Dharamshala – Tibetans and followers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama held a large peaceful rally in Dharamshala on Monday, to condemn the media and social media influencers for their defamatory and false allegations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and ask them to apologise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They call on the Chinese government to stop making false allegations and misleading the world.
Tibetans, supporters and followers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from cities and countries around the world such as Dharamshala, New Delhi, Ladakh, Sikkim, Tawang, Mungod, Bylakuppe, the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Switzerland, Germany ,Canada, the United States, Australia and others have organised or will organise protests against the false allegations made against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and demand an apology from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They ask the Chinese government to stop making false allegations and misleading the world.
A large peaceful rally was organised by Tibetan Youth Congress with student groups from Spiti, Kinnaur and other Himalayan regions from Mcleod Ganj to Kacheri, Dharamshala, HP, India on April 17, 2023 to condemn the media for misleading the public and defaming His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. They call on the Chinese government to stop making false allegations and misleading the world, condemn the media and social media influencers for their defamatory and false allegations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and ask them to apologise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
During the peaceful march from Mcleod Ganji to Kachari, Dharamshala, they also shouted, "Respect our religion and culture, I stand with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we love His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we strongly condemn the defamatory and false allegations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama, ..."
President of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), Gonpo Dhondup said, “The Tibetan Youth Congress remains steadfast in our commitment to defend the actions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We firmly maintain that His Holiness had no intention of causing harm to the young child in question and that his actions were purely an expression of affection. Even after exchanging a kiss with the child, His Holiness emphasised their shared humanity, stating, "We are all brothers and sisters." The interaction ended with a playful moment, as His Holiness tickled the child and encouraged him to focus on the importance of peace and happiness, cautioning against those who cause harm to others. His Holiness's words to the child are a testament to his true intention of encouraging the child to become a better human being. We therefore strongly encourage people not to make hasty and severe judgments based solely on a superficial reading of a selectively edited video clip, presented without its cultural and interactional context. By acknowledging that His Holiness's gesture was specific to his culture and context, and not of a sexual nature, we can gain a greater appreciation for the diversity and richness of cultural norms, practices, and gestures around the world.”
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a global icon of peace, who has spent his life advocating for the rights of oppressed people and serving all sentient beings. In 2012, he was honored with the prestigious Templeton Prize by the John Templeton Foundation. His Holiness generously donated a significant portion of the prize money ($1.5 million) to support the Save the Children Fund in India. The donation helped improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for children, as well as providing crucial aid in times of natural disasters, war, and other crises. His Holiness has emphasised the importance of ensuring that children have access to basic needs, stating, "It is my belief that little can be done to defend the rights of children or to help them fulfill their potential unless they first have enough to eat." His commitment to the welfare of children is evident, and his tireless efforts have contributed to securing a better future for generations to come,” a statement of TYC said.
“We urge every individual to exercise caution before casting doubt on the actions of a "simple Buddhist monk" who has devoted his entire life to serving humanity. We also ask that people remain vigilant and not fall prey to the Chinese state-controlled media, their affiliates, and their online supporters, who are actively working to sensationalize stories through paid agents, bots, and click bait with the goal of spreading disinformation and discrediting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his lifelong service to all sentient beings. We call on every Tibetan to remain resolute in our efforts to prevent these cunning tactics from overshadowing the truth,” the statement added.
“The Tibetan Youth Congress implores every responsible global citizen to remember that His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message of peace and compassion is more vital now than ever. It is imperative that we continue to support him in his tireless efforts to create a better world for all,” the statement of TYC concluded.
