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Tibet should never be a "lost cause" - 2007/11/07 16:44There is a tendency to give up on efforts that are perceived as “lost causes”. One of them is Tibet's plight under Chinese rule. Even the Dalai Lama, as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, has given up on his people’s wishes for independence and is taking a very soft stance in favor of some sort of autonomy under Chinese political and military rule.
The Dalai Lama is thus trying desperately to save the cultural heritage and identity of his people. But the Chinese rulers do not even want to concede on that. The resulting repression of any kind of Tibetan self expression is ruthless.
Chinese rulers go to such extremist actions as the recent preposterous law that would sanction and punish any Dalai Lama that dares to reincarnate within China’s boundaries (wich, of course, includes Tibet).
There is a long list of abuses, but it is good to be specific by mentioning some particular cases instead of relying on the statistics only, no matter how sad and cruel they are.
Let us remember the case of Ngawang Sangdroid. She was imprisoned as a 13-year-old nun, acused of praying at a cultural festival for the long life of the Dalai Lama. She was barred to return to her nunnery upon her release, and two years later was arrested again and sentenced to three years. She shares prison cells with 13 other nuns.
Let us remember the case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, sentenced to death for “splittism”. His sentence was later commuted to life in prison.
Ringzin Wangyal was also sentenced to Life imprisonment because he organized a protest against the celebration of Tibet’s annexation by China. He died in custody.
Let us also remember the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, taken into custody at age of six. He has disappeared from public sight.
Phuntsog Wangyal, one of the highest ranking Tibetans allowed in the Chinese government spent 18 years in solitary confinement. His entire family suffered as well – his wife died, persecuted and tormented, all of his children were imprisoned, his brother was actually in the same prison with him but neither of them knew it and his father died in abandon. Today he is 84-years-old, and is forced to live in Beijing, far from his land. He has been able to express his wish for a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Chinese rulers.
Most recently, among many other abuses, scores of Tibetans has been jailed and tortured for peacefully displaying the banned old Tibet's flag. In addition, a Tibetan teacher has been jailed for “espionage” charges and for “endangering state security” because of his unpublished work titled “The Restless Himalayas”. He was able to smuggle an appeal to the United Nations claiming that “they think that what I wrote about nature and geography was also connected to Tibetan independence. But the book does not justify such a sentence by itself. Therefore, they added the accusation of espionage”.
The free World is shocked by the severity and extremism of the sentences that Tibetans face – and even more astonished to learn of how simple and inoffensive are their crimes. The Chinese authorities obstruct the flow of information to the outside world and often provide incomplete and deceptive reports to international requests.
Those of us who wish to keep informed about the Tibetan plight and how to help them, may visit www.savetibet.org. Anything anyone can do to draw attention to Tibet will help. Do not think that actions, initiatives or help you undertake are too small to make a difference.
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Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas
Admin
Posts: 319
Re:Tibet should never be a "lost cause" - 2008/03/21 13:58Five months after this post was originally published, we are witnessing a shameful and cruel repression of Tibetans by heavily armed Chinese troops. The age of communications allows us to see the naked truth of colonialist oppression in that part of the World. Hundreds of deaths and injured are counted among protesters asking for more freedom.
Contrary to the repeated claims of Chinese authorities, the Dalai Lama does not seek separation from China, but religious and cultural autonomy. This autonomy is fundamental to the preservation of the ancient Tibetan heritage. The Dalai Lama has been quite clear for many years that Tibetans no longer demand independence but just basic freedoms that would allow them to nurture their own culture and beliefs.
Contrary to more repeated claims of Chinese authorities, the tragic incidents of the last few days did not originate in violent demonstrations and the violent repression cannot be justified as an act of “self-defense”. Tibetan monks and Buddhists are not violent people. It all started with peaceful demonstrations asking for justice and more freedom on the 50th Anniversary of Chinese occupation of their homeland. They were violently repressed and many monks and Tibetan citizens thrown into jails.
In the following days, the abuse against demonstrators created a heated reaction of rage. Nevertheless, in spite of their rage, demonstrators and victims were all unarmed. Once again, 50 years latter, Tibetans were helpless facing their Chinese military oppressors. Their ways were clearly illustrated by one of their many victims: "When they were torturing us it was literally as if they were trying to kill us. Prison guards would hit and beat with all their strength. Once after we all shouted 'Long live the Dalai Lama' they started to kick and beat us so much that the ground was covered in blood." - Ngawang Sangdrol, 28, paroled in 2002 after 11 years in prison for peaceful protests
Once again the World is turning their back to their plight.
No one of the World leaders dare to even think about sanctions to the Olympic Games –to be held this year in Beijing– as a soft option to exert some pressure on Chinese authorities in a global move demanding leniency and moderation on their part. Sports, business and entertainment are more important to them than basic human rights for Tibetans.
ParticipatoryDemocracy.net supports basic human rights for Tibetans and their right to self-determination. We have repeatedly denounced Chinese abuses and human rights violations from our PARTICIPATIVE FORUM and from many of our other WEB pages.
