Khashyar | Tignarlegur 31, 2009

The K�nverji r�kisstj�rn s�a neitun t�mi � ford�ma the heims�kn vi� the Dalai B�ddhamunkur til Taiwan this vika. �eirra sterkur or� og ford�ming af the N�belsver�laun sigurvegari og �tleg� lei�togi koma � the h�ll af annar mj�g opinber og �kafur vi�brag� fr� K�nverji opinber starfsma�ur eftir � a heimildamynd filma ��ur � the Dalai B�ddhamunkur nefna “Dalai B�ddhamunkur Renaissance,” segja fr� vi� Skass Va�(www.DalaiLamaFilm.com), var gefa �t � theaters � Taiwan this sumar, og vi�urkenndur fors��a �r�sta � the K�nverji tungum�l Taiwanb�i dagbla�. The svar, � b��ir tilfelli, benda � �essi Postul�n er hr�fandi a mj�g har�ur sta�a � the t�lubla� af the Dalai B�ddhamunkur og T�bet og � sta�reynd mega jafnvel vera styrkja �ess svar.

According to til a �tgefandi gera grein fyrir CNN, “Beijing vera � m�ti the heims�kn � hva� sem mynd og r�mtak” a talsma�ur fyrir the �stand R�� Taiwan M�l Skrifstofa , according to tilXinhua, hver did ekki nafn the talsma�ur. “undir the fyrirsl�ttur af tr�, (the Dalai B�ddhamunkur) hefur alltaf been upptekinn � a�skilna�arsinni activities,” hann .

China’s sta�a � b��ir Taiwan og T�bet ert efni af al�j��legur deila eins og the K�nverji r�kisstj�rn �huga b��ir land til vera a hluti af Postul�n �r�tt fyrir hva�a �b�i af �essir land feel. Og �a� feels the Dalai B�ddhamunkur er a t�kn og hvatama�ur af al�j��legur sko�un aftur Postul�n eins og segja fr� til T�bet. Svo �a� did ekki hika � hva�a �a� vegasalt eins og afskipti vi� the Dalai B�ddhamunkur � annar af �ess umhyggjusemi. Au�s�ilega, jafnvel a filma ��ur � the Dalai B�ddhamunkur er ekki velkominn � Taiwan, � minnstur til the K�nverji r�kisstj�rn.

Eftir � ��kve�inn greinir � ensku yfir�yrmandi j�kv��ur svar fr� �horfendur � frums�ning � Taiwan, The People’s Daglega, a daglega dagbla� og fr� mi��ldum armur af the Mi�stj�rn af the Komm�nisti Veisla af Postul�n skarplega gagnr�na “Dalai B�ddhamunkur Endurreisn � ��kve�inn greinir � ensku hlutur � �ess online �tg�fa.

� the hlutur sta�a J�l� 14th � the People’s Daglega Online nefna “Western B�� Byggja Mikilfenglegur og Fullkominn �mynd af Dalai Lama,” The People’s Daglega skrifa “In n�legur �r, a veifa af ‘Dalai B�ddhamunkur hiti hefur birtast � the Vestri b��mynd i�na�ur l�sa the K�nverji government’s fri�samur frelsun af T�bet eins og ‘cruel oppression,’ og l�sing the Dalai Lama’s l�f � Indland eins og difficult.”

Tilv�sun til “Dalai B�ddhamunkur Renaissance,” the hlutur stj�rnvitringur “The hluti af the b��mynd skyldur til the fri�samur frelsun af T�bet var fiskflak me� p�lit�skur sk�l�na, endurkasta the director’s f�fr��i og misskilningur af Tibet’s saga The b��mynd umbreyta the Dalai B�ddhamunkur inn � ��kve�inn greinir � ensku alvitur spakur, endurkasta a “ misskilningur” af the Dalai Lamaklaustur’ �mynd � the Vestur-… sta�reynd, hva�a �essir b�� s�na er r�ttl�tur the ‘anesthesia’ vi� the Dalai B�ddhamunkur til the West…”

Enda ��tt the titill af the hlutur v�sa til til “movies,” the hlutur eing�ngu brennidepill � “Dalai B�ddhamunkur Endurreisn og reyndur til til hnj��s the Framlei�andi- Leikstj�ri af the filma, Khashyar Darvich. The rith�fundur krafa �essi the leikstj�ri er a unnandi af the Dalai B�ddhamunkur. “Director Khashyar Darvich hefur langur montrass �essi hann er a fylgisma�ur af the Dalai Lama,” hann skrifa . Hann sty�ja this fullyr�ing vi� tilv�sun til ��kve�inn greinir � ensku vi�tal hvar Darvich umtal �essi hann skot the filma til vera f�r til ey�a t�mi me� the Dalai B�ddhamunkur.

