"Where will the next Drugchu be?"

 By Woeser

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by Woeser that was originally written for Radio Free Asia on August 10, 2010 in Beijing and posted on her blog on August 14, 2010. 

The article was written by Woeser just two days after devastating mudslides hit the area in Amdo known as Drugchu in Tibetan and Zhouqu in Chinese. At the time, Woeser was also monitoring Twitter reactions to the mudslides, a round-up and summary of which can be found on Global Voices.


Whilst international media has been calling the area by its Chinese name Zhouqu, Zhouqu is in fact the Chinese rendering of the Tibetan 'brug chu (འབུག་ཆུ་ Drugchu) meaning "Dragon River".    





On August 8, just before dawn, the most agonising landslides swept across Drugchu. Drugchu is situated in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province and, in the past, used to be an area inhabited purely by Tibetans. Today, only about a quarter of its entire population is Tibetan and it will become more and more Han Chinese: Nevertheless, as a student from Drugchu wrote in an essay: “Drugchu’s Tibetans are distributed mainly over the upper reaches of the Drugkar (Ch: Bailong) and Gongba (a tributary to Drugkar) rivers … apart from two villages on the east mountain, which are purely Han Chinese and a few places, which are inhabited by Han and Tibetans equally, most villages are occupied by Tibetans … over two thirds of the county’s area is in fact inhabited by Tibetans.”

Locally, information is being spread that the landslides were not only a result of heavy rainstorms but also of the destruction of the ecosystem by human beings. Thanks to the internet, much information regarding this can be obtained. There is no need to “jump over the Great Firewall”, all data, reports and surveys provided by the authorities deliver sufficient proof. The Drugchu County’s annals testify that this place “has always been renowned for its green hills and clear waters with the surging Bailong River elegantly crossing the entire county, graceful like a khata, lined with immense forests and crossing over deep valleys.” However, this picturesque scenery has been destroyed over the past 50 years. In 2005, official media reported that from August 1952, when the Drugchu Forest Management Bureau was founded, until 1990, the entire county’s forests were reduced by 100,000 cubic metres per year. Plants were also severely damaged and the harm caused to the ecosystem went beyond any limits.

In fact, similar situations are very common everywhere on the vast Tibetan land. For example, the rich natural resources of Kandze (Ch: Ganzi) County forest,  declared the number one out of all forests in the whole of China, and which, apart from some areas that were used by locals or for temple buildings, has always been self-sustaining and untouched. After 1950, large-scale tree-felling activities started, some organised, and some at random; it ended up in indiscriminate and excessive deforestation to the extent that, as it was the case in the Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County, forests were completely exhausted with only bald hillsides left and the county’s Forest Management Bureau had to be disbanded. The consequences of this excessive felling of trees could be felt in the late 1990s when a massive flood occurred in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This made the Chinese government pass a series of policies according to the maxim: “Better late than never”.

However, in recent years, under the "Great Western Development Programme” and in line with the call for “great economic development”, governments in all regions have continued to plunder natural resources; they say that it is in order to stimulate the GDP, but in actual fact this just serves as a cover for the authorities’ corrupt and greedy behaviour. A county such as Drugchu, with just over only 130,000 inhabitants and a few more than 20 villages, has endured 47 hydropower development programmes since 2003 and is home to 15 hydropower stations with another 14 currently being installed; it is hard to imagine at what range this many hydropower stations will be erected in the turbulent waves of the river. Furthermore, a fellow netizen, who has actually been to Drugchu, highlighted the damage caused by mining activities in the area and said that due to many years of gold mining, the hillsides are deforested leaving only grey and black soil, the rivers and creeks are full of gold mining equipment and in the river runs grey and black mud.

However, according to the Chinese authorities, the landslides were a natural disaster; this is the same reason that is always given in situations of disaster, man-made calamities are never admitted or recognised. Yet, there are a few experts who concluded that the severe landslides were in fact caused by excessive deforestation as well as by the building of large-scale irrigation works, increasing the likelihood of severe ecological disasters. Also, shortcomings in the urban planning of the county capital contributed to the disaster. Yin Yueping, a famous specialist for the prevention of ecological disasters, already said, in light of the heavy land- and mudslides that occurred in Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding) two years ago, that “when I went to the Kandze County, I asked the local county head why he would install that many hydropower stations as they would bring about many problems, including the continuous landslides in the county capital. He answered that by erecting this many hydroelectric stations, his yearly tax revenues amounted to 400 million...” The geologist, Yang Liankang bluntly says, “China’s need for hydropower has not yet exceeded the need for human life.”

