Beijing Wide Open

Comment from LiRongXiang
Time: May 2, 2008, 7:44 pm

This Kate Woznow is either naive or dumb as a rock. 16 hrs on a flight from NY to HK. Detained for a couple more hrs. Then a 16 hr flight back to NY. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. As a former HK resident, I can say the authorities did her a favor and kept her from getting violated by some hoodlum yesterday.

Comment from Rangzen
Time: May 3, 2008, 3:17 pm

Thanks Kate, Tsering, Matt and rest of the team for your conitnued effort to unmask Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and expose their pathological LIES & DECEIT.

50 years of Gandhian philosophy of Non Violence, quite diplomacy and back channel contacts with the Chinese CCP led Tibetans to nowhere near peaceful resolution. Its not just negative when you look around. There is hope when people like you are around standing up and fighting for TRUTH and JUSTICE starting from Tibet.

China may have military might to rule Tibet with TERROR. Tibetans have truth and justice. Tibetans are not anti Chinese, but are pro truth and justice which is with Tibet & Tibetan.

“Tibet will never die, because there is no death for human spirit. Communism will come and go. Mankind will not be salve for ever” JP Narayan

Comment from Howard
Time: May 7, 2008, 6:35 am

I think she did the right thing. This is the kind of action its going to take with boots on the ground.

The world needs to know what a human rights disaster the Peoples Republic of China really is. For this the Olympics is a good thing. China was too arrogant in thinking that all would be roses when it wanted to host the Olympics; I guess all these years of administering abuse without any real world out-cry made them think it would still be business as usual.

All I can say is that I have tremendous respect for the Tibetan people throughout all of the events since March 10th. Those people in Tibet risked it all and certainly paid dearly for speaking out. The very least we can do on the outside is keep the flame alive and never let it go out.

No middle way, freedom all the way for a FREE TIBET!

Thank you again for you good work.

http://www.h1investmentholdings.com/socialactiontibet.html
http://freetibetandchina.blogspot.com/

Comment from philjie
Time: May 8, 2008, 7:32 am

Rangzen,

Your Narayan quote misses the point by a half-mile. Tibet has been part of China since the 14th century AD, i.e. through two successive feudal dynasties — and into a third one of a different nature.

Now, look at history, and observe what happened in the US when the Southern states seceded in 1861, and in France when the feudal warlords felt they should be kings in their own kingdoms and ’secede’ from the French central government (Louis XI vs. Charles of Burgundy, for instance).

Look at Germany and its 130-year domestic conflicts of the 18-19th centuries.

Closer to our times, look at France’s politics in regards to the island of Corsica, and the issue of Spain vs. the ‘Basque autonomist’ movement. Look at the wars in Chechenya, Kossovo, Bosnia.

All proceeding from separatist political movements. Who suffer? The people.

No national government wants to see the integrity of its territory put in jeopardy. The separatist idea runs contrary to the very nature of a government enpowered to protect the territorial integrity of the nation, and accountable for the well-being of its citizenry and the harmonious development of its society.

Economic progress and a more harmonious social development in the Tibetan autonomous region are actually disrupted by exogeneous efforts to exert political and media pressures against China, when not directly aimed at wreaking chaos into the region.

On a philosophical note now, just as a coin has two sides, and the world two poles, there is a duality of responsibility in the Tibetan situation today: depicting the Chinese government as ‘evil incarnated’ and the Dalai Lama (or the activist movement) as ‘goodness itself’ is both an overly simplified view of history, and a statement which runs afoul of the Buddhist tenets of cause and effect.

After all, were the Tibetan people so lucky, so happy, and so well-off under the rule of the feudal governments which regulated Tibet for centuries before the 1950s? Was the heavily stratified, rigid social order which characterized the old Tibetan society so kind to the people?

How could the descent of the ruling class not bear responsibility for the social order legacy they would have themselves perpetuated, had they continued to rule the region?

Perhaps a good, fresh new start for the Dalai Lama and his following would consist in looking inwards at their own responsibilities in the historical plight of the Tibetan people.

After all, anyone who is intimately convinced that death is but an illusion, and the spirit survives through cycles of birth-growth-decay-death, may not avoid looking at the fact he/she bears full responsibility for the harmful acts he/she committed before the present lifetime.

This puts into perspective the one-sided pretense of ‘we are good, they are bad’. This one-sided argument will never allow anyone to free himself/herself from the lies of their own past.

Beyond territorial and cultural issues –both transient notions in essence– if the debate is a religious or spiritual one, at least let’s try to frame it correctly.

