Protests in Tibet | Tibet Will Be Free

China: a 19th Century power in a 21st Century world

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 23, 2008 in China, China Watch, Protests in Tibet | 2 comments

Robert Kagan had a good op-ed in the Washington Post about how China’s brutal crackdown in Tibet caused its “mask” to slip, exposing it for the anachronistic dictatorship that it is.

China can go for great stretches these days looking like the model of a postmodern, 21st-century power. [...] But occasionally the mask slips, and the other side of China is revealed. For China is also a 19th-century power, filled with nationalist pride, ambitions and resentments; consumed with questions of territorial sovereignty; hanging on repressively to old conquered lands in its interior; and threatening war against a small island country off its coast.

This is the aspect of China that does not seem to change, despite our liberal progressive conviction that it must. [...] Today this all looks like so much wishful thinking — self-interested wishful thinking, to be sure, since, according to the theory, China would get democratic while Western business executives got rich. Now it looks as if the richer a country gets, whether China or Russia, the easier it may be for autocrats to hold on to power. [...] More money pays for armed forces and internal security forces that can be pointed inward at Tibet and outward at Taiwan. And the lure of more money keeps a commerce-minded world from protesting too loudly when things get rough.

Kagan also rightly points out that China treats the pro-independence movement in Tibet in a decidedly retrograde manner. Other countries deal with independence movements, but they do not shoot unarmed protesters. China’s violent reaction in Tibet shows that China is a 19th century empire pretending to fit into a 21st century world, where self-determination and respect for all peoples are basic norms.

China, after all, is not the only country dealing with restless, independence-minded peoples. In Europe, all kinds of subnational movements aspire to greater autonomy or even independence from their national governments, and with less justification than Tibet or Taiwan: the Catalans in Spain, for instance, or the Flemish in Belgium, or even the Scots in the United Kingdom. Yet no war threatens in Barcelona, no troops are sent to Antwerp and no one clears the international press out of Edinburgh. But that is the difference between a 21st-century postmodern mentality and a nation still fighting battles for empire and prestige left over from a distant past.

China wanted the Beijing Olympics to be its great “coming out party.” It wanted to show the world how advanced it is. Yet the Chinese government’s repression in Tibet has spoiled all of that. What is happening in Tibet is the fault of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people, but it reflects badly on the entire Chinese nation. If I were a Chinese citizen, I would not be happy with my government right now. 中国政府是咎由自取发生什么事，在西藏。中国人民是没有责任。但中国政府的行动带来了耻辱，给整个中华民族。中国人民必须对此不满，他们的政府的行动。

Thai Olympic torchbearer withdraws to protest China’s crackdown in Tibet

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 23, 2008 in China, Protests in Tibet | 5 comments

Thai Olympic torchbearer Narisa Chakrabongse showed true moral conviction by withdrawing in protest over the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown in Tibet.

To Ms. Narisa Chakrabongse: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are a hero to the Tibetan people.

From the IHT:

One of Thailand’s representatives in the Olympic torch relay has withdrawn in protest over China’s recent crackdown on protesters in Tibet, a statement said Sunday.

Narisa Chakrabongse — one of the country’s six torchbearers — said in an open letter that she decided against taking part in the relay to “send a strong message to China that the world community could not accept its actions.”[...]

“The slaying of the Tibetans … is an outright violation of human rights,” Narisa wrote. “It happened two weeks before the Olympic torch leaves Athens and five months before the Olympic Games. This reflects the Chinese government’s negligence of world sentiment.”

This is only the start of the global backlash against the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown in Tibet. There will absolutely be much more to come, among athletes, spectators, Tibetan activists protesting in Beijing, and at the possible boycott of the opening ceremonies.

