March 14, 2008
Posted: 1837 GMT

BEIJING, China – Tibetan demonstrators torching shops; vehicles on fire. Police troops in anti-riot gear clashing with protesters, firing live ammunition and tear gas. Many people injured, some perhaps killed. Reports were sketchy but soon it was clear: Tibet was in turmoil.

Tibetans throw stones at army vehicles in the capital Lhasa.
Tibetans throw stones at army vehicles in the capital Lhasa.

We’ve always found it extremely difficult to get accurate information and images from the Himalayan region.

Even without chaos, we can’t easily get into Tibet because China strictly controls our travel and reporting there. I went on a reporting trip to Tibet in 2003. That was only one of the two times CNN reporters were allowed into Tibet in 10 years.

We visited major monasteries, interviewed officials and monks, and got a good feel for the region — and the simmering ethnic tensions between the local Tibetans and the tens of thousands of Chinese migrants who have dominated trade and commerce there. Many Tibetans, we found out, deeply resented Chinese rule.

 How do we find out what’s going on?We don’t have a crew there and are not allowed to send one now. So we tap various sources, including residents and travelers in Lhasa. Using modern tools of communications, we gather dribs and drabs of eyewitness accounts from people who prefer to remain anonymous. "If you put it in Al-Jazeera terms, it is Gaza now," quips an overseas visitor.

 "It’s chaotic now, that’s all I can say," a young Tibetan told us over the phone while he was caught stranded inside an office building in central Lhasa.We also reached an exasperated young woman who had been beaten up by a mob of Tibetans apparently because she was an ethnic Han Chinese. "I am now in the hospital with bandage on my head," she whispered, sounding traumatized. "All is chaotic now," she said, wondering if and when she could get out of Lhasa.

Each time we made contact, we took steps to protect the identity of our eyes and ears. The news of the day was unpalatable to the Chinese censors, so most of CNN’s reports in the mainland were blacked out. Most Chinese seemed unaware of the chaos in Tibet. The local media blacked out the news, but there were loopholes, thanks to modern technology. Our intrepid researchers found one Chinese Weblog, a local version of Twitter, which collected and disseminated reports from citizen reporters who sent them in by SMS and Internet. It was impossible for us to independently verify the accuracy of these reports, but they gave us a sense of the mood in Lhasa."Netizen" reported seeing "troops wearing bullet-proof vests, walking behind armed personnel carriers moving in front of monasteries."

Another posting shared emotions. "I feel so confused," wrote "Mtdancer," apparently a Han Chinese who felt unsafe. "I so look forward to going home". By the end of the fateful day of March 14, a citizen reporter wrote, "The streets are virtually deserted now, except for police cars and armed personnel carriers patrolling the street."Tibet transformed overnight. That’s not the picture that the Chinese public relations strategists wish to portray of Tibet, just five months before Beijing hosts the Summer Olympics.

 

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SONAM   March 14th, 2008 1945 GMT

I AM GLAD THAT THE TRUE NATURE OF TIBETAN'S STORY FINALLY COME OUT IN CNN. THIS TELLS THE WORLD HOW TIBETANS ARE NOT HAPPY UNDER THE COMMUNIST CHINESE.

TIBET INDEPENDENCE IS NOT FREEDOM ONLY FOR TIBET IT GIVES FREEDOM TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE NOT HATRED TO CHINESE CITIZEN. WE ALL ASKING IS TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY AND RESPECT HUMAN RIGHT.

FREE TIBET.........

gilona   March 14th, 2008 1947 GMT

it is a pity
these people are a small portion of people who lived in tibet.
the people involved in this tumor were supported by india and us.
every chinese knows that.
this is so called "human right"
we chinese treat minor race too good.they are vips in china .they have more priviledge than normal people.
we treat they like brothers. luckly .99%of they appreciate that.
we are good friends.
should i treat they like us treat the "indian", then ,once for all. then no so called "human right" problem exist. of course not. we are brothers.
how can a strongest country do this kind of things.
provoke the brothers to fighting

Passang   March 14th, 2008 2048 GMT

the fact that the chinese are restricting media coverage on whats going on in Tibet right now is proof that the chinese govt do not want the world to know about the real situation in Tibet. if the chinese are indeed true about the progress of Tibet since their illegal occupation in Tibet then why not promptly show it to the world? Tibet was forcefully taken away from Tibetans in 1959 by the chinese. there are reports that rioters are beating up chinese people in Lhasa but how else are we Tibetans to react? Tibetans are becoming a minority in our own home country, our culture is on the verge of extinction and we are deprived of our freedom. Olympics signifies peace and prosperity among all the countries in the world and its ironic that it is being held in china this year. of all countries, china, who has time and again deprived not only tibetans but their own people of freedom and human rights, is hosting the Olympics. i am sure the Olympic committee had their reasons but i am guessing they didn't look beyond china's growing power. 5 months from now china will host the olympics, athletes will proudly represent their countries and we tibetans and the innocent chinese suffering under the chinese dictatorship will be left alone to face the harsh treatment of the chinese govt. i was born a refugee but i will not die as one. Tibet is not a part of china and will never be. "china lie, people die" FREE TIBET....I pray for all the brave tibetans all over the world fighting for freedom..

lisa   March 15th, 2008 009 GMT

The trouble with Tibet is that the Tibetans once knew freedom and an independent existence from China, and having lost it the people do not forget what freedom means. The trouble with Tibet is countries like the US have not done much to help to restore at least Tibtean cultural and religious independence from Chinese repression, and now that the US owes China so much money it is unlikely the US will ever do so though it boasts of spreading democracy to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and defending democracy in places like Kuwait. The trouble with Tibet is that the westernized world has grossly underestimated the resolve of the Tibetan people to restore "liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...",or the reverberating impact it will likely have on the world. China is a big and strong bully that decided to push its borders beyond the China Wall. This world doesn't have the courage to face down China so it ignores how many provinces China has conquored and re-named. It is a shame, but the long memory of the Tibetan people is a testimony to the human condition for which we are all judged. That is the trouble with Tibet.

diane   March 15th, 2008 133 GMT

Jaime,

Thank you so much for posting this blog about Tibet.
The world should be aware of exactly what is going on there and about those brave Tibetan hero's. As hard as the CCP tries to hide the truth about there human rights abuses, the truth will alway come out.

Looks like the Chinese Communist Government is up to the same old bloody history. They learned nothing from 1989, and remind me again why they are able to host the Olympic Games???????

They made human rights promises to the IOC, and the world in order to obtain those games. They have not kept any of their promises, as a matter of fact, things have only gotten worse.

God speed the Tibetan hero's that are fighting for THEIR country and fighting for THEIR heritage.

ONE WORLD ONE DREAM FREE TIBET. FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE.

Tenzin Tsayang   March 15th, 2008 332 GMT

Tibet Belongs to Tibetans, China should get out of Tibet.

lekshay   March 15th, 2008 335 GMT

does the chinese leaderhip has any sense of conscience, any sense of shame and guilt? I wonder how they would feel if they were treated the same way they treat the tibetans in tibet.

MIke H   March 15th, 2008 456 GMT

What happaned in tibet is more of racial riot nothing more. Don't try to make up stories please

observer   March 15th, 2008 517 GMT

The picture presented in this article has been well cut in order to mislead people. Nice and brilliant -– and shamelss. Excellent sample for us to know what exactly the free and responsible western press is. Biased, reality-distorted, not better than some other countries they often criticie for
control of media, but the westerns make it in a more professional and bright way.

http://picture.talkcc.net/0,0803/6538_14184242.jpg

Tenzin   March 15th, 2008 627 GMT

Chinese treatment of peaceful protest in Tibet is worse than what world had seen in Tiananmen Square. Chinese security forces repeatedly used lethal force to restore order in the Tibet and they have done it without the world knowing about it. Even today as we speak they have locked down whole of Tibet and blackout foreign news media covering Tibet protest. They have barred all foreigners from entering and leaving Tibet. They have cut off electricity so that no news can spread to the outside world by phone, TV, and internet.
China had occupied a peaceful country with brutal force (genocide in Tibet).Tibet can never be a part of China. We are totally different from the Chinese – language, culture and historically. 2008 is year of Tibetan independence.

andy   March 15th, 2008 1351 GMT

Tibet has always been part of China. This fact can not be changed. If you look at the videos of the so called "peaceful" protest you will see violent MONKS. Aren't monks suppose to be non-violent and peaceful? Those monks are TERRORISTS. The Chinese government has every right to destory these terrorists groups.

No government is the world would torlerate this type of violence from a terrorist group.

jb bauer   March 15th, 2008 1429 GMT

The U.S. has also been sold down the river to China. The only real protest we can make as simple citizens is to boycott Chinese goods as completely as possible. The lack of safety of Chinese products is only one obvious flaw. It only proves how vulnerable the whole world has become in the eyes of a Chinese government that intends to seize, dominate, and enslave the rest of the world. The Bush government has financed its deficits with a huge debt to the Chinese. Our next president had better figure out a way to pay it off or we will be treated like the poor citizens of Tibet.

Jacqueline   March 15th, 2008 1445 GMT

This comment is ungrounded and simply ridiculous.
1) How can you call a protest where protestants are armed with knives and gas, where they would attack banks and civilians, a PEACEFUL protest? If there is ANY chaos, anywhere in the world, the government has the obligation to secure its citizens' safety!
2) From what we heard, Tibet is NOT blocked out by phone, TV, internet. Please, please GROUND your arguments.
3) And for your information, Tibet is, has never been, HAD never been an individual country. For centuries it has been a rightful territory of China. Unlike you Americans who had no problem with yourselves driving away Natives and calling their land your own, in the whole of history, Tibet is always a part of China.

John   March 15th, 2008 1509 GMT

I saw monks turn over vehicles and setting fires. Thought they were suppose to be peaceful.

ARIJIT DAS   March 15th, 2008 1522 GMT

The world should stand against china. We must boycott Chinese products. The entire would must boycott china made products.

Bjorn Ahlin   March 15th, 2008 1542 GMT

CNN.com runs "100 dead in Tibet" as its lead story, when the basis for the number is the exile community in India. With China taking direct control of Tibet, after the Buddhists' armed uprising of 1959, I don't know how many serfs were freed from forced labour. I don't know what's happened to infant mortality rates and average lifespan at birth. And I don't know what's going on now.
But I know that Beijing, Lhasa, and Dharamsala, all have views on the history and the current situation, and I know that CNN's obligation is unbiased reporting.
Tibetan Buddhism is unique among religious personality cults to get favourable treatment from our western press. I've returned from a trip to China to merely find opposite bias here.

Anonymous   March 15th, 2008 1547 GMT

After reading excerpts of blogs, I was apalled and disgusted. There is so much ignorance among people who are siding with the Chinese rule over Tibet. Read your history. Read the facts. Use your own intelligence to know truth from manipulated facts. The Chinese government has been manipulating information for decades making people believe in their brainwashing tactics over the Tibetan issue and His Holiness Dalai Lama. Obviously it has been working for so many to speak such ignorance. It's the same as when the Japanese government removed from their history books post World War II about the abuse of comfort women and brothels during the war that was backed by the government. Tibet was NEVER a part of China for centuries. That's as absurd as saying that India was always a part of Britain. That the Phillipines were always a part of the U.S. That Korea was always a part of Japan. That Mongolia was always a part of Russia. Learn about the historical relationship of these countries from true sources to understand the point here. Open your eyes! Stop living in the Matrix.

Jaswant Singh   March 15th, 2008 1603 GMT

The Chinese shamelessly occupied Tibet nearly 50 years ago. Tibet IS and ought TO BE A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY AGAIN. They practise Buddhism which is as tolerant and peaceful as any other Indian Philosophy whether it is classical Hinduism,Sikhism or Jainism.

The Chinese rule and illegal occupation of Tibet is an outrageous and unacceptable act. Sadly the World does not have the moral courage to physically evict the Chinese from Tibet.

My prayers and the very best wishes to the brave Tibetans and the Dalai Lama.

Chen   March 15th, 2008 1605 GMT

Tibet is part of China whether America likes it or not. It has always been part of China and is going to stay that way. America should keep its big fat nose out of other countries's buisness especially when it has its own problems. America cannot even elect a president, they are facing financial troubles, mounting debts, so why should they care about other countries?
Tenzin: Beijing respects Buddists and allows them to practice their religion. And haven't you wondered how the only information the public recieves is through the biased views of Americans?

What allows Americans to run around yelling "Free Tibet" when they are still facing racial discriminations? How would America like it if the South decides to become its own country? Americans have no idea what its like it Tibet; most of them have never even been to China, so what do they know? And as for people who "deeply resent Chinese rule", Chinese rules don't affect the large majority of the people who live in Tibet, only those in major cities who feel like they have to make a fuss.

