Tibet Protests: A Futile Effort
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A lot has been written and said about Tibet protests happening round the globe; be that the Olympic torch run or the Lhasa crackdown Sino-Tibet issue is everywhere.
The rigor with which protests have been happening globally has surprised most of us, one can’t help but suspect that these demonstrations have been planned well in advance and protestors were just waiting for Olympics for publicity. Hosting Olympics is a very honorable responsibility and Chinese government saw this as an opportunity to show the world that they are on their way up the ladder of world hierarchy. So these protests have become a source of severe embarrassment for the government. Spreading awareness won’t get tibetians anything except sour relations with Chinese government. Gone are the days when west had the power to send shockwaves down Asian economies just by imposing sanctions. Today china is such an important part of international trade that no country can afford to act more than just registering their discomfort. Tibet should have used this opportunity for strengthening it’s ties with China by a string show of unity. These protests are a step in just the opposite direction.
Pro Tibet Agenda mentions in bold letters that Tibet just wants autonomy over their region, they do not desire independence. Let’s look back into the past and see what happened when this sort of autonomy is given; well last time this happened USSR one of the two most powerful nations on earth broke into 15 independent countries. Demand for autonomy reflects hunger for power and here I am not pointing fingers at Dalai Lama but at the people and organizations involved in violent protests. Isn’t China governing rest of country well, by the current looks of it they are doing a very good job of it. As for the partisan policies that might be part of China’s way of keeping things under control. If Tibet had stopped these protests Chinese policies would have changed too as the target of government is development of China and any partisan policy increases the number of people who will drag the development down.
One other issue that has been raised is influx of huge number of Han Chinese into the region.
Is this even objectionable?
This is like people from New York are not allowed to settle in Los Angeles. Tibet officially accepts that it is a part of China and being citizens of the same country Han Chinese have equal rights to that land as tibetians. This sort of agenda is just fuelling the differences between the two communities in the region, which won’t help the matters at all.
Another point raised by the protestors is that China is trying to curb their culture and way of life. First of all it should be made clear in what form is China suppressing Tibet’s culture.
Has Chinese government imposed a dress code? Has the government banned their methods of worship, destroyed religious buildings, censored any religious organization? The answer to all these questions is NO. Well then how is Chinese government suppressing their culture, these are after all very popular techniques used for cultural dominance around the world.
What is being called as cultural suppression are in-fact China’s effort to develop the region. Tibet has an agricultural economy and being in an arid region (Receive low rainfall) that is not a very profitable activity. Tibet is relatively backward when compared to rest of China hence the government is trying to build infrastructure to speed up things in the region. These development activities like Qinghai-Tibet railway line are opposed even though the result of such development will not only increase Tibet’s exposure and accessibility but also bring in valuable tourism revenue to the region.
It is time for the protestors to rethink and realize that they stand to gain more by extending a hand of friendship rather than beating their heads against “The Great Wall“.
K.V.S.
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KVS u seem to be in favour of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. But I seem to disagree with u(like many others). I really dont think China has any right to impose herself on Tibet. Tibet is culturally different, people and their thoughts are being oppressed..as evident from the fact when Monks started crying in front of some international journalists in a press conference organized by the Chinese in Tibet.
About China becoming another USSR if it gives Tibet independence… Its a possibility. That is the reason why India dint let Kashmir etc separate from itself. But cases of India and USSR are different… Here foreign powers were at play when the states wanted independence (India- USA/ISI (Pakistan Intelligence agency) & in USSR - Western powers and discontentment among people against socialism). In case of Tibet, its the people who want to end the oppressive rule, its like a freedom struggle.
About other nations putting pressure on China to free Tibet being a possibility, I doubt it. China is a strong economic hub and a world power. No one can afford to displease China as China is its powerful and China will not give up its hold on Tibet due to any int’l pressures.
I feel although Tibet has a bleak future after being freed from China, still it can bank upon for support from IMF/ WHO / UN and thrive upon its tourism industry. As it is, I dont feel Tibet is in a great position tagging along with China.
@Kavitt S
What I have written is a practical approach towards the matter. You yourself agree that in near future no country will oppose China atleast not on this matter. So why prolong the protests instead join the development train called China.
As far as freedom struggle is concerned that is purely a point of view; every terrorist organization is seen as Freedom Fighters by some sections of people and terrorist by others. And to jog your memory a bit t the time of India’s independence India too imposed itself on many princely states (like Tibet in case of China) a majority of which like tibet wanted to go independent. The heads were cajoled and bullied into joining Union of India. Now what would you call it a country imposing itself on small states. Cultures differ in India every few hundred miles but can we say that it was wrong on part of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, then Home Minister of India. No it was not wrong because a united entity was a stronger option.