The Chinese people should be outraged at their government. Their government’s actions in Tibet are bringing shame and condemnation on the Chinese nation. Until Tibet is free, this will continue. 中国人民应该表示愤慨，中国政府。中国政府的行动在西藏带来耻辱，并谴责对中华民族。直至西藏是独立的，这将继续下去。

Text of Chinese intellectuals’ letter to Chinese government

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 22, 2008 in China, China Watch, Protests in Tibet | 1 comment

Twelve Suggestions for Dealing with the Tibetan Situation by Some Chinese Intellectuals

1. At present the one-sided propaganda of the official Chinese media is having the effect of stirring up inter-ethnic animosity and aggravating an already tense situation. This is extremely detrimental to the long-term goal of safeguarding national unity. We call for such propaganda to be stopped.

2. We support the Dalai Lama‚s appeal for peace, and hope that the ethnic conflict can be dealt with according to the principles of goodwill, peace, and non-violence. We condemn any violent act against innocent people, strongly urge the Chinese government to stop the violent suppression, and appeal to the Tibetan people likewise not to engage in violent activities.

3. The Chinese government claims that „there is sufficient evidence to prove this incident was organized, premeditated, and meticulously orchestrated by the Dalai clique.” We hope that the government will show proof of this. In order to change the international community‚s negative view and distrustful attitude, we also suggest that the government invite the United Nation‚s Commission on Human Rights to carry out an independent investigation of the evidence, the course of the incident, the number of casualties, etc.

4. In our opinion, such Cultural-Revolution-like language as „the Dalai Lama is a jackal in Buddhist monk‚s robes and an evil spirit with a human face and the heart of a beast ‰ used by the Chinese Communist Party leadership in the Tibet Autonomous Region is of no help in easing the situation, nor is it beneficial to the Chinese government‚s image. As the Chinese government is committed to integrating into the international community, we maintain that it should display a style of governing that conforms to the standards of modern civilization.

(more…)

Chinese intellectuals urge Beijing to re-think Tibet policy

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 22, 2008 in China, China Watch, Protests in Tibet | 0 comments

In a promising sign, the Washington Post reports that a group of Chinese intellectuals are asking Beijing to re-think its counterproductive Tibet policy (CLICK HERE FOR TEXT OF LETTER).

This is heartening, because currently, China is taking a very hard-line approach. As with China’s conflicts with Taiwan, Japan and the U.S., the Chinese government is stirring up Chinese xenophobia and nationalism, which unleashes emotions that are very damaging, dangerous, and difficult to control.

Beijing, for example, goes on tirades against the “Dalai clique” and blankets the domestic news with reports of Tibetan violence against Chinese (mentioning nothing of Chinese troops shooting unarmed Tibetans) — specifically designed to incite ethnic hatred as well as support for Beijing’s policies in Tibet.

This is the dangerous road of petty dictators like Slobodan Milosevic, who have to rely on xenophobia and nationalism rather than democratic legitimacy. Hopefully, China will pull back from this precipice.

The Tibet movement is not anti-Chinese, but anti the Chinese government’s violence occupation of Tibet. Considering the five decades of occupation, and all the suffering that the Tibetan people have gone through, the Dalai Lama has been able to keep the Tibet movement remarkably nonviolent. Certainly we do not see suicide bombers like with the Tamils and Palestinians.

Given this background, it is a hopeful sign that some Chinese are asking their government to re-evaluate its policy in Tibet.

The Washington Post’s report is here:

A group of 30 Chinese intellectuals appealed to the Chinese government on Saturday to admit that its policy of crushing dissent in Tibet and blaming the ensuing violence on the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was failing.

“The one-sided propaganda of the official Chinese media is having the effect of stirring up inter-ethnic animosity and aggravating an already tense situation,” the group said in an open letter posted on Boxun.com, a Web site for overseas Chinese. It was the first time a Chinese group had publicly urged the country’s leaders to re-think their response to two weeks of deadly protests in Tibetan areas across western China. [...]

The Web petition offers 12 suggestions for ways to handle the situation, including allowing independent media access to conflict areas. “Only by adopting an open attitude can we turn around the international community’s distrust of our government,” it said.

The petition asks the government to protect freedom of speech and worship, “thereby allowing the Tibetan people fully to express their grievances and hopes, and permitting citizens of all nationalities freely to criticize and make suggestions regarding the government’s nationality policies.”

