Der Standard 31st October 1996

In May this year, Hubert von Goisern undertook a journey to Tibet, together with exiled Tibetan Tseten Zöchbauer. For both of them it became an expedition to physical and psychological boundaries. In his (hitherto unpublished) diary, the musician's political commitment to the Tibetan people makes itself plain.

Lhasa 7/5/96 - Tseten and I have been here at the airport for about 2 hours, together with about 50 tourists who have arrived on the aeroplane from Europe and America. The passport and visa control keeps going slowly. Two uniformed Chinese work, another six stand around and observe. A young woman, just like a soldier, is especially eager and every five minutes meticulously straightens up the rows of those waiting. The luggage must also stand in a straight line. The height of 3800 metres causes most people trouble. Some lean exhausted against the wall. An older woman fans herself with her passport. The Chinese become violent and drag her back into line. A group of Tibetans, arrived on the same aeroplane, are checked in a separate room. Nobody goes there at all without bribery, I am told beforehand. You simply leave something that you have brought with you.

Passport control. I do not have a problem. Tseten is thoroughly checked. She has a European passport. But her looks are Tibetan as well as her name. But there is nothing conspicuous about her on the computer. And we are soon outside and in Tibet. For me, it is a dream come true. And for Tseten too. She was 3 years old when she went into exile with her parents and her whole family. Since then, 1961, she has dreamed of coming back sometime, but the journey was put off time after time because she was afraid. The fright is justified. In 1987, her mother went back to Tibet on a visit and was promptly arrested. She was in jail for 6 years.

I got to know Tseten by chance six months ago, and as she told me the story of her life and the tale of woe of her people, I talked her into making this journey with me with the argument "Come with me and we will see it for ourselves. It can't be as bad as you say". I knew the situation from her portrayal, from books and knew that Tibet had been occupied by China for almost 50 years, in which there has continuously been violation of human rights since the Chinese have been there. But all these stories of torture and horror and spying seemed exaggerated to me. I should have been better informed.

A bus brought us from the airport to the centre of the city. We moved into accommodation near the Parkhor, the quarter in which the Tibetans live, in which the Tibetans may live as they want to. The Tibetan ghetto makes up about 5% of the area of Lhasa. The rest of the 95% of the Tibetan buildings were flattened by the Chinese and instead erected their Communist functional buildings - with the aesthetics of shoe boxes.

Although we are tired and are fighting with the difficulty of breathing, we do not stay in the hotel. We walk about to get to know the city and disappear into the bright crowd of the market. Soon, we are taken up in the stream of pilgrims who are moving clockwise through the streets right around the Jokhand temple. Again and again, we, or rather Tseten, are spoken to by Tibetans who recognise her as one of them, but really she comes from the West. We are pulled into dark corners and our attention is drawn to the fact that you cannot talk freely to others here on the street.

Then I also see the surveillance cameras. If someone is so careless that he talks for a long time on the open street, it does not last long and by chance a policeman is standing next to him and overhears. Whoever believes that the Tibetans, who have wanted a discussion time after time, complain about their situation or moan about their fate is wrong. They are curious. They want to know whether we had heard anything from the Dalai Lama and whether he was coming back soon. We meet a father with his son. The nearly 6 year old child has a bad eye inflammation. When Tseten asks the father why he has not gone to the doctor with his child, or to the hospital, he just says that he cannot afford it. Because there is not a social institution that looks after the sick? Indeed, there would be a doctor who would do that. He is so overrun by people who are really ill. A youth who speaks broken English offers me his services as a guide. I turn him down, but we begin talking and I ask him whether he had learned English at school. He laughs and says that he could never go to school in Tibet. He had learned English in a Tibetan school in Dharamsala, the north Indian city in which the Tibetan government in exile had its seat. Most of his friends had not gone to school. As a policeman comes nearer, he amazingly gets a turquoise from his trouser pocket and laughing, offers to sell it to me. Yet before I can give any answer, he leaves. The policeman strolls by and back to his observation post.