I have never actually been to Drugchu myself but I have seen surrounding areas similar in terms of geography and climate and also, I have lived in the Kham area for many years, so this naturally makes me think that this time this engulfing landslide rushing down like a giant dragon hit Drugchu but where will it be next? An article found through Twitter made me really feel uncomfortable: “During the decades before the 1980s, almost the entire indigenous forests of the Muli area were destroyed; in the following years, gold diggers wreaked havoc like rats; now in the current century, it is the installation of hydropower stations. The formerly quiet, graceful and peaceful Shambhala has turned into a noisy, vulgar and savage place. The disaster in Drugchu is the overture for Muli.” The names of many familiar Tibetan places are one by one passing in front of my eyes; I cannot help but shudder all over.

Beijing, August 10, 2010


Online Profile of Tibetan Businessman Dorje Tashi, Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

High Peaks Pure Earth has been following the case of high-profile Tibetan businessman Dorje Tashi. According to international media reports, Dorje Tashi was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 26, 2010, after a three-day trial by the Lhasa Municipality Intermediate People's Court.


Despite Dorje Tashi's arrest having taken place sometime after the protests in Lhasa in March 2008, this has been the first information about his case to have reached the media. High Peaks Pure Earth has obtained these photos of Dorje Tashi that were taken in Beijing in 2005:

Dorje Tashi in Beijing, 2005 Photo credit High Peaks Pure Earth

Dorje Tashi in Beijing, 2005 Photo credit High Peaks Pure Earth

An indication of Dorje Tashi's high-profile status is his inclusion in the "People" section of the most popular Tibetan website TibetCul, in the category listing prominent contemporary Tibetans in Tibet. He is listed under the sub-category titled "Business Elite" and shares a place in the sub-category alongside ten other Tibetans in the business community, including Karma Samdrup, recently sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Below is a translation of the online profile that was posted on TibetCul on November 11, 2006.

TibetCul Profile of Dorje Tashi

Awarded the prestigious Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee and regional government’s "Outstanding Private Business Award", Shigatse Prefecture’s "Poverty Alleviation Special Contribution Award", Gansu Provincial Committee and provincial government's "Contribution to the Public Economy Development of Gannan Award" for Gannan Prefecture, and appointed Honorary Chancellor of Jianhua Vocational High School in Nanchong City in Sichuan Province in June 2004. On May 25, 2005, he was given Shigatse Prefecture’s Communist Youth League Committee "Youth Civilization" Individual Achievement Award, awarded every 10 years. The Manasarovar Hotel was awarded the "Youth Civilization" Group Achievement Award, awarded every 10 years.

Dorje Tashi vowed to work for the community, to contribute to the economic development of Tibet and, through his tireless efforts, established the Tibet Manasarovar Group (in Chinese, the Tibet Shenhu Group). The company consists of Lhasa Manasarovar Asian Hotel (3 Star), Manasarovar Hotel (3 Star), a travel agency, Manasarovar Business Hotel (4 Star), Shigatse Oasis Real Estate Development Company and Manasarovar Real Estate Development Company. The unemployed status of more than 780 local unemployed people was resolved and they brought in profits of over 2.26 million Yuan a year; over 4.6 million Yuan was handed out in staff salaries, and training was given to a group of young Tibetans to become hotel managers. At the same time as developing business enterprises, Dorje Tashi was always concerned about people's suffering, and since its inception the company has made several tens of thousands in cash donations for poverty and disaster relief, and the staff have often visited the widowed and elderly or those living alone. He has been active in social welfare undertakings and from 2002 until the present, he has given a generous allowance to the children of poor workers in Lhasa Chengguan district's Tsomonling nursery school.

In 2004, the Shigatse Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference activity centre  for veteran cadres was not doing well, and after Dorje Tashi found out about this he gave them several tens of thousands to improve the conditions for their activities. In 2004, he made contributions of several tens of thousands during the Communist Youth League of Shigatse Prefectural Committee's "Three To The Rural Areas" campaign. On July 5, 2004, when he learned of the 7.6 earthquake in Drongba County, Shigatse Prefecture, he immediately appealed to the company's managers and employees for contributions. The company made contributions of several tens of thousands and his personal contributions were several tens of thousands, and the collection activities in Shigatse Prefecture had the vigourous support of the Prefectural Party Committee. When Manasarovar Hotel was being constructed in 2001, Shigatse Prefecture suffered from floods, and he immediately organised his construction workers to become flood disaster relief workers and join the front line. Money was scarce in these efforts and he donated generously tens of thousands. In 2002, following an appeal for donations by the municipal committee for poverty and disaster relief, his personal contributions amounted to several tens of thousands, Manasarovar Hotel made several tens of thousands in donations and gave in-kind donations of more than 240 items. In November 2003, following the municipal government's appeal for contributions to the rural poor, he gave several tens of thousands as a private donation, the highest for a Party member. Dorje Tashi's tireless love of learning combined with his intelligence created his forward-looking, visionary enterprises.

