Special report: Tibet: Its Past and Present
BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Tibetan
"government-in-exile" in fact is still a theocratic power, an integration of
church and "state" with the Dalai Lama at the top, according to a senior
Tibetologist.
Under its claim of power division, the Tibetan
"government-in-exile" sets up its legislative framework (the Assembly of Tibetan
People's Deputies), executive body (the Kashag), and judiciary (the Tibetan
Supreme Justice Commission), but the Dalai Lama is still at the top with a firm
grip on religious and executive power, said Bi Hua, senior researcher with China
Tibetology Research Center.
The nature of its "integration of church and state"
remains unchanged, she said. "It's just another medieval church of Europe under
the disguise of present-day western democracy."
The Dalai Lama is the holy representative of Tibetan
religious worship, however, both the "government-in-exile" and its constitution
considers him the top leader, which shows that under the guise of power division
and democratic politics, the "government" in fact features strong religious and
feudal factors, she said.
"Its ridiculousness is self-evident, as an incarnated
Lama who represents holy rule is considered a representative of civil rights and
a fighter for democracy," she said.
In the "government-in-exile", both the Speaker of the
Assembly and the Kalons (Ministers) in the Kashag are subject to the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama is both the "holy" and the "ruler" as he has the final say over
resolutions of the Kashag and the Assembly and "government" officials
appointment, she said.
The Dalai Lama even has the power to decide the
suspension or the dates of the sittings of the Assembly meetings, she added.
The Dalai Lama's supreme power over religion and
politics is enshrined in the constitution of the "government-in-exile", which is
an important characteristic of its long-held tradition that integrates both
politics and religion, said the expert.
The Dalai Lama is a religious figure but meanwhile
performs his executive duty as a "head of state". His brothers DamCe Tubdainnorb
and brother Dainzin Qoi'gyai are all living buddhas, but are appointed as
officials in the "government", she said.
A number of monks also take posts in the
"government-in-exile ",she noted, adding that the current Kalon Tripa (Chief
Minister of the Cabinet) Samdhong Rinpoche is a living buddha.
The "government-in-exile" wants to secede Tibet from
China, aims to restore its rule with political and religious power under the
Dalai Lama's control, she said.
Both the 1963 constitution and 1991 amendments admit
the supreme status of the Dalai Lama in the "government", said Zhu Xiaoming, a
research fellow with China Tibetology Research Center.
The 1991 edition of the constitution merely added
such words including "freedom", "democracy" and "peace" from its previous
version, but in fact the two Constitutions are fundamentally the same as their
spirit is to seek Tibetan independence, he said.
The Dalai Lama's backers' claim to reign over the
"Greater Tibet", which covers an area of 2.4 million square kilometers and
boasts Tibet, Qinghai and large areas in Sichuan, Xinjiang, Yunnanand Gansu, is
groundless and seek the support of anti-China forces, he said.
As an important feature of theocracy, the Dalai Lama
also practised cronyism when appointing officials, experts said.
The Dalai Lama's second eldest brother Gyalo Toinzhub
held important posts in military, diplomatic and financial departments, Losang
Samdain, the third eldest brother, now is in charge of health section, while his
younger sister Jezuin Bai'ma is the chief of the education department. His
brother-in-law was also "minister of security" 18 years since 1968. And many of
relatives have held important posts in his "government."
As a result of theocratic rule, internal faction,
religious persecution and assassinations have been rife in the history of his
exiled "government." Many monks were expelled from monasteries just for
believing in different gods.
