Ama Adhe
Above the Tibetan Office of Reception, Ama Adhe lives with her husband. Here they both work distributing clothing, blankets and beds to the new arrivals from Tibet. Amala informed us that the Reception Center will gratefully accept donations of clothing and money to pay for food, medical care, transportation and education for the new arrivals. For more information or to send a donation contact: The Office of Reception Centers, Central Tibetan Secretariat, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala-176215, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India. Make your checks payable to The Office of Reception Centers.
With the help of Tashi Dhondup as our translator we asked Ama Adhe about her job here at the reception center.
ADHE: I have lived here almost nine years. I have become well known in the Western world, so the government has appointed me to be here to talk to foreigners about the hardship of my life and about Tibet. Another major task is to talk to the newcomers from Tibet about the Tibetan Government In Exile (TGIE). Tell them the true facts about the Tibetan government, and tell them that whatever they have been brainwashed by the Chinese propaganda in Tibet it is entirely false. Whenever the newcomers arrive I tell them that it is only because of His Holiness' kindness and blessing and His political wisdom that we Tibetans have been able to survive in exile and be recognized in the world as Tibetans. The newcomers understand and they are very happy and they cry and they say we trust His Holiness more than our own parents. Just to get His blessing we come from Tibet here to India.
ITIM: The newcomers have no problem understanding how the TGIE works and trusting the government?
ADHE: When I tell them about the government they understand perfectly well about the Chinese false propaganda. They say that when they were in Tibet the Chinese tell them they should not talk about independence. In Tibet, the Chinese say the independence for which His Holiness is striving for is only to bring the old feudal system back into Tibet and to rule and govern over you. And do you know what they used to do? They used to cut off your nose and your ears if you could not pay your taxes and if you don't obey them they torture you.
ITIM: Have you noticed any changes in the lies the Chinese are telling the Tibetans during your nine years here?
ADHE: There has been changes in the Chinese tactics. They have been sending people who are Tibetan, but they work for the Chinese government. They come here and their face is Tibetan and they eat and talk and do everything as every Tibetan. They are Tibetan by blood but they work for the Chinese. They have sold their soul because they get paid huge money. Ninety-five percent of the Tibetan people love and believe in His Holiness and trust Him, but a small minority, which every nation has people of this kind, will do certain things for money. They try to bring problems to the Tibetan community in exile. They will do all the work the Chinese want them.
ITIM: Do these people get sent back to Tibet?
ADHE: Many Tibetan people who come from Tibet over to here are social parasites in Tibet. They are unemployed and they are culprits. They come over here saying that they have come into exile to receive the blessing of His Holiness but they simply don't have any good intentions. Then they say now we want to go back to Tibet and when they go back they tell the Chinese that the TGIE is bad and they tell the Tibetan people that the TGIE does not care for us, they do not love us, they mistreat us as newcomers and spread rumors. Those rumors the Chinese like and the Chinese give them money and give them business opportunities in Tibet. This is what some newcomers do, but we do not have to worry about these sorts of people because they are only a small minority. They are beggars, thieves and robbers who are not even trusted back in Tibet.
ITIM: Have you noticed an increase in Monks and Nuns coming into exile?
ADHE: Yes, I have noticed in the last couple of years lots of Monks and Nuns are coming to TGIE because Monks and Nuns are the ones doing most of the political activity and they are the voice for freedom in Tibet. They suffer the most and that is why they come into exile the most. But the TGIE and the Indian government are not fools. They study every Monk and Nun who comes. Recently I found two Monks who were not Monks in Tibet. They were lay men, but when they entered Nepal they shaved their heads because we Tibetans love and respect Monks and Nuns. We watched them while they were here and the TGIE security watched them carefully so they felt uneasy and returned back to Tibet after a couple of months.
ITIM: What do you think about the hunger strike? Should it have ended or continued?
ADHE: I can relate to the hunger strikers in Delhi because I know what hunger means. I've been through it. Even though I wanted to sit with the hunger strikers my physical condition would not let me. Back in prison, I suffered so much hunger that my body now is in bad condition, and I can not tolerate a single hunger these days. I really appreciated what they did in Delhi. The hunger strikers stayed hungry for so many weeks, and not like in Tibet where we are forced to stay hungry by the Chinese, but they chose to stay hungry for the Tibetan cause. Also, Thupten Ngodup's self-immolation it is a great achievement and a great sacrifice for the Tibetan people. He gave his life for the cause of the Tibetan people.
