetan people want peace and democracy, but after hearing the glowing, yet often patronising, cliches about 'One country, two system' that have been bandied about democracy in Honk Kong recently, the fact long remains that Tibetans can never experience true democracy and freedom if it will remain under the same occupation.

To continue this piece, do we merely expressing for our struggle and democracy or engaging in a practical manner to continue the fight?

Many political experts say the Tibetan example of the development of democratic institutions and systems are a model for nascent democracies around the world. It can be an example of that many democratic institutions around the world encourage the international community to assist the Tibetan institutions in exile to continue to evolve and improve on their success. Furthermore it is a relatively smooth transition from the beginning for the politically aware Tibetan population in exile. The only problems stemmed from unwelcome Chinese interference, including an article titled: Terrorist poised to rule "Tibetan government in-exile" ? published by the state-run media "People's Daily."

Despite the upbeat rhetoric from the outside world, we should understand the reality that newly elected political leadership and His Holiness the Dalai Lama alone will not be able to deliver miracles: the real power for a standard democracy still lies with the general public, particularly our younger generations and their understanding of democracy and it's values.

When a Tibetan woke up the morning after an election or before democracy day, they might have had a new leader, but we are still on journey to reach the standard democracy system and other-hand the cold, hard realities of Chinese repressive rule and policies remained unchanged. Today majority of Tibetan people are still not free to move within their own land. When we celebrate the day in exile, at Chinese military checkpoints Tibetans inside Tibet still have to queue for hours, walk through turnstiles like cattle and present an ID card to a disrespected young Chinese soldier who will then decide whether or not they may continue the journey to a holy city, a monastery or wherever else in Tibet they may be heading.

As we celebrate World Human Rights Day every year, we also remembered all those men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace, democracy, and freedom. We must understand that many Tibetan families stay with their sons and daughters in Chinese prisons on 10-year or life sentences or die of tortures which have never been made clear to the world why they have been imprisoned and murdered.

An example current situation in Tibet, Tibetans in Dhanma county in eastern Tibet still have to face the deadly attacks by Chinese armed forces this month and today they still mourn the deaths of six Tibetans tortured, and murdered by Chinese security forces just few weeks ago. Deaths of Tibetans have become so common in recent years that they barely make the world headlines because of severe censorship.

China has imposed increased-hardline policies, including military crackdowns on Tibetan people that makes life an unbearable and humiliating hell that has resulted in radicalised segments of the population. If the goal of all the Chinese government brutality is stability and unity, as claimed, and if it is really to end peaceful Tibetan movements against China that has became international, cause serious image for China since 1949, then as His Holiness the Dalai Lama has reaffirmed, the easier way to go about it; the "Middle-way" that curb the crisis rather than encourage more of it.

If the Chinese government could see his peaceful proposal to a solution from another perspective, that is only, as a demand seeking a "meaningful" or a "genuine autonomy" and not simply as unprovoked seeking "separation" or "great Tibet" or "higher autonomy", then a hope would be easier to see a solution. Change the "culture of genocide" to a "culture of co-existence", halt the Han re-settlements, allow a real "one country two systems" to live all Tibetans in a "single administration" and do it all sooner rather than later as the whole world changing for the better and toward a democracy. If all this sounds too hard in gaining "hearts and minds of Tibetan people", start by easing a few of the harsh dehumanising measures that make life such a misery and only serve to fuel further crisis and unrest.

For Tibetan people the decades long crisis towards China to end peacefully, which is the hope of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the majority of Tibetan people, many Chinese, including intellectuals and indeed most of the world. Only the elected Tibetan leadership guided His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has miracles to get the support of 99% of Tibetan people to end the crisis, if the new Chinese leadership led by Xi Jinping restrains its heavy hand that continues long lasting repressive policies to disappear Tibet and attempts to repeat of the "historical tragedy" of the "cultural revolution."

The new Chinese president Xi Jinping's recent speech praising Tibetan Buddhism has been warmly received by Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, may be creating a hope for a better future of China in order to create aas a morally respected nation, that may be a good sign as it should be. But to be successful in this goal, Xi's government will need a serious engagement in honest dialogue with the Tibetan envoys. A crucial, and historical dialogue as a means to break through deadlock, not just rhetoric, from the some Chinese intellectuals or from close aids to top government authorities. But we know Xi cannot do it alone.

A few positive reaction also can not be trusted soon as the former leader Deng Xiaoping's statement on Tibet in earlier 1979 and Hu Jintao's "Harmony society" as well as Wen Jabao's mantra that the need for "democracy and freedom in China." But the Chinese government still has abilities to make substantial contribution that His Holiness the Dalai Lama to gain a mandate for a better change, not only Tibet, the whole China, will go a quick way in seeing the hopes, for peace, democracy, and dignity realised. However the life of Tibetans inside Tibet still has not changed anything today, but there is an opportunity and hope to bring change for tomorrow if everyone takes responsibility.