Dan Rather Reports. Episode Number: 234. Episode Title: One Man vs. China

Transcription

1 1 Dan Rather Reports Episode Number: 234 Episode Title: One Man vs. China Description: Dan Rather visits with the Dalai Lama. The man who calls himself "just a simple monk" tells us the Chinese, who exiled him decades ago, lack the moral authority to become a super power. DAN (ON CAMERA) GOOD EVENING FROM DHARAMSALA, INDIA HOME TO TIBET S GOVERNMENT IN EXILE AND TO ITS POLITICAL AND SPIRITUAL LEADER: THE. HERE IN THIS REMOTE TOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS LEADING UP TO THE HIGH HIMALAYAS THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED REFUGE TO THE FOR ALMOST FIFTY YEARS. AND IT IS HERE THAT HE STRUGGLES TO SAVE THE HEART AND SOUL OF TIBET. FOR TIBETAN BUDDHISTS HE IS THE HOLIEST BELIEVED TO BE THE FOURTEENTH REINCARNATION OF THE BUDDHA OF COMPASSION. TOURISTS AND MONKS PILGRIMS AND CHILDREN TREASURE A MOMENT IN HIS PRESENCE. HIS NAME IS TENZIN GYATSO. AND BEYOND HIS SPIRITUAL DUTIES HE IS TIBET-IN-EXILE S POLITICAL LEADER. THIS ONE MAN KEEPS THE DREAM OF TIBET ONE FREE OF CHINESE DOMINATION ALIVE. TODAY, THE CLAIMS TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT OFFICIALLY EXIST. ALL OF THE WORLD S GOVERNMENTS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA-- RECOGNIZE TIBET AS PART OF CHINA. BUT THE SIMPLE PRESENCE OF THE IS A REMINDER THAT TIBET IS NOT GONE. AND THIS ONE MAN- DEVOTED TO PEACEFUL CHANGE BUT DETERMINED TO SAVE HIS COUNTRY, KEEPS CHINA ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATIONS ON EARTH ON EDGE. IN OUR HOUR-LONG INTERVIEW. IN THE RECEPTION OFFICES INSIDE HIS FENCED AND HEAVILY GUARDED COMPOUND, THE DIRECTLY CHALLENGED CHINA S COMMUNIST LEADERS TO CHANGE. HIS HOLINESS, THE So therefore, if the present Chinese policy in Tibet almost like rule of terror. Now this helping to keep resentment among the minds of Tibetan people. Now this must change. Otherwise this is long run, counterproductive. One way the emphasis stability and unity, but stability, unity must come from heart, not under gun.

2 2 WHAT HIS HOLINESS THE WANTS IS WHAT HE CALLS QUOTE- MEANINGFUL AUTONOMY FOR TIBET NOT INDEPENDENCE BUT SOME FORM OF SELF-RULE. CHINESE LEADERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT HU JINTAO, SAY THE - A 72 YEAR OLD BUDDHIST MONK WITHOUT A COUNTRY OR AN ARMY, IS A DIRECT THREAT TO CHINA. THE OFFICIAL PARTY LINE IS THAT TIBET HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF CHINA AND THAT THE IS A POLITICIAN INTENT ON BREAKING UP WHAT CHINA CALLS THE MOTHERLAND. CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE QUICK TO CONDEMN THE S MEETINGS WITH POLITICAL LEADERS AS HE TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD SEEKING SUPPORT. IN SEPTEMBER CHINA PROTESTED GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL S PRIVATE MEETING WITH HIS HOLINESS CALLING IT QUOTE A GROSS INTERFERENCE IN CHINA S INTERNAL AFFAIRS THAT SEVERELY HURTS THE FEELINGS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE AND UNDERMINES RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. FOR MANY NATIONS RISKING THEIR ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CHINA IS SOMETHING THEY CANNOT AFFORD. You have so much experience, particularly in this part of the world. But you've traveled the world as a whole. Do you expect-- do you expect in the 21st Century that China will become the preeminent economic and military superpower of the world? In order to be a superpower, in order to become a superpower, four conditions: Number one, the manpower, that already there. Then military power, including nuclear weapons, already there. The third is economy, economy also is gaining more sort of strength. CHINA S MODERN SKYSCRAPERS AND HIGH TECH CULTURE ARE EVIDENCE OF ITS BOOMING ECONOMY. A PICTURE OF POWER AND WEALTH THAT ITS LEADERS WANT TO PROJECT TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. BUT HIS HOLINESS SAYS WHAT CHINA DOES NOT HAVE IS THE FOURTH CONDITION FOR SUPER POWER STATUS. Now the fourth is moral authority, that is now lacking. So in order to become a genuine superpower their human moral authorities field of China must improve. Otherwise, nobody respect, fear instead of, instead of the respect, just fear, and suspicion.

