Threats from China

This type of photo irritates Beijing. 
Though the recent statement of the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet of Ministers) concentrates on the threat on the Dalai Lama's life originating from Tibet, there are other threats to the Tibetan leader. 
The Kashag mainly speaks of the danger coming from the Party bosses in Lhasa and violent groups, like the Shukden's practitioners, but this is probably not all.
Regarding the Kashag's statement, it is first doubtful if such an operation could be decided and executed by local authorities of the Tibetan Autonomous Region only.
The Standing Committee of the Politburo could not be kept in the dark, though as we have seen with the Bo/Zhou Yongkang episode, it is clear that the security apparatus is a State within the State, with a larger budget than the PLA. 
Would there be such a plan to poison the Dalai Lama, it is bound to be a Central Government's initiative. Of course, the plans could be executed by the Special Services at Beijing's disposal, while help and logistical support could  be arranged from the 'local' authorities .
The statement of the Kashag did not touch another threat: the danger encountered when the Dalai Lama travels to Europe or America where the Dalai Lama's security officials have to depend on 'local' intelligence and police.  It is more tricky, though in countries like the US, the UK or France, there should be a good collaboration between the two. 
What about smaller countries where China has a lot of influence?
Two years ago, a French think-tank (Asie 21) published in their Newsletter a short, but interesting piece. Here is a rough translation.
It is entitled Rumour 

Rumour is not a fact but can create the event

More and more preoccupied by what they denounced as “the diplomatic activities” of the Dalai and more particularly with regard to two countries, the United States and France, the military Chinese Secret Service would have started to dispatch ‘operational’ agents in the countries to be visited by the religious leader in order to study the conditions which could be used as a structure for his physical elimination and in a first stage, find out the country which will present the best facilities. The coordination of the preliminary actions would have been given to services attached to the [Chinese] Prime Minister. In January in Denver, the Taiwanese would have warned the Dalai Lama. The US authorities would also be aware of the danger.

Chinese leaders fear that the Western chancelleries would take the issue of Tibet before the United Nations, which could lead them to propose to recognize the province as a country invaded and occupied by China.
Comments
The location of the ‘action’ would be neither the U.S. nor France, because they have, according to Beijing, sufficient capacity to internationally to develop and support charges against China. The choice is oriented towards a smaller country, one of the European Union is not excluded.
The method may be selected is a poisoning appearing as a natural death. It involves an approach by touching the victim or through access to his food or the capacity to make an injection. Like Mossad, the Chinese have an experience with number opponents.
For example, in 2006, General Lang Tao, a former military commander of Shanghai died. He was suspected of having communicated to Americans plans for coastal defense of China.
Likewise a tea made was made deadly when the party official Wa Yong who, after serving in the embassy in Washington and Paris, was suspected of treason in favor of his former contacts in foreign special services. He was having tea with a family member in 2009 in Frankfurt. The product usually used is the sap of makayo, a plant in Northern China, which within 24 to 48 hours provoke the symptoms of a cardiac arrest.

I mentioned briefly on the blog the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, he was obviously poisoned. In his case, it must have been relatively easy for the Chinese intelligence to organize the 'heart attack' as a large proportion of the Tashi Lhunpo's monks were on Beijing's payroll.
For the Dalai Lama, we can only pray that all people concerned will keep doing their job at the best of their capacities and that they will get the necessary collaboration from all in India and abroad.

The Dalai Lama in 1972 in Dharamsala

The departure of the Dalai Lama would be a tragedy for Tibet, a tragedy for the world, but also a tragedy for China. 
The Middle Kingdom needs the Tibetan leader more than ever. The problem is that some senior officials have not realize this as yet.
I found this old photo taken 40 years ago in Dharamsala. In a way, life was simpler, but the Dalai Lama had not begun delivering his message to the world.


Kashag’s Statement on the Security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
May 20, 2012 11:21 am
In the recent days, there has been considerable media attention concerning reports of a possible security threat to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a matter of great concern.
On 8 May 2012, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an interview to the Sunday Telegraph in Dharamsala, India, during which the interviewer commented on the security surrounding His Holiness. In response, His Holiness remarked that the concerned security agencies have taken his security very seriously ever since his first arrival in India. He mentioned that some time ago the officials responsible for his security received reports from a Tibetan working for the Chinese security establishment inside Tibet that Tibetan women were being trained to poison him by applying poison to their hair and to traditional greeting scarves. When His Holiness meets with Tibetans, they often present him with such scarves and bow their heads to receive his blessing. However, His Holiness also made it quite clear to the interviewer that there is no way to verify such reports. Although His Holiness takes security threat to his person lightly, there are a variety of threats to his well-being that the security agencies are obliged to take it seriously.
According to reports received from Tibet in June 2010, Chinese intelligence agencies are making concrete plans to harm His Holiness by employing well-trained agents, particularly females. It is also learnt that they are exploring the possibility of harming him by using ultra-modern and highly sophisticated drugs and poisonous chemicals. In another report received in October 2011, it is also learnt that Chinese intelligence agencies have stepped up their clandestine efforts to collect intelligence on the status of His Holiness’s health, as well as collecting physical samples of his blood, urine and hair. They are reportedly co-opting Tibetans inside Tibet to visit India with the intention of seeking an audience with him to this end.
In early April 2008, Zhang Qingli, the then Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) held a meeting of all top officials in the government. During that meeting, he quoted as saying, “those who must be killed should be killed and those must be imprisoned must be imprisoned.” Recently in February 2012, Chen Quanguo, the current Party Secretary of TAR, called for “a war against secessionist sabotage”.
In recent years, Chinese government has launched an unprecedented offensive campaign against His Holiness inside Tibet and has also issued instructions to its concerned officials to organise protests by overseas Chinese communities against the Dalai Lama during his visits outside India. A number of such protests have since been organised in the United States, Europe and Japan.
His Holiness’s efforts to reform and democratise Tibetan society have also emboldened certain fundamentalists within the Tibetan community. This relates to differences arising from the worship of the Shugden spirit, which His Holiness had advised the Tibetan people from worshipping against. The primary group among these fundamentalists is the Dorje Shugden Devotees Charitable and Religious Society (DSDCRS), founded in May 1996 with its headquarters in Delhi, India. The supporters of DSDCRS are perhaps the most violent group. The Indian police have identified and charged DSDCRS of murdering three monks close to His Holiness, including his Chinese translator. This triple murder occurred in Dharamsala, India, very close to His Holiness’s personal residence in February 1997. A Red Corner Notice was issued by Interpol in June 2007 for the arrest of two of the accused in this case. Various reports also point to the fact that the Chinese government is also covertly backing the Shugden fundamentalist groups. The leaders of an association called “North America Gelug Association”, which was established in March 2011 in United States, met Chinese officials in New York several times and have also visited China on a regular basis.
The Central Tibetan Administration is grateful to Government of India for the efficient security arrangements provided to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Central Tibetan Administration cautions all concerned to remain vigilant and alert in this regard.
The KASHAG
May 20, 2012