Americans have no right to go poking around in other people's buisness. Do you have any idea what kind of an image you give off to the rest of the world?

You know, its funny, CNN only seems to post comments that support their article. So chances are that I'm typing all this for nothing. But I don't care. There are always two sides to a story, and Americans aren't reading the second side.

chinaman   March 15th, 2008 1608 GMT

tibet is part of china. anyone try to separete Tibet from China will be punish.please studie history.

Teresa Johnson   March 15th, 2008 1645 GMT

Please keep reporting about Tibet. The whole world should know what is
going on there. Tibet is not an autonomous region. It is an invaded country. Tibetan people do not have any rights, they are second class to the Chinese. They cannot display their flags nor have a picture of The Dalai Lama. Moreover, you cannot find any postcard of their Spiritual Leader who had to leave his country. The Chinese read the emails and open the letters that Tibetans receive. I can continue, but you got the idea. We visited Tibet in 2006, we love the country and its very nice and compassionate people, to say the least about them.

Jim   March 15th, 2008 1650 GMT

Peaceful? Your so called peaceful protesters are burning up shops, cars and beating up scores of innocent individuals.

It's always amazing how Tibetans can keep claiming that they are peaceful even when they commit violence. I've been to Tibet, most Tibetans are a pretty rough crowd, they are uneducated and many are pretty violent.

John   March 15th, 2008 1710 GMT

I fear that the Chinese will overeact to the Tibetans protests.

-John
http://www.patrioticactivist.com

nathan   March 15th, 2008 2140 GMT

I hope CNN will put my reply:
1st anybody who reply here live in China ?
2ed Anybody know the real conditions in China?
If you don't know , please don't guess or assume that?
I was born and lived in China from more than 20 years, Tibet is part of China, those say tibetan independence will destroy the friendship of 1.4 billion chinese people. I lived in USA for many years, so i could make a conparison between China and USA. Our government has a lot of corruption, or control media, that's right. i don't deny that. But Overall Chinese government made such a big progress of improving the human rights, more people have health insurance which they don't have it before. our economy conditions are changing, we have food to feed on ourselves. At this crucile moment, we -Chinese people don't want anybody to destroy the progress we made for many years.
Tiananmen Squrare, my old professor now remind those things when he had done. he told me , it's a stupid genernations who make such a destroy to China. Now almost 20 years past , i have to say it's right to do for the tiananmen square. i support it. because it bring 20 years fast development for China, make our generation , for example like me, have a better live conditions.
If you want to know the real China, please go to visit China before you say anything about China.
I grew up in China, now study in USA , from my personal experience, i have to say some of american are too stupid , they didn't even have the basic knowledge about China. Your media doesn't tell all the truth. If you want to know the real truth, go to China, and say what you see before bringing any protest.
I hope CNN will publish my note!

Sven Hedin   March 16th, 2008 1413 GMT

One can never be sure how much to trust the press, but assuming that Jamie's reporting is accurate, there is nothing peaceful about burnt cars, looted shops, and the young woman beaten by Tibetan mobs.

It's not easy to debate, in a responsible manner, over the farewell of millions of people in a part of the world, where most readers, living in the western world, know so little about.

It is certainly fascinating to learn about a group of people accepting that leaders are reincarnated.

Personally, I find it tough to embrace a country ruled by religious dictators with absolutely no concept of the need for the separation between the church and the state, or in this case, the monastery and the government.

While most Hollywood celebrities may tell us that Tibet should be freed, I just feel that being ruled and governed by monks, lamas, nuns or priests will be the ultimate violation of human rights. Leaders should be elected or chosen based on ability and not religious spirituality and blind faith.

robert   March 16th, 2008 1418 GMT

Law must be strictly enforced. Those violences are not allowed in U.S and anywhere else in the world. Political motivated protests must stopped. Those violators must be put in jail.
More control in Tibet. Tibet belongs to China like Hawaii belongs to U.S. No more argument

Sam   March 16th, 2008 1450 GMT

Dalai Lama will not earn my respect until the day he condemns the "cultral genocide" of Native Americans in the U.S. Sure, it happened several hundred years ago. But what if China controls Tibet for another serveral hundred years?

Wenshan   March 16th, 2008 1450 GMT

If you know Chinese, you can find out a lot of comments in Chinese forums. Obvously our Chinese are aware of the chaos in Tibet. It is intresting most of them are blaming the goverment not for freeing Tibet, but for why they responsed too late to crackdown the seperist and pretect the Han Chinese.

We built road and factories for them and give them better lifes. Fortunately, most of them appreicate it. Only the monks who were previleged under Dalai resent the central government. The slavery was abolished 49 year ago, they no longer have slaves for themselves in the morden Tibet. That is why they want Dalai to go back to restore their their master position. These people have nothing to do so called freedom.

Ken H.   March 16th, 2008 1456 GMT

This is China's version of LA Riot, with economically marginalized and socially corned people rise up against their perceived oppressors. These protesters deliberately sought any non-Tibetan people or structure to kill and pillage. If this were to happen in any Muslim land (IE. Iraq) targeting whites, they were surely being labeled "Islamo-Fascist" by the Western "free" media. Call this what it is : it's a racism based on Lamanic Fascism!

Free USA   March 17th, 2008 1533 GMT

Free America.~~ you guys are from Europe, go back!! America belongs to natives !!

Peter Tin   March 17th, 2008 1605 GMT

Tibet has always been part of China. The riot last week in Tibet has shown the true sinister color of the so-called "peaceful" monks who set cars on fire and kinnging innocent people on the street. They should be severly dealt by law. They are terrorists just the 9/11 bombers.

Tibet will never be independent. Dream on...

Haiduong   March 17th, 2008 1618 GMT

I got to know about the violence in Tibet through CNN, in my country, the media did't mention about this, it may be resulted from the sensitive relation between the two countries. Anyway, I do hope this won't go too far, no more violence, evrybody keeps calm down, memoir of Tiananmen Square massacre is still fresh in mind. I just don't like Chinese goverment for claiming all of our sea as theirs, and the way they did to our people and our teritorial waters.

yanchen   March 17th, 2008 1914 GMT

Free Tibet?
Why does Spain NOT allow Basque and Catalonia to become independent countries while both regions have their unique culture, languages, music, flags?)
Free Tibet?
How about
Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Wales!
"...the problem with Tibetan Buddhism resides in an obvious fact that many Western enthusiasts conveniently forget: the traditional political structure of Tibet is theocracy, with the Dalai Lama at the center. He unites religious and secular power — so when we are talking about the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, we are taking about choosing a head of state. It is strange to hear self-described democracy advocates who denounce Chinese persecution of followers of the Dalai Lama — a non-democratically elected leader if there ever was one. ” frow:“How China Got Religion” By SLAVOJ ZIZEK (nytimes)
Do google:Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" by Michael Parenti
Thanks

Monlam   March 17th, 2008 1933 GMT

1.2 million Tibetans and still counting. how many lives more, China? Put yourself into our shoes and you won't even feel your feet on the ground. China says it liberated Tibet, OK fine done! thank you for your great help, now go back. why are u still here?
Tibet is dying and the world is watching. Too shy to speak up.. too scared of losing business ties. In this huge world of globalisation and diplomacy, Tibet has no place to sit. If only Tibet had OIL, many countries would have come to its rescue.
For me, non-violence is not a choice but a lack of choice.. Frustration is killing me. I don't get shocks when I hear tibetans trying to immolate themselves by setting themselves on fire. I might also do it some day. and again, this is not a choice but mere lack of choice.
Thank you CNN for listening to us and for showing the truth to the world!

Until the day of my death... to my very last breath!

For Justice! and Freedom!
http://www.Meyul.com

Laurie Fullerton   March 17th, 2008 1939 GMT

Having visited Tibet twice in 1986 and 1987 I can say with conviction that no matter what happens, remember that the Chinese soldiers are armed, the Tibetan monks often carry nothing more than a slingshot which they use to pass the time (perhaps being mischevious young men/boys at times, they use their slingshots to shoot at passing birds. Yes, there was a spontaneous riot and protests, but the punishment of the Tibetans involved will be brutal, swift, and permanent. Public firing squads, torture, starvation, and rape are all common techniques used by the Chinese authorities on Tibetans.

Friend of Asia   March 17th, 2008 2040 GMT

Tibet has its own unique language and culture and political history as an independent country for centuries which is well documented.

The Communist Chinese invaded in the 1950's to exploit the vast mineral and natural resources and now seek to displace the overflow population of Han chinese from China. This is disastrous for the i.5 million Tibetans killed the over 6,000 monasteries that were detroyed and for peace in Asia and for the environmental degradation of the major rivers that flow from Tibet into China and India and the rest of Asia.

Chinese policy toward Tibet is cultural genocide. This is bad karma for China and the world to allow this to continue...

Peace

Kai Hin Yung   March 18th, 2008 141 GMT

Also, this is an email sent from a Tibetan friend of mine, he talked about his view on the Tibet protest:

"I am absolutely disgusted at the rioters, they are shameful to our ethnic group. They don't know that the Chinese government has put more efforts and money into our ethnic group than the Han Chinese, I am glad now I have a chance to go to university, and not being a slave of the incompetent Dalai Lama, because of the Chinese. I want the world to know that we Tibetans have a better life now and that we are co-existing with the Han Chinese very well, in fact, Im very proud to be a part of China. I hope the West and the Dalai Lama would just leave us alone, we are happy to be with China."

Chinesepeople   March 18th, 2008 142 GMT

Comments are moderated by CNN, in accordance with the CNN Comment Policy, and may not appear on this blog until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

This is the so-called human rights, do I have the right to speak ? Do I have the right to demonstrate my opinions??

I hope CNN will publish my note!

harris Li   March 18th, 2008 159 GMT

Tibet (Xi Zang) was, is and will always be part of China!

Logical Thinking..   March 18th, 2008 232 GMT

After cars have been burnt down and buildings set to fire, arsonists are named "peaceful demonstrators" by BBC and CNN.

If that logic applied, Osama bin Laden is one of the most peaceful demonstrators. Would you believe that?

pierre   March 18th, 2008 233 GMT

Another “peaceful” Tibetan demonstrator was charged with Assaulting Police office in Australia, "A police officer was allegedly hit over the head with a placard before being punched and kicked," http://news.theage.com.au/protibet-protests-continue-in-australia/20080316-1zob.html
Having spent a month in Tibet, my opinion is that some tibetans are really nice, some are…, I saw both tibetan beggars and thiefs. , they are not divine, nor specially peaceful people…

Eddy Johnson   March 18th, 2008 244 GMT

I, Eddy , an American citizen, strongly support China against the Dala Lama and the Tibetan separatists. The Unites States all E.U. countries should keep their noses out of this matter. Tibet is China ! China should take all necessary measures to keep the country together.

robert   March 18th, 2008 249 GMT

CNN is a liar. It claims cnn=politics. and politics is dirty. then cnn is dirty.

cnn censor news network

gentfixya   March 18th, 2008 256 GMT

Western opinions never change even there are clear evidences that violent protesters beat up and kill innocent citizen. Yes, in China there is communist ruling, and sure we the Han Chinese doesn’t feel happy about what the communist government do for its own people’s human right. But in matter of separatist, we all gang up against them and support the government to take action. Is it legit to crack down bloody violence only if China is democracy country and have Hilary Wang and Obama Lee are running for president?

Tibet is always part of China, don’t even listen to the year of 59 invasion BS. You may call it invasion when federal government sends riot control police to LA to stop the looter. Long before until Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet in 1959, his wonderland had below standard living condition and was a slavery society, let along lacking the human right and freedom. All sudden this liar becomes Nobel Prize human right fighter and wants freedom of this area? What the hell he and his exile government were doing when he was in crown? Although China today has limited human rights and freedom which can’t compare with the western level, but truly we have upgraded Tibet to better live since Dalai Lama gone.

Eddy Johnson   March 18th, 2008 256 GMT

I am an American, and I am not even Asian.

But, please, to all Chinese people: fight for your country… The United States and Europe is backing the people of Tibet against China. They want your country to be divided… it’s very simple.

Lilly Zhu   March 18th, 2008 318 GMT

I am ashamed to be a chinese !

chen   March 18th, 2008 323 GMT

FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET

Anonymous   March 18th, 2008 422 GMT

Anyone who has watched news on TV recently, CNN or other news sources, can see how these so called "peace-loving" people in Tibet destroying shops or human lives in Tibet. So many of these "peace-loving" people attacking Chinese embassies in the US & Europe. Some of these people blatantly wore theie monk costumes. I am at a loss how people blame the Chinese government for using violence but at the same time say nothing about all these destruction that these "peace-loving" people have demonstrated on TV. The reason why Martin Luther King & Ghandi have our hearts is because of its non-violent nature. Have the world forgotten these great leaders? No more double standards please.

wendy   March 18th, 2008 433 GMT

We cant keep always to tell them our history, we are not study history here with them!!! It is useless to them because they never look back their own blooding history: how to kill Asian, how to kill Indian......

leo   March 18th, 2008 441 GMT

http://bbs.top81.cn/top81bbs/uploads/2008/03/1205811700_36791.jpg

I highly recommend you to visit the site above, and you will have a better view and own judgment of the story.

