from the Official website of the Liaison office of H.H. the Dalai Lama for Japan

An Appeal

To the People of Japan:

As you are all well aware, a Tibet exhibition titled. “Tibet – Treasures from the Roof of World” has been going around Japan and it has now come to Ueno, Tokyo. While we welcome any exhibitions on Tibet, we are sorry to inform that the said exhibition does not give the true picture of Tibet and its history.

The world is well aware that since the invasion of Tibet by Chinese communist force in 1949, peaceful and religious people of Tibet were subjected to tremendous sufferings and tortures. As a result some 1.2 million Tibetan died, more than 6000 monasteries have been destroyed.

The exhibits and the documents at the exhibition are purposely designed to mislead the Japanese public into believing the Chinese Government as the benevolent guardian of Tibetan culture. While in fact, opposite is the truth. Repression of Tibetan religious and cultural freedom is still going on in Tibet. This is evident from the last year’s disturbance in Tibet. The fact that Tibet is closed even today speaks louder than anything.

If the organizers believe that this Exhibition is being done for the Tibetans, then the real historical background of Tibet and reason behind the flight of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Tibet issue, which has become an international issue should be properly displayed and addressed to, so that the interested publics are not misinformed. Instead, they should urge the Chinese Government to open Tibet to let the world see the real Tibet.

Situation in Tibet is very critical; it is very unfortunate to see certain elite bodies and intellectuals in this free country instead of standing up for justice are seen investing on the sad plight of Tibet.

We have been informed that many Japanese supporters of Tibet, groups and individuals are staging demonstration against the exhibition and the organizers in various forms. While I thank them for their genuine concern and supports, I request them to keep their activities peaceful and refrain from any violent actions. Important thing is that we should let the organizers and the visitors know that the real situation in Tibet is different and the world shouldn’t be deceived by this Chinese propagandist exhibition.

I request the people in this free country and media people to hear the both sides of the stories, and support the truth, justice and humanity.

Thanking you

Lhakpa Tshoko
Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East Asia