Jayadeva Ranade: Undermining the Dalai Lama at Tibet’s 60th bash

Mystery still shrouds the high mountain fastness of Tibet where, to this day, people who revere the Dalai Lama are engaged in a serious tussle with cadres of the Chinese Communist Party for the loyalty of Tibetans.

A few weeks ago, China celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ‘peaceful liberation’ of Tibet by Chinese troops. Held on July 18, 2011, instead of May 23, the authorities imposed a month-long ban on foreigners travelling to the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Publicity was low key for the event, where ‘social stability’ and combating ‘Dalai Lama separatists’ were highlighted. China utilised the celebrations to try and isolate the Dalai Lama and undermine his influence. It additionally sought to gain legitimacy for the Beijing-nominated Panchen Lama.

The presence of China’s Vice-President Xi Jinping at the anniversary celebrations in Lhasa, at the head of a 59-member delegation, underscored their importance. Generals Chen Bingde, Chief of the People’s Liberation Army, and Wang Jianping, Commander of the People’s Armed Police Forces were part of the entourage. China’s State Council also announced approval of investments totalling 138.4 billion yuan ($21.38 billion) in TAR to support infrastructure projects like railways, highways, airports and hydropower plants.

Xi Jinping’s visit also had symbolic value as his father, Xi Zhongxun, was an interlocutor for the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy Lodi Gyari in the 1980s and apparently carried a photo of the Dalai Lama.

Xi Jinping visited the Tibet University and later joined others to ‘Sing a folk song to the Party again’ — an old revolutionary song — at the People’s Hall of Tibet. The following day, he asserted that Tibet will enjoy ‘greater prosperity and progress’ so long as ‘we stick to the CCP’s leadership, the socialist system…’ He stressed the importance of ‘social stability’.

Later, speaking to a hand-picked audience of over 100 monks at the well known Jokhang temple in Lhasa, which has been at the centre of rioting in the past, he urged them to ‘stay clear’ of separatist forces, be patriotic and ‘stay in line with the party and the government.’

Xi Jinping emphasised the need to ‘fight against separatist activities by the Dalai Lama group…’ and described Tibet ‘as an important security screen for the country’ and ‘major base of strategic resources reserves.’ He appeared to take a cue from Hu Jintao and avoided using the pejorative term ‘Dalai clique’ while referring to the Dalai Lama.

A researcher with Beijing’s China Tibetology Research Center, separately observed: ‘Politically, there are separatist forces undermining Tibet’s security; culturally, there is the conflict between ongoing modernisation and preserving traditions.’

In an interesting choice of venue, Xi Jinping subsequently visited Bagyi village in Nyingchi. It is the site of an underground missile base and the recently built third, modern airport in Tibet. (China claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of the Nyingchi prefecture. It also plans to construct a mega dam on the Brahmaputra River there.)

China invited high-ranking Tibetan monks residing abroad to attend the celebrations. The list was crafted to accentuate divisions within the Tibetan community and isolate the Dalai Lama. Over 15 prominent monks accepted Beijing’s invitation, including the Paris-based former 101st Ganden Tripa, head of the Gelugpa sect to which the Dalai Lama belongs.

He came to meet Gyancain Norbu, the Chinese-nominated Panchen Lama, who is not recognised by the Dalai Lama or majority of Tibetans.

The visit was intended to embarrass the Dalai Lama and bestow some legitimacy on the Chinese appointee. Others included Gangchen Lama, a known critic of the Dalai Lama and Scotland-based Akong Tulku, a former close associate of Tai Situ Rimpoche with close links to the Chinese authorities.

The celebrations were predictably used to garner legitimacy for Gyaincain Norbu, the Chinese-nominated Panchen Lama. Plans to position him in Labrang Tashi Khyil Monastery in Tibet’s Amdo region were aborted due to opposition from local Tibetans.

Positioning Gyaincain Norbu here instead of Beijing would have the objective of keeping him amidst Tibetans so that he could expand his influence.

Beijing currently perceives an opportunity to undermine the Dalai Lama’s position and influence. It has stepped up efforts to sow division in the Tibetan ecclesiastical hierarchy and is attempting to undermine the Dalai Lama’s influence.

Beijing expects that a weakened movement will compel the XIVth Dalai Lama’s successors to find new methods at accommodation.