Loy Jinn Min   March 18th, 2008 458 GMT

If the red indians start to kill the whiteman in USA in the name of protests, are American going to stand by and watch the killings?
Please do not be double standard in human rights.

If this happen in your own country, can your government tolerate this.

You have seen from the CNN news, how these protesters act? Do you call it a peacefull demonstration.

How much you know about the history of Tibets before you make your comment.

What were the living conditions in Tibet under Dalai Lama?

If he is a true buddhist, he may not involve in all this issue. Remember Guatama Buddha own country was destroyed. It is the karma. Karma created by all the Lama in for the last few hundred years.

Cultural Genocide? Let see who is doing the cultural genocide. Chinese government are now promoting Buddism and include Tibetan buddhism. Many Hans also practice Tibetan buddhism.

Do you mean that only the Tibetan can practice Tibetan buddhism? What kind of Buddhists are these Tibetan?

The first forbidden law in Buddhism is NO KILLING. How can these Tibetan burn people to death.

Tenzin   March 18th, 2008 511 GMT

China is a super power not because what china did in 50 years but because of Tibet. When china invaded Tibet in 1950's China was very poor but yes they had the millitary and man power. When they invaded Tibet first thing they attacked was the monasteries and take away tons and tons of gold back to China. These gold had been ccumulated in these holy monastaries for centuries which had come from offerings of religious Tibetan people. When the Chinese came to Tibet they not have enough food to feed the own people, we Tibetans supplied the food.

Tenzin   March 18th, 2008 517 GMT

The communist party of China destroyed not only it culture and religion but also how the chinese live and behave. Anyone can go to China town find it yourself. China is trying to do the same to the Tibetans. Communist China is systematically destroying Tibets religion and culture.

Jigme Duntak   March 18th, 2008 626 GMT

I see so many Chinese outraged by Tibetans who attacked these Chinese migrants inside Lhasa, and rightfully so, I am angered by it as well, but where was this same anger by these people when Tibetan children were shot at and even killed (one as young as 17) at Nangpa la Pass? Weren’t those Tibetans Chinese nationals under the Chinese law? Where was the remorse or coverage for them in the Chinese media? It all seems like a lopsided outpouring of sympathy to me.

At least in this case, where Tibetans attacked innocent civilians, those perpetrators can be found and punished for their actions. However when the Chinese government attacks their own citizens do we see the same justice? At Nangpa la pass the soldiers, who shot and killed Tibetan Chinese nationals who were 500 yards away, were excused under the pretext that they “acted in defense”.

It all seems absurd to me.

Here’s something the Chinese government won’t show.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd175/FreeTibetCampaignUK/6.jpg

halamala   March 18th, 2008 713 GMT

Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Walse!

halamala   March 18th, 2008 715 GMT

“…the problem with Tibetan Buddhism resides in an obvious fact that many Western enthusiasts conveniently forget: the traditional political structure of Tibet is theocracy, with the Dalai Lama at the center. He unites religious and secular power — so when we are talking about the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, we are taking about choosing a head of state. It is strange to hear self-described democracy advocates who denounce Chinese persecution of followers of the Dalai Lama — a non-democratically elected leader if there ever was one. ”

Rinzin   March 18th, 2008 738 GMT

Whether the Chinese agree or not, there is a big problem and thats why the situation in Tibet to begin with!

Younger generation Chinese who refuse to think beyond what they were taught in their history classes create more tension. Do they realize that there is a big big difference in being nationalistic and ignorant. Likewise, it doesn't come to me as a suprise to read in here that some see the most historic event in the Chinese history i.e of the Tiananmen Square as 'stupid'! The CCP has really accomplished something here, they have mastered the art of controlling the power of thinking. Shame!

And then the question, why are monks involved in these demonstrations? Monks are involved because CCP has been, for almost 6 decades now, suppressing every bit of religious freedom in Tibet and of Tibetans in there. Take example of Serta Monastery. Without any explaination, CCP got up and bulldozed housing complexes and left many homeless.

If China is so great, why don't they let the international media inside Tibet? What is there to hide? Oh wait, I think I can answer that. I know what they are hiding. They are hiding the truth, the truth that there is no geniune freedom in Tibet. Tibetans are not treated like the general Chinese public like the CCP say. Tibetans are treated like 2nd Class citizens in their own country.

Mountain Phoenix   March 18th, 2008 755 GMT

Right now, emotions are going especially high on both the Tibetan and the Chinese side. Each side has its arguments to put forward their stand: Be it independence or a part of China. Since half a century, however, China has been stronger and so its view of things in Tibet had to be accepted.

It reminds me of a forced marriage – sleeping with the enemy, so to speak – where the husband is convinced he is benevolent and good to the wife, but forgets that – if he asked her – she may not want to be married to him in the first place. If she hints at anything in this regard, he beats her up. Yes, she thinks it’s great to live in the beautiful house he built for her, and she knows she’s better off than ever before – but with the wrong partner? A partner that tells you whether you are allowed to leave the house, where you may go and how far you may go, a guy who turns violent every time you do something that makes him angry? How can anybody be possibly happy in such a marriage?

As long as the relationship between the Chinese government and the Tibetan people has this forced marriage character, Tibetans will continue to harbour resentment.

If the Chinese government was smart, they would take up the Dalai Lama’s offer for a peaceful settlement where the interest of the Tibetan side are also taken into account, but without questioning the overall framework. The Chinese government should come to their senses and realise that he is not the problem. He is the solution to the problem.

Henry   March 18th, 2008 758 GMT

I admire Abraham Lincoln's effort preserving, protecting and defending the United States, I will support what ever that is needed by President Hu Jingtao to preserve, protect and defend China. –From China.

Jimloy   March 18th, 2008 814 GMT

A true Buddhist do not kill. Look at the monks in Burma, they rather let the police killed them and they did not kill the police.

What kind of buddhists are Tibetan. Buddha said "Lion die because of the worms in the Lion body".

Buddhist image will be destroyed by these Tibetans. These are 'wolves covered under a lamb sheets"

How can they killed innocence people? How can they burned people to death?

Rachel Yan   March 18th, 2008 820 GMT

I hope CNN would respect all opinions including us, Han Chinese.

As a Han, I never thought Tibetans are foreign to us. They are just like Hui, Manchurian, Miao and many other ethnic minorities, who live with us but eat different food. Ethnic minorities enjoy more benefit than us, Han Chinese. It is for sure because I once wished myself a ethnic minority when I was younger.

I have a few friends sent by government to work in hospital in Lhasa. These young people who never left the east part went to the highland and work there because it is the responsibility of Han Chinese to help them. Tibetan didn't have their own schools or hospitals apart from monastries 50 years ago. Now they say Han people went to occupy their land.

As an overseas Chinese, I appreciate all culutures and I will try my best to keep my Chinese culture in a western country. Tibetans COULD do the same in Tibet. Isn't Tibet a free land for Han to go there and work there??? Just as the rest of China to Tibetans.

Han never tried to suppress their culture. We are just us.

Tibetans could keep their culture by learning and conveying in a civilised way, just many culutres do in the U. S,, canada, australia and many other countries.

Jimloy   March 18th, 2008 821 GMT

Have anyone who made a lot of comments against China read the history of China?

Throughout the history of China, China nevers invade any country. China were invaded by Monggollian and invaded by the Ching but at the end of the days Monggol become part of China, Manchul becomes part of China.

If Japan were succesfull in conquered China, now Japan will be part of China.

PASANG THUNDU SHERPA   March 18th, 2008 823 GMT

IN THIS 21 CENTURY COMMUNIST IS ABOUT TO VANISH FROM THE WORLD BUT CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS FORCING THE CHINESE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEIR RULE WHICH MEAN EVEN CHINESE PEOPLE DONT HAVE ANY RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELING AND THEY DONT HAVE ANY HUMAN RIGHT IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. SO IT IS NOT ONLY MATTER OF TIBETAAN PEOPLE TO STAND AGAINST CHINESE GOVERNMENT.ALL THE WORLD SHOULD REACT AGAINST THEM.THE WAY THEY KILLED PEOPLE THE WAY THEY ATTACK THE TIBETAN CULTURE AND PEOPLE ,THEY BANNED BUDDHISM ETC IN TIBET .TIBET WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE LAND OF BUDDHISM IS NOW NO MORE LIKE IT DUE TO THE CHINESE .TIBETAN PEOPLE NEVER GIVE UP FOR THEIR RIGHT .TIBET IS A FREE COUNTRY ANG IT WILL BE FREE SOON .LONG LIVE HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA AND LONG LIVE TIBETAN PEOPLE ANG I WOULD LIKE TO SALUTE ALL THE TIBETAN HERO WHO ARE PROTESTING AGAINST CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN TIBET

yeshi   March 18th, 2008 835 GMT

I thinks some of many peoples are dont know about of history , culture and religion of tibet which is shows and profed that tibet is only belongs to tibetan not a china COMMUNIST or else.if you was studie in china it very normal to you say tibet is part of china because of you have no right to learn real and ture history of tibet in chinses COMMUNIST,I adviceing to todays youngs chinses.get out of little world of COMMUNIST and look around over the great world today with human right and much morethings and learn deeply about tibet and tibetans specially the youngs chinese who grown and studie in china in COMMUNIST,

nineducks   March 18th, 2008 838 GMT

this was waiting to happen for past few decades. and i am happy that it happened now.
and whoever enjoys FREEDOM, i request you to value the right to freedom of life of all tibetans also.

FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET

Bruce   March 18th, 2008 858 GMT

There has been a lot of discussion as to whether or not Tibet has or has not "always" been a part of China. The answer seems to depend on how far back the observer is willing to look. Suffice to say that Tibet is not behind China's Great Wall....but, perhaps that's taking too long of a political view....One would have to ask the common people of Tibet and of China if that is a fair comment. But, of course, one is precluded from talking to the common people in the "People's Republic".

It is hard for anyone to obtain an informed position as to what the current state of affairs is in Tibet when the Chinese government appears intent on keeping the world press out of Tibet, no matter the cost to its international reputation (of which it seems oblivious). Can anyone be surprised when such a controversial policy stirs controversy?

Free and democratic nations will, in all likelihood, sit back and not press the issue of true autonomy for the political and religious choices of Tibet's people in the suposedlu "Autonomous Region". This is, of course, likely due to economic self-interest on the part of western nations who are willing to turn a blind eye to this and other controversial issues with respect to China in order they retain access to and benefit from the unprecedented size of China's "market share".

Perhaps, it is time not to look back in history to determine whether or not Tibet belongs to China, but let history decide for itself. Just as Ghandi almost singlehandedly shamed the British into leaving India by his famous "walk to the sea" in defiance of British Law, maybe it is time for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. The Chnese leaders would be unable resist or stand up to world scrutiny of the events which then transpire.

JBK   March 18th, 2008 1034 GMT

Western-centric and Euro-centric, the ' liberal and democratic '
West love China bashing, the West can't face the fact that China
is recovering from her recent humilation by foreign imperialism !!
I appreciate good and umbiased journalism, unfortunately,
the West do love China bashing at this moment of time ....

Eric   March 18th, 2008 1104 GMT

What Tibetan culture? Serfs, slaves, fearful of the supernatural?

The elite lamas and feudal lords in Tibet have been brainwashing and repressing their people for years, through religion, on how the common Tibetan should completely obey them with no reservation. Under Tibetan law, the Dalai Lama (through inheritance!) legally owns the entire country and all the people living in it! What kind of a 'free' Tibet is this?

Politics and religion should never mix. If Tibet were to be independent, (I'm not saying it should at this stage) it should be governed by public servants chosen by the common freethinking citizen, and certainly not by the religious dictators.

It is fashionable to praise the Dalai Lama because of his western influence, but just because these lamas had unchallenged power in Tibet in the past doesn't mean they are the best leaders for the people at the moment.

My view on the Chinese occupation is that while it was a questionable move in the 50s, they have actually liberated the common Tibetan from religious tyranny improving the people's quality of life. Is it necessarily a bad thing for the average Tibetans to be educated, and to learn to make a living in the society, instead of blindly serving the elite lamas and lords as slaves, selling their children to work in the monasteries?

Using religion to rule the people is the ugliest form of governing. Lamas, monks, nuns, priests should all get out of politics.

Molly   March 18th, 2008 1145 GMT

Tenzin – Take a visit to China yourself and find in first hand what you said is all misinformation or complete lies. Don't forget to study the slavery serf systems and torture praticed in pre 1959 Tibet also.