“It’s �hugaver�ur �essi the K�nverji Komm�nisti Veisla v�sa til til mig eins og a fylgisma�ur af the Dalai Lama,” Darvich s� sem svarar. “Although �G vir�a the Dalai B�ddhamunkur eins og a ma�ur af fri�ur, � �v� a� the Nobel Fri�ur Ver�laun Nefnd did vi� ver�laun hann the Nobel Fri�ur ver�laun, og eins og gera r�kisstj�rn � kring the ver�ld, �G er ekki a Dalai B�ddhamunkur hlj�msveitarp�a. Hven�r �G began the filma, �G var ekki mj�g kunnuglegur me� the Dalai B�ddhamunkur. �G hugsa �essi hans a�ger�, og the vir�a �essi hann safna � kring the ver�ld, tala fyrir itself.”

The sta�reynd �essi the K�nverji Komm�nisti Party’s a�al�� fr� mi��ldum organization hefur �tvalinn til gagnr�na the filma mega vera a vi�brag� til the mj�g j�kv��ur �r�sta the “Dalai B�ddhamunkur Endurreisn vi�urkenndur � the K�nverji tungum�l �r�sta � Taiwan, hvar �a� frums�ning � andlit af uppseldur- �t �horfendur � Taipei � J�n� 1. Og �a� mega vera ��kve�inn greinir � ensku tilraun til vinna � m�ti allir �hrif � lesendah�pur � meginland Postul�n, hver oft hafa a�gangur til K�nverji tungum�l fr�ttir fr� Taiwan, s�rstaklega s��an the rifja upp og hlutur � maj�r K�nverji tungum�l dagbla� � Taiwan hafa been mj�g j�kv��ur.

Taiwan’s bestur- selja vikulegur dagbla�,E Vikulegur, fundarhamar the filma a mat af 82, hver er the yfirma�ur mat a filma hefur vi�urkenndur � the fort�� �r fr� �ess Taiwanb�i leikh�s- dreifingara�ili, Risasprengja af Taiwan ( neitun skyldmenni til Risasprengja v�de� birg�ir � the U.S). According to til Bockbuster af Taiwan,E Vikulegur reglulega gefa filmur�ma langt l�gri mat. FTV, a sj�nvarp st�� � Taiwan, einnig sk�rsla �essi �essi the frums�ning af the filma � Taiwan var mj�g �rangursr�kur, me� ekki ��kve�inn greinir � ensku t�mur s�ti � the kvikmyndah�s. Taipei T�mi fullur br��i af the heimildamynd, “the filma flj�tt gr�pa halda � af you…  ��kve�inn greinir � ensku inns�n documentary…”

Svo the vi�brag� vi� the K�nverji r�kisstj�rn til the skipuleggjandi heims�kn vi� the Dalai B�ddhamunkur til Taiwan vir�ast til vera ��kve�inn greinir � ensku eftirnafn af this andst��ingur-Dali B�ddhamunkur sk�l�na. Au�vita�, Taiwan og spokespeople fyrir the Dalai B�ddhamunkur spjara sig bjartur �essi hans heims�kn til Taiwan er eini til s�ning sty�ja fyrir f�rnarlamb af the n�legur Fellibylur J�kulalda hver h�gg Taiwan � Tignarlegur 8th og gefa lausan tauminn fl�� og sk�tkastari. Fleiri en 400 f�lk var�lfur �virkur.

This n�jastur svar hefur ekki tappi Framlei�andi- Leikstj�ri Darvich fr� vinnandi til f� a frums�ning af the filma in mainland China itself. It will be interesting to see how the Chinese respond to that if they do not even want the Dali Lama himself, or his words and image on a film, seen in the nation of Taiwan.