We invite all readers to actively express your views on these tragic events in this and other public forums and media. World public opinion might sometimes be very effective in restraining oppression. The fact that 26 Nobel Laureates just condemned China's crackdown on Tibet is a hopeful start.
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Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas
Admin
Posts: 319
Re:Tibet should never be a "lost cause" - 2008/05/19 17:52Contrary to the propaganda campaign promoted by the Chinese government accusing the Dalai Lama and his followers of being “aggressive separatists” and “terrorists”, the Tibetan institutions in exile and their spiritual leader once and again preach and practice a pacific and conciliatory approach to relieve their plight within a reasonable and humanitarian solution in agreement with Chinese political and territorial ambitions.
Allow me to share with all of you the latest communication distributed by International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), a non governmental organization (ONG) devoted to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet, under the spiritual guidance of the Dalai Lama, openly proclaiming their believe that there must be a political solution based on direct dialog between representatives of the spiritual leader of Tibetans and of the People’s Republic of China.
In their recent letter, ICT informs the rest of the World about the scores of Tibetans that have been killed, the thousands detained and the constant repression of their people all along 50 years of occupation.
However, in a show of peaceful advocacy and with a most conciliatory approach, this is what they have to say:
“China finds itself in a difficult situation. As host of the Olympic Games this summer, they promised to boost the development of «democracy and human rights». The Chinese government has been working hard to whitewash any blemishes on its national reputation; it is eager to present a friendly and reasonable face to the world in the hopes that all nations will politely overlook repressive policies in Tibet.
Now the people of the World have seen peaceful Tibetan protests led by monks come under fire by Chinese police and the military. We’ve learned of the murder of marchers and the arrest of thousands of Tibetans, who are asking for basic rights such as the freedom to pray for the health of the Dalai Lama. Reporters and western visitors were expelled from Tibet so that none could tell the truth of what went on as China crushed the protests.
This is hardly the spirit of brotherhood and friendship that China wishes to present to the world.
The ICT has determined our best course of action – and how best our supporters like you can help. His Holiness the Dalai Lama continues to see the Games as an opportunity to cement friendships, and doesn’t want the Chinese people to suffer for the actions of its government. So we do not advocate a boycott of the Games.”
The emphasis on the last two sentences is ours. But they go one step ahead on their conciliatory remarks further down in their letter:
“ICT is calling on the International Olympic Committee to remind the Chinese government that their behaviour is in flagrant contradiction of the Olympic spirit.
We also believe that this is a critical time to build bridges with the Chinese and to make sure they know what the Daial Lama stands for – and what he does not. …
The Olympic Games bring the nations of the world together in peace. The spirit of honest athletic competition and national pride bring out the best in all of us. It would be a wonderful time to celebrate a new policy of understanding and equality in China – and as long as we continue to work together, we can make that a reality,”
Can we honestly say that this is a call from terrorists or even from a separatist group?
The letter we received was circulated in the United States and the ICT is asking all recipients to write to their representatives and to the President in support of the Tibetan people. However, this applies as well to anyone else in any democratic country in the rest of the World. That is the least we can do for this people in need: Ask the government officials in your country to do something.
Since the beginning of the incidents involving the march of the Olympic torch through many countries on its way to Beijing, ParticipatoryDemocracy.net conducted a non-scientific poll (only one vote per person allowed) available to all visitors to the Home page of our site. It is interesting to see how voters chose among five answers to this question: What would the most effective answer be to violations of human rights in China? We were careful not to ask “in Tibet?” so as not to give the impression of a "separatist" bias. So far the results are as follows:
27,8% China should be denounced before the international organizations 25,9% Chinese government should suffer political and diplomatic sanctions 18,5% Victims should receive humanitarian help and political backing 16,7% Interference in the internal affairs of China should be avoided 11,1% Boycott to the Olympic Games (as a sporting event) should be promoted
This poll is in Spanish only, but it is open to all and we invite those interested in this issue to express their preference with their vote. Readers may also elaborate your arguments (in English and/or Spanish) posting your views in this FORUM or with your "reply" to this post.
One thing is clear from these results so far – that the majority opts for peaceful and conciliatory moves. About 1 in 4 advocate stronger measures, such as sanctions. And only 11% would do something to hurt the Olympic spirit. Therefore, most people are not far from the approach Tibetan leaders want to follow on this issue. It remains up to each one of us to do something.
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Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas
Admin
Posts: 319
Re:Tibet should never be a "lost cause" - 2008/07/02 19:04The final results in our poll regarding What would the most effective answer be to violations of human rights in China? were as follows:
27,0% Chinese government should suffer political and diplomatic sanctions 25,8% China should be denounced before the international organizations 20,2% Victims should receive humanitarian help and political backing 16,9% Interference in the internal affairs of China should be avoided 10,1% Boycott to the Olympic Games (as a sporting event) should be promoted
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