Demosthenes (political analyst)   March 18th, 2008 1200 GMT

In addition, to say that “Tibet is, and always has been a part of China”, is not only incorrect, but completely irrelevant to the argument for Tibetan independence or meaningful autonomy. Firstly, it is incorrect because Tibet was a sovereign kingdom and had no political relations with China until 1279 when the Mongol king Kublai Khan conquered China, founding the Yuan Dynasty. Likewise, the Mongols conquered Tibet, and this is when China first claims Tibet as part of China. However, this is disputed because technically, Tibet was conquered by the Mongols and not the Han Chinese, and China itself was under the rule of a foreign empire based in China. Even then, the Mongols allowed Tibet to be autonomous, while establishing a “priest-patron” relationship where the empire defended Tibet from invaders in times of need, and Tibetan Buddhist lamas became tutors to the emperors by request. When the Yuan dynasty was overthrown by the ethnically Chinese Ming dynasty, Tibetan-Chinese relations continued, but no administrative power was exerted upon it. Later centuries saw China’s increased involvement in Tibetan affairs, especially during the Qing dynasty, up until the turn of the 20th century when the British invaded Tibet in 1904 in order to establish trade agreements with it (independent of China). The Qing dynasty, almost on the brink of collapse, then took an interest once again in Tibet, paid Britain to get out of the region and reestablished strong administrative ties there. However, all this stopped when the Manchurian Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1911 during the reign of the 13th Dalai Lama. The 13th Dalai Lama effectively declared Tibet independent upon his return from exile in 1912. In 1913, the British attempted to create a treaty establishing Tibet as an autonomous region only nominally under Chinese rule. Between 1913 and 1933, Tibet considered itself completely independent and dispelled all Chinese officials and troops from the region. The 14th Dalai Lama maintained this independence until the PLA attacked Tibet and forced Tibetan officials to sign the 17-Point Agreement, which the Dalai Lama later renounced. The US funded a short Tibetan resistance to the Chinese occupation, and later the Dalai Lama escaped and fled into exile in India in 1959. The rest of the history of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) is pretty well known, and characterized by suppression of religious freedoms and civil rights. Later on began the successful attempt to overwhelm the Tibetan majority in Tibet with a Han Chinese majority, now rendering the Tibetans a minority in their own country. There is a short history of the Tibet Question (thanks Melvyn Goldstein).

Now, when considering the right for Tibet to declare itself autonomous and fight for independence, all of the above is completely irrelevant. As far as universal human rights are concerned, if a group of people with a common will to unilaterally declare itself a separate nation and secede from another state, it firmly has the right to do so. The Tibet nation is united in this endeavor, as proven by numerous uprisings against Chinese occupation, unified support for the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE), and the establishment of an international campaign for the world to support Tibetan independence. By now, the TGIE has even established boundaries of what it considers to be Tibet, and so the movement for independence has all the necessary underpinnings for the establishment of a separate nation-state of Tibet. History has very little to do with the right for a group of people to create a new nation-state. For example, did it diminish the right of the colonies established in America by the British to fight for independence, just because they had previously been administrated by Britain? Did the former Soviet satellite states have any less right to national sovereignty just because they had previously been overlorded by the USSR? Of course not, it is absurd to think so, but this is the official rationale of the PRC for keeping Tibet a Chinese-controlled region. We must get beyond the commonly quoted political rhetoric of both sides, and look into what we international humanitarians hold dear, and how an independent Tibet could better uphold Tibetans’ civil liberties than China can (and has in the past).

AG Westport, CT   March 18th, 2008 1204 GMT

Tenzin:
You need to stop daydreaming! China didn't even move into Tibet, Tibet surrendered under terms of treaty!!! And what does this have to do with boycotting the Olympics? Do you seriouly think that Americans can go without buying products at Walmart? Your just shooting your mouth off here because there is nothing else you can do.
What if not everybody wants "freedom"? What if, Americans should stick to their own buisnesses?
Besides, not all Americans are free and have equal rights to "liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." There is still plenty of racial discrimination and hate crimes.
China is not oppresing the Tibetan people. Most of them live their lives happily without making a fuss. But no, some people have to get vilolent. Like those so called peaceful monks who set fires and damaged property, and actually killed people.
CNN is so not biased.

Karina   March 18th, 2008 1216 GMT

FREE TIBET!!!!!!!!!

Karina   March 18th, 2008 1218 GMT

FREE TIBET!!!

Tenzin   March 18th, 2008 1221 GMT

We (Tibetans) had enough of Chinese brutal rule. Yes we are peaceloving people but how would you react if outsiders come into your country forcefully, destroy monesteries, kill people for speaking out for freedom, anyone would fight back in the end. Does the world expect us to smile when our very existence is in danger, we are a minority in Tibet...Cultural Genocide is taking place in Tibet!! Free Tibet, Chinese go out of Tibet. Peace...

dave   March 18th, 2008 1337 GMT

it occurred to me, this whole thing has been good thinking on the part of chinese government.

draw the separatists into the open. let them show the world their true color, that is, violence and terrorism, no different from those who your democratic american government is actively fighting against in afghanistan or mother russia in chechnya. it is easier to capture them on the street than in the mountain. this is a bargaining chip with western powers, just like the whole east turk separatism thing in xinjiang. ok, you wanna us help you in pakistan? now shut up. if you listen to missy candi, she is saying, dude, just don't make it too bloody when you shoot the monks, you know we get caught at gitmo. and the chinese government replies, of course not, ma'am. those use-restraint rhetoric just make me laugh silly.

force the old monk to give up the separatists. of course, his holyness is gonna continue do what he does, but he is gonna have to dissociate from his supporters. in turn, his supporters are gonna get disappointed when he does that.

i say nice work.

tsering wangmo   March 18th, 2008 1345 GMT

what is the use of all this?
we should all go deeply into our mind, becoming aware of all this suffering, both for tibetan and chinese people, and stop it, working for the benefit of all. we are able to do so if we really want and can give up our own interest. we don't have so much time anymore....

dave   March 18th, 2008 1352 GMT

there will be a war between china and the united states, and very likely her allies, in particular, the japan empire, down the road. it is inevitable. it is gonna be a conventional war. it will be a wrestle for power and influence in the western pacific. all those separatist movements, whether in xinjiang, tibet, or taiwan, are getting support from the united states because she wishes to weaken china from many fronts, forcing china to spend her attention from building an ever stronger economy. there is no way china is gonna give up tibet so that india (and the united states) can move in there. i truly believe many of you westerners, regular joes and johns, are concerned about human rights in china. let me assure you, as much as we, regular chinese citizens, wish there was more improvement, we will not hesitate and stand behind our government on our national defense, even if that means shooting a few monks.

lois   March 18th, 2008 1436 GMT

Chinese never burn Tibetans! you always say report the real Tibet, but do you think your media tell u the real situation in Tibet? all photoes and videos what i saw on the CNN and BBC just told me the same story that protestors commit violence to civilians!
do u really the history about China and Tibet? if u know a little, u will know you media tell u too much with prejudice! i feel sorry for u who believe they know the truth from their media.

evonne   March 18th, 2008 1458 GMT

all rubbishes! the people who said "free tibet" , do you know you don't have any rights to talk about the internal affairs of our country. you don't know anything,just echoed what other says!!! are you parrot?do you know Chinese history?why United States free Texas republic or just all pack up and go back to Europe??????

Elena   March 18th, 2008 1517 GMT

It's clear that those who think China did nothing wrong in Tibet (or even to it's own people) has never experienced living under the Communist regime – may be you should try it, there are still a couple of countries that can provide such an opportunity.
And the only reason the rest of the world does not support Tibet is because there's no financial interest involved – so what that if they killed a couple of monks!
We in the West know our rights so well, but that's us, right? WE deserve it but who are THEY to want the same? It's very sad and it's a shame on all who can make a difference.

chinesepeople   March 18th, 2008 1526 GMT

lilly zhu, i think you are not chinese. the true chinese people can't any the same as waht you said!you are a swindler!!!!

Rinzin to kill HANS   March 18th, 2008 1529 GMT

This is for the first time i join and write blogs. the issue is very clear that Tibetan people do not want to live anymore under the chinese rules, whether tibet was free state or not in History. And this right to fight for their rights are guaranteed under Chinese own law. This is known by all free loving people that Tibetan is totally different from Culturally, Ethnically and Geographically from mainland China.

Hence it is wise of China if they respect Rights of Tibetan and give rightful genuine Self Rule to TIBETAN

Blessed   March 18th, 2008 1538 GMT

It's true CNN=Politics. It's NOT true CNN=Facts.

We like to say "God bless America". Folks, we understand that many of our Americans have no knowledge about history at all. Many of us don't even know our own 300 year history. Sad isn't it? That's ok. We do know China has more than 5000 years of history even we don't know much about it. A country survived before Moses came along and before Jesus came along. If a country survived those many years for better for worse, she is blessed.

This riot is not all negative. Before it happened, no one paid any attention to the true history. Now it brings up people's curiosity to search for the true story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOhDBo6×2ZY&feature=related
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Aeldas   March 18th, 2008 1601 GMT

I hear all these comment for Free Tibet and yet when you read the articles and view the pictures you wonder if they knew the term peaceful protest? Why would China want to engaged in this kinda news when it it near the Olympic? So, please read the article and view some of the pictures before you pass the blame to China. I'm don't agree with China's policy..but this time the Tibetian are out to make China look bad before the Olympic it's a shame to use this tactics. Peaceful protest doesn't include rock throwing and burning cars and what not.

Monlam   March 18th, 2008 1603 GMT

Photographic evidence of the bloody crackdown on peaceful protesting Tibetans at Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, on 16 March 2008

WARNING: EXTREMELY DISTURBING PICTURES.

Viewer discretion is advised.

http://meyul.com/2008/03/18/photographic-evidence-of-the-bloody-crackdown/

I hope the world sees it..

For Freedom! For Justice!

http://www.MeYul.com

kalsang   March 18th, 2008 1700 GMT

Monks are supposed to be peaceful. When they are seen doing violent acts then one should wonder what has caused them so much anger. It is time for world to find out what really goes on in Tibet.

Oh! sorry, they can't find out cos the doors have been closed now by the benevolent Communist thugs in Biejing.

John   March 18th, 2008 1710 GMT

Shame on you CNN. You moderated on my post for a whole day and deleted it. I was watching it.

Tibet is a part of China. Like Texas is a part of US.

China has a lot of problems. We are a developing country like most of the countries in the world. We have a painful history in the past 150 years. Chinese people will fight for our own democracy and own freedom. However, Chinese people will fight for the integrity of their motherland with the same passion, if not more.

No single country in the world would give up its land without a fight. No country in the world would tolerate such brutal violence without exerting force. My heart goes to those police officers and soldiers who fought the rioters with batons and shields. From our experience in China, in such kind of situations, they will not be allowed to carry guns. Even if they do, they are not given bullets.

Glen from Oly   March 18th, 2008 1756 GMT

I am outraged by the statements made by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. He is spreading unmitigated lies to the entire world. Do people know how untrue his words are? Do the Chinese people give this man credibility? How more obviously false can the Chinese government be? They violently repress a peaceful demonstration, then they seal off the area and toss out all foreigners so that the truth cannot be known. Then they make telling the truth a crime subject to harsh punishment further ensuring the truth will not be revealed.
The Premiers claim that the Dalai Lama is lying about his position on the violence in Tibet is ludicrous. The Premiers assertion that the Dalai Lama seeks to separate Tibet from China is further evidence of his delusion. To top it off he blatantly calls the Nobel Peace Laureate a liar.
I wonder if Wen Jiabao tells these fabrications for the benefit of his flock who will cling to his every word as gospel, or does he honestly believe that the international community will give him credence?
What is the best action that the international community can take to send a message to Wen Jiabao that we are on to his campaign of dissembling and lies.

Wangmo   March 18th, 2008 1817 GMT

"A lie repeated a hundred times becomes the truth."
-Chairman Mao

http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=425

ellen mesich   March 18th, 2008 1819 GMT

far to long has the communist chinise goverment been occuping Tibet!!!!!!!!!!!! Let Tibet be filled in all directions with Tibetans!!!!!!!!!!
Let His Holyness the 14th Dalai Lama return home, as well as all his Tibetan brothers and sisters!!!!!!!!!!!
FREE TIBET-TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shameless   March 18th, 2008 1825 GMT

All you guys still call it peaceful protest?

Shame on you and you shameless Tibetans

young   March 18th, 2008 1839 GMT

Why do Americans always like everything and anything trendy and rightious for the moment. Do the readers on this blog related or ever born in Tibet, better yet, have you studied the history of CHina?