3 THE CAN KEEP THE PRESSURE ON IN PART BECAUSE WHEN HE FLED COMMUNIST CHINESE OCCUPIED TIBET IN 1959 INDIA NOT ONLY GAVE HIM A PLACE TO LIVE HERE IN DHARAMSALA, IT ALSO GAVE HIM PROTECTION AND A PLATFORM TO SPEAK OUT. BUT DHARAMSALA IS A MOST UNLIKELY PLACE TO FIND ONE OF THE WORLD S MOST FAMOUS FIGURES. IT IS ACTUALLY A SERIES OF TINY TOWNS THAT CREEP UP NARROW ROADS AND PATHS AND CLING TO THE HILLS IN THE NORTH OF INDIA. MORE THAN 300 MILES FROM INDIA S CAPITAL CITY OF DELHI- AND ACROSS THE HIMALAYAS FROM THE BORDER WITH CHINA AND WHAT WAS ONCE TIBET. FOR VISITORS, THE LAST PART OF THE JOURNEY IS A HARROWING AND CHAOTIC RIDE FROM THE LOWER VILLAGE TO UPPER DHARAMSALA WHERE HIS HOLINESS BOTH LIVES AND WORKS. IT IS A PLACE WHERE COWS CONFRONT CARS, AND THE COWS OFTEN WIN. DONKEYS DO THE HEAVY LIFTING ON STEEP HILLSIDES. AND MONKEYS LOOK DOWN FROM ROOFTOPS AND CLING TO CELL PHONE TOWERS. THE ANCIENT AND THE MODERN ARE CONSTANT COMPANIONS HERE, DRAWN TOGETHER BY THIS ONE MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF A SIMPLE MONK. EIGHT THOUSAND TIBETAN EXILES NOW MAKE THEIR HOME HERE IN DHARAMSALA AND MORE ARRIVE EVERY DAY. THEY COME FROM EVERY REGION OF WHAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED THE COUNTRY OF TIBET. OFTEN CALLED THE ROOFTOP OF THE WORLD TIBET ONCE STRETCHED FROM THE HIGHEST OF THE HIMALAYAS INCLUDING MOUNT EVEREST ON ITS SOUTHERN BORDER WITH NEPAL, ACROSS SOME OF THE WORLD S HIGHEST PLATEAUS. HISTORICALLY TIBET MADE UP AS MUCH AS ONE QUARTER OF CHINA S VAST TERRITORY --POLITICALLY TIBET SHRANK OVER THE CENTURIES AND TODAY CHINA DESIGNATES ONLY THE SOUTHERN PORTION AS THE TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION. FOR HUNDREDS AND EVEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS TIBET WAS A MYSTERY TO MOST. ITS GEOGRAPHY WALLED IT OFF. VISITORS WERE DISCOURAGED. INSIDE A COUNTRY WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE THE GREW UP WITH LITTLE NEED FOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD. CHOSEN AT THE AGE OF FOUR AS THE REINCARNATION OF THE PREVIOUS HE GREW UP BEHIND THE WALLS OF THE ENORMOUS POTALA PALACE IN LHASA. HIS TRAINING WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY RELIGIOUS. THEN IN 1950 MAO ZEDONG SENT TROOPS TO QUOTE LIBERATE TIBET. ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS OLD THE HAD TO ASSUME HIS ROLE AS TIBET S POLITICAL LEADER. FACING CHINA S OVERWHELMING MILITARY STRENGTH THE S GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATED A SURRENDER GIVING CHINA CONTROL OF TIBET AND THE RIGHT TO STATION TROOPS THERE. 3

4 4 IN 1959 WHEN MASSIVE PROTESTS IN THE CAPITAL OF LHASA FAILED TO DRIVE OUT THE CHINESE, THE -- ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS -- FLED INTO EXILE. EIGHTY THOUSAND OTHERS FOLLOWED BEFORE CHINA COULD SEAL THE BORDER. THE COMMUNIST CHINESE HAVE NEVER LEFT TIBET AND THE DALAI LAMA HAS NEVER RETURNED. IN OUR INTERVIEW HE TOOK THE LONG VIEW OF HISTORY, AND POINTED TO CHANGES INSIDE CHINA THAT GIVE HIM HOPE. So now, people from China are still the totalitarian system, without, sort of, individual freedom. On this simply you cannot go indefinitely. They have to find ways and means to change that. THE BELIEVES UNREST IN TIBET AND OTHER REGIONS OF CHINA COULD LEAD TO WHAT HE CALLS CHAOS. HE ADVOCATES GRADUAL CHANGE TO A MORE OPEN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. And the people, almost now two generations now, never experience the freedom or liberty of, I'll say freedom. Therefore, it take time, and it is, I think, very, very I think very important, smooth transition is very important and hopefully the present leadership of Communist party, I think realize that, that's best interest for not only China, but also whole world, that's the best sort of interest towards a more democratic society. Open society is everybody's interest. HIS CANDID COMMENTS EVEN ABOUT COMPROMISE AND SMOOTH TRANSITIONS USUALLY BRING HARSH RESPONSES FROM CHINESE AUTHORITIES. LAST YEAR THE NEW PARTY SECRETARY FOR THE TIBETAN REGION SAID THE COMMUNIST PARTY IS ENGAGED IN QUOTE A FIGHT TO THE DEATH STRUGGLE WITH THE AND HIS SUPPORTERS. DETERMINED TO CEMENT ITS CONNECTION AND CONTROL OF THIS ONCE INDEPENDENT COUNTRY, CHINA COMPLETED A TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED MILE BEIJING TO LHASA RAILROAD IN THE CONNECTION MEANS PROGRESS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. BUT SOME TIBETANS SEE THE TRAIN AS A THREAT. THEY FEAR EXPLOITATION OF THE FORESTS AND MINERAL RESOURCES IN TIBET S REMOTE REGIONS. THEIR EXILED LEADER SEES AN ENVIRONMENTAL RISK BUT ALSO ECONOMIC BENEFIT IN THE NEW LINK TO BEIJING.