Comment from Xin Hua
Time: May 8, 2008, 11:32 pm

Great work SFT! Like ‘Rangzen’ above me said, the CCP is a vile and villainous regime always looking to silence dissenting views.

Nevertheless, I’m glad there were brave people like Christina Chan who raised their voices in Hongkong on behalf of the Tibetan people and also for the lack of freedoms in China during the arrival of the Olympic torch of shame.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 11, 2008, 1:42 pm

I found an interesting video on youtube which I will post here. Could you Tibetan separatists please comment on this, I am curious as to what your reactions are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5NzSUjVAE

This one talks about the four dominant schools of Tibetan buddhism; Gelug, Nyingma, Sakya, and Kagyu. Apparently, this Tibetan is saying that the Dalai Lama, which represents the Yellow Hat school centered in North Central Tibet (near Lhasa) do not represent ALL Tibetans in Tibet such as members of the Red Hat School which he/she belonged to in Eastern Tibet.

I don’t know much about Tibetan buddhism but his arguments are certainly interesting and I would appreciate any comment on this from the Tibetans here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y64PJ4xk1F4

This second video is about a slew of letters written by a Tibetan youth in Tibet. This one is less objective than the one I posted above but it is interesting nonetheless.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 11, 2008, 2:17 pm

Since I am currently getting nowhere in my research and I have a bit of time, I am going to write an additional thing I noticed between the ongoing misunderstanding between westerners and Chinese.

Apparently the key difference between Western view and Chinese view toward government is perception. Western citizens living in the democratic west naturally assume that their government is bent on doing evil unless constantly criticized by the populace. This mentality comes from ancient times when ignorant European kings abused their power. Over time, this fear of abusive leaders prodded the birth of western democratic governments which are grossly inefficient when initiating changes for the common good. Some western politicians actually intended to do good, but because there are so many criticisms, they have to lie and manipulate in order to fulfill their good intentions.

China is different in this respect. Ever since the ancient times, the Chinese Confucian government operated on a principle of enlightened monarchy based on virtue and a desire to benefit the common people. Overtime, this institution and way of doing things have ingrained into the common Chinese psyche, and have become an integral, innate part of Chinese culture. The common people expect the government to improve the living standards of the people. If it fails, everyone takes up arms and rebel. There is bloody civil war. This has been the case for at least 600 years in China and according to traditional Chinese philosophy, considered completely natural.

The reason that you westerners see so many Chinese youths supporting their government is because of the simple fact that the CCP are going along with the philosophy I just mentioned. They have improved the lives of the people and established an orderly, healthy society free of fear. If you ask any Chinese student abroad in a democratic western country they will probably tell you this; if it wasn’t because of the fact that China is very polluted right now and that job competition is INTENSE, they will move back almost immediately after graduation. Most of them are not there because of “human rights” or “freedom”. Both of which are absurd manifestations of ignorant western irrationalism propagated by imperialistic government agencies such as the CIA. And they are not brainwashed. They are patriotic, but patriotism is not the same as brainwashing. Take any Chinese student you see in your country, are they, in general, stupid fools?

Don’t let the title “Chinese Communist Party” fool you. This title is politically anachronistic and at the present time completely wrong. China is the most capitalistic nation in the world right now and the same applies to the government. Everybody in CHina is complaining about govt. corruption. Certainly, very few of the political leaders are “communist”.

Instead, the title CCP should stand for the Communist Confucian Party because from what I saw in their policies, they, the Chinese government have reverted to ancient Confucian philosophy while using western ideas as tools to further the ends. It is an emperor in new clothing but inherently the same.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 11, 2008, 2:55 pm

On the issue of Tibet, I think I have analyzed most of the situation except for the argument of the Tibetan’s natural right to self-determination.

This argument is correct. Certainly, all people should have the right to decide their own fate. They should be allowed to rule themselves if they feel compelled to. But they must also carefully consider the situation. Like I mentioned, currently, the Tibetans are not suppressed by the government. They are IN the government. There are Tibetan representatives in the National Assembly and from what I saw, the rulers responsible for regional conflicts are Tibetan. They are not Han. In this respect, the Tibetan people have access to both government high and low in the hierarchy. Why would they want to completely break away from this current system? At this point I still do not have an rational answer. The central government and the Han people first do not look down on them, otherwise they wouldn’t build up their region. And second, there are unfair advantages given to them for competition. Third, up until recently, they didn’t have to pay for food. All supplies were given to them for free. Because of this, their living standards have improved dramatically. They now live far better than their slave masters in Dharamsala who live off of American and British money. And yet they are still not happy just because now there are competition coming from smart, diligent Han merchants from the mainland. Do Tibetans understand the simple, act of civility called appreciation?