No, I am not a Buddhist, but I like these people here on the roof of the world. I like the style of the Tibetans. I like how they laugh in spite of everything. And here lies one of the differences from the Chinese. They do not laugh. They only smile. At best. During the 4 weeks of the journey through Tibet, I have seen hundreds, even thousands of laughing Tibetans and a total of three Chinese laughing. Two of them were drunk.

Hubert von Goisern

Kurier 4th July 1996

Hubert von Goisern plans "Band Aid" for Tibet

Actually it was a childhood dream, but the Austrian artist Hubert von Goisern's journey to Tibet developed into a nightmare: "The people have to live under conditions that we know from the time of the Nazis. Their language, their faith and their culture are repressed." That is why he now wants to organise a "Band Aid" concert on an Austrian level, based on Bob Geldof's model. As if confirmation of his report, on Wednesday, the Chinese authorities who have oppressed the country for 46 years, published a set of statistics that since the beginning of the action "Harder Beat" in Tibet in May, thousands of people have been executed. Nobody is certain. "There are surveillance cameras everywhere in the capital city Lhasa. You speak to the population and a policeman is immediately on hand. Monks are arrested. Woman have compulsory sterilisations. Children are locked up," said Hubert von Goisern after he had visited the region with exiled Tibetan Tseten Zöchbauer. "Never was the readiness to resist as big as it is now," said Zöchbauer of the consequence of the brutal rule from Peking. How Austria's government avoids the problem - just in order to get hold of economic orders - is dreadful, complains the duo. Recently a resolution proposal from the Liberal Forum requiring China to respect basic rights in Tibet, was taken from the agenda. Hubert von Goisern: "I am ashamed of my country."

Walter Friedl

Die Presse 4th July 1996

In May this year, Hubert von Goisern travelled through Tibet and looks shocked

Vienna (u.l.)Hubert von Goisern is known as an alpine fan and humorous popular musician ("A Hirtermadel mog i net") from Austria. But after a 40 day trip through Tibet, no more jokes were expected of him. In Vienna on Wednesday, he had to break off the description of his experience with the Tibetan people and their living circumstances in tears. There are currently twice as many Chinese as Tibetans living in the capital Lhasa. The practising of their religion, as well as their culture, forbidden to the Tibetans. Education opportunities are not available, children who attend a school in India are punished for it in their homeland, the traveller reports. Tibetans need passes in their own country in order to change location. In view of the fact that in 1950 China sent its troops into a - at that time largely autonomous - state and enforced its rule, which is today emphasised by a strong occupying force, aid organisations for Tibet were established in many countries. "Save Tibet" is one of these organisations, for which Hubert von Goisern was in the mountain country with Tseten Zöchbauer - president of "Save Tibet". Noticeable there: the confidence that the Tibetan population has in the West and in exiled Tibetans, and the hope for help.

OÖN 28th June 1996

Today in Land der Berge - Hubert von Goisern in conversation about his journey to Tibet

Hubert von Goisern was far, far away. He grew up himself in the mountains and devoured Heinrich Harrer's Seven Years in Tibet. With Tseten Zöchbauer, representative from Save Tibet, the temporarily retired alpine rocker travelled for 6 weeks through the country occupied by China. In the exclusive interview with the Land der Berge team (today at 9.15pm on ORF2) the Goiserer assesses the situation with tears in his eyes: "Dreadful, dreadful".

Tseten Zöchbauer, born in Tibet, grown up in the West, entered her homeland for the first time in 35 years although she is on the black list of the Chinese occupying forces. Together with Hubert von Goisern, she presented the Austrian tour of the exiled dance and music group TIPA in spring.

In the ORF interview, which will first be put at the disposal of OÖN, the upper Austrian seemed fascinated by the countryside and horrified by the political situation, after his return two weeks ago. "It is such a beautiful country, the people are so good because of that. The pleasure, the ecstasy, the tears lie so close together. It is incomprehensible how the Western world reacts to this situation, that they totally ignore it, that here a nation has been repressed for 50 years. I am ashamed of our politicians who do business with a regime that lies, cheats, murders and tortures." Hubert von Goisern alludes to the fact that Austria put obstructions in the way of the Dalai Lama's visit, but had courted a Chinese trade delegation in the hope of a billion orders, despite the violation of human rights.