5 5 From the beginning I have the view the railway link construction itself is positive. The part of the material development is okay. But now that depend how to use. If that facility used for exploitation of Tibetan natural resources, regardless the effect on the environment, it very, very bad. HIS BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF TIBETANS WILL BE OVERWHELMED BY THE ARRIVAL OF THOUSANDS OF HAN CHINESE IMMIGRANTS CHINA S ETHNIC MAJORITY. Land of Tibetan eventually become land of Han Chinese, that really dangerous, really dangerous, for long run. Interest for people from China as a whole, is not, is not. I think more friction, or more sort of resentment among Tibetan people, then this problem will remain generations. So that s nobody's interest. IN TIBET TODAY CHINESE AUTHORITIES CLAIM THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE NO LONGER WANT THE BACK. BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET A TRUE PICTURE. AS IN MUCH OF CHINA, JOURNALISTS VISITS ARE RESTRICTED AND MONITORED. TOURISTS TOOK THESE PHOTOS IN TIBET THIS SUMMER AND EVEN THEY ASKED THAT THEIR NAMES NOT BE USED. FEARING THAT THE S PATIENT NON-VIOLENT APPROACH WILL TAKE TOO LONG TO SAVE TIBET, SOME EXILE GROUPS SEE THE UPCOMING SUMMER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CONFRONTATION. WITH CHINA PLANNING TO SEND THE OLYMPIC TORCH UP MOUNT EVEREST AND ACROSS TIBET ON ITS WAY TO BEIJING THE GROUP STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET STAGED THIS TINY PROTEST ON THE TIBETAN SIDE OF MT EVEREST IN APRIL. ONE BANNER AND SOME SINGING WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE CHINESE OFFICIALS TO ISSUE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGNERS TRAVELS IN AND TO TIBET. THE SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THE FRUSTRATIONS AND FEARS OF TIBETANS, BUT HE STILL COUNSELS PATIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE. Do you believe that the Olympics being held in Beijing-- gives an opportunity perhaps for some leverage on the Chinese or not?

6 6 I don't know, I don't know. However, if we look Tibet issue locally, then almost you get the feeling of hopelessness. But if you look from wider perspective, people from China as a whole, and also whole Asia, including former Soviet Union, things are very hopeful. So therefore around Olympic, some positive change, big or not, basically things are going better, better, better. That's my view. Of course, nobody can predict 100 percent what will happen. No. Of course not. But your Holiness, when I hear you say, your message of hope, and you think that there's plenty of reason for hope. It seems, and not just to me, to many people from the outside world, that it's hopeless for Tibet, that Tibet will be China and will be Chinese. Yes, as I meant earlier, if you look locally then really, very, very sad. Really, sometimes to feel hopeless. As a result, Tibetan inside as well as outside more and more signs of frustrations now coming. And meantime, thousands, thousands of Chinese, mainly in mainland China, particularly the educated Chinese and also wealthier Chinese, their attitude about Tibetan culture, Tibetan spirituality, now today, very, very positive. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE CHINESE PEOPLE THINK AND WHAT THEIR COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERS SAY THEY THINK IS HARD TO KNOW. BUT THE BELIEVES CHANGE IS COMING. More and more Chinese now, particularly among the writers or intellectuals, you see actually supporting our way of approach. Not seeking independence, but seeking genuine autonomy, which is, we believe, real guarantee for protection of Tibetan environment and Tibetan culture, Tibetan spirituality, like that. My approach is the best way to achieve genuine stability and unity, and prosperity. CHINA S GOVERNMENT DISAGREES BUT CONTINUING ON HIS MIDDLE PATH THE PROMOTES ONLY PEACEFUL CHANGE AND COMPASSION. HIS MESSAGE DRAWS THE DEVOTED TO DHARAMSALA FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THIS YEAR TIBETAN BUDDHISTS ARE OFFERING LONG-LIFE CELEBRATIONS TO HONOR THE. THIS ONE, JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS SEVENTY-SECOND BIRTHDAY, BROUGHT HIM FROM HIS HOME HIGH ABOVE THE TOWN TO THE MAIN TEMPLE. FOR EACH OF THE EIGHT HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO DHARAMSALA ON THIS DAY JUST BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DALAI LAMA IS A PRAYER ANSWERED.BECAUSE THE CHINESE ALLOW ONLY LIMITED RELIGIOUS PRACTICES REFUGEES SAY IT IS THE S PRESENCE IN DHARAMSALA THAT OFFERS SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL HOPE TO THOSE WHO STILL CALL TIBET HOME.

