The U.S. Congress awarded the 14th Dalai Lama the Congressional gold medal on October 17. In response, the Chinese side pointed out that the Dalai Lama, the former chief representative of the feudal serfdom under the theocratic socio-political structure in Tibet, has never been the "representative of democracy" he proclaims he is. A signed article by Hua Zi, entitled "Dalai Lama in Glory of Religion, U.S. in Glory of Democracy" and released by Xinhua News Agency, reveals some deeds and words of the Dalai Lama that have nothing in common with recognized principles of democracy and human rights.

Such terms as "democracy," "human rights" and "religion" have been widely preached and glorified nowadays. The 14th Dalai Lama (hereinafter referred to as "the Dalai Lama"), festooned in the "radiance" of a so-called spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, was in the spotlight last month when he traveled to the United States, a country basking in the glory of "democracy," and accepted a "gold medal."

I have no intention to comment on the innumerable awards of the present-day society, but, having read some U.S. media reports on the Dalai Lama award, I feel that both the U.S. Congress that awarded the medal and the Dalai Lama on the receiving end were somehow blatantly seeking publicity.

A friend of mine who has lived in the United States for years recently came back to China for a visit. He described the Dalai Lama as a world-class "celebrity" in the United States, a grand showground for the whole world. The Dalai Lama, with his deeds and his words, has gone even further than a politician, he said.

To tell the truth, I have tried many times over the years to find in the Dalai Lama the serenity, transcendence and benevolence of a Buddhist believer and a follower of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Each time I am disappointed.

In fact, the Dalai Lama, since the day he fled in 1959, has been trying to provoke a sentiment: a sentiment against the Communist Party of China and New China, a sentiment to secede Tibet from China and a sentiment to restore his rule. To that effect, he has not hesitated to slander or even put the lives of the Tibetans at stake.

What the Dalai Lama has been doing is not altogether surprising. In old Tibet, before the democratic reforms in 1959, all the Dalai Lamas were the biggest feudal serf-owners. They took control of the political and religious rights, dominated every force available and owned every inch of land and every head of cattle in Tibet. Officials at all levels were subject to their manipulation and all serfs and slaves were subject to their exploitation and even trade. How powerful were the Dalai Lamas back then! The Dalai Lama, the reincarnation of his predecessors, is accustomed to the old Tibet and was born to represent the interests of the ruling class.

It is crucial for a Buddhist faithful to be placid yet the inner world of the Dalai Lama is always fluctuant. The prolonged fusion of religion and politics in the history of Tibetan Buddhism makes it hard for him to abandon his lust for political power, and life in exile under another people's roof makes him brood on his failure in fending off the Communist Party of China from taking political power in Tibet five decades ago.

Five decades is not a long time. Seeing no hope for the British and Americans to honor their commitments to support "Tibet independence," the elderly people at the Dalai Lama's side begin to complain: We left our homeland to follow you. The money we brought was shared among you and your brothers, and the aid we received was divided among the officials. What have we got? The younger people at his side are also resentful: You have become a celebrity of the world, but where is our future? Those of Tibetan origin living in Tibet, under the rule of the Communist Party of China, still speak the Tibetan language, but we don't. Where are our roots?

Conflicts over territory, disputes between sects and scandals over money-how can the Dalai Lama be placid in his heart when he is entangled in all these issues?

A Tibetan author, when asked how the Dalai Lama would be arranged if he could return to China, said, history had given him the chance and he had acquitted himself. Yet facts had proven he was not capable.

The fact is the Dalai Lama is doomed to be altogether marginalized whatever he chooses to do or not to do. The trend is irreversible by the Americans or any others who wish to exploit his surplus value. "Immensity of leaves rusting fell, the never-ending Yangtze River rolling on", this ancient Chinese poem tells where the Dalai Lama's tragic fate lies.

So why on earth did the Americans award the Dalai Lama, who once represented the interests of serf-owners under feudal serfdom, never made any concrete contribution to Tibet's development or the Tibetan people's well-being after nearly 50 years in exile, and has become increasingly politicized and worldly?

We regret to say that some U.S. Congressmen, who boast of rational thinking and modern, civilized behaviors, are as good as staging a farce. They say the Dalai Lama is a "democracy defender" against "China's dictatorship," and a "fighter for peace" who "enthusiastically appeals for religious freedom and basic human rights." But those with the least knowledge of the development history of the human society should know that the so-called "theocracy," "regality" and "civil rights" represent different stages in the development of the human society. The Dalai Lama was the representative of the theocratic rule in the old Tibetan system featuring a fusion of religion and politics. To this day, he is deemed the supreme political and religious leader in the "constitution" of their so-called "government in exile," which, within the framework of a fusion of religion and politics, appears to practice the alleged "democratic politics" and "separation of powers" but in fact has a strong religious and feudal color. The fact that many members of the Dalai Lama's own family have repeatedly taken up important roles provides sufficient evidence for that. Isn't it ridiculous for the Dalai Lama, enthroned through religious reincarnation and representing theocracy, to be worshipped as a spokesman for democratic rights!

It's even more ridiculous to refer to the Dalai Lama as a "human rights defender." The human rights situation in Tibet under the Dalai Lama's rule, in short, was a freakish social system. The ruling class, which accounted for 5 percent of the population, possessed 95 percent of the resources and means of production, whereas serfs and slaves who made up 95 percent of the population possessed only 5 percent. The broad masses of the Tibetan people had no "livelihood," let alone "wisdom." Even their personal freedom was deprived and they were owned by the Dalai Lama, feudal lords and nobles. Some scholars believe such a social system was similar to that of Medieval Europe.

The Dalai Lama never did anything to change the irrational social system that violated rights. On the contrary, he fled his home with the beneficiaries of such a system-the few upper-class rebels-after a failed rebellion.