If Tibet is given independence somehow because of international pressures (Although i don’t think this will ever happen) even then you have a landlocked country with the only easy access route going through China. So instead of prolonging the dispute which will probably run for several decades Tibet should join the development. If not then by the time they gain autonomy Tibet would fal way behind rest of the world
Well KVS, you seem to be a firm and stalwart supporter of the Chinese government which is commendable. I do agree with your arguments condemning Tibetan protests. However my line of thoughts differs from yours on some of the points and would like to share them with you.So do visit
http://www.point-counterpoint.net
KVS, how would you feel if you were still being ruled by the British or for that matter by any other power- no freedom of speech, religion and expression? Being treated as a ‘trash can’ is not a great feeling.
(ref: http://www.point-counterpoint.net)
Wouldn’t you look for opportunities to ridicule your dictator when it mattered the most? (Like India did under the British so that it hurts them the most)
Being practical is easy when you are not the one suffering, I feel we should think from Tibet’s point of view and keep the Indian situation in mind (before commenting) that existed a 100 years ago.
In the 21st century, every being on this earth has right to be ‘free’.
Think with your heart and not your mind, when your decisions are affecting other beings, atleast sometimes.
@Kavitt S
Well as far as the question of British is concerned they were invaders. 1st of all they never ever had a common cultural history with India, thats not true for China and Tibet which being adjoining regions have been united under different dynasties at varius point in history.
2nd of all British never annexed India in their own country, for all purposes India was a colony, which in simplified terms is another country serving the economic interests of it’s ruling country. This again is not the case in China otherwise China won’t be encouraging settlement of huge number of Han Chinese in the region, instead they would have done only with presence of military force in the region.
And it is the brain which had the power to think logically. not the heart. As it is a question of fate of millions I’d rather not let my emotional tendencies interfere with their future.
@Pallavi
In reply to your article
Justification of Protests by the Tibetans
http://www.point-counterpoint.net/2008/04/23/justification-of-protests-by-the-tibetans/#comment-24
Firstly I’d like to see the source from where author has sourced this news about China dumping nuclear waste in Tibet. When i searched the term “China nuclear waste Tibet” on Google here are the TOP results I got
http://www.tibet.com/Eco/eco3.html
http://www.savetibet.org/news/positionpapers/nuclearwaste.php
http://www.friendsoftibet.org/main/eco.html
and as can be seen from the domain names of these sites they are hardly expected to provide unbiased news.
Why is this not listed on websites of any independent news agencies like Reuters, AP, Times etc
Next if these allegations were really true then why are international agencies responsible for handling nuclear issues, like N.S.G. , I.A.E.A. not involved, why have they not launched atleast an investigation looking into the matter. It is useless to say that China is such a powerful country that no international agency will annoy it etc etc. USSR and USA were far more powerful than China when these agencies reprimanded them for being careless in disposal of nuclear waste. Moreover West never leaves any opportunity to embarrass China then why will they leave such a huge event under the carpets.
Another fact about Tibet is that it is not filled with green grasslands instead being in the arid region it receives very low rainfall. Its more close to a frigid desert than a lush grassland.
Now about the religion and culture thing, author has stated that China is trying to suppress Buddhism, here i state this straight from 1st para of a wikipedia article
“Buddhism remains the largest organized religion in China since its introduction in the 1st century.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_China
So China if it is trying to suppress Buddhism then whole of China should have a problem and not just Tibetians. As far as prohibiting them to worship Dalai Lama is concerned that is by far explainable by simplest of logic that Dalai Lama is a human being and besides being a worshipped God in Tibet he also ahppens to be their political leader. Which in this case can be simplified to as leader of Tibetian Resistance, So does P.S. really expect China to allow Tibetians to continue worshipping the very man who is the rallying point for all the protesting Tibetians ?
IT SEEMS THAT U HAVE KIND HEART FOR THE CHINESE DRAGON OR MAY BE U ARE AFRAID TO RAISE A QUESTION AGAINST THE EMERGING SUPERPOWERS .
CHINESE HAVE REAL POLICY OF SUPPRESSING THINGS THEY DO NOT ACCEPT FAULTS BUT . RECENTLY DUE TO NATURAL CALAMITY A REGION SUFFERED DEEPLY BUT GOVT WAS TOO LATE TO TAKE ACTION .GENERAL PUBLIC WAS WITHOUT FOR THREE DAYS BUT THERE WAS NOT EVEN A EXPLANATION OFFERED . SUCH A EXTREMIST COUNTRY MAY CARRY OUT ITS ACTIONS TO PERFECTION BUT CAN NOT WIN HEARTS FOR SURE BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE THAN POWER TO PLEASE HEARTS.
@Amit Katiyar
I am not biased towards superpowers in my view, if you have read my articles about US economy and the mess they are in then you’d know that. What I have written in the article is simply a practical approach towards the matter.
About the calamity you reffered i think you are pointing towards the unusual cold wave which swept China and broke 50 year records. Well which country prepares for natural calamities with such low probability. Have a look at USA with Hurricane Katrina, India, Thailand etc with the Tsunami problem. Every country does what they can do.
It’s not about winning hearts its about economic progress and being a uni-party political system their government does not hesitate in sacrificing short term populism in exchange of long term gains (which after 3 decades of reform are for all to see)
hey, great insights. I’m a new reader from stumble upon and I’m looking forward to future posts.