LETTER OF SUPPORT

About the Tibetan monks who immolated themselves, opposition to religious persecution
and the destruction of Tibetan culture by the Chinese Communist Government
Namo Guru Shakyamuni Buddha

To Your Holy Highness, the 14^th Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhist Community

Dear His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama,
Dear His Holiness the 17^th Gyalwang Karmapa,
Dear Tibetan Buddhist Sangha,
Dear Lay Buddhist and Tibetan people,

Since March 2011, more than 12 Tibetan Sangha have voluntarily self-immolated. Making torches of themselves to light up the conscience of the Communist Government in Beijing and drawing the attention of mankind to the unjust policy of religious persecution and the destruction of Tibetan culture by the Chinese Communist Government.

Through the events above, we the Sangha and Lay Buddhists of the International Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation (including the four organizations of Australia, Europe, USA and Canada), decided that:

- Since the Chinese Communist Government, using violent military invasion of Tibet, forced the Dalai Lama to exile in India in 1959 until now. Never before has Tibetan Buddhist culture been so suppressed and destroyed by the Beijing authorities. The present level is so fierce that monasteries have been besieged, Sangha have been experiencing harassment, persecution, imprisonment, murder, enforced culture change, forced mixed breeding, natural and social environment have been contaminated;

- Although the Dalai Lama has repeatedly announced, before international public opinion, about the his position that He just wants Tibet to be autonomous in some areas, especially Buddhism and culture and he also publicly expressed His attitude of compassion and non-violence desire that the Chinese Communist government dialogue be in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding to find a peaceful solution for Tibet. The Communist government in Beijing remained intransigent, without sincere dialogue, on the contrary increasing, more violent crackdowns;

- There have been many disaster victims, experiencing religious persecution and several dozen Buddhists have committed self-immolation to awaken the conscience of those who rule under dictatorship such as President Ngo Dinh Diem in the early 1960s and under the dictatorship of Communist totalitarianism in Vietnam during the past 36 years. Sangha and lay Buddhist of Vietnam do not encourage self-immolation, but are aware that self-immolation is the act of prayer and personal sacrifice, in a manner and in a spirit of peace, tolerance of the Buddha for previous violence of the dictatorship.

From the above events we, the Sangha and Lay Buddhists of the International Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation speak out with one concentric voice.

- Full central support for the Your Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, the monks, nuns and Tibetan people in the campaign for an autonomous Tibetan country in some areas, in the spirit of non-violence;

- Unanimously offer our blessings and prayers for the monks and nuns who self-immolated, making their bodies as torches, to awaken the Communist Government in Beijing to the human disaster of the victims of the persecution of the Tibetan Buddhist and extermination of their culture, that they may be reborn in the pure land and soon attain the great achievements.

- Opposing violent persecution by the Chinese Communist government to Buddhism and the Tibetan people. Requesting the Communist government in Beijing immediately terminate that cruel policy and open dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile;

- Fervently appealed to the United Nations, the Government, the National Assembly, the international human rights bodies and justice-loving humanity, freedom and peace to speak up for government intervention to stop the Chinese Communist and call for an immediate end to religious persecution, human rights violations and the destruction of Tibetan culture.

Sincere wishes to Your Holiness, the Tibetan Sangha and lay Buddhists, that you religious faith increases and your achievements be of great aspiration.

Buddhist calendar 2555, November 15^th, 2011

Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia & New Zealand

Most Reverend Thích Như Huệ, the Head

Incumbent District Office Coordinator

(Signature & Seal)

Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Europe

Most Reverend Thích Minh Tam, the Head

(Signature & Seal)

Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in The United States

Most Reverend Thích Tin Nghia, Acting the Head

(Signature & Seal)

Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Canada

Most Reverend Thích Bổn Đạt, the Head.