I oftern find it amusing the Free Tibet people often have no idea what Tibet means to them. Its like i call the USA-USI–United Staes of Indians, how about that? should you give the land back you took and let them for a sepearte state?

dont know   March 18th, 2008 1854 GMT

To Monan and Tazin:

Can you upload some pictures of Chinese store been burned into ashs, Chinese people were beaten, Chinese people were burned to death?Those are also EXTREMELY DISTURBING PICTURES , I hope the whole world will see it too. Where is Justice for Chinese?

dont know   March 18th, 2008 1928 GMT

"When the Chinese came to Tibet they not have enough food to feed the own people, we Tibetans supplied the food." Tenzin, can you tell me where this from? You guys supplied food? then where were you when 3 years starvation began in 50's in China. Thousands of people died in those terrible years. My mum still would not want to recall it everytime we talked about this. Where was Tibet food supply? What did you supply? When did you supply? How much did you supply?

Have you ever been to Tibet? Next time, if you travel to Tibet. Remember not to talk flight, because the airport was Chinese built to culture genocide you Tibetans. Dont take drive roads either, cause all roads are CPC built to dentroy your culture and religion. One more thing, dont take the railway too, thats corruption to your beautiful home. REMEMBER, if you want to be a REAL PATRIOTIC TIBETAN, WALK to TIBET, doesnt matter where you start.

David   March 18th, 2008 1952 GMT

interesting and knowledgeable comment from Demosthenes (political analyst), but seems the right can apply to the colonies of amercican but not native America. haaaaa

Karan   March 18th, 2008 2008 GMT

I am not surprised of the recent events unfolding in Tibet. Tibetans are marginalised in their own country, there is no freedom of expression, schools and clinics over Tibet are in deplorable state. Thousands of han Chinese are immigrating to Tibet every day and the new railway line made it much much easier for the Chinese. Chinese should get the hell out of Tibet and give it back to who it belongs.

DavidL   March 18th, 2008 2049 GMT

There's a fine line between protesting peacefully and rioting. The Dalai Lama has only called his people to stop violence but not denying the very existence of violence of Tibetans against both the Han Chinese and Muslim Chinese. This has elevated to the level of TERRORISM. Killing innocent people does not solve the problem, and if the Han Chinese is causing the problems, killing innocent Muslims is only making it worse. No government in their right mind tolerates terrorism. To those with the pictures, have you seen pictures of people killed in other parts of the world? Does the FBI and CIA reveal them? Does the FSB allow everyone in the world see them?

tete   March 18th, 2008 2054 GMT

Facts are:

- In 1653, Qing Emperor offically gave the title Dalai to the head of Gelug Schools of Buddhism in Tibet. Since then any reincarnation aka successor of Dalai has to be approved and confirmed by Chinese central government.

In 1940 XIV Dalai Lama was officiated by then Chinese central government.

- In 1954 current Dalai Lama became Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committe of the National People's Congress aka the parliment of PRC.

SO, if Tibet had been an independent country then, how came a "foreigner" like Dalai could hold such an important position in the parliment of PRC?

tete   March 18th, 2008 2056 GMT

Why does Spain NOT allow Basque and Catalonia to become independent countries while both regions have their unique culture, languages, music, flags?

If the logic of someone above holds to be true, then we should all agree the followings:

Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Walse!
Free Abkhazia!
Free South Ossetia!
Free Pridnestrovie!
Free Serb-dominated Northern Part of Kosovo!

tete   March 18th, 2008 2100 GMT

Anyone who are really interested in Tibet and Dalai Lama should read:

- "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" by Michael Parenti

- The Shadow of the Dalai Lama – Contents
By Victor & Victoria Trimondi

- An Interview with Victor and Victoria Trimondi (Germany)[/B]
By James C. Stephens

-Behind Dalai Lama's holy cloak
By Michael Backman

So many tibetan   March 18th, 2008 2145 GMT

it is always easy for this so-called spiritual leader in-exile, safely and comfortablly seated in India, to call for peace,non-violence, humanity, love, blah-blah-blah; while secretly instigate and worsen turmoil in Lhasa, leaving his dear people protesting, bleeding and dieing.
God bless all the people hurt and died in Tibet and involved elsewhere.

zly   March 18th, 2008 2214 GMT

Tibetan people are not being treated as second-class citizen in china. Dalai lama's saying is rootless. in fact Tibetian people have been enjoying lots of priorities together with other ethnic minorities in china. For example, China's one child policy is only effect for majority han ethnic, Tibetan people can have more children as they want. Tibeten childern can go to university with much lower graduation exam score than other Han ethnic children. They have been granted special treatment to do business. Dalai lama should not blame that the chinese government don't want have dialogue with him as he is not a sincere person, I always wonder why he was awarded Noble peace price.

Jason Zhang   March 18th, 2008 2236 GMT

I have posted this comment in other CNN articles, this is my view on the Tibetan situation:

First, I have make it clear that I am 100% Chinese and I fully support any decisions / actions of theTibetan people as pertain to their indepenence. I am disgusted by the actions of the Chinese government in their treatment of my Tibetan neighbors whom I consider cousins. However, I also condemn unjust violence towards my Chinese brothers and sisters.
Having lived in the U.S., I deal with it everyday and I know to a much lesser degree of how it feels to be view as second class citizen, to be view as different and treated differently. Now to live in your own country and treated this way must be a hundred time worst.
At no point am I shock by the actions of the Chinese government. Basic freedoms of speech and religion have been all but abolished in China until recently. During the cultural revolution, my grandparents land and property were seized and my father force to reformation work camps where estimated millions had died and suffered.
I believed a majority of the Chinese community is in full support of the Tibet. Wheather Tibet wishes to annex or be separate from China should absolutely be the decision of its own people. I believe we have to within all our power to avoid another tragedy such that which bestowed upon Native Indian; on this very land in which Americans reside on.
In order to have kind of success / progress to be made in Tibet; we need the support from everyone. To start off, the UN have to sanction the Chinese Communist Government for their treatment of Tibetans. I was born and lived the first decade of my life in China. China have a very strong hold on the media and most people in China are unaware of any “negative” news happening elsewhere outside their own regions.
I am interested in hearing from all on how we can resolve this. Feel free to write to me at jayzhangpronto@yahoo.com.
FREE TIBET !!!

Claro   March 18th, 2008 2309 GMT

The legacy of Mao and his successors also includes Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the Maoists in Nepal, northern India, and affiliated infiltrators in independent Bhutan trying to destabilize the region, along with the New People's Army in the Philippines- each and all falsely promoting a "people's liberation." The facts reveal the truth of Chinese communist/Maoist propagandastic lies and the kind of brutality of action ordered by these leaders. If there ever will be purging to be done- may the purging begin with Chinese leaders, and restore the independence of Tibetan people, Uighur people, and other peoples in China, like what happened when the USSR finally collapsed under the weight of its own denial and arrogance.

Jon   March 19th, 2008 002 GMT

If you want to see the result of communist controlled government, education & media, read the many comments under this CNN story. It is amazing the immediate knee-jerk reaction you get out of people that were raised under the current Chinese government: comparison of Tibet to the US & Native Americans; blame Western support, including many European countries, on the US; claim "Tibet always belonged to China", when in fact China was formed by many separate people groups being conquered by another; compare the Hawaii to Tibet, when Hawaii native people groups are not being bred out of existence and having their culture destoyed. Finally, think about this: there are posts on this web site that both support the Chinese government, and those that do not. Try doing the same thing on sina.com and see what happens to your comment.

Anynomous   March 19th, 2008 105 GMT

Why isn't the chinese Govt. letting the foreign media get into Tibet and see what is happening rather than filtering everything that is appropriate for them. Isn't that something to be questioned if they think that they are not lying to the world. Why don't they show everything rather than censoring the International press and showing their own media coverage which is going to cover all the misdeeds done by the Govt. Saddens me that this world doesn't glorify humanity and stand for the truth.

Anynomous   March 19th, 2008 204 GMT

I love Tibet and CNN!

david   March 19th, 2008 206 GMT

No worries.

California was invaded by US Army about 150 years ago. The US flooded California with immigrants from allover the world with predominately white folks. The US is the world leading power and economic 150 years later. The Californians are happy today and Mexicans all want to move to California across the border.

Tibet was invaded by the Moguls and Hans, whatever you want to call it. 100 years from now, China will be the leading power and economic in the world. The Tibetans will be happy then. All the people from the neigboring countries all want to move to Tibet.

Crystal   March 19th, 2008 221 GMT

In the United States of America, you know what these "protesters" are called? They’re called TERRORISTS. Here, millions of tax dollars are put into tailing these people, bugging their homes, throwing them in jails, and DECLARING WARS ON THEIR COUNTRIES TO FIND THEIR CRIMINAL MASTERMIND IN CAVES IN AFGHANISTAN. Did you see the Chinese government telling Bush to NEGOTIATE with Osama Bin Laden?! Did you see Chinese Premier Hu raise international fervor when Iraq ignored the U.S.’s Ultimatum and the United States declared WAR?! So far the protesters ignored the Chinese deadline, and what. bloody. business does the U.S. State Department and Condoleeza Rice recommend "restraint" when they themselves went on to an invasion of a foreign country without the approval of the United Nations?!

When a region is under civil unrest, the government’s’ responsibilities are to ensure the safety and well-being of her citizens and STOP the violence through force, if needed. The rant continues: http://tinyurl.com/2juavj

Eric   March 19th, 2008 228 GMT

No to monks in politics. No to inherited dictatorship. No to mixing religion with politics.

Soon   March 19th, 2008 235 GMT

What's happenning there is sad and does not look good for the Tibetans, but on the other hand – the Soviet empire fell, ROME fell... My heart goes to all the peple who live in Tibet, regardless of thier ethnicity – after all their government is not the one you disagree with, regardless of who you are.
Just wish i could contribute more than writing and praying – any ideas anyone?

lily   March 19th, 2008 237 GMT

Do not comment with prejudice and arrogance before knowing the truth. I do not think it's "protest" while so many innocent people were being beaten and even killed, so many shops were destroyed and burned, by the so called "monks"! It's not just "protest", it was truly violence!

Tony Olivas   March 19th, 2008 251 GMT

Violent crimes against non-Tibetan Chinese
==================================
The world should know the Tibetan rioters commit violent crimes against non-Tibetan Chinese, and should condemn these crimes. I saw the videos on youtube. These YouTube videos intentionally do not show the violent attack on non-Tibetan Chinese on motorcycle, the Tibetans setting fires and looting shops. I saw these videos on other websites. These are criminals !

China, U.S.A. etc do not condone independent or separatist moves by their citizens. Chinese reaction to these moves are
=============================
similar to those taken by U.S.A. against Puerto Ricans,
===========================================
Hawaiians and Indians, by United Kingdom against Irish etc..
=============================================
Only difference is the non-Chinese governments do it more covertly.

Many Tibetans do not learn how to read and write Chinese. You can not usually get good jobs without those skills unless
you have technical skills etc..
People who live in the United States of America who do not read and write English usually work in low paying menial jobs like washing dishes, landscaping, fast food restaurant cooks etc. This is the same in Europe.

China should send all the Tibetan criminals to the USA or Europe. Let these countries have the "freedom fighters" much like Fidel Castro send all the Cuban criminals to U.S.A.

The Dalai Lama opposes violence. The violence against non-Tibetan Chinese shows he has very little influence over the rioters.

Sha   March 19th, 2008 315 GMT

Free America, Free scotland, Free Northern Ireland, Free Hawaii, Free Quebec!

Asian   March 19th, 2008 337 GMT

Tibetans!!
Never forgive your dream!!

Chinese should give Tibetans what they want.
And freedom-loving nations in the world should support Tibetans.
If we stay in silence in this Tibetan's Independence and Freedom Movement, sometime our freedom also could be in danger.

This Tibetan's Movement reminds me of korea's 3.1independence movement in 1919.
At that time(when Japan had been conquerring Korea), there was no hope, but Korea's Independence was finally achieved.