Does Tibet still have a chance of being free? "A nation that stands up for its freedom without force, must simply triumph," says Goisern, who also had an audience with the Dalai Lama in his Indian exile: "He is a simply wonderful man, who radiates peace and faith."

About the Chinese regime: "You cannot believe in the system. In my heart, I have always been a bit Communist, Marxist. Nothing remains of that. The Communism that I saw there turns people into marionettes. They give up thinking and living."

About the mountains: "The quiet there lets us feel how wonderful the world is and how tiny and unimportant we are in this world."

beli

9th October 2002

These photos were taken in 1996, when Hubert von Goisern co-presented a number of Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) concerts in Austria with Tseten Zöchbauer.   Photos © www.tibet-kultur-restaurant.at | Click to enlarge

Mandala Nr. 4 May 1996

Hubert von Goisern is well-known by connoisseurs of the Austrian music scene as a crossover genius. He gained their attention with the CDs Aufgeigen stått niederschiassen and Omunduntn - he combines folky music with rock and has thus "invented"a new music style, which is meantime readily copied in the . He does not let attributions such as folk music or pop music apply, as according to his personal, human and musical experiences, these don't exist in this form either. But not just on the "conventional" music floor has he hitherto been able to show his ability: He composed the film music to Vilsmaier's cinema success Schlafes Bruder, the film was promptly nominated for the Foreign Film Oscar. Actually he has withdrawn from the music business - in order to, as he says,"create something new again".

At present, he is appearing as presenter for a series of events in the context of the Tibetan New Year. The organiser of this tour, which was to be seen in some cities in Austria over the course of a week, is the Save Tibet Association. Among others undertaking patronage for this event are Francesca and Karl von Habsburg and Heinrich Harrer.

On 29th February 1996, Sabine Januschke posed Hubert von Goisern some questions on his activities regarding Tibet:

Could we possibly reckon that Austria has also got a Richard Gere?

What matters in the media interest - it is large, and you can cause something, but if the media is not interested, you can't jump around like Rumpelstilzkin either, they wouldn't pay attention to you and they wouldn't take you seriously either. I'm just beginning to interest myself in it.

Sonam, HvG and Jamjang

How did you come to Tibet - what is your relationship to Dharma?

Buddhism has always been of interest to me, the mentality the people have - for some years I have used meditation. Apart from that, I am a 'Bergler', that is, I came via mountains to Tibet. They always interested me and fascinated me in a certain way. As a child, I was very impressed with the stories about the country from Heinrich Harrer. Through Harrer I progressed to the Dalai Lama. I mean, I am a child of the west, I don't want to become a Tibetan. But what always surprised me and what was also somehow crucial, was this sign of gaiety. The people are always so merry. You will never find anyone who complains about his fate, or wails about how things are in the west. There the people have everything and in the morning they have no reason to get up and just complain about how bad everything is for them. I was in Dharamsala and saw street children - who really have nothing, who live by selling cigarettes, or the like, but they are always in a good mood and are always happy. I would rather have a good laugh than be in a cross mood. I have that in common with the Tibetans. Now I have found some things out for myself, and met and seen some Tibetans and naturally I would like to give something back again.

Key words "giving back" - this giving back - what is that, what will it be? Do you already have an idea, how you want to give something back?

I cannot say in concrete terms yet - I don't know yet. I would like to make people aware of the things happening in Tibet. I mean, Tibet is a piece of our world and one must do something for it - if the country didn't exist any more, then the world would be a bit poorer. I admire the Tibetans, they are always so industrious, like the ants. But the Chinese too. Yes, the Chinese. They're poor dogs too, who are governed by a few senile old men, who lost contact with the people, the youth, a long time ago. I mean, I have great respect for the old people, but when a government, a country is led only by old people, then things can only go wrong, then it is a spineless society.