There will also be a special screening of “Dalai Lama Renaissance” during the Dalai Lama’s visit to Long Beach, CA on September 25.

For more information on the film, go to www.DalaiLamaFilm.com.

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Tags: central committee of the communist party, chinese government, chinese officials, communist party of china, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, documentary film, harrison ford, international controversy, Khashyar Darvich, Long Beach, mainland china, taiwan, taiwan affairs office, xinhua

Khashyar | July 28, 2009

China's Communist Party has attacked the "Dalai Lama Renaissance" Documentary Film

 

Chinese government reacts to successful theatrical premiere of Dalai Lama film and positive press in Taiwan

Los Angeles, CA (July 29, 2009) The Chinese government often has the clout and muscle to prevent Hollywood films from being released in Asia, and can even discourage films from having an extended release in the West if they are perceived to threaten Chinese policy.

Films starring such big name stars as Richard Gere and Sharon Stone were boycotted by China after the actors expressed support for the Tibet Independence Movement. After Disney released Kundun, Martin Scorsese’s 1997 feature film about the Dalai Lama, the studio incurred the wrath of the Chinese government, and Disney films were banned for an indefinite period of time.

Recently, after a theatrical documentary film about the Dalai Lama and narrated by Harrison Ford entitled Dalai Lama Renaissance (www.DalaiLamaFilm.com) was released in theaters in Taiwan this summer and received front page positive press in the Chinese language Taiwanese newspapers, the Chinese government took keen notice.

The People’s Daily, a daily newspaper and media arm of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, quickly and sharply criticized Dalai Lama Renaissance in an article in its online edition.

The article, posted July 14th in the People’s Daily Online entitled “Western Movies Build Grand and Perfect Image of Dalai Lama,” argues that “in recent years, a wave of ‘Dalai Lama fever’ has appeared in the Western movie industry… describing the Chinese government’s peaceful liberation of Tibet as ‘cruel oppression,’ and depicting the Dalai Lama’s life in India as difficult… Some movies even advocate the Dalai Lama’s concept of [Tibetan] ‘independence.’”

Although the title of the article refers to “Movies,” the article exclusively focuses on Dalai Lama Renaissance. Referring to the film, which has been distributed in cinemas around the world, the article criticizes that “the part of the movie related to the peaceful liberation of Tibet was filled with political bias, reflecting the director’s ignorance and misunderstanding of Tibet’s history… The movie transforms the Dalai Lama into an omniscient sage, reflecting a ‘misunderstanding’ of the Dalai Lama’s image in the West… In fact, what these movies depict is just the ‘anesthesia’ given by the Dalai Lama to the West.”

The fact that the Chinese Communist Party’s main media organization has chosen to criticize the film may be a defensive reaction to the very positive press that Dalai Lama Renaissance received in the Chinese language media in Taiwan, where it premiered in front of sold-out audiences on June 1. And it may be an attempt to counteract any effect on readers in mainland China, who often have access to Chinese language news from Taiwan.

Taiwan’s best-selling weekly newspaper, E Weekly, gave the film a rating of 82, which is one of the highest ratings that a film has received in the past year in Taiwan. According to its Taiwanese theatrical distributor, Blockbuster of Taiwan (no relation to Blockbuster video in the United States), E Weekly regularly gives films far lower ratings. FTV, a television station in Taiwan, also reported that that the premiere of the film in Taiwan was very successful, with not an empty seat in the cinema, and that “many people were touched after watching the film.” The Taipei Times wrote that “the film rapidly grabs hold of you… an insightful documentary.”

Ironically, the Chinese Communist Party may feel most threatened by the idea brought up in the film regarding economic sanctions against China from the West. But despite this being a near unanimous suggestion by the Westerners in a scene in Dalai Lama Renaissance, the Dalai Lama discouraged the proposal.

The Taiwanese newspaper The Liberty Times points out that, in the film, “the Dalai Lama thinks that humanity is the most important thing in the world and economic sanctions might affect many Chinese citizens, thus he is hesitant whether such an approach is right.”

