On 6 July, Tenzin Gyatso, whom Tibetans believe to be the 14th reincarnation of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, celebrates his 90th birthday. Earlier this week, he announced that the 600-year-old institution would continue after his death and that his office would name his successor. However, Beijing may have other plans. RFI spoke to Vincent Metten of the International Campaign for Tibet.
The Dalai Lama's statement, published on 2 July, affirming that he will have a successor is crucial for Tibetans, many of whom had feared a future without a leader – as well as for Buddhists around the world and global supporters who see the him as a symbol of non-violence, compassion and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule.
He and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959.
Tenzin Gyatso, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, had previously said the institution of the Dalai Lama would continue only if there was popular demand. He confirmed on Wednesday that he had received multiple appeals over the past 14 years from the Tibetan diaspora and from Buddhists from across the Himalayan region, Mongolia and parts of Russia and China "earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue".
Vincent Metten, EU policy director with the NGO the International Campaign for Tibet, spoke about the significance of the Dalai Lama's decision.
Vincent Metten: The Dalai Lama in 2011 made the statement, saying that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the office of the Dalai Lama, has the authority to decide on the next reincarnation. But he hadn't decided yet that the institution will continue. So, this is a step forward that he has taken now.
He has made this decision based on requests made by different people, including Tibetans inside Tibet, and he has received a lot of calls, appeals and comments from the diaspora as well to ensure that the institution would go on. This is relevant because since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950 and the occupation of Tibet, Beijing is controlling the religious institution in Tibet.
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So, by making the statement, the Dalai Lama is telling Beijing that it is not up to them to decide who the next Dalai Lama is, but to the Tibetan Buddhist community and to [his] office to decide in the future.
RFI: Can you elaborate on the selection process of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama?
The authority to decide on the future and the next, the 15th, Dalai Lama, is under the responsibility of his office, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which is based in Dharamsala [India]. This body will consult religious representatives from different schools, and they will decide who the next Dalai Lama will be.
The Dalai Lama has indicated that, in view of the situation in Tibet, if he is to be reborn it will not be in China, but it will be abroad in a democratic and free country.
How is that logical? Assuming that people believe in a universal Buddhist spirit, how would it care about whatever political structure is in place?
The Dalai Lama has the ability to decide how, when and if he will or will not reincarnate. So that's his competence, [his] responsibility. That's how it has always been. It is the Dalai Lama who decides if he wants to transfer his energy to another person. It can be also during his lifetime. Or it can be after his lifetime.
Of course, Beijing has very different views on this. They claim that reincarnated Lama should be endorsed and approved by the state and by the Chinese Communist Party. And we have seen that there are already interferences by the Chinese state on the reincarnation of a previous Lama. And a very obvious example is the Panchen Lama.
"By making the statement, the Dalai Lama is showing his determination to Beijing, saying this is not up to you to decide."
REMARK by Vincent Metten, EU policy director, International Campaign for TIbet
In 1995, the Chinese kidnapped the Panchen Lama's reincarnation, then a six-year-old child. With that, they have cut this important link and connection between the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. It was a very strong attack on the Tibetan Buddhist institution. Today, there is no information, no information at all. Nobody has ever access to him. And the Chinese claim he is living a happy life and does not want to be disturbed.
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And what is the Tibetan response to the Panchen Lama, who was appointed by Beijing?
Beijing uses him, sometimes he goes to some Tibetan areas. He is being promoted, he has some political role. But he's not recognised by the Tibetans, he's not seen as the real and legitimate successor of the 10th Panchen Lama. So the Tibetans don't buy into that and reject the one selected by the Chinese.
What are the possible consequences if, as expected, there will be two rival Dalai Lamas, one recognised by Beijing and the other by the Tibetan community in exile?
That there will be two different Dalai Lamas – one legitimate and one which is [a] fake or Chinese Dalai Lama – plays into a political strategy from Beijing to try to control the institution and further control society and religion within Tibet. But the Tibetans will not recognise this Chinese Dalai Lama, they will only recognise the legitimate one. So Tibetans and the international community will not buy into that.
How do you think Beijing will react to the plan announced by the Dalai Lama to have a succession process take place outside China?
They have already made it clear that it's up to the Chinese Communist regime to decide, that they have the authority to decide [and] that any other process should be rejected by Beijing.
It's absurd for an atheist Communist regime to say that they have the pretension to be the one who decides who should be the next Dalai Lama.
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How important is the role of the Tibetan diaspora in safeguarding the continuity and legitimacy of Tibetan leadership?
The Dalai Lama [gave] up his political power some years ago and transferred it to the elected Central Tibetan Administration. There is a community of around 150,000 Tibetans abroad – mainly in India and Nepal, but also in Australia, in Europe and in the United States. They vote for their political representatives based in Dharamsala.
They work to explain what is happening in terms of human rights in Tibet, where the Chinese have imposed assimilation policies which are very destructive [to] Tibetan culture and identity.
Most of the 6 million Tibetans live in [Chinese-ruled] Tibet, where there is also some resilience. Tibetans are contesting Chinese policies and the fact that the Dalai Lama is abroad. There have been many cases of self-immolation since 2009, to denounce Beijing's policies and the lack of freedom.
The role of the community in exile is important also because they have the ability to speak, to inform the world about what's going on.
France is home to one of the largest Tibetan communities in Europe, numbering between 8,000 and 10,000. What role does that community play in the broader network and the Free Tibet Movement?
They play an important role and demonstrate on a regular basis. They started a lawsuit against the Musée Guimet – which is not using the name "Tibet" anymore in its exhibitions, but "The Himalayan World" – to try and convince them to change this decision, because it's diluting the Tibetan identity.
