ICT condemns protests by Shugden followers against Dalai Lama
Dismayed by demonstrations by some Buddhists, particularly the followers of an ancient Tibetan deity Dorje Shugden against the spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), a non-governmental organisation has said the protests were effort to undermine the work of Nobel Peace Laureate.
Dismayed by demonstrations by some Buddhists, particularly the followers of an ancient Tibetan deity Dorje Shugden against the spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), a non-governmental organisation has said the protests were effort to undermine the work of Nobel Peace Laureate.
“While we leave it to the learned Buddhists to comment on the validity of the issue, our concern is that these Shugden demonstrators are causing great damage to the broader Tibetan issue,” said ICT in a statement issued here on Monday.
“The people of Tibet continue to suffer under a ruthless and brutal Chinese regime. On account of this, the Tibetans in Tibet are even sacrificing their lives calling for the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom of Tibet,” it added.
The ICT alleged that the Chinese government looks upon the Dalai Lama as the source of their inability to legitimise their rule in Tibet.
“The Shugden demonstrators are thus contributing to the fulfilment of the China's agenda of undermining the authority of the Dalai Lama,” read the ststement, adding that in 1959 the Tibetans rose as one against the Chinese government that was destroying their religion, culture and identity.
ICT condemned the Shugden cult by saying that the demonstrators were attempting to create seeds of discord and confusion among the public by using terms such as religious freedom and human rights.
“Right now, the time is for all those concerned with the survival of Tibetan religion and culture to look at the real cause for the suffering of the Tibetan people,” said ICT.
“If the Shugden demonstrators are genuinely concerned about religious freedom and human rights of the Tibetan people, they will serve the cause better by working to alleviate the plight of the Tibetans in Tibet, rather than focusing on their parochial interest,” it added.