But that aside, like I said, if they become independent, they will falter economically and politically. Right now, their region is still relatively poor compared to the rest of China and most Tibetans, from what I saw, are incompetent in trade and science. Both of which are essential to vitalizing their economy. Because they are so far behind, without outside help, Tibet will become the new Iraq, torn by civil war because of poverty and sectarian strife. From what I heard, there are four schools of Tibetan buddhism. Judging from their history, I don’t think Tibetans will be nonviolent among themselves once they become independent.

They will have to depend on another country. In this case, America. And as we all know, America simply cannot support another Iraq at this moment. Although I know it would love to be able to set up spy bases so close to mainland China and the nuclear testing bases in Xinjiang.

It is right for a people to be able to determine their own government. But they must also think of the consequences. And the bottom line is, at the moment, Tibet is not ready, perhaps in forty years when China has fully developed that region then Tibet might have a chance.

But this is a domestic issue, which must not be interfered by foreigners. It is an issue among us Hans and Tibetans that do not involve Americans or Europeans who are all wild, uncivilized hypocrites that enslave other cultures and continue to do so through the false guise of “human rights” and “democracy/chaos”.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 11, 2008, 3:19 pm

I think all Americans will oppose a similar situation in America. Take the African Americans’ freedom movement in the 60s. This movement was headed by two leaders essentially. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The former is peaceful and nonviolent who advocated for equal rights. The latter called for armed resistance. Dr. King is just like Dalai Lama. And Malcolm X the Tibetan Youth Congress. Suppose China was as rich and power as it is today back then and was as evil as America in instigating civil wars in other countries, then would Americans approve Chinese funding to Malcolm X? Say if the Chinese special forces sent agents to Baltimore or Harlem and taught the Black Panthers about how to subvert white establishment. Would the majority of the Americans just sit idly by and approve the creation of a “black state” in say…Georgia+Mississippi which have a very large black population? Keep in mind, that a large percentage of African Americans actually did want to have a separate state. This is verifiable through objective historical documents.

Imagine if CHINA told America at that time that it should give more human rights to its black citizens, end slavery, and that China must fight for “human rights” in the world by splitting up America with the creation of a black state completely out of the jurisdiction of federal law. How would the Americans react?

But that was 60 years ago. Lets talk about today. Most Mexicans in America will tell you that they are being discriminated against because of their ethnicity and their poverty. An indigenous Mexican with Aztec blood (not Mestizo or Spanish mix) will have a very hard time finding a lucrative job on Wall Street no matter what his or her credentials are. Even if he or she speaks fluent English, they will still not hire him because the American and European banks are afraid that this individual’s looks and background might cause a distaste in some of their rich, white clients which will affect business. This is true, I know because I worked there one summer.

Is this right? I think if you ask the Mexicans if they want to have their homeland back (the entire southwestern United States including California), their answer will be a definite yes. That piece of land was theirs, taken by the U.S. government after the Mexican War. But will Americans give back the Mexicans their land today? No, will they stop their racism against Mexicans today? I think the answer will be no in both cases. By the logic of American Free Tibet activists, the Chinese special forces should mobilize and fund these people in order to give them their natural “human rights/respect” in America? If they did, the civil war in America will be far bloodier because Americans are allowed to possess guns.

What about Europe? What if China actively funded the Muslims in Europe in subverting European establishment? Today, Muslims are being treated with racism in Europe and they are looked down upon. This is violating their basic human rights. Perhaps China should give aid to them and train them to lobby and subvert European government? Or how about just advocating for Southern Spain to be ruled entirely by Africans and Muslims free from Spanish law? That piece of land was theirs until the Evil Spanish Christian conquistadors took it from them through violence. I think the Muslims living there certainly want to have a separate state established. It was their land anyway. But why are the Europeans so much against this? By doing so, they are suppressing the voice of so many Muslims and denying their basic human rights to freedom and self determination.

In the end, it all comes down to the money. The west is bullying China through ignorance and cultural imperialism by using Tibetan separatists. This is wrong, period.

Comment from Steven
Time: May 13, 2008, 12:02 pm

When I watched the aftermath of huge earth quake which rattled half of China, my heart saddened.

However when I watched how chinese people rushed to rescue, I was so touched. They are well organized, everyone is single-minded — just help. There is no riots, no pulling legs.

Go China Go!

Comment from Tian
Time: May 13, 2008, 9:51 pm

Today I had the chance to look at some “eyewitness accounts” to the current situation in Lhasa posted on another free Tibet website.