ART OF RESISTANCE: The Tibet Movement Post-2008, August 28th in Toronto!

Students for a Free Tibet Canada is excited to invite you to a special event: ART OF RESISTANCE: The Tibet Movement Post-2008 on Saturday, August 28th in Toronto!

Please join all of us at SFT Canada for a unique opportunity to hear from two prominent leaders in the Tibet movement today – SFT International’s Executive Director, Tenzin Dorjee (Tendor) and the Tibet Action Institute’s Director, Lhadon Tethong (SFT’s former Executive Director) – about the current state of the Tibetan freedom struggle and where it is heading.

The evening will also include live entertainment by Tibetan artists, delicious Tibetan food and drinks, and dancing!

DATE: Saturday, August 28th, 2010

LOCATION: Lithuanian Hall, 1573 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON

PROGRAM:
4:00pm – 6:00pm (Doors open at 3:30pm): Talk by Lhadon and Tendor (FREE)
7:00pm – 2am (Doors open at 6pm): Political theatre performance, live concert, dinner, dancing and more! (TICKETED)

*Advance tickets are $20 and $25 at the door.
*Please note, advance tickets can be purchased for the discount rate of 5 tickets for the price of 4.

Get your tickets now!

Tickets

1 ticket $20.00 2 tickets $40.00 3 tickets $60.00 4 tickets $80.00 5 tickets $80.00 6 tickets $100.00

Tickets can also be purchased at the following locations in Toronto:

- Tibet Kitchen
- Om Restaurant
- Tibet Emporium
- Himalayan Cafe
- Le Tibet
- Tsampa Cafe
- Shangrila Restaurant

All funds raised will go directly to helping SFT Canada’s work for Tibet!

"If Tibetans Took To The Streets For The Tibetan Language" 
By Woeser

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by Woeser that was originally written for Radio Free Asia on July 28, 2010 in Beijing and posted on her blog on August 5, 2010. The blogpost is a commentary on the recent mass protests in the Chinese province of Guangdong against proposals for the main provincial TV Channel to broadcast primarily in Mandarin and not in Cantonese. The decline of the Tibetan language has long been a much discussed issue in the Tibetan blogosphere and regular readers will remember previous posts on this issue as well as the video posted on High Peaks Pure Earth titled "Let's All Speak in Pure Tibetan". Woeser reflects on the language policies of the Chinese government, implications of the protests for Tibetans and highlights the marginalisation of ethnic minority languages in China. Woeser also references Tashi Tsering, a prominent figure of modern Tibetan history. For those interested in finding out more about his life, here is a link to his autobiography on Amazon: The Struggle for Modern Tibet: The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering We “ethnic minorities” took notice of thousands of Cantonese people recently taking to the streets fighting for their language, a spectacle that ended peacefully. Uyghurs have posted numerous articles about this on the internet; the blogs on TibetCul were also full of articles titled “Maybe the Spanish language issue has inspired the Chinese”, thought-provokingly stating: when the past Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, banned Catalonian people from using their own language, he created a scar that would not easily heal. At this year’s football World Cup, we were able to see Catalonian flags in the stadiums thereby carrying the language dispute going on inside Spain to the outside world. This should be taken as a warning for the Chinese to avoid creating splittism by subjugating and suppressing local dialects; instead they should take this advice and “think about making Cantonese, Minan, Hakka, Tibetan and Uyghur dialects official Chinese languages, thus strengthening different people’s sense of belonging to China.” (more...)

Nepal Repatriates 3 Tibetans to Tibet, Protest Planned in Toronto

Nepal Repatriates Tibetans to China, Protest Planned in Toronto

"Going Home" By Dolkar Tso

Screenshot of Dolkar Tso's 5th Blog

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by Dolkar Tso which was posted on her blog on July 21, 2010. Dolkar Tso is the wife of businessman, environmentalist and philanthropist Karma Samdrup, sentenced to 15 years in prison on June 24, 2010 in Xinjiang on charges of alleged "grave-robbing".

Dolkar Tso started blogging in June 2010 during her husband's trial, providing a personal insight into the case. Her blogs, hosted on Chinese site Sohu.com, have been repeatedly closed down and she is currently on her 5th blog.

Whilst the case of Karma Samdrup and his imprisoned brothers Rinchen Samdrup and Chime Namgyal fades out of the news, Dolkar Tso's blogpost is a portrait of a distressed woman trying to imagine how best to carry on for the sake of the family. The blogpost starts with the summer, usually the time of the year when the family would leave the city of Xining and go home to the grasslands. The English translation reflects the original Chinese language nostalgic internal monologue style and confused grammar.

