Press Release:

I am deeply concerned over the situation that has been developing in Tibet following peaceful protests in many parts of Tibet, including Lhasa, in recent days. These protests are a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present governance.

As I have always said, unity and stability under brute force is at best a temporary solution. It is unrealistic to expect unity and stability under such a rule and would therefore not be conducive to finding a peaceful and lasting solution.

I therefore appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people. I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence.

–H.H. the Dalai Lama

Inspired by a recent performance of Andrew Sterman’s project “Path to Peace” I’ve looked with more detail into Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha philosophy of non-violent resistance. I think there are a lot of similarities between India’s past struggles and Tibet’s current struggles, and of course many other struggles worldwide, past and present. I view the Dalai Lama as a modern day Gandhi and can only hope he and the rest of the Tibetan community are as successful in their resistance as Gandhi was in his.