Obviously, the site is biased and its account questionable. But if what they said is true, namely that the people’s armed police are firing indiscriminately on Tibetan civilians, this is highly condemnable.

As a Han Chinese, I give the deepest condolences to the victims and sincerest apologies for what my government has done. You are not alone in the hope that the central government reforms. But if this is part of another lie conceived by you terrorists then shame on you.

Comment from Rangzen
Time: May 14, 2008, 3:16 pm

This message is to Mr or Ms Tian:

I am a follower of Tibet’s indigenious religion called Bon. There are miilions of Tibetans who follow Bon religion. Bon follower can be found in all 3 Tibetan provinces of U Tsang, Kham and Amdo of independent Tibet, which now means Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan and Gansu besides TAR.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama may not be religious head of Bon, but He certainly is recognised by all Bonpo’s as undisputed political leader of Tibet, so is with Ngingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.

China led by CCP has been always played this game of “devide and rule” on religious line. This policy will not work and is doomed to fail as ALL TIBETANS ARE TIBETAN FIRST. WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE BIGGER PICTURE, BEYOND OUR RELIGIOUS SECT, TRIBES ETC.. just as Mao joined Nationalist KMT to defeat common enemy Japan.

Prayers to the victims of Earthquake in Sichuan, China

Comment from Tian
Time: May 17, 2008, 12:34 pm

Thank you for the prayers Rangzen. And I give the same to the Tibetans in Tibet. And I pray that one day we (Han and Tibetan separatists) can settle our differences, and that we can live together in peace.

On what you said, I don’t know much about the Tibetan religion or the Tibetan people so my comments might seem ignorant, but I doubt your different fractions will live in peace after the Han people leave. Right now Tibet is still very much impoverished, resources are scarce. If the central government do pull out of Tibet and the Dalai Lama rules the region independently then there will be immediate civil war. That’s what happened to the KMT and the communists after Japan was defeated.

Do you seriously want me to believe that in an intense, resource deficient, economically bankrupt, and politically unstable theocracy (which Tibet will be once independent), competing factions driven by different interpretations of the same belief will tolerate each other and live in peace? To my knowledge, this has yet happened in human history. And I don’t believe the Tibetans are holier than all other groups of people.

Looking at an objective analysis of Tibetan history, I know that you people have the potential for violence. A while back I read from a western source saying that the Dalai Lama once persecuted one of the sects because he thought they were false. This is evidence of potential fuel for civil war and I believe there will be civil war if Tibet becomes fully independent without outside help.

This civil war will be one of the ugliest in human history because of Tibet’s remote location, its low resources, and its dark history of slavery. As shown time and time again, during times of extreme hardship and stress, a people usually revert to old ways. I shudder to think what this means in Tibet.

Comment from Daisy
Time: May 17, 2008, 3:47 pm

the earthquake in China on May 12 had an epicenter close to the region of minorities where Tibetans are 50-90% populated. The Chinese militia and thousands of volunteers all over the country are risking their lives to save the mass civilians buried underground.
To talk about human rights? As Tibetans, you should be the first ones to donate and go to China to volunteer to save your fellow Tibetans! Yet i see no action taken from these so called human rights activists! Your claim of caring for the Tibetans is highly questionable.
Who is participating in political propaganda? Chinese trying to save as many civilians as possible or you just sitting at home typing these “human rights statements”?

Comment from Tenzin
Time: May 18, 2008, 1:20 pm

I don’t really know what Philjie is trying to say. Please try to be more clear and talk about specific things.

Tian, here are a few things that I would like to point out about what you have said above.

1. I don’t think that the way you intrepret “Western-view’ and “Chinese-view” of government is correct. American outlook is framed by the Constitution (writen by the Founding Fathers of this coutry), and by the Declaration of Independence. The “Right to bear arms” in America is a result of the American Constitution. To praphrase the Constitution, it says that people have the right to bear arms and overthrow the government when that government does not work in the interest of the people. The Founding Fathers took the idea of Democracy from philosophers like John Locke and the idea is as old as the Greek and Roman Empires. Americans do not distrust governments.
The Chinese peoples outlook of their government is framed by the last 30 years or so. The world outside China really does not know what it is like in China, just like the Chinese have little knowledge about the outside world. China is not like in the days of Mao; that is I think what you are trying to say.

2. Does Tibet need China? Well, to say that Tibet cannot survive if not for China maybe correct. But that is really not the question. The question is whether Tibet has the right to be a free country and it definitely does. China had no control over Tibet since the beginning of the twentieth century. Since Tibet was a free country when Mao invaded, Tibet has the right to be free again. Will America help Tibet? I really don’t know, but it is unlikely that it will support it completely. Ofcourse there will be support from the Europen countries, and other parts of the world. But America has no interests in Tibet like it has in Iraq because of its oil. America does not care about Africa and that is because it is not the Middle East, where most of the world’s oil comes from.