7 7 IN RECENT YEARS THE IS OFTEN TRAVELING AND FAR FROM HIS OWN HOME HERE IN EXILE. BUT WHEN HE IS IN DHARAMSALA HE MAKES TIME TO MEET PERSONALLY WITH EVERY TIBETAN REFUGEE WHO MAKES IT TO SAFETY. IT IS FOR THEM AND FOR THE MILLIONS STILL IN TIBET THAT HIS HOLINESS, THE FOURTEENTH, SAYS HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO WHAT HE CALLS TIBET S FREEDOM STRUGGLE AGAINST CHINESE AUTHORITARIAN RULE. I have three commitments. Number one commitment is for promotion of human value. Then second my commitment is promotion of religious harmony. These two my commitments, til my death, I fully committed. Then third my commitment is about Tibetan issue. Tibetan freedom struggle. WHEN WE COME BACK, THE JOURNEY TO FREEDOM- AND HOW A POPULATION WITHOUT A COUNTRY KEEPS TIBET S ANCIENT CULTURE ALIVE. FOR TIBETANS IN EXILE THE BLESSINGS THAT FREEDOM BRINGS ARE NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED. MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND TIBETANS NOW LIVE AS REFUGEES AROUND THE WORLD. EIGHT THOUSAND OF THEM HERE IN DHARAMSALA. THEY RISK THEIR LIVES, LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES, AND SOME TIMES EVEN SEND THEIR CHILDREN ALONE ACROSS THE HIMALAYAS FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A CHANCE FOR TRUE FREEDOM. IN DHARAMSALA S RECEPTION CENTER FOR REFUGEES THE EXILE S STORIES ARE EVIDENCE OF THE DESPERATION THAT DRIVES THEM FROM THEIR HOMES. THIS ELEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL SAYS HER FAMILY HAD HER SMUGGLED INTO INDIA ALONE. You're by yourself? GIRL (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) She came-- she came alone. All alone? Yes. GIRL (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN): Ooo. Well-- very brave girl, hmm?

8 8 SHE RODE IN CARS HIDDEN FROM CHINESE BORDER GUARDS. BUT MANY REFUGEES COME ON FOOT. IT IS A JOURNEY EVEN EXPERIENCED MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS WOULD FIND DIFFICULT. THE MOST POPULAR ROUTE TAKES THEM JUST WEST OF MOUNT EVEREST ACROSS NINETEEN THOUSAND FOOT HIMALAYAN PASSES. MINGHUR UDUN MANAGES THE DHARAMSALA REFUGEE CENTER, WHERE THE CROWDED ROOMS OVERFLOW NOT WHEN CONDITIONS ARE EASY, BUT IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. MINGHUR UDUN, RECEPTION CENTER MANAGER Wintertime, we receive 100 to 200, sometime 300 in a month. In summer, we have less refugee. Why do you have fewer refugees in the summer? UDUN Because, there's a lot more restriction on the border area. In the wintertime, no. Most of the mountains are covered with snow, so the border patrolling police, they just hesitate to look around the mountain. So there are fewer Chinese Yeah, fewer Chinese --on the border. --yeah, border. UDUN UDUN ROBERT, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Most of the refugees are coming from the eastern Tibetan areas, around here. Almost all of them will try to travel by road towards Everest. And then if they cross there, there's probably a ten-day or two-week walk-- through the snow. ROBERT AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND AN EXPERT ON MODERN TIBET VISITS THE REGION EVERY YEAR WITH CHINESE PERMISSION.

9 9 There's a lot of people trying to escape. And you meet people who come up to you and beg for help to escape. I think what the Chinese have created in Tibet is a new kind of society where you allow lots of things to happen like the market, and money, and businesses. At the same time they chained down the things that most matter to people. They limit hugely religion. They limit what people can say. And above all, they limit people's right to make decisions. It's like imagining a person who's trying to run, but they have huge chains tied to their legs. I think Tibet is like this. UDUN They've been in prison for six month, one month, three years, like that. THESE MEN DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS. And what were their crimes? UDUN Two of them, they did a painting of Tibetan flag. And that's a crime? For this reason they got prison. UDUN You were in prison? You were in jail how long? MAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) Seven months in prison. Were you beaten? Were you tortured? Yes, he been beaten. MAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) But you were arrested for painting a Tibetan flag. Right? Yes. MAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN)

10 10 But you must have known that the Chinese didn't like this. Yeah, he know that. MAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) You know, the Chinese say that Tibet is China. And that all people in Tibet are Chinese. Do you consider yourself Chinese? MAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) He don't accept that. THIS WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS IN PRISON IN TIBET FOR TWENTY SEVEN YEARS BEFORE ESCAPING. So she was arrested for being part of a demonstration, and making protest, against the Chinese? Yeah. WOMAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) NOW IN HER SEVENTIES SHE LOOKS AFTER THE REFUGEE CHILDREN WHO TELL THEIR STORIES OF LIFE INSIDE TIBET WITH PICTURES. WOMAN (TRANSLATED FROM TIBETAN) You know, the Chinese say there is religious freedom, but still today there is still no religious freedom actually, because even to keep the picture of His Holiness they punish them. See, the child is crying. About how many children come alone? UDUN Most of the refugee we receive here are school-going children, and from this group, most of them, they come alone with a guide from Tibet. And few of them, they come with their parent. THOSE CHILDREN COMING FROM TIBET ARE A SPECIAL CONCERN OF THE S. HE SET UP THE FIRST TIBETAN SCHOOL IN INDIA IN 1960 FOR FIFTY ONE CHILDREN ORPHANED AND LIVING IN EXILE.