It's not so much better for the Chinese population than for the Tibetans, apart from the fact that they did not become, for instance, the radioactive waste dump of another country. The Chinese are religiously totally single-minded, which I think makes most problems.

Yes, the Chinese - they are single-minded. They raised communism to religion. You must imagine it: they made Mao their idol and prayed to the pictures like a God. The Tibetans have never done with the Dalai Lama, what the Chinese did with Mao.

I have a relatively intimate question now - what about a teacher, do you perhaps have a teacher? I ask this question, because we are from a medium, which naturally bears interest in such affairs.

I lived in Vienna for seven years and in the course of this time I came to know and highly regard many Buddhist teachers. I was on the search for a guru. The Dalai Lama is crucial there for me - that said, he is no guru, he has only one function which he fulfils, a karma, which he took on himself. Hats off for his way of dealing with it. I am someone who is in the public eye time and time again, and I can only say that it is difficult to manage. It's great how he does it.

I had teachers myself only for short times - in music too - I got as much as I could process and when it was too much for me, I marched to the next teacher. I never wanted to be like my teachers, in spiritual terms too. I mean, I'm someone who's in the public eye; many people make me an idol - I can't get on with being an idol and sometimes I'm a little brusque too.

Will we be able to see you in the future as - as usual - an individual fighter for Tibet and its people, or rather together with organisations, e.g. Save Tibet?

I am engaged in various regards - I have projects in Africa, and also in Austria to run. The children are most important for me. Otherwise I step in when I see the need arises. For the moment Tibet is most important - I want to fight against the unfairness. Yielding brings nothing! Because misuse of power brings no fortune either. Rather be poor and happy, than rich and no perspective. That is the realisation.

Your future commitment...?

... will certainly only be possible in the context of art. I said, I won't return to the stage, but when it is important, like here, then I simply do it . I don't set up stubborn rules. I am, for example vegetarian, but when I go somewhere, where I'm given meat, like at home, where there's schnitzel, then I just eat it - I don't lean back aghast and announce: I'm vegetarian, I won't eat that!

Last question: Will you be in Brussels with the European-wide demonstration on the occasion of the first rebellion of the Tibetans against the Chinese occupation?

No, we are on tour in St. Pölten then. But there's a demo in Vienna too - the main thing is that you go and do something and who knows, perhaps I'll get the mayor of Bad Goisern to hang up the Tibetan flag on 10th March.

That would be a good start; thanks for the interview!

Photo: Bettmann Archive

The 14th Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso in 1935, was installed in 1940. After the Chinese took over Tibet, he remained for another nine years, until he fled to Dharamsala in India after an abortive Tibetan revolt against Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama established a Tibetan government-in-exile in India and worked to preserve Tibetan arts, scriptures and medicine. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his non-violent struggle to end Chinese repression of his land.

In 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan as the first step towards a peaceful solution for the Tibetan situation. So far, China has failed to respond positively to the Dalai Lama's various proposals for peace. In His address to members of the United States Congress on 21st September 1987, His Holiness proposed the following peace plan, which contains five basic components:

The Five Point Peace Plan

1. Transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace
2. Abandonment of China's population transfer policy which threatens the very existence of the Tibetan people
3. Respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms
4. Restoration and protection of Tibet's natural environment and the abandonment of China's use of Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste
5. Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people.

The secondary spiritual leader in Tibet is the Panchen Lama. "Panchen" means "Great Scholar" and "Lama" is a religious teacher. Tibetans believe that the Panchen Lama protects all the world's living beings. The Panchen Lama will grow up to be a very powerful leader in Tibet.

Tibet's current Panchen Lama is a fifteen year old boy named Gedhun Chökyi Nyima. When the boy was six, he and his family were captured by Chinese police. Since 1995, they have been held under house arrest at an unknown location. The communist authorities have also placed a boy from a politically correct background in the house.