3. And your argument that people of color not getting high jobs in America is debatable.

Comment from Tenzin
Time: May 18, 2008, 1:59 pm

The recent earthquake in China is greatly regretable. And please remember that most Tibetans do not wish any harm on the Chinese people. Our quest is simply to get back our country.The earthquake was also a reminder of the vulnerabilty of the human species. It could have easily happened in Dharamsala, as there was a huge earthquake there resulting a great many English loosing their lives. It also reminds us of the frailty of man.

Anyways, I want to say a few things and I want to refute someof the things that I have said here previously.
I really don’t know how it is going to turn-out for Tibet as China gets more democratic and prosperous, but I am now of the view that it is not a good thing for Tibet. I thought that as China changes Tibet has a better chance but China is going to be a very powerful country in the future. It is right now the 4th biggest economy in teh world, after America, Europe and Japan. And Parag Khanna, a fellow at the New America Foundation, on the Charlie Rose show said that the world is becoming tri-polar, with America, Europe and China dominating different area of the world (also include a Russia in there). He also said that it is hard to predict what will happen in the future beyond 5-10 years. But is becoming clear to me that China is never going to let-go of Tibet. It has too many things in Tibet, and I remember asking myself earlier in this blog, what it is it in Tibet that China is unwilling to free Tibet. The primary reason that China will not entertain the idea of a free Tibet is not because it will endanger the unity of the motherland but other bigger reasons. Tibet is about the quarter of the size of China. Most of the fresh water originates in Tibet. There are a lot of uncertainties of the future that China is facing (like the rest of the world) like Climate Change, Global Economy, Fresh Water etc. that China will not make decisions that might hurt it in the future. China does not have plans to free Tibet in the future, and that is clear from their investments in infrastructure in Tibet.

I watched an interview of the Chinese Ambassador to America, and he talked a little about the recent Sino-Tibet dialogues. He said that China will not talk about a free Tibet or entertain anny other ideas like a self-rule in Tibet, which he said is tantamount to independence. The Sino-Tibet dialogues look like they will not be successful and China might really be waiting for HH the Dalai Lama to pass-away. HH the Dalai Lama is the human face to the Tibet-issue. Without him the Tibet-issue will be incoherrent and lackluster. If violent outbursts happen in Tibet when HH the Dalai Lama passes-away, Tibet might become like any other African nation that is embroiled in turmoil. A resolution to the Tibet-issue is extremely important while the Dalai Lama is alive and well. Long live HH the Dalai Lama.

I will leave it at that, today.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 20, 2008, 9:58 am

Tenzin, some of what you say is true. Yes, there are other reasons why China hold on to Tibet. I think Tibet has a large reservoir of oil and coal last time I read from National Geographic (correct me if I am wrong). And right now, China is in dire need of both resources for its development. Oil is a primary element necessary for all sorts of produce, like for example plastic. And of course as we all know, gasoline is another very important refined product from crude oil. Right now China is trying to be like America in every single way and one important aspect is its adoption of the American idea of a continental highway system for mass transportation of goods rather than relying on other means such as the railroad. In order to build highways, you need a lot of crude oil. And once they are made, you need gasoline to run the trucks. So you see what I am saying.

Right now, the Chinese government is trying very hard to secure for itself these valuable resources worldwide in order to maintain its economic growth. The United States and Japan govt. realize this and being evil as they are, they have put in every effort to lock up the last remaining oil reservoirs for themselves by threat of war to the host nations. This is why China had to deal with shady regimes such as Sudan. America then adopts this holier-than-thou attitude by condemning China for its “callousness” and “disregard for human rights” and again tries to fool its people (who are supposed to hold power) so that they fall in line with its evil policies. This is politics, and although I have always held the belief that the best man should win, I do want to point out that the United States’ politics abroad is nothing but pettiness.

But anyway, back to the Tibet issue. You are right, although right now the biggest concern of the Chinese government is national unity, resources are also a big concern. Because resources in other parts of the world are being locked up, China has to use up its own reserves. And Tibet has some significant oil reserves.

Like I said, I don’t understand why you Tibetans want to declare independence. There is no rational explanation for this which made me conclude that it must be the end result of another CIA subversion project, which are so many nowadays in China (yes and everybody over there knows). What really boggles my mind is why the CIA would do this. Do they not understand economics? Like I said, if China falls, so will the U.S. because global trade is connected now. Must be another one of Bush’s mental boo-boos.