11 11 THERE ARE NOW SIXTEEN THOUSAND CHILDREN ENROLLED IN TIBETAN CHILDREN S VILLAGE SCHOOLS. AT THE DHARAMSALA SCHOOL, DIRECTOR THUTTEN GDORJEE, IS CONSTANTLY ADDING BEDS TO THE DORMITORIES AND DESKS TO THE CLASSROOMS. MAKING ROOM FOR CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE DESPERATE TO GET THEM OUT OF TIBET. THUTTEN GDORJEE, DIRECTOR, TIBETAN CHILDRENS VILLAGE No parent want to separate from their child if things are working fine in Tibet. So this is a clear indication that things are not well inside Tibet as what the Chinese claim to be. MANY OF THESE CHILDREN WILL NEVER SEE TIBET AGAIN. THEIR CONNECTION TO THEIR CULTURE WILL BE LEARNED IN A CLASSROOM. GDORJEE If the Tibetan issue is to be kept alive, our hope are our children. So, we have to educate them befitting a Tibetan. So this is why we are giving them an education here. ADMINISTRATORS SAID THIS LITTLE GIRL S MOTHER BROUGHT HER TO THE SCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS JUST FIVE MONTHS OLD. HER MOTHER RETURNED TO TIBET TO PROTECT THE REST OF HER FAMILY. GDORJEE We have children who have lost their eyesight. We have children who have lost their fingers and toes out of frostbite. This is all undertaken just because back inside Tibet the parents feel that there is no proper education for these children to grow up as Tibetan. So it is purely for want of education befitting a Tibetan, so that the child grows up as Tibetan. So, the parents risk in sending their children. THAT RISK CAN MEAN FREEDOM, IT CAN ALSO MEAN DEATH. LAST SEPTEMBER, A ROMANIAN CAMERAMAN ON A MOUNTAIN CLIMBING EXPEDITION IN NEPAL FILMED A GROUP OF TIBETAN REFUGEES ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE OVER THE NANG PA LA PASS. CHINESE BORDER GUARDS FIRED ON THE GROUP KILLING A YOUNG BUDDHIST NUN. Actual shooting, actual shooting is unusual. Actual killing of these refugees. So what's extraordinary is that it was done in front of these foreign mountaineers who saw it. That's quite astonishing.

12 12 TWENTY YEARS AGO IT WAS PROFESSOR HIMSELF WHO SAW CHINESE SOLDIERS OPEN FIRE. AS A TOURIST ON HIS FIRST VISIT TO TIBET HE SAW CHINESE OFFICERS SHOOT AND KILL UNARMED DEMONSTRATORS IN LHASA. WHEN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DENIED THAT ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED BECAME AN EYEWITNESS WHO CHANGED HISTORY. The killing is one thing. Governments all over the world unfortunately kill people. And they're still doing it today. But trying to pretend it never happened when you have 100 Western tourists there, that's a different operation. That's a wholly different thing. And that throws the power or the responsibility back to those tourists. And that's what happened in that case. AND MANY OTHERS CAME FORWARD AND FINALLY FORCED THE CHINESE TO ADMIT TO THE KILLINGS. AND IN THE YEARS SINCE SAYS THE CHINESE ARE CONTINUING TO CHANGE COURSE. If you go to Tibet and talk to Tibetans, they tell you about their feelings of lack of freedom. They say, "We're not free. We cannot say what we think. We cannot do multitudes of things." But if you looked with your eyes, you would see huge bustling city, lots of shopping in ever increasing opportunities to spend money and even to make money for the middle classes. So there's what you see and what you hear, and these are two different sides of the same thing. So it's a very complex situation. CHINA IS POURING MONEY INTO TIBET, BUILDING MODERN OFFICES, RESTORING SOME ANCIENT TEMPLES DESTROYED EARLIER BY THE CHINESE AND CREATING GOVERNMENT JOBS WITH BIGGER SALARIES. BUT SAYS EVEN WITH ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS THE REASONS TIBETANS WANT TO LEAVE ARE STILL THE SAME. It's not that there is no culture left, huge amounts of culture still exists. A huge amount of religion still exists, but it's all heavily restricted. It's all hedged in. It's boxed in. And people are very, very troubled by that, because they fear that that's going to lead gradually to this culture and this religion being emaciated, being-- having its core taken out.

13 13 REMARKABLE AS THEIR ESCAPES ARE, THE REFUGEES STARTING WITH THE HIMSELF, ARE ALSO MANAGING TO RE-CREATE THEIR CULTURE IN EXILE. FROM DANCE TO RELIGIOUS RITUAL TO ART EACH NEW ARRIVAL BRINGS ANOTHER PIECE OF TIBET. AND IN A SECLUDED CULTURAL INSTITUTE CALLED NORBULINGKA, SOME BUDDHIST PRAYERS TO PRESERVE TIBETAN ART AND CULTURE ARE QUIETLY BEING ANSWERED. Tell me the significance of these flags? TSERING PHUNTSOK, NORBULINGKA INSTITUTE Ah. This is-- in Tibetan, we call it "lung ta" and usually, we hang on the very high mountains. So Tibetan believes that when we hang these things, all the good luck come to us. TSERING PHUNTSOK HAS NEVER SEEN THE PRAYER FLAGS MARKING THE ESCAPE ROUTES FROM TIBET THROUGH THE HIGH HIMALAYAN PASSES THAT HIS PARENTS CLIMBED IN How did they get here? Did they walk? Yeah, they walk. Yeah. Over the high Himalayas? PHUNTSOK BORN IN INDIA, PHUNTSOK MAY NEVER GET TO SEE TIBET. BUT HERE AT THE NORBULINGKA INSTITUTE--- AN OASIS OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM -- THIS YOUNG MAN IS HELPING PRESERVE HIS ANCESTORS CULTURE. THE INSTITUTE, NAMED FOR THE S SUMMER PALACE IN TIBET, IS NOT FAR FROM DHARAMSALA IN THE INDIAN VILLAGE OF SIDHPUR. AND HIDDEN IN AMONG THE HOMES SURROUNDING THE INSTITUTE ARE WORKSHOPS WHERE MASTERS OF ANCIENT TIBETAN ARTS ARE TRAINING APPRENTICES, MANY OF THEM NEWLY-ARRIVED REFUGEES FROM TIBET.