So Tibetans!!
Never forgive your dream!!
We who love Independence and Freedom are always with you.
And your dream will finally come true like us.

chinaeagles   March 19th, 2008 341 GMT

As far as I know Tibetans are very nice people. China is consists of multple races while the tibetans are the most peaceful people becaseu they believe in Buddhism. However, this turmoil changed this idea totally in China. People are so surprised that some tibetans are so violent. Most people known to be killed so far are han people, victims of the turmoil. Although there are reports that some tibetans got killed by the goverment, no proof so far. I would not be surprised if some tibetans got killed because they attack stores, set fires, rob banks. However, I am do surprised that so far no such evidence revealed to support the death of tibetans. Except that, a new turmoil unknow to the outside world is occurring inside the han society of china. Extreme believers of nationalism are becomeing more and more active in the internet mediated virtual society. Relative to the more and more violent tibetans, this change indicates a more dangerous conflict is merging. Although most chinese still believes in the Chairman Mao's policy: we must unite all the minority nations of the country, and we are all sisters and brothers, this policy is thought as out of time by lots of extreme nationalists. Although most of these extreme nationalists are simply orally nationalists, they have no ball to put their nazi screams into action, they are spreading these nazi ideas on the internet, causing a severe conflict among chinese. The international society should notice that, a bloody confict between tibetans and chinese is a huge tragedy to chinese, to tibetan, to dalai lama, to the chinese goverment, and to the world. Please make all the effort to calm down the situation other than make it more hot. Please report the turmoil in tibet with a more impartial style, other than the picture shown in this post, which only displays the army vehicle buth hide out the stone throwing tibetans on the right side of the picture. This picture makes chinese very angry about the position of CNN, which have been believed to be professional and impartial, which is highly doubed by lots of chinese.

Jason Zhang   March 19th, 2008 347 GMT

Second Attempt in posting this blog.

First, I have make it clear that I am 100% Chinese and I fully support any decisions / actions of theTibetan people as pertain to their indepenence. I am disgusted by the actions of the Chinese government in their treatment of my Tibetan neighbors whom I consider cousins. However, I also condemn unjust violence towards my Chinese brothers and sisters.
Having lived in the U.S. , I deal with it everyday and I know to a much lesser degree of how it feels to be view as second class citizen, to be view as different and treated differently. Now to live in your own country and treated this way must be a hundred time worst.
At no point am I shock by the actions of the Chinese government. Basic freedoms of speech and religion have been all but abolished in China until recently. During the cultural revolution, my grandparents land and property were seized and my father force to reformation work camps where estimated millions had died and suffered.
I believed a majority of the Chinese community is in full support of the Tibet . Wheather Tibet wishes to annex or be separate from China should absolutely be the decision of its own people. I believe we have to within all our power to avoid another tragedy such that which bestowed upon Native Indian; on this very land in which Americans reside on.
In order to have kind of success / progress to be made in Tibet ; we need the support from everyone. To start off, the UN have to sanction the Chinese Communist Government for their treatment of Tibetans. I was born and lived the first decade of my life in China . China have a very strong hold on the media and most people in China are unaware of any “negative” news happening elsewhere outside their own regions.

I am interested in hearing from all on how we can resolve this. Feel free to write to me at jayzhangpronto@yahoo.com.

FREE TIBET !!!

Kenneth   March 19th, 2008 402 GMT

Please understand that China never occupied Tibet. There were civil war in China in the 40s and the communist party defeated the nationalist (democrat) to take control over China. The communist party united all parts in China again. Tibet was part of China before that and will always be part of China in the future.

Why no more say a word about IRAQ when Americans occupied their land for 5+ years?? Is there a double standard here? Just because a country label themselves as "communist" and they automatically be put into the axis of evil?? Anyone who studies China history or been to China knows the "communism" no longer exist anymore. If these people are crying for "Free Tibet", they should help cry for the "Free Iraq" slogan because there are literally thousands of people dying there every month. "FREE IRAQ" "FREE IRAQ" "FREE IRAQ"

Anyway, I think I am writing for nothing because the moderator will not post this message.... but hey, at least I send a message to the modertator to let him or her know that by eliminating my message, he/she is committing a crime for banning my free speech right....

Jimloy   March 19th, 2008 404 GMT

Look at what happen to Kosovo? Are the people of Kosovo more happy before the Independence?

Only the West are allowed to say who can be Independent and who cannot?

Once you touch on their own country, the double standard comes out.

We should also boycott British Olympics. Let Ireland to be independent too? Let all the parties who demanded indepent from the Western Countries and let see whether all these western country can allow them or not?

FREE TIBET   March 19th, 2008 434 GMT

TIBET was a free country in the past....untill the chinese took over in the 1950s....everybody has the right to freedom!!! m sure everyone knows how it feels to b FREE.....even the CHINESE!!!
give TIBET its freedom...let them breath the air of freedom for all times to come!!.. we r brothers....we belong to the same MONGOLOID race..why should brothers fight against eachother!!!!

PLEASE FREE TIBET.....

MY best wishes to the Dalai lama and all the tibetans in the world!!! MAY GOD BESTOW YOU WITH FREEDOM IN 2008!!

chjyc   March 19th, 2008 551 GMT

can't agree more with "It’s true CNN=Politics. It’s NOT true CNN=Facts"

Sir – even the picture you use here is edited – it's only the left-hand-side of the original picture. what a clown. talking about the role of media

i can't help wondering what perspective is this. it does look to me that CNN is trying very hard to make china look bad

not trying to say who's right who's wrong here. so do tibetans have rights to burn down shops / kill people? how is that so holy and china gvmt has no right to look into it? so US gvmt would do nothing when some people suddenly decided they are not treated fairly hence they have rights to beat up the so-called "winning side" and burn down their houses? remember what you guys did to the native americans?

and how much do you know about chinese history – do you even speak Chinese or Tibetan? do you know some lama used to have drums the surface of which is made of human skin of tibetan slaves?

all i can say is different parties have their agendas.

waiting to see whether this comment gets posted

gyalpot   March 19th, 2008 552 GMT

The Chinese commentators here first of all, do not have the faintest idea of Tibet and Tibetans except the brainwashing education that they received from their atheist government. Evidence of this can be seen from the fact that they all say the same Communist concocted mumbo jumbo of how Tibet became part of China. This, by the way, is totally false historical representation of what took place. If we accept this logic, then I’m sad to say, China is part of Mongolia, since the Mongols ruled China.
What is amazing is that they don’t even know their own history, forget about Tibet! Slavery was practiced in China up until the early 1940s. China also considered women as inferior beings and slaves to their husbands, binding and deforming their feet so that they don’t run away. Then there is the issue of Japanese occupation of Manchuria. China makes a hue and cry about Japanese brutality and persecution, while doing the same to Tibetans. From your own documents it states that 1.2 million Tibetans were killed (considering communist governments habit of lying, the figures could be much higher).
Then there is the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, where thousands of your students died, your own leaders blatantly claimed that no one died.
China calls the invasion of Tibet in 1959 a “Peaceful Liberation”, yet there was nothing peaceful about it when you invade unarmed people with Tanks, cannons and war planes loaded with bombs. The indiscriminate use of bombs, artillery and tanks on unarmed women and children on March 10, 1959 in Lhasa was cowardly and totally inhuman act of savagery. Approximately, 8 thousand unarmed civilians were murdered that day!
And during your 49 years of illegal rule in Tibet, what have you done that China is so proud of. Tibetans are ten times worse of under Chinese rule than our own government.

andy   March 19th, 2008 603 GMT

"treat Tibetan as second class people?"
that is nonsense!
it is the globalization that do the "cultural genocide" of Tibet, not chinese goverment! culture is dying all around the world, including han's culture itself!

chinaeagles   March 19th, 2008 634 GMT

It is true that Tibet became a part of china in a relatively short time ago, which is about 2-300 years ago. At that time, california and texus and lots of other states are not a part of the united states yet. Now what, does the United States give your states the freedom of leaving the U.S.? No way, right? Don't tell me that your states do not wanna to separate, they tried, didn't they? They were crashed by extreme violent power of the U.S. army. It is true, right? So stop telling me that tibet has the freedome of being independent, any separation movement has their own reason, which does not necessary means it is a right thing to do, or feasible. The political reality of this world determines that tibet can only be indepdendent from china when china is too weak to keep it dependent.
However, China have the power to keep tibet with china doesnot necessary this relationship has tobe a cruel one. Being a part of china is supposed to be a good choice. I am very sorry that chinese goverment have not realize how to satisfy tibetans. they though a developing economy and an increasing salary can make tibetans happy. More or less it maybe true, lots of people told me that tibetans people are satisfied with this improvement. However, the very nature of tibetans is that they need region, they need to pray Dalai lama, as much as they need the air and water. Chinese goverment doesn't understand this desire, lots of chinese people doesn't understand this point. They are confused that why tibetans are still so unhappy and want to be independent after inland part of china has contribute huge amount of treasure to tibet. This is a huge misunderstanding which cost the lifes in this turmoil.

QZ   March 19th, 2008 635 GMT

What defines "crackdown"? It seems that many are simply throwing buzzwords around and relying on the negative connotations instead of logic to do the arguing.

Because if a crackdown is what's needed to suppress a riot, then by all means crack down.

brianchon   March 19th, 2008 649 GMT

>>>>>>>
does the chinese leaderhip has any sense of conscience, any sense of shame and guilt? I wonder how they would feel if they were treated the same way they treat the tibetans in tibet.
>>>>>>>

Please substitute western contries for Chinese and Chinese for Tibetans.

We Chinese had been treated much worse than that for over 100 years. When you westerners consider to return those grabbed Chinese treasures, then we can talk about justice.

dechen   March 19th, 2008 701 GMT

it is disheartening to read the comments that disparage the tibetan people. i, myself, am tibetan. many of my relatives died as a direct result of china's 'peaceful liberation' of tibet. tibetans are simply seeking the right to live in peace. tibetans have been silent for so long. too scared to do anything under chinese rule. in tibet it is illegal to own a picture of the dalai lama much less utter the hope of a 'free tibet'? is this any way to live? for anyone? tibetans have been doing it for too long. and tibetans are finally revolting against the repression. i pray for peace and freedom for tibetans and the chinese.

Jimloy   March 19th, 2008 704 GMT

For those who have not been to China, my adice is that please go to
China yourself and see for yourself what is happening in China now.

Do not forced your value system on other people? Those who used the world Communist China, please go to China and see for yourself.

Show me which part of China look like communist?

Do you think it is easy to feed 13 billion people and turns billion to become middle class income group?

Look at your own country first. May be your country is more communist than China.

The problem with China now is they are more capitalist than capitalist.

Furthermore how much do you know about communism- if communist system can really work out. Why not? Communist system cannot work not because of the system, it is because of human greed and men are born to be selfish.

John   March 19th, 2008 705 GMT

As a frequent visitor to Tibet living in Nepal, I would like to draw attention to the control that China exerts over Tibet and beyond. These recent demonstrations in Lhasa are unprecedented since 1989, not because the Tibetans are content with Chinese rule, but rather, that the control in the Tibetan regions of China is such that any minor, political incident is quickly and firmly quashed by the ever-present security forces. It is virtual suicide for Tibetans to demonstrate on the streets of Lhasa and elsewhere in the Tibetan regions of China. If this is not the case, why are the Chinese so determined to keep independent foreigner witnesses, in general, and journalists, in particular, out of the region? While the Chinese government constantly maintain that what goes on in Tibet is “the internal affair of China”, we have seen increasing interference outside China when it comes to controlling Tibetan demonstrations, or any other activities for that matter. The Greek police were flanked by Chinese officials while they arrested peaceful Tibetan demonstrators in Athens; here in Nepal, Chinese from the Embassy were practically ordering the Nepalese police to arrest the Tibetans on the 10th March. Furthermore, in their determination to show the world that China is a progressive, developed country and that the “minorities” are an integral, contented part of it, the Chinese have chosen Everest, the pinnacle of the world, which happens to be in Tibet, as the place to light the Olympic torch. In order to avoid any untoward political activities, in spite of insisting that the recent demonstrations were the work of a few, violent, Tibetan “splittists” from the “Dalai clique”, the Chinese authorities have taken the precaution to close not only Tibet but also Everest from the Nepalese side. If they have that much control of their neighbour, image how much control they have inside Tibet?
The control that the authorities have over the media in China, means that the Chinese people are unable to hear an-unbiased reports. As with the Soviet Uniion, one day the state control will come tumbling down and with it, all the lies. How many times does the Dalai Lama have to say: “I do not want full independence for Tibet”, only to be told by the Chinese that they won’t speak to him because he DOES want “full independence for Tibet”?

Asian   March 19th, 2008 713 GMT

Why can't chinese give freedom and independence to Tibetans?
I think Tibetans want freedom to death.

Why can't USA and cnn tell the truth about Tibetan's Independence Movement?
I think USA and cnn tells and works for their benefit.

Recently, Especially about Tibetan's Independence Movement I can't believe YOUR(usa and cnn) conscience and report.

George Bush   March 19th, 2008 747 GMT

Many comments are simple, naive and even STUPID here - not only because they do not have any sense about the Chinese history, also because they don't have any idea about the US history. Minorities including Tibetans get the best policies from the Chinese government: from birth control to education entrance level etc. Never did China restrict the Tibetans in a small area which the Indians (the aboriginals of North America) suffered and are now suffering. So SHUT UP AND GO BACK WHERE YOUR ANTECEDENTS CAME FROM AND FREE THE INDIANS, NOW!!!