But going back to the independence issue, Tibet have the right to be free. But what I and most Hans don’t understand is why do you Tibetans want to be free when YOU ARE FREE. Tibetans in China enjoy unfair advantages in terms of education placement, and other welfare benefits. Their education is in their own language during the free 9 year compulsory education. There is no racism (most Hans can’t even tell that a Tibetan is Tibetan because we look alike), and they have equal representation in the national assembly as well as in the local government. If you don’t believe me, go onto Yahoo or google images and type in Great Hall of the People and take a look at pictures of representatives there. You will see there are females as well as males and that some of them wear their traditional minority clothing rather than the standard diplomatic black suit. Do you see this in any of the European parliaments? Do you see this in the United States Congress or House of representatives? Since when did the Americans ever allow a native American to sit in on a congressional meeting wearing their traditional native American dress? Are there any native American senators or representatives on Capital Hill? I think 30%+ of American population is African American but how many black senators or representatives are there in congress? I don’t know that much about the composition of European govts, but I would imagine if there were equal representation of muslims in European parliaments then there would be lynchings on the streets. Truly, the western world have NO RIGHT to lecture China about oppression of minorities.

So most Han people are angered because they think the Tibetans have crossed the line this year. You have humiliated, embarrassed, and killed us after we have done so much for you people. And you have shamed us at such an important moment of China’s history. We know that there is dissent over there because of the lack of job opportunities but this is happening everywhere in China. Today, even PHD degree holders from Peking University (China’s Yale/Oxford) have problem finding jobs. This is why poorly educated, incompetent Tibetans in Tibet have such a hard time in the job market. Take my good friend Liu Zhihong for example. She graduated from Tsinghua University (China’s MIT) with a masters degree in economics and now she is a foot massager in one of Beijing’s shady health spas. This just shows how ridiculous the job competition is.

But is violent rebellion and secession the answer to these existing social problems? Why don’t you Tibetans work within the legal system? Don’t believe those idiot westerners who say that the Chinese legal system doesn’t work. It does, the problem is that most Tibetans are too uneducated to know how to use it. Moreover, China is in a formative stage right now. There are ample opportunities for people to make a positive impact on the legal system. Why don’t you Tibetans work within the system and shape it to make it more favorable to you? Think about it, in western countries, can you Tibetans change the constitution? You don’t have the voice and white westerners are not going to let you. Don’t tell me about equal rights in America. You Tibetans don’t have the population advantage like the Latinos, blacks, or the muslims. And you don’t have the money like the Jews. Westerners don’t care about Asians. They don’t care about you. They are using you as pawns in their political struggles.

But in China it is different. You do have a voice and you have real rights. Hans view you people as another member of our big family who MUST have equal voice in the government. This is the collective opinion of China’s youth. But we cannot tolerate bigoted dissent or secession.

Take this opportunity and use it well! Lobby in China when the constitution is still forming and you can get what you want within the existing legal framework and this will be accepted and probably encouraged by everyone. Think about it, you get the benefit of the resources of a new superpower and you can get what you want. Isn’t this better than killing others and then struggling from uncertainty? Isn’t this better than having Westerners treat you people as historical animals in a zoo? That is how westerners view you. As this exotic group from long long ago that is peaceful, fuzzy, and loving. Your desire for independent prosperity and economic development didn’t even enter their minds. Look at who your supporters are in the west; hippies, college dropouts, drug addicts, actors+actresses (who like you because of the grace of your culture not your desire to be economically strong), stupid spoiled rich kids. They just think you are exotic animals and your homeland an exotic zoo where they can visit whenever they are tired of their social problems. Do you want to be shamed like this?

The central government does have a lot of red tape but that is slowly changing. As you can see this year from the earthquake disaster they DO CARE about the people and that they have changed. In fact, the new propaganda nowadays from the party central is “treating people as the essence” or in other words people first. Take this time and make a positive contribution. We can all do this together.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 20, 2008, 10:05 am

Before this year’s riots most Hans don’t even know that much about Tibetans. What I don’t understand is why you Tibetan youths don’t try to educate us about your culture in the forms of books, art, and literature? These are not banned by the government. They are encouraged…really! Books on Tibetan buddhism are actually quite popular in Beijing bookstores. Many Hans are studying it nowadays in order to find solace in an intensely competitive, backstabbing world. Educate us about who you people really are instead of resorting to terrorism which simply fuel ignorance and hatred. Terrorism will only cause more violence.