The People’s Daily also tries to discredit the producer-director of the film, Khashyar Darvich. In its article, the newspaper claims that the director is a “follower” of the Dalai Lama, and supports this assertion by referring to an interview where Darvich mentioned that he produced the film party for the opportunity to spend time with the exiled Tibetan leader.

“It’s interesting that the Chinese Communist Party refers to me as a follower of the Dalai Lama,” Darvich responded. “Although I respect the Dalai Lama as a man of peace, just as the Nobel Peace Prize Committee did by awarding him the Nobel Peace prize, and as do most governments around the world, I am not a Dalai Lama groupie. When I began the film, I was not very familiar with the Dalai Lama’s ideas. I think that his actions, and the respect that he garners around the world, speaks for itself.”

Despite the Chinese Communist Party’s attempt to discredit the film, Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich states that his production company, Wakan Films, has just signed an agreement to release Dalai Lama Renaissance unofficially into China itself, under the radar of the Chinese Government.

“My hope,” says Darvich, “is that the film will open a dialog between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, and that the average Chinese citizen will be able to see that the Dalai Lama is not such a bad guy and is interested in a solution to the Tibet issue that serves the highest good and benefits both the Chinese and Tibetans. I would be happy to attend a screening of the film in China and conduct a Q&A with Chinese audiences as a way to contribute to positive dialog.”

For more information on Dalai Lama Renaissance, go to www.DalaiLamaFilm.com.

Category: "Dalai Lama Renaissance" Talk, News, News about "Dalai Lama Renaissance", The Dalai Lama, Tibet | No Comments »
Tags: Chinese, chinese audiences, Chinese Communist Party, chinese government, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, documentary, documentary film, harrison ford, Khashyar Darvich, People's Daily, taipei times, taiwan, theatrical documentary, tibet issue, tibetans

Khashyar | January 1, 2009

Obama Encourages President to Urge Tibet Resolution

Friday, March 28, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to President Bush, calling on him to employ every diplomatic tool to persuade Chinese President Hu Jintao to make significant progress in resolving the Tibet issue. Given the recent events in Tibet and the upcoming Beijing Olympics, Obama asks President Bush to encourage the Chinese government to negotiate with the Dalai Lama, guarantee religious freedoms for the Tibetan people, protect Tibetan culture and language, and support the exercise of genuine autonomy for Tibet. Obama also supports Bush’s insistence that foreign press and diplomatic personnel have free access to Lhasa and other Tibetan cities and villages to ensure that repression and human rights violations cannot escape the world’s notice.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Mr. President:

The situation in Tibet is deeply disturbing, and requires that all of us, regardless of party, do what we can to try to influence it for the better. I understand that you discussed the subject on Wednesday with President Hu Jintao. The United States has many issues for which China’s cooperation is important, including denuclearization of North Korea, ending Iran’s nuclear program, stopping the genocide in Darfur, confronting repression in Burma, and combating global warming. However, it is important that we give high priority to the plight of Tibetans and make clear to President Hu that the way in which China treats all Chinese citizens, including Tibetans, profoundly affects how China is viewed in the United States and throughout the international community.

Resolution of differences between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama is the key to progress in Tibet. The Dalai Lama, as you have said, is “a good man.” He is revered by virtually all Tibetans, and his absence from his homeland creates an incurable wound in the heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibet’s unique cultural and religious heritage cannot be preserved if he is demonized and kept at arm’s length. He has accepted Beijing’s precondition for a solution, namely recognition that Tibet is part of China, and has clearly stated that he is seeking religious, cultural and linguistic protection and autonomy for the Tibetan people, not independence. More recently, he indicated his belief that despite recent events, the Chinese people deserve to host the Olympics this summer.

I hope you made clear to President Hu the American view about the importance of the following: a negotiation with the Dalai Lama about his return to Tibet; guarantees of religious freedom for the Tibetan people; protection of Tibetan culture and language; and the exercise of genuine autonomy for Tibet. That is the path to the stability and harmony that the Chinese leaders say they are seeking in Tibet.