Tibet for Tibetans   March 19th, 2008 804 GMT

Why can't China just get out of Tibet?? Let Tibet belong to Tibetans. Linguistically and culturally they are very different. I've been to Tibet and witnessed firsthand the type of oppression that many of these Tibetans endure. They just want the right to practice their culture but cities like Lhasa are so populated by the Hans that Tibetans have become a minority in their own country. I am ashamed as a citizen of the world that we just sit back and watch as this goes on. Years, maybe a centuries from now, the future generation will think of us and judge us for our apathy. Let's stand up and actually do something worthwhile. Let's fight for Tibetans who've made it very clear that they need our support in attaining freedom.

p.k.mudliar   March 19th, 2008 805 GMT

The Tibet crisis is a testing time for world community. If they fail to support Tibet in it's struggle, it will be shameful, as it will show that the world community is not at all bothered about the suffering of those who believe in peace. To keep aloof from the happenings of
Tibet will imply tacit support to violent movements world over, because that will show only violence is noted by world community.

chinaeagles   March 19th, 2008 834 GMT

oh, asian, you are so modest that you just asked two why. Let me give you more:
why can't usa just give freedom and independence to the southern states in the civil war? I think red necks want freedom to death.
why so many goverments just refuse to give freedom and independence to any separation movement? Like north ireland?
Why can't CNN just be more professional so that to show your reader a more complete picuture in your article but not a modified one which is intentionally modified to make chinese goverment looks ugly and tibetans looks more innocent?
why, why, why, why the hell you know so little about tibet and what is happening and has so much to comment? Why can not you understand that no one like what happened, even dalai lama threaten to resign to keep his control over the separation movement in a desperate manner, and finanlly, why you, in such an positive manner, even believe that freedom and independence is something like a gift that can ge given away?

chjyc   March 19th, 2008 843 GMT

gyalpot – DON'T YOU DARE mention the japanese occupation of Manchuria – how about having some japanese people intruding your country for whatever holy reasons they think they have and rape your daughters/wives/moms then kill hundreds of thousands of your fellow countrymen? you would sit back emotionless and think about who rules who quoting histories as analogy? is that how you would react?

everyone's view is biased. there's hardly any truth, only interpretation from different perspectives

and I dare say lots of chinese people living in china don't give a da*n about whether or not tibet is independent. let them be if they think they can be better-off that way. there's only one thing most people care about – peace

at the end of the day it's all racism. so cnn-s alike – stop sitting on the high horse and accusing china of this and that. where were you people when the real human tragedies happened in rwanda?
give me a break

and those who think they know everything about china from reading news online. if you really want to learn about what is happening – learn chinese, go to china and see if for yourself. otherwise mind your own business might be a better idea

Eric   March 19th, 2008 843 GMT

I find it tough to support the Dalai Lama. His rise to power among the elitist lamas is much questionable.

Ironically, the Chinese Prime Minister's rise to power is far more transparent than the what can be said of the Dalai Lama.

Inherited Holiness from reincarnation? Give me a break.

Very surprised so many people believing in democracy would support the lama cronies. I suppose its nice to befriend with Hollywood stars.

chinaeagles   March 19th, 2008 943 GMT

dechen:
nice talk and I think I understand you. I am a chinese and do not support tibet independence. However, I also believe that you definitely have the right to decide what to worship. I am sorry that our goverment (if it doesn't insult you so much, which I am hopping) made lots of mistakes on this issue. Please think in this way, in the culture revolution, they simply destroied almost the whole chinese history, not only tibet's, but also in the inland china. It was a hard time. I am really sorry that you suffered in those years, although we also suffered, and the goverment didn't do that specifically to tibet, I still feel sorry because you are new to the family and have no idea about the temper of the family head.
However, I also want to tell you that, tibet have had a very close relationhip with china since the qin dynasty, to be more frankly, tibet is actually governed by the qin dynasty, each dalai name have to be admitted by the emperor to be official. The biggest mistake that PRC made is not governing tibet, but do it in a wrong way. I even want to say that, they didn't make that mistake intentially. After the culture revolution, when the whole china inland are has more freedom, I do not know what happens in tibet. I guess more or less there are some improvement. However, the experience the goverment get from the inland china reform give them an idea that people will be easily satisfied with improved living quality. They simply didn't realized that dalai lama and religion is such an important thing to you. I know they are sturband. Just think about what they did in 1989 in Beijing. Shame on them. I do not know what happened there in tibet so have no comment. Anyway, my point is, PRC goverment is not a good one, however, it is the one that we have to live with at this time, and it is still posible to talk some sense into this goverment if you know the right way to do it. I do not think a separated tibet will do your people any good, I believe that is why dalai lama also agree to stay within china.
After all, I want you to know that most of chinese think you as a family, we all have a rough familiy head. We do not want to see your suffer. We want to understand you more so we can make things better. Please tell you people that do not think han chinese as your enemy, but some one want to be your family. We suffered together, and we will have a futuer together.

Adam   March 19th, 2008 948 GMT

Over 90% of messegers writter are exiled Tibetans and the people who have no idea of the true story.
Have your eyes open and ears open, have you seen the picture that shown a Han Chinese was striked by more than 10 tibetans with stones and crabsticks. Is this called "human right"?
In the past 50 years, More than hundred thousands Han Chinese younths went to Tibet to build road and railway in the thousand meter high moutain,and built other society infrastructures for Tibetans and many of them died for this. What a tremduous sacrifice Han Chinese do give Tibetans in the past 50years ! For me , what give me a remarked impression is that every Tibetans can get subsidy without conditions in my univerisity ( China Nanjing).
For Tibet issue , it is China interior affair, no need any other third party to interfere it. I believe Chinese centre government can handle with it very well. From the history, every one in the world knows that Tibet is blong to China since Yuan Dynasty( A.D.1271).

Adam   March 19th, 2008 956 GMT

Does any country allow their belonging -province which want to independent to free them to separate? If it is happening in your country , what is your idea?

xiaoyao   March 19th, 2008 1000 GMT

I am from China and I have a my roommates back in university, he volunteered to go Xi Zang ( this is the real name of Tibet in Chinese) and taught students there for a whole year in 2004. From what he told me and the things I saw, the people there are getting along with each other very well – the students repect him very much and their parents are very supportive of teacher's job. And I can tell you that the number such graduate students going there are in thousands very year. Please do not label this as the culture colonize – they are teaching Math, English ( i think this is your culture ), Phisics.

You also need to know that the Chinese central government spend like billions of dollars tax money from inland provinces to support the welfare and economy developments there. The normal living standards are much more better than my hometown Gansu. I admit that they have their own spiritual pursuit, but i did not see any reason for them to riot.

violet   March 19th, 2008 1006 GMT

Tibetan just like aborigines of Taiwan who they lived in their motherland but couldn't obtain the real respect in twenty or more than twenty years ago.I can totally understand the kind of feeling.
Also I can understand why Chinese so believed in the government told a lot of lies. News control is the very powerful tool. Chinese people need to open their eyes, open their mind.

be true   March 19th, 2008 1016 GMT

Why Buddhist monks involve in politics and join in the protest???
How the Buddhist holy place toying with the idea of "independence"???
China history is Buddhist based culture. There are many different race groups and dialects groups in China as well as every other countries in the world!!!
Every family has issue, similarly every country has issue too, but some outsiders come to help and some come to add more fire that caused the current situation.
There is no real independence in this world.

Chen   March 19th, 2008 1218 GMT

China is NOT communist. It is socialist. And Americans need to let other countries run their government and get the heck out of it. Would you like it if there were dozens of international presses in America? What about the Spitzer scandal and the New Jersey governor? Part of Obama's campaign money came through illegal sources. So what gives Americans the right to criticize others?

Kenneth   March 19th, 2008 1229 GMT

Because some Holywood stars support the "Free Tibet" movement, it has become a fashion. It's more like a Versace or LV, everyone must own one. A lot of people join the bandwagon because they think it's cool... because they have hatred against the Chinese people.. because they have nothing better to do?? They hate Chinese because:
(1) China is the world factory and it has taken a lot of the blue collar jobs away from US, UK, France, Germany...etc. Is it the Chinese fault? Blame the greedy corporations!!
(2) China has a "communist" government. If I dress like a punk, people will see me as a gangster even though I always do charitable work. Don't mention you had been o China if your last trip was in the 70s or 80s. Nowadays, the big cities in China are comparable to NYC or London... Where do you see communism in China???
(3) Chinese immigrants tend to work harder in foreign nations than their domestic local people because second class citizens must work hard to earn a little respect from others. This always draw jealous from the locals and they wonder why Chinese live better house or drive better cars....
(4) In the Western media, Chinese are always portrait as slanted eyes, yellow skins, ugly hair and ugly mouth..... I don't know what to say, maybe these people are still living in the Vietname era....

One more, the Nazi killed millions of Jews and that was a big deal... how about the Nanjing massacre done by the Japanese?! We lost a million lives also, but do any Western countries care??

Anyway, in short, whatever the Western world say or do is always right. They always want to impose their will on others and tell others what to do. Since there are a lot of stubborn people here, it is a waste of breath to talk to them. Let's chant "FREE IRAQ!!! FREE IRAQ!!!"

For the exiled Tibetans (especially those who were brain washed), while you call for "free Tibet", let's be fair and also call for these:

Free the Iraqis from the Americans!
Free the Kurds from the Iraqis!
Free the Native Indians from the Americans!
Free the Aborigines from the Australians!
Free the North Ireland from English!
Free Serb-dominated Northern Part of Kosovo!
Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Walse!
Free Abkhazia!
Free South Ossetia!
Free Pridnestrovie!

Or better yet, find an unclaim piece of land and start your own country!!

Kenneth   March 19th, 2008 1307 GMT

It's okay for a western country to occupy another country because she is fighting "Terrorism" or she thinks she is fighting terrorism....

China is trying to secure its country so the atheletes from around the world can enjoy a peaceful event in August. China should start using "terrorism" so the West can their big mouth right?!

I am sure in 2012, the British will use this "terrorism" excuse to fight any riot....

Tendol   March 19th, 2008 1400 GMT

A Chinese supporter Jim said in one of the comments above 'I’ve been to Tibet, most Tibetans are a pretty rough crowd, they are uneducated and many are pretty violent.' But Chinese govt claims to have opened lots of schools in tibet and educated many tibetans. quite a contrast.

another chinese guy said that the conditions in china were very good for him and that he went to usa to study. ever heard of any tibetan in tibet being send abroad to study? and even after being send to a democratic country and being so highly educated, people dont realise that human rights is most important for the human spirit. chinese abroad have not been arrested or killed for carrying a picture of Mao or anyone they want to.

The protest is about the 50 years of torture the tibetans faced in tibet for china. its about tibet and china. so abusing USA or any other country here is pointless. this issue is to be solved by dialogue between the 2 countries. but since china fails to comply to do so sincerely, UN should intervene. but it seems the UN is to sissy to be of any use. they goofed off in iraq, this is a chance for them to redeem their stauts as peace makers. the time for condemning words is over, its time for some action.

Juan   March 19th, 2008 1422 GMT

What is the big picture here? Riots too close to the Beijing Olympics...

David   March 19th, 2008 1546 GMT

Is that so called "peaceful demostration"? Why the monks participated in the violence?
I will never believe whatever DaLai Lama said, he is an absolutely liar !
Damn these mobs! they are really terrorists!

HistoryOfTibet   March 19th, 2008 1624 GMT

If CNN=Politics and CNN=Facts, you would present this message. Otherwise, I know at lease one of our Americans was educated on history knowledge. One at a time is not bad either.

Tibet is located in an area that is about 4000 meters above sea level and is isolated before Chinese build roads. Because of these characteristics of the region, most of the people didn't want to get in there back in the days when the technology was not very advanced. Mongolians and Manchurians were very aggressive people in terms of expending their territory. When they took over the power, they did not fool around. Therefore, both of them threatened Tibet's authority. What did Tibetan Lamas do? They chose Mongolians to be their parents or political protector if you will, as well as Manchurians. It was the best choice in order to avoid military conflict, and they wouldn't lose anything back in the old days. They knew that people wouldn't want to get into their territory anyways because the land is difficult to grow food and it has enormous high altitude. Hadn't Tibetan Lamas chosen such political decision, game had been over long time ago. They knew that they would never be able to win a war. They played the same game when British came along. When Mao took over the power of China, things were changed. Mao was an aggressive Chinese political leader. He was a Chinese with Mongolian's and Manchurian's aggressive personality, and he was good at winning the battles. Remember the Korean War and Vietnam War? Americans lost both of the wars in his hands with even better weapons. He was not satisfied with the victory of the Civil War over Guomin Party; he wanted to rebuild the map of China that was built by early Qing emperors. Mao did as much as he could. Dalai Lama made miscalculated political decision. A, he chose a wrong parent, America and its CIA. B, he fled out of Tibet and betrayed Panchen Lama. He did follow what his ancestor's old political idea – choose a political parent as far as possible so that Tibet can be left alone. However, the world had been changed in a great deal by technology in the mid-twentieth century and he was dealing with a whole new different China. Do you think that China will give up Tibet? Fat chance!

amigo   March 19th, 2008 1633 GMT

For outsiders it’s easy to declare support or opposition toward independence of Tibet. But please be rational, folks, there are plenty of other regions in the world that deserve the same right of independence. Let’s not talk about history, but talk about about messing up the world order since the WWII. To put human rights on top of everything seems fair to everyone, but unrealistically naive. Even for all the Western nations who think they can look down the others in terms of human rights and a variety of other issues, they too have enormous numbers of problems. To put it in an ancient proverb from China, “people who ran 50 steps laugh at those who ran 100 steps after beaten by the enemy”. And the enemy, of course, is the egocentricity of the human kind, nobody, and no nation is exempt from that.
What the dirty politics plays in this kind of game, not surprisingly, is to beat China with such a stick that could potentially halt its development and force it to deal with this issue. Why? Because everybody in the Western world has been experiencing the rising of another great power, which also carries a totally different ideology from the Western countries and no one from this side wants to see what we are afraid of becomes a true reality.