When I finish school, I will try to start a movement in China to increase awareness of Tibetans and Tibetan culture. I think the government should use their surplus wealth to rebuild the Tibetan monasteries they destroyed in Tibet during the Cultural Revolution.

Peace to you all.

Comment from Zhang Yali
Time: May 20, 2008, 6:32 pm

Tibetan separatists, the recent earthquake in China took place in a region where 90% of the population are Tibetans. Look at how China helped the Tibetan victims!! Look at how the Han people weeped for them! Thousands of Hans donated their blood for their Tibetan brethren and they are still sending donations, supplies as we speak. The whole country mourned your victims for three minutes. WHERE IS THE DALAI LAMA?!! WHERE IS THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE?!! WHY ARE THEY SILENT NOW?!!!

PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS. PRAY FOR PEACE.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 20, 2008, 10:54 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLIJQ_raZY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZR_fquM5Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHBlyfgsXCs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1cttvTiEv4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j92jTXwsRQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Eu0QkDUeA&feature=related

IS THIS TRUE?!!! OH MY GOD! SERIOUSLY! IS THIS TRUE?!!

Is this what is really happening over there and how you Tibetans are treated? SPEAK THE TRUTH NOW. DON’T BE AFRAID. Rangzen, Tenzin, anybody, SPEAK THE TRUTH. Tell me, is this what is really happening?

YOU PEOPLE ARE BEING OPPRESSED BY CORRUPT OFFICIALS!!!!! THOSE ARE NOT THE OFFICIAL MANDATE FROM THE CHINESE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. THE CENTRAL STATE LEADERS MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE…

They are entirely the result of evil, corrupt, incompetent local officials who want to make extra gains. SPEAK TO ME NOW. I have family members, relatives in Beijing who are important government officials. If this is the case, I will make sure they know about it.

Comment from Tian
Time: May 20, 2008, 11:13 pm

And those corrupt local leaders WILL BE PUNISHED. In fact, they will probably receive a bullet in the back of the head. That is the current procedure for treating corruption and insubordination to the law in China for local leaders.

The sterilization cases are ENTIRELY CASES OF CORRUPTION. Under no circumstance can LOCAL OFFICIALS ALLOW DOCTORS TO REMOVE A WOMAN’S FALLOPIAN TUBE WITHOUT CONSENT. That is NOT what the law mandates. EVEN IF THEY DO, THEY MUST USE ANESTHETICS ON THE PATIENT. The corrupt officials pocketed the anesthetics money and TREATED YOU TIBETANS LIKE ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT YOU ARE DUMB!! FIGHT BACK! FIND A LAWYER! CHINESE LAW DOES NOT TOLERATE THIS.

Contact Han reporters and journalists! Not all of them are controlled by the state. LET THEM KNOW! They will publish your story! WRITE IT IN CHINESE! Post it on Chinese blogs like Sina.com or Sohu.com.

The majority of Han Chinese do not know this is happening. And 99% of Chinese youth do not know. IS THIS TRUE?!!!

Comment from Rangzen
Time: May 21, 2008, 7:05 pm

The Tibet issue: Tibetan view

As the Dalai Lama visits Britain, his director of information, Thubten Samphel, outlines the Tibetan government-in-exile’s stance on the China-Tibet issue.

Is Tibet part of China?

It is beyond dispute at various periods of its long history that Tibet came under differing degrees of foreign influence: the Mongols, the Gurkhas of Nepal, the Manchu emperors of China and the British rulers of India all played their parts. At other periods in the plateau’s history, it was Tibet which exercised power and influence over its neighbours - including China.

It would be hard to find any state in the world today that has not been subjected to foreign domination or influence at some era in its history. In Tibet’s case the degree and duration of foreign influence and interference was relatively limited.

What was Tibet like before the Communists established control in 1951?

Traditional Tibetan society - like most of its Asian contemporaries - was backward and badly in need of reforms. However, it is completely wrong to use the word “feudal” from the perspective of medieval Europe to describe traditional Tibetan society. Tibet before the invasion, in fact, was far more egalitarian than most Asian countries of that time. Hugh Richardson, who spent a total of nine years in Tibet as Britain’s last and independent India’s first representative, wrote: “Even communist writers have had to admit there was no great difference between rich and poor in [pre-1949] Tibet.”

The government-in-exile says Beijing policies are eroding Tibetan culture
What has happened since then?

An internal Chinese military document states that from 1952 to 1958, the People’s Liberation Army crushed 996 rebellions and killed over 10,000 Tibetans in the north-eastern region of Kanlho. Golog, another Amdo area, saw its population halved from an estimated 140,000 in 1956 to about 70,000 in 1964.

