Dalai Lama calls for Tibetan autonomy in European Parliament speech - 15 June 1988

Dalai Lama calls for Tibetan autonomy in European Parliament speech

For many centuries we remained isolated.  We have no experience,

especially, we have no experience  in modern politics,

modern politics is very very complicated.

So because of that reality, we,  six million Tibetans, suffer very much.

And now there is every danger that the  entire Tibetan culture, the Tibetan nation,

with their own unique cultural heritage,

may disappear from this planet,  there is such a danger.

So, as a human being, as a Buddhist monk  or as a Dalai Lama,

naturally I have to try  to do something to save it.

Whether I can succeed or not,  I don't know.

with hope, with determination,  as I mentioned earlier.

And also, our activities are not  anti-Communist,

As a Buddhist monk, in fact we are  very much concerned about welfare,

about benefits, success  or the future of China.

What we are trying to do is  to try to achieve our own rights.

You know the present suffering,  the present problems,

did not happen due Tibetans going China.

But the Chinese, in the name of liberation,  came to Tibet

and then this kind of misery came about.

And now we are trying  to express our sorrow.

And then, various governments  have to consider,

number one,  the good relation with China,

economically or politically,  even to a certain extent militarily.

So the support for the Tibetan problem,  you don't get much benefit out of it.

But I feel more and more people  and international organisations

and different organisations,  now as time goes on,

are more earnest about Tibetan fate,  about Tibetan culture, about Tibetan history.

Among people it seems  there is growing concern or sympathy

towards Tibetan culture,  the Tibetan nation.