character assassination

The media has gone beserk. Its so frustrating to read and hear baseless accusations flying around like paper planes in a classroom. Claiming the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa to be a Chinese spy based on a large sum of unaccounted-for money obtained from his monastery in Dharamsala is unjustified, apart from being a completely invalid argument. There seems to have been no research whatsoever done on behalf of the journalists. For the first few days I was just in shock: I couldn't believe that people could actually jump at the opportunity to blow an innocuous incident completely out of proportion. The kinds of arguments and facts used by the media to prove the 'Chinese connection' are infuriating. Where is the sensitivity? Knowing the issue to be highly complex, involving the sentiments of over 1 lakh Tibetans, in addition to scores more Buddhists, there should have been careful analysis of all possible scenarios before making such a claim. Questioning the legitimacy of a reincarnate lama on insubstantial grounds is a serious offence. I am so embarrassed, and dont know quite how to make it up to the thousands of Buddhists whose sentiments have been irrevocably hurt. 

HH the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorje

The Karmapa's Office of Administration has just released a direct message to Indian media outlets, and the message is, "Back Off!" The complete text is as follows:

The Karmapa Office of Administration firmly denies the published allegations that His Holiness the Karmapa has rallied in support of the communist Chinese government whose oppression he fled 11 years ago. We repeat that the preposterous claim that His Holiness is a Chinese spy or agent is a complete fabrication, utterly baseless and reckless slander.

The Karmapa Office of Administration appeals to the press to cease its character assassination of His Holiness the Karmapa, one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism, and a spiritual leader to Buddhists worldwide.

The Karmapa Office of Administration respectfully requests the press to refrain from publishing further uncorroborated and unfounded charges. It offers below the phone number and email address of its spokesperson, and beseeches the press to seek confirmation or denial from its spokesperson, in accord with the standards of responsible journalism.

Spokespersons

Karma Topden
Former Indian Ambassador to Mongolia,
Former Member of Parliament
Adviser to Karmapa Office of Administration

Deki Chungyalpa
Adviser to Karmapa Office of Administration
koapress@gmail.com
(91) 8894 502 910

This statement follows yesterday's lengthy statement, which in part addressed the issue of "SIM cards" allegedly taken during police raids at Gyuto Monastery. The complete text of yesterday's statement is as follows:

The Karmapa Office of Administration adamantly denies the baseless fabrications touted by some media claiming that His Holiness the Karmapa is a Chinese spy or agent. Specifically, reports have circulated recently claiming that His Holiness the Karmapa has acquired lands along the Sino-Indian border. We state categorically that His Holiness owns no such property whatsoever, nor does the Karmapa Office of Administration. Additionally, some reports cite an unnamed source claiming that the Enforcement Directorate seized Chinese SIM cards and possess records of conversations between His Holiness the Karmapa and Chinese government officials. Such inaccurate reports constitute fiction masquerading as journalism and slander one of the most highly revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, the Karmapa Office of Administration respectfully requests these media sources to cease and desist its defamation of character of His Holiness the Karmapa.

We reiterate that the presence of Chinese Yuan among the 20-plus other currencies found by police has been put forward by some media stories as indicative of spy activity. In response to this preposterous claim, we wish to point out that the currency used in Tibet is the Chinese Yuan, and therefore Tibetans from Tibet often make donations in Yuan, as do Buddhists from mainland China. We further stress that the donations in Yuan formed less than 10% of the total cash amount. The notes came in multiple denominations, ranging from one-Yuan notes upward, clearly reflecting their origin as donation from multiple individual sources. Some of the Yuan were new notes bundled together, reflecting a practice among Chinese and other cultures of offering only new currency notes to high abbots or spiritual leaders. Furthermore, disciples from Chinese cultures often visit India in groups, pool their offerings and make a single collective donation. The Karmapa Office of administration maintains records of all visitors who receive private audience with His Holiness the Karmapa, and these lists record numerous groups of individuals visiting together from Tibet as well as from mainland China.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has publicly expressed his confidence in His Holiness the Karmapa. The Tibetan government itself unequivocally demonstrated its support of His Holiness the Karmapa, who is the revered head of a 900-year old order within Tibetan Buddhism. Members of groups across Tibetan society have voiced unwavering support for His Holiness the Karmapa. His Holiness himself stated yesterday in public that he had faith in the Indian rule of law and that the truth will prevail in time. He emphasized that India is a second homeland to Tibetans.