Follow this link to see all posts by Dolkar Tso that High Peaks Pure Earth has translated to date.

Dolkar Tso and Karma Samdrup's daughters

My favourite part of the year is going home, the children getting excited before their exams and starting to think about seeing their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, the fresh air, green grass and blue sky... My children, the beautiful scenery of home may still be as tranquil as it was before but something in the air has changed, your mother really doesn't want you to be aware of these changes or to see them.

Summer was such a wonderful time, my husband would often come back with us to the grasslands of Yushu, we would breathe in the scent of various herbs, see black pearl-like yaks and white cloud-like sheep. When the tents were up, we would see the neighbours in far off tents, we would smile at each other, looking up to the skies, red faced under the sun with white teeth. Children who are born and grew up on the grasslands are kind-hearted and sincere. My husband loved to take photos of us, that was our best and happiest time.


Kids are still playing and noisily running around the public square in Xining, among these kids, one experienced the major earthquake in April, witnessed destruction and death, lost his mother; two of them haven't see their father for half a year and perhaps have to wait fourteen and a half more years. The boy who lost his mother still doesn't know what death means; my two girls whose father suffered injustice still don't know what separation means. The younger daughter once wrote in her essay "Secret" that she wants to marry the same kind of man as her kind, big and tall father when she grows up. If this is true that the fifteen years have to be used to prove my husband's innocence, a seemingly endless amount of time is needed to show that this was a miscarriage of justice, would my daughters still remember what their father looks like? The time of their youth will be spent without a father, at the time when they begin to think about getting married, will the shadow of their father not appear in their partners?

This kind of thing really makes me feel pain. But what else can I think about? With parents on the one hand, I have to force myself to pretend I am strong enough to take the pain. With the children on the other hand, I can only pretend that nothing has happened. But no one can control my thoughts, not even myself. My husband's figure, which has become so slight, always appears in front of my eyes, I hear him describing his experiences of torture, this time the world was able to admire his courage and steadfastness but I can not get rid of the overlapping images in my mind of the tall and thin physique of my husband. It was like films and documentaries I had seen, images of Nazi concentration camps actually appeared in my mind.

Never did I dream that these misfortunes would happen. In a sound legal system, I never thought my husband would face these grievances. If he is not bogged down by this misfortune, he will still pursue the protection of culture and the environment and continue to study wall paintings, stone carvings, ancient philosophy, and the connection between ancient life philosophy and current environmental disasters, he will miss his two lovely daughters and simple and honest chats with his friends; the happiness of today also carries with it the feelings of yesterday, my quiet life to his surprise has been hijacked by "aliens"[1].

How is he now? Is he starving? Is he being beaten again? Is he subject to abuse? Nobody dares to think of these things. The parents are of benign countenance, family members are neither obsequious nor arrogant. They are on my side by comforting me that there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome and no time that would stand still as long as we adhere to our original minds and do not lose ourselves. My friends say the most valuable thing is: he is still himself, your husband will not be changed.

Good and evil stand together, the contrast between black and white is so obvious. The world is always a mixed blessing, no one knows what tomorrow will look like, the evil of all will collapse, sooner or later; insist on the good but encountering difficulties is Buddhist practice in itself.

[1] This is a reference to a "funny" message left by Sohu.com when a blog is deleted that the blog has been "abducted by aliens".

SFT UK at the UK’s Biggest Student Festival!

Wales has many positive qualities, but its weather isn’t usually one of them. So I’m glad to say that stereotype didn’t hold true when we headed to Pembrey in Carmarthenshire for Beach Break Live, the UK’s biggest student festival. The sun shone down on our little stall all week making our time there all the better.

We went with two aims in mind – to sell our lovely range or merchandise and to spread the word about SFT UK’s fantastic work, hopefully getting lots of new people involved. Whilst our sales could have been better, we did meet lots of enthusiastic people and almost everyone that stopped at our stall signed our petition to free Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen or joined our email list or stayed for a chat about what we do. Some of them were keen to start campaigning at their universities and colleges and one of them, Sophie, is starting a new SFT group at the University of Plymouth this year and left with a box load of leaflets, postcards and other great stuff to get the group off to a flying start. Watch this space to see how she gets on.

Whilst we worked hard making our stall the most beautiful on site and keeping it open for over 12 hours a day, there was still time for fun and the week was full of memorable moments. From the impromptu yoga class outside our stall, to dancing at the Granny Gaff, from our neighbours at On Your Beach accidentally making tea with vodka, to a barbeque on the beach at sunset.

Massive thanks go to our volunteers Fenya, Sonam, Gabby, Lizzie and Pete who were tireless throughout the week; we really could not have done it without you guys.

To find out more of our pictures click here

photos & report prepared by Ben Martin

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