14 14 IN THE METAL-WORKING SHOP BUDDHAS EMERGE PIECE BY PIECE AND EVEN FINGER BY FINGER. HARD WORK THAT WILL SUSTAIN DEVOTED FOLLOWERS. Does Tibetan culture survive today inside Tibet? TSERING PHUNTSOK The Chinese, they mix all the Chinese culture with the Tibetan. So nowadays, when you go to Tibet, you can't find the real Tibetan art. THESE YOUNG ARTISTS ARE LEARNING THANGKA PAINTING. THE INTRICATE RELIGIOUS IMAGES ARE TREASURED MEDITATION TOOLS. AT NORBULINGKA APPRENTICES LEARN BOTH THANGKA PAINTING AND APPLIQUE TECHNIQUES. THE FABRIC THANGKAS TAKE MONTHS TO ASSEMBLE. PHUNTSOK We pass this art to our younger generation, and also those who were born in India, they don't have the knowledge of these things. So, the master who came from Tibet, teach these things to our younger generation, those who were born in India. So when people immigrate here, come as refugees from Tibet Yes, Sir. PHUNTSOK --they bring with them the generations of knowledge about the art Yeah. PHUNTSOK PHUNTSOK Those who came from Tibet, we provide them job, and they have to train those unskilled people of their knowledge. They pass it on? Yeah, pass it on. PHUNTSOK

15 15 TIBET S CULTURE IS ROOTED IN ITS UNIQUE FORM OF BUDDHISM. AND FROM EVENING PRAYERS IN MONASTERIES, TO THE SIMPLE DISPLAY OF A PORTRAIT OF HIS HOLINESS, TO THE RITUAL TURNING OF GIANT PRAYER WHEELS, BEING ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEIR DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS IS ANOTHER ONE OF FREEDOM S MANY TREASURES FOR TIBETANS. (ON CAMERA) FREEDOM IN EXILE IS THE TITLE OF THE S AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND EVERY YEAR ON HIS BIRTHDAY TIBETANS IN EXILE REVEL IN THEIR FREEDOM. JULY SIXTH IS A DAY OF DANCING AND SINGING, SPEECH-MAKING AND SMILES. BUSINESSES TAKE A BREAK. SCHOOLS CLOSE. EVERYONE WHO CAN SQUEEZES IN, LINING THE GROUNDS OF THE MAIN TEMPLE IN DHARAMSALA. AND THIS IS MORE THAN A HOLIDAY IT IS A PARTY WITH A POLITICAL PURPOSE. WHEN TIBET S NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS AND THE FLAG BEGINS TO RISE THE EMOTIONS ARE EASY TO READ. TENDZIN CHOEGYAL, S BROTHER Freedom is priceless, no? And when you are free, you can build up again earthly success. But unless you are free, then doesn't mean anything, no? TENDZIN CHOEGYAL IS THE S YOUNGEST BROTHER. HE WAS JUST 12 YEARS OLD WHEN HIS FAMILY ESCAPED OVER THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS TO INDIA. CHOEGYAL We just wanted our freedom. We don't want to be under Chinese, how do you say, rule. TIBETANS HAVE NEVER STOPPED RISKING EVERYTHING FOR FREEDOM. AND CHOEGYAL SAYS TODAY S EXILES KNOW FREEDOM IN PART BECAUSE INDIA GAVE HIS FAMILY A HOME. CHOEGYAL Now India allow us to stay here. It takes guts. And India has such a long border against China in context of occupied Tibet. It takes guts. So I think India has done the most. If I sort of think all of this, gives me a tremendous upsurge of emotion. HOMELESS BUT NOW AT HOME IN INDIA THESE TIBETANS MAY BE MAKING A NEW KIND OF HISTORY.

16 16 I think we could say that among any refugee histories this is the most successful one that we've seen. A refugee community that leaves its country in a sizeable numbers and that becomes stronger over 50 years rather than disintegrating. PROFESSOR GIVES THE CREDIT FOR THIS SURPRISINGLY STRONG SURVIVAL IN EXILE TO THE. He's done it mostly through culture. He's created what we might call a cultural nation. Doesn't really have powers or an Army or land. But it has-- it has its cultural projects, especially around monasteries and that's been uniquely successful. I think that, I don't know if that will last. But in the first 50 years, that has been his big achievement. WHEN WE COME BACK THE S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, AND THE NEW CHALLENGES FACING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TIBETAN S LIVING IN EXILE. LIFE IN EXILE CHALLENGES EACH NEW GENERATION OF TIBETANS TO MAINTAIN THEIR IDENTITY AND TO TREASURE THEIR TRADITIONS. WHETHER IT IS AN ELDERLY MAN PAINSTAKINGLY CARVING A MANTRA IN STONE OR MONKS AND NUNS RECITING THAT SAME MANTRA AS THEY TURN PRAYER WHEELS. DHARAMSALA IS A SANCTUARY BUT IT CANNOT BE A TRUE HOME. TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF TIBET S STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE. A NEPHEW OF THE HE WENT TO COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES BUT AFTER A FEW YEARS FELT THE NEED TO COME HOME TO DHARAMSALA, INDIA. Have you ever been to Tibet? TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL, NEPHEW OF THE Never been to Tibet. That must create some conflicts in your mind that you're Tibetan but you've never been there.