Referring to this area, the late Panchen Lama [the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama] told Beijing’s leaders: “If there was a film made on all the atrocities perpetrated in Qinghai Province, it would shock the viewers. In Golog area, many people were killed and their dead bodies rolled down the hill into a big ditch. The soldiers told the family members and relatives of the dead people that they should celebrate since the rebels had been wiped out. They were even forced to dance on the dead bodies.”

Who was behind a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, after which the Dalai Lama fled to India?

The ‘59 uprising against Chinese rule was a people’s movement to resist all the changes the Chinese Communist Party were introducing in Tibet.

In the 17 Point Agreement signed between Tibet and China in 1951, the Chinese Communist Party promised that in return for Tibet coming to the fold of motherland, China would not change Tibet’s traditional social system or tamper with the powers of the Dalai Lama. Both these promises were not kept, and the introduction of collectivisation and other aspects of the social system in Tibet forced the Tibetans to rise up.

Who was responsible for the recent unrest in Tibet?

In the early 1980s, a liberal policy was introduced in Tibet. This policy dismantled collectivisation and there were plans to withdraw 85% of the Chinese cadres working in the Tibet Autonomous Region. This policy was aimed at letting Tibetans govern themselves.

However, in 1994, all these liberal measures were withdrawn and a new policy called “grasping with both hands” was implemented in Tibet. This policy continued Tibet’s economic development while reimposing political repression targeted at undermining Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism. The recent widespread protests in Tibet are Tibetans’ resistance to this hardline policy.

What does the Tibetan government-in-exile think about reports by the Western media about the recent events in Tibet?

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) thinks that the international media coverage about the recent events in Tibet is the most extensive. The media reports were, by and large fair, accurate and balanced.

Comment from Tenzin
Time: May 22, 2008, 1:02 pm

Tian, I watched parts of the videos and from what I can tell, they are true. It again shows that Tibetans have no real interest under China; they want to be a free nation. China has done a lot of things in Tibet and improved living conditions there, but Tibetans in Tibet still want to be free and they want to see the Dalai Lama in Tibet. It is not really amazing to see that Tibetans want to be free. Really, no amount of material accumulation is going to make a person happy. For example, I now live in the United States, and eventhough their are a lot of material things here that I can not find in India, I still would like to live in India and be happier. To accumulate things and material possessions is one thing, to be happy and satisfied is another. Tibetans are surely happy about some of the changes, such as in infrastructure, in Tibet, but China and the Chinese people should not assume that it will ultimately make them completely happy. Tian, it is not the matter of whether China has been good to Tibet and the Tibetans, but the real issue is whether the Tibetans are happy under China.

For example, the recent earthquake in China brought out solidarity and nationalistic sentiment among the Chinese. It is a feeling that the whole of China felt and that was because the Chinese feel like they are part of a single nation and they share a heritage that dates back thousands of years. The Tibetans do not share that sentiment because Tibetans think that they share their own heritage that is distinct from that of the Chinese people. Because there is a fundamental difference between the Chinese and the Tibetans,, they can not be forced to act like they are part of the same country. Just because China has done a lot of good things in Tibet will not make all Tibetans happy because they are not happy to be under the present circumstances. And the circumstances being: under the rule of China when they consider themselves as a sovereign nation; the Dalai Lama not being allowed to enter his own country; and human rights and other violations. These are a few reasons I can think of right now.

So, Tian, as I have been saying, the real issue is not whether we should be grateful to China but the real issues are much deeper, as I have mentioned earlier. When the British ruled India, they did a lot of good in India. They built the railway lines, and brought about a lof of improvements in infrastructure, but the Indian people ultimately drove them out. They did that not because the British modernized India but it was something deeper within them that motivated them. It was their sense of being Indians, and their right of have their own country that led to their freedom movement.
China has built roads and buildings and done other things, but ultimately, deep down the Tibetans in Tibet will always yearn for a country of their own.

I hope that what I have said make some sense. I do appreciate your interest in Tibet.

And to the Tibetan people:
We have been protesting against China and doing pretty much the same things for the last 50 years. But we havenot made any chages in Tibet. Do you think that maybe it is time to do things a little differently? Back then the Cultural Revolution was

Comment from tenzin
Time: May 25, 2008, 2:11 pm

Here is a link to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Its goal is (taken from its website):

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China was created by Congress in October, 2000, with the legislative mandate to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China, and to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. It consists of nine Senators, nine members of the House of Representatives, and five senior Administration officials appointed by the President. The current Chair is Representative Sander M. Levin (D-Michigan).

http://www.cecc.gov