His Holiness doesn't accept the path of violence so the only way for us is the path of non-violence. This is the only way (hunger strike) we can do to show the frustration of the Tibetan people which Thupten Ngodup also did. Now they have postponed the hunger strike. It does not mean that there are no Tibetan people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for Tibetan cause. There be more than what we think.
ITIM: You said the Tibetan people could not be violent because of His Holiness' wishes, yet many Tibetans, especially younger Tibetans, are getting more frustrated and willing to be violent. How do you suggest we stop this?
ADHE: I have talked to many Tibetan youth and have found them very much frustrated. I advised them as a mother that it is not the right way because violence isn't going to lead us anywhere. We should follow the true path led by HIs Holiness which is giving us far more support and help from the Western world. I have suffered so much in prison but still I want to follow the path of His Holiness and non-violence. Sometimes I find that many youngsters are very angry when I talk like this.
ITIM: It looks like the hunger strike brought together many Tibetans and started a new fire for freedom in the Tibet movement. Why do you think this activity had such a big effect?
ADHE: Basically all the Tibetans are suffering in this the same whether it be inside Tibet or outside Tibet. Even inside Tibet after the hunger strike in Drapchi prison many Tibetans did some shouting of slogans and the Chinese killed them. This is a great sign and a great achievement to show that we Tibetans are still united whether we are in Tibet or outside Tibet.
ITIM: In less than two weeks President Clinton is going to China to visit President Jiang Zemin, what do you think is going to happen?
ADHE: I have great hopes for the American President's visit to China. It will really show whether Clinton believes in truth and justice, and if he does, then definitely there will be a positive result. If he doesn't believe in truth and justice and only thinks about his own personal gain then there won't be much outcome. This is a time for a test.
When I was in Washington, DC during Jiang Zemin's visit I was very sad to see the Chinese Premier having the banquet. I went inside secretly and saw the Chinese and American flags and the Chinese Premier was there and I felt very sad and angry. The police would let me pass through, so after the dinner when his motorcade passed I just went in front of the cars with a Tibetan flag and His Holiness' portrait. I started yelling at the Chinese Premier in Chinese language saying that Tibet is free and you shameless people why don't you let us become free and why don't you leave Tibet.
ITIM: What do you think about the recent nuclear testing?
ADHE: When I was in prison I saw the Chinese bring lots of arms and amunition. They were showing it to us saying these are the weapons we have developed and even the Americans don't possess them. Earlier I did not know that India had developed nuclear arms, and recently when they tested it I was quite amazed. Every nation has it's right to defense, so I can not say much about the Indian side, but as far as Pakistan is concerned it is only through the Chinese that they are getting their arms and nuclear development, so I think the best way is to totally disarm the nuclear bombs everywhere in the world.
ITIM: Do you have anything to say to the Chinese people who look at this website?
ADHE: During my visit to the USA and other countries I have talked with many Chinese dissidents. I really liked them and told them that my fight isn't against the Chinese people. My fight is against the Chinese communist regime. I think once the Communist regime falls down and China becomes a democratic nation then there is great hope for the Tibetan people and the Chinese people to live together and enjoy all the happiness together.
ITIM: A lot of information comes through the Reception Center about Tibetan political prisoners and what is happening in Tibet, but it seems like there is no information about The Panchen Lama. Have you heard anything?
ADHE: I have tried very hard and asked many Tibetans and tried to find out where the Panchen Lama is, but it has been difficult to trace Him. But the truth and fact is that The Panchen Lama who is recognized by the Chinese is not recognized by the Tibetans even in Tibet. I sometimes doubt whether He (Gendhun Choekyi Nyima) is alive or not, and it is quite amazing. I have tried to ask many of the Tibetans who work for the Chinese who come here and I have given them many gifts as a bribe and tell them that when they go back to Tibet please learn of the whereabouts of The Panchen Lama and tell me. You are also Tibetan even though you work for the Chinese. You are Tibetan by birth so you must help us. Up to now I have received no messages from them.
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