In addition to your personal intervention with President Hu, there are other steps I hope you will take to highlight our concern. I support your call for the foreign press and diplomatic personnel to have free access to Lhasa and other Tibetan cities and villages to ensure that repression and human rights violations cannot escape the world’s notice. Beijing has committed to the International Olympic Committee to allow foreign journalists free access to cover stories throughout China, including Tibet. We should hold them to that commitment. The U.S. and our democratic allies and friends should also urge the UN Human Rights Council to send an investigatory team to Tibet. China should be encouraged to allow the International Committee for the Red Cross to visit prisons in Tibet to ensure that detainees are not held under inhumane conditions, tortured, or mistreated.

Like you, I want to take steps that increase the chance of a negotiated solution between Beijing and the Dalai Lama, and that have the best chance of improving the lives of ordinary Tibetans. Therefore, I support your effort to aggressively use your relationship with President Hu to achieve these goals. Should it appear, however, that the Chinese are taking private diplomacy as a license for inaction or continued repression, I would urge you to speak out forcefully and publicly to disabuse them of the notion that they can thus escape international censure.

Despite the high emotions of the present time, I hope you can persuade the Chinese leadership that in this the year of the Beijing Olympics they have a unique opportunity to make dramatic progress in resolving the Tibet issue. Chinese leaders have it within their power to achieve that worthy goal if they take steps to change the situation in Tibet for the better and by reaching an accommodation with the Dalai Lama. Progress in Tibet would profoundly affect the world’s perception of China as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in August.

Sincerely,

 

Barack Obama

United States Senator

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Tags: beijing olympics, chinese government, chinese president hu, Dalai Lama, human rights violations, president hu jintao, senator barack obama, tibet issue, tibetan culture, tibetans

Khashyar | December 28, 2008

 

 

 

Here is a letter that then Democratic candidate Barak Obama wrote to the Dalai Lama on July 24, 2008, explaining why he was not able to meet him in person during the Dalai Lama’s visit to Aspen, Colorado.

Here is the text of the letter:

*****

July 24, 2008

 

Your Holiness,

I regret that our respective travel schedules will prevent us from meeting during your visit to the United States this month, but I wanted to take the opportunity to reassure you of my highest respect and support for you, your mission and your people at this critical time. I hope that this letter and your meeting with Senator McCain will make clear that American attention to and backing for the people of Tibet is widespread and transcends the divisions of our political contest in this important election year.

I was heartened to read of the continuing dialogue between your representatives and the government of the People’s Republic of China. Although progress is likely to be slow, and the travails of the people of Tibet will continue, I am hopeful that the process of dialogue and negotiation will bring positive results if both sides demonstrate good intentions and mutual respect. I remain optimistic that this process will continue beyond the Beijing Olympics, and pledge that I will continue to support it. The right to practice their religious beliefs without punishment or obstruction is one that should be accorded the people of Tibet, and I will continue to encourage the Chinese government to put aside its suspicions and act in accordance with its own constitution.

I will continue to support you and the rights of Tibetans. People of all faiths can admire what you are doing and what you stand for, and I look forward to meeting you at another time.

With great respect,

Barack Obama

Category: The Dalai Lama, Tibet | No Comments »
Tags: barack obama, barak obama, beijing olympics, chinese government, Dalai Lama, people of tibet, republic of china, senator mccain

Khashyar | December 27, 2008

Hello Everyone,

I would love to be able to screening “Dalai Lama Renaissance” in China with the intention of creating freer communication between the Chinese people and the Dalai Lama.

I would be happy to travel to China, hold a screening of the film, and then have an open dialog during the Q&A with the Chinese audiences about the film, and my personal experience with the Dalai Lama.

The stumbling block, of course, is the Chinese Government, which feels threatened by the Dalai Lama. The Government of China calls the Dalai Lama a “Terrorist.”

It’s incredible how the label “terrorist” is now used for any person or group that opposes the ideas or policies of a state. (Thank you President Bush).

But, I would like to find an opportunity to screen “Dalai Lama Renaissance” in China, and want to look for ways to do this.

Khashyar

Category: "Dalai Lama Renaissance" Talk, DVD "Dalai Lama Renaissance", Misc, News about "Dalai Lama Renaissance", Screenings and Events for "Dalai Lama Renaissance" (discussions and info) | No Comments »
Tags: chinese audiences, chinese government, Dalai Lama, documentary, government of china, open dialog