It also urges the government to open a new dialogue with the Dalai Lama or otherwise reveal the evidence it has to back up charges that the violence was a plot by him to split Tibet from China.

China’s “Golden Shield” surveillance technology in Tibet

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 21, 2008 in China, China Watch, Protests in Tibet, Technology | 0 comments

We just wrote that China just disclosed photos of its “most wanted” list in Tibet. What we’re seeing is China’s brand-new “Golden Shield” surveillance technology at work.

Golden Shield is “a database-driven remote surveillance system – offering immediate access to records on every citizen in China, while linking to vast networks of cameras designed to increase police efficiency.”

According to the Canadian group Rights and Democracy, Western companies have collaborated with China to implement technologies like:

speech recognition technology for automated surveillance of telephone conversations;
the integration of face recognition and voice recognition technology
smart cards for all citizens which can be scanned without the owner’s knowledge
closed-circuit television to monitor public spaces

What this means for Tibetans is that they are under more surveillance than ever. Now China can systematically arrest and torture any Tibetans even remotely involved in the pro-independence demonstrations; away from cameras, in the middle of the night, behind prison walls. A truly chilling prospect, brought to you by the Western companies named in the R&D report.

(Below: photos of new surveillance cameras in Lhasa, circa 2007 (circled in red) in 1) Barkhor market, 2) in the square in front of the Potala Palace, and 3) in the square in front of the Jokhang Cathedral. Photo credits: SFT.)

International Commission of Jurists supports Tibet inquiry

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 21, 2008 in Protests in Tibet | 0 comments

The Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists is calling on China “to permit the Tibetan people to demonstrate peacefully” and also called for “an international investigation into serious allegations that the Chinese security forces have carried out human rights violations during the recent protests in Lhasa and other locations.”

The International Commission of Jurists is dedicated to the primacy, coherence and implementation of international law and principles that advance human rights. The Commission was founded in Berlin in 1952 and its membership is composed of sixty eminent jurists who are representatives of the different legal systems of the world.

China shoots Tibetans, itself in foot

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 21, 2008 in China, Protests in Tibet | Comments Off

By carrying out its bloody crackdown in Tibet, China may have just shot itself in the foot in Taiwan.

People in Taiwan are rightly appalled at the the Chinese government’s harsh response to the pro-independence protests in Tibet. And they are taking a more skeptical look at Beijing’s favored candidate, Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT, who is advocating closer ties with Beijing.

Apparently, the Chinese government showing its vicious side in Tibet is causing some Taiwanese to feel that more formal independence for Taiwan might just be the island’s best protection against becoming a “second Tibet.”

Frankly, we can’t say we blame them.

Reports the BBC: KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou at a rally in Taipei county on 21 March 2008

Taiwan’s presidential rivals have been campaigning hard ahead of elections on Saturday, in which the Tibetan protests have become a key issue.

Frank Hsieh, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, faces a tough battle against Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang.

Both men advocate closer economic ties with China, but after the protests both have spoken out against Beijing.

Mr Ma mooted an Olympic boycott while Mr Hsieh warned that his rival could make Taiwan a “second Tibet”. [...]

Earlier this week [Mr. Ma] talked of a possible Olympic boycott if the situation in Tibet deteriorated, but on Friday he said he would not “push the issue to the extreme”.

The BBC’s Caroline Gluck, in Taipei, says it is not clear what impact events in Tibet will have on the electorate.

Most have already made up their minds, our correspondent says, but the issue could sway the undecided voters.

China’s ally North Korea denounces Tibetans

Posted by Lhasa Rising on Mar 21, 2008 in China, Protests in Tibet | 0 comments

From the AP:

China’s communist ally North Korea is criticizing the recent protests in Tibet as an attempt to disrupt the Beijing Olympics.

The North’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it “strongly denounces the unsavory elements” seeking Tibetan independence. The North, which relies on China for food and energy aid, added that it supports the Chinese government’s efforts to maintain stability and rule of law.

Well, considering that anything North Korea’s totalitarian government opposes is likely to be a good thing, we should count that as a vote in favor of the Tibetans.