17 17 TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL Since I was born in exile here in India and have been brought up in a Tibetan community there's always this longing to go see Tibet. But then if a person like me would want to go to Tibet I would have to go as an overseas Chinese. And I know that I'm not a Chinese. So, for the very reason that we came into exile I do not want to go see Tibet as an overseas Chinese. CHOEGYAL S FATHER IS THE S YOUNGEST BROTHER. BOTH OF HIS PARENTS FLED TIBET AS YOUNG CHILDREN. Did you grow up with their stories? Did they recount how they came through the Himalayas Oh yes --to get away? TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL --oh yes, my generation of Tibetans in exile, we've heard these stories so many times. And we off-- we often kind of think to ourselves although, you know, we won't be faced with such physical hardship but mentally we-- we'll have to be ready to face similar challenges. FOR THE S GENERATION, THE PRICE OF FREEDOM WAS EXILE. FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF TIBETANS BORN IN EXILE FREEDOM COMES WITH A NEW SET OF CHALLENGES. What happens when His Holiness, the present Dalai Lama, the 14th Dalai Lama, passes? Will there be another Dalai Lama? TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL Well, His Holiness always says that whether a next Dalai Lama, whether there will be a next Dalai Lama or not depends on what the Tibetan people want Well, that begs the question, can there be a Tibetan culture that lasts, that survives without a Dalai Lama?

18 18 TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL That again-- I mean, I hate to sound like this, but I-- I really feel that that depends on the Tibetan people again. If we do not pay attention or value our own culture and put in the investment of time to study it, to reason with it, and then to pass it on to the next generation, then there's real danger of Tibetan culture not being there, because the greatest disadvantage we have is that we do not have a geographic location where we can establish that culture. No Tibetan likes to be a refugee, to not have a country of their own. It didn't occur to me that you would think of yourself as a refugee. Do you think of yourself as a refugee? TENZIN LODOE CHOEGYAL Oh yes, oh yes, yes. People like me, our generation, wherever they're born outside Tibet, we don't know the taste of political freedom. We know human freedom. We all know that. But the biggest difference between you and me is you have political freedom as an American. But me as a Tibetan, I have never known political freedom. THE CANNOT GRANT POLITICAL FREEDOM TO HIS FOLLOWERS BUT ONE OF THE GIFTS OF HIS LIFE IN EXILE IS THE FREEDOM TO PRACTICE HIS RELIGION WITHOUT FEAR. IT IS IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM THAT HE SAYS HE FINDS THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE HIS CAMPAIGN FOR A FREE TIBET. You have said if you-- if you meditate. If you bring a warm-heartedness, a desire for peace, non-violence, those things, that you will be happier. But my question is, does it work when you're facing an overwhelming power such as China? Now, here I think, as issue, meditation on compassion, not necessarily direct effect. As issue is we have to work, action is more important than meditation. However, on individual level meditation on compassion is very, very helpful to keep one's own peace of mind. Then the issue itself, of course, will not solve through prayer, through meditation on compassion, it will not solve. We have to act, we have to work. WORKING FOR TIBET - SAVING IT- IS THE S LIFE S WORK. HE ACCEPTS INVITATIONS TO SPEAK AND TO TEACH IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES EVERY YEAR. HE IS -- IN MANY WAYS -- THE ONLY TIBET THE WORLD REALLY KNOWS. RECEIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE AT SMITH COLLEGE IN MASSACHUSETTS THIS YEAR, THE WAS A PICTURE OF JOY AS TIBETAN REFUGEES CROWDED IN TO SEE HIM. BUT THE EXILES ARE A REMINDER THAT TIBET S STORY IS STILL A TRAGEDY.

19 19 This ancient nation with unique cultural heritage and also beautiful sort of environment that nation passing through darkest period in, I think, almost more than 2000 years. THE TELLS HIS AUDIENCES TO HOLD FAST DESPITE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT S REFUSAL TO ALLOW COMPLETE FREEDOM OF RELIGION INSIDE TIBET. IT S AN IMPASSE THAT PROFESSOR ROBERT OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BELIEVES CONTINUES BECAUSE THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP DOES NOT TRUST THE. The Dalai Lama did welcome the Chinese in the 1950s-- for part of the time. Not always. But he did decide to try and become friendly with Mao Ze Dong. And he did after the uprising in 1959 that failed against the Chinese. He did very much change his tune and said that they had no right to be there. And-- and he did for some time say he wanted independence. And then in 1978 he gave up the idea of independence SAYS CHINA S DEEP DISTRUST OF THE S MOTIVES GREW STRONGER THIS SUMMER WHEN A NEW KIND OF PROTEST EMERGED IN TIBET. What happened August the 1st, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, is that one Tibetan an-- an educated, respected, older man walked up onto the stage in front of officials, quite unprecedented, and gave a speech in which he asked people whether or not they wanted the Dalai Lama to return. PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED TO THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET SHOW THE FESTIVAL IN EASTERN TIBET S LITHANG PROVINCE AND THE CHINESE MILITARY POLICE RESPONSE AFTER 53 YEAR OLD RUNGGYE ADAK WAS ARRESTED. This is a new kind of protest. All other protest have mainly been people taking a gamble, running in the street and hoping, maybe, to get away after a few seconds of shouting out a slogan. This is a different kind of bravery. This is somebody calmly walking up there and saying what they think. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY ADAK IS STILL IN PRISON. SAYS THESE HARSH RESPONSES WILL ONLY MAKE THE MORE DETERMINED TO WORK OUT A PEACEFUL SOLUTION.

20 20 I think that the Dalai Lama may have a point that the Chinese could gain hugely if they work with him and reduce the threat of a restive Tibet. I think that's a possible benefit for China. But it's very difficult because they don't trust the Dalai Lama. And China is terrified of Tibet triggering unrest in other areas. From your perspective, what's happening now with China and Tibet? CHOEGYAL Well, this is my personal position. Not the position of the Tibetan government or his Holiness. I feel China is buying time by pretending to negotiate with the Tibetans. And they feel that the Dalai Lama or His Holiness, the Dalai Lama is the problem. And I think this is the biggest mistake they're making, because if there is to be a solution to the Tibetan problem or the problem that China has a result of its invasion of Tibet, if there were to be a solution, the key to the solution is His Holiness. Without him, they won't be able to find a solution. THE HAS NOW SENT HIS ENVOYS TO BEIJING SIX TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS FOR NEGOTIATIONS BUT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS. Tibet is really the Achilles Heel of China. Although it's tiny population, less than six million people, it seems to be seen by China as a place where if they make a major concession there it will trigger all kinds of demands for concessions elsewhere. So the Chinese have reasons to be scared. The Dalai Lama's effort is to try to calm those fears and get them to the negotiating table. TO HOLD THE CULTURE TOGETHER, THE GIVES DOZENS OF PUBLIC TEACHINGS ON BUDDHISM AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN HE S AT HOME IN DHARAMSALA, THE LINES ARE ALWAYS LONG AND THE MAIN TEMPLE ADJOINING HIS RESIDENCE FILLS WITH THE CURIOUS AND THE DEVOUT. EACH SUMMER A DELEGATION OF BUDDHISTS FROM TAIWAN COME FOR A SPECIAL TEACHING. LIKE TIBET---TAIWAN IS TERRITORY CHINA CLAIMS AS ITS OWN BUT TAIWAN HAS MAINTAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE. THIS YEAR, A HANDFUL OF CHINESE FROM THE MAINLAND ATTENDED THE TEACHING, BUT THEY ASKED TO BE HIDDEN FROM VIEW. SECURITY OFFICIALS SAID THE VISITORS FEARED JUST BEING SEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WOULD MEAN REPRISALS WHEN THEY RETURNED HOME. BUT THIS SPIRITUAL MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF A SIMPLE MONK-- DOES NOT FOCUS ON THE FEAR. HE SEES INSTEAD HOPE. HOPE THAT INDIVIDUAL CHINESE PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY SWAY THE COMMUNIST PARTY S HARD-LINE.

21 21 ON OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS WILL AWARD THE ITS HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR, THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH PLANS TO BE THERE FOR WHAT WILL BE HIS FOURTH MEETING WITH THE. AND AGAIN THE CHINESE ARE PROTESTING SAYING THE AWARD QUOTE DAMAGES CHINA-U.S. RELATIONS. BUT AS HE HAS THROUGHOUT HIS FORTY EIGHT YEARS IN EXILE HIS HOLINESS THE FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA TAKES BOTH THE HONORS AND THE THREATS IN STRIDE. Your Holiness, you've been very patient with me and I appreciate it. I would like to ask a personal question. What's next for you as a person? You are-- you have been and are the Dalai Lama. You've won the Nobel Prize. You've been applauded in virtually every country of the world. What's next for you? Now as person who beyond 70 years now, I think within a few days I reach 72 years old. As a believer of rebirth, so I think the time for preparation for next life also important. HIS SENSE OF HUMOR, ABOUT HIMSELF OR EVEN ABOUT REINCARNATION, NEVER FADES. AND WHILE HE HOPES TO TURN OVER HIS POLITICAL DUTIES TO THE RECENTLY-ELECTED TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE HIS SENSE OF PURPOSE MAKES RETIREMENT UNLIKELY FOR A MAN WHO IS ONE OF THE WORLD S MOST HONORED CITIZENS. Now here, since now last six years, more than six years, we already have elected political leadership. So since then my position is something like semi-retired position. So I don't know when I got the full retirement. That I don't know. Perhaps within few years I may, I may have that. Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it Thank you. DALIA LAMA

22 (ON CAMERA) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND TIBET IS FILLED WITH COMPLEXITY, NUANCE, AND HISTORY. IT IS ALSO MAKE NO MISTAKE, FILLED WITH EXPLOSIVENESS AND DANGER. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WHETHER LED BY REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS ALWAYS EXPRESSES SYMPATHY WITH THE TIBETAN S PLIGHT. BUT THAT SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY GETS OVERWHELMED BY ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL CONCERNS. TIBET IS A MORAL ISSUE BUT MONEY AND BIG POWER RELATIONSHIPS DIM AND DILUTE IT. WHO WEEPS FOR TIBET? NOT MANY, NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. THERE S NOT MUCH IN THAT FOR THE DALAI LAMA S HOPE AND OPTIMISM BUT IT IS THE REALITY. FOR HDNET, FROM DHARAMSALA INDIA, DAN REPORTING. GOOD NIGHT. 22