Open your eyes   March 19th, 2008 1657 GMT

This is my third attempt in trying to post on this forum. I hope CNN will respect my freedom of expression!

For some videos you wouldn't see on CNN, just google the following key words: "lhasa riots truth you never see uncut video".

It is very clear to me that the organized violence of this magnitude against civilians should never be supported. So western media, please stop using the phrase "peaceful protest", which implants the wrong impression in people's minds.

I don't think there is any legitimate religion that condones the use of violence to advance religious beliefs or freedoms. I think there are three possible justifications for religion-inspired violence:
1) The religion has low moral principles and is probably more of a cult;
2) There is something misinterpreted about the teachings of the religion; or
3) Religion is only used as an excuse for the violence.

To justify the images you see as efforts to strive for religious freedom is a way of beautifying it, but a weak one at best.

The truth of the matter is, world politics is not an easy issue. There are always two sides to a story. Do I believe that US-led, British supported invasion on Iraq was justified by the mysterious weapons of mass destruction? I don't know. Were innocent civilians killed as collateral damage? Should government be allowed to censor information or tap your phone line in the name of national security? Human rights seem to be a relative issue when you think about it. There is always trade-off between human rights and national security, no matter what country you're in. Consider this exaggerated scenario: If some rich Oil king purchase a piece of desert in Nevada, populate it with his people and decide to declare independence, would the US just respect that?

amigo   March 19th, 2008 1708 GMT

"West’s reaction to Tibet unrest reveals widespread hypocrisy"
from the Kentucky Kernel
Shame on your CNN, you've kept blocking my comments for days, dare you publish this?

beachsand   March 19th, 2008 1717 GMT

Riot in Tibet, who is the biggest loser? The western media!
The Chinese officials dropped ball when they blocked report access to the
terrorist attack in Tibet. However, can you blame them?

Just check out the news coverage on CNN, BBC, Fox, MSNBC…what a joke!
Photos are edited, Nepal police are labeled Chinese army, ambulances are
called police vehicles, locals helped injured were called “being taken away
by plain clothed police”. As more footage becomes available, the world
will see just how “peaceful” these protesters are. It may not sound good
but the western media is just a brain washing machine as powerful as the
Chinese government.

There are numerous western literatures on Tibet research. Check out the
history research before your self righteous speech. The Chinese policy on
Tibet is far from perfect and what happened during Culture Revolution is a
tragedy for all Chinese, not only Tibetans. As Melvyn C Goldstein pointed
clearly in his book “The Snow Lion and The Dragon”, the Tibet problem is
not all about religion, not all about freedom, it’s ALL ABOUT TERRITORY!

I don’t believe Dalai Lama is firmly behind the violence. It’s those out
of his control young Tibetans who are born out side Tibet and had never been
to Tibet. Just imagine these violence happens in Dallas, Houston…carried
out by Mexicans who claim Texas was their land. It’s not that much
different…Or native Indians burn up a city and claim the land is theirs.

Yaoyao   March 19th, 2008 1736 GMT

Why Chinese government doesn't allow foreign journalist go to Tibet?
Why all foreign tourists in China need to ask for special permitt to go to Tibet?
I don't trust the "western imperialists) and can any Chinese fellow answer my questions? Thank you!

A Chinese Man in Canada   March 19th, 2008 1752 GMT

I did believe in freedom, democracy and human rights before I came to Canada.

But now, I don't.

Do the Western society and people really care Tibetan pepole in Tibet (Xi Zang)?

No, I don't think so.

1, Some people in Europe and North American and in other areas of the world, such as high official, business men and enterprieuners, know the truth in Tibet and China. They just use Dalai Lama as a weapon to supress China, to get more interests from China. They are very bad.

2, Somp people, such as Richard Gere, are very shameless. They live a modern and very expensive life in Metropolitans, like Los Angeles, (such Beverley Hills). But they want Tibetan people to live in an old way, like monkeys. So they can travel to Tibet to see some "interesting things, culture and people". And they can send some money ( very little) to show their "love".

3, some people are very naive. They are living very bad lives in "developed" countries. The only thing they are proud of is that they speak English and their skin is lighter. They don't have any knowledge about China and Tibet. They know something about China and Tibet (Xizang) from News Media controlled by the goverments and rich business men of their own countries. They can't accpet some Chinese people are richer than them. They don't tolerate that China can do something without the permission from the "Western society".

4, some people, especially British, feel very uncomfortable that China is controlling Tibet, and takes Tibet as a part of China because Britain failed in the battle with China to get Tibet away. They are dreamming China will collapse and Britain, maybe USA, will control Tibet, even the whole land of China, in the future. They are daydreamers.

In conclusion, no body in China cares what you are saying now. Chinese did care the western society's opinion and comments in the past. but now, most Chinese people don't care. They have a better understanding of the current world.

For those condemning china here, are you ready to join a war against China, a war similar with Korea War, or Viet Nam war?

Yaoyao   March 19th, 2008 1810 GMT

It seems Chinaman are "GOOD" on HISTORY as many of them making historical staments here.

Adam – You claim that Tibet is blong to China since Yuan Dynasty ( A.D.1271). I want to ask you who established Yuan Dynasty? Mongols or Han Chinese?

If it was Mongols, I dont' see the logic in your claim. Do you know what I mean? We Chinese are wiser than Tibetans and please don't make such illogical claims to "loose our Chinese face" infront of the CNN.

Bill   March 19th, 2008 1818 GMT

Jamie, how shamelss you are by intentionally modifying the picture to mislead the people. The western media, who boasted so-called justice, democracy, and candidness, is just as shamelss as you!

just another supporter   March 19th, 2008 1827 GMT

TO: ken
if your reading this which i hope you are, i really think you are an idiot... first of all lets say hollywood stars are supporting the Tibetans so what maybe they believe human rights issues are important. maybe they actually believe that lives are precious and are supporting the Tibetan People because they see the damages done to them, im not sure if you know but over 1 million Tibetans have died in their own country by the chinese govt. for expressing their religion and going on peaceful protests for their country. Ken you make the world seem bleak and selfish but infact maybe your just pestimistic and really need to try to learn the facts before calling other people brainwashed and stubborn

BEn   March 19th, 2008 1837 GMT

Tibetan protesters are peaceful for those who only saw violence in those videos, its because the chinese government are able to hide all their misdoings. The Tibetans have never hurt any chinese civilians, on every protest the deaths or injuries have all been on the Tibetan peoples side. i have friends in Tibet, the news in china claims only 13 people died, from what i heard from my friends are over 100 people have been killed.

Monlam   March 19th, 2008 1838 GMT

“A lie repeated a hundred times becomes the truth.”
-Chairman Mao

http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=425

http://www.MeYul.com for breaking news in Tibet

Yangchen   March 19th, 2008 1852 GMT

Tibetan may be rough looking but they are soft hearted, thats y they have rich culture & religion. Tibetans are peaceful in nature but this time they couldn't hold their pain. Its just starting point. You might have to see worst sense in near future if situation doesn't changes. Note: Protesters are not armed with bullets & guns but army has it. Hurting 10's is violent / crime, but hurting millions since 50 years are not VIOLENT ? Ask Tibetans young about their life story of ancestors – How they died – Pea fully or with blood on their body without single drop of water on their lips?

Tibetan in Tibet are uneducated because the ruling govt (Mao China – the bugler !) is bad. The condition of the people represents the work of the govt. If Chinese govt is so good then, why they aren't bringing up the Tibetan like Chinese.

Nathan u seems to be still in the world of orthodox.....wake up & brush up....hope u wouldn't be too late when u wake up. How can u still think that The blood shed in Tienanmen Square is justice? The giant uprising aren't the joke & foolishness. They are the YOUNG HEROES who stood & demand for the freedom – for the democracy! COME OUT FROM THE COCOON! see the beautiful world freely.

If Chinese govt is so true then – why they are not openly showing the live news about Tibet to the mainland China? Why they are keeping Tibet away from the world media?

You have not only taken the Tibet land but you exploited resources, people,etc. You want land, power, pride....what more? China shouldn't think they are so great.....There is saying.... "When USA catches cold, the world sneezes" so Mr. China don't think that u are on the top of world. You still have to walk long miles to reach near USA and other European countries including developing country like India.

Look at your own people Hong Kong refused to go back to you after getting freedom from Great Britain.......thats very much proof the status of your own govt. Now Hong Kong is so bright and flying so high. Look at Taiwan too!

Wake up! Wake up! people of China! Come out & see the world. Walk with them.....otherwise you will be all ALONE!!!

Free Tibet!!! Free China!!!

Fishingbear   March 19th, 2008 2028 GMT

With the dominant western media as biased as this article has shown, Chinese government had enough reasons to block foreign media from visiting Tibet – the media could have taken pictures and made up stories. In any riots it's easy to find such pictures – like police shooting criminals... To Chinese government, blocking media sounds stupid but has less risks. The worst part is, people are now having second thoughts about western media, at least the Chinese...

Jack   March 19th, 2008 2032 GMT

Demosthenes,

The most of what you said about the history between China and Tibet is true. But when the 13th Dalai Lama declared independence in 1913, the Chinese government (Republic of China) did not accept the independence of Tibet. As a matter of fact, the government of the Republic of China protested the treaty between the British and Tibet. Unfortunately, China was in a civil war chaos. The government had no extra power to crack down the independence of Tibet until the Chinese communist party took over the power. Officially, Tibet is still included in the territory of Republic of China.

Fishingbear   March 19th, 2008 2048 GMT

Here is a link by a US professor telling the other side of the story of Dala Lama:

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

This incident will be over soon, but too many unanswered questions. The world is full of greed, stubbornness, violence....Open your eyes and your heart so you can at least recognize how narrow minded we can be.

Chen   March 19th, 2008 2106 GMT

chinaeagles:
Yes, isn't the message of the Olympics to be together? "One world, one dream" 同一个世界,同一个梦想

As an Chinese I feel compelled to support my country. For those Americans who don't understand this feeling, its called nationalism, its called patriotism. You should stand by your motherland, your home, your birthplace. It is the right thing to do.

Eric   March 19th, 2008 2111 GMT

For those wanting to learn more about Tibetan culture, google:

Tibet serfs

http://www.google.ca/search?q=Tibet+serfs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Wangyao   March 19th, 2008 2123 GMT

I am a Chinese but I don't support Chinese government on the Dalai Lama.

Before accusing each other lier, let me ask you how many foreign jouralists have reported from Lhasa during the protest?

If we want to know truth about the protest in Lhasa, the Chinese government shouldn't stop foreign independent journalists to go to Tibet. It's simple as that.

If we want to prove the Dalai Lama as a lier, we should let him in Tibet to test his words. Otherwise, we are making fool out of ourselves to denouce him.

perfectsimmon   March 19th, 2008 2139 GMT

"Free Tibet" ? What a joke !

"Free Tibet' means you guys (5%) could go back to be Master again, and rest of 95% to be slaves ?

Go back to study history of Tibet if you are not come from Tibet Master family.

Claro   March 19th, 2008 2152 GMT

Thank you Monlam for distilling this down to the revelation of Mao's single statement- a habitual practice carried out before and during the Cultural Revolution, by Mao's successors today including China's premiere, and by contemporary Maoists in Asia and elsewhere.

Asian   March 19th, 2008 2309 GMT

A Lamp of the East
In the golden days of the East
Tibet was one of its lamp-bearers
and the lamp is waiting to be lighted once again
for the illumination of the East

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not broken up into fragment by domestic walls;
Where the words come out from the depth of the truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action – into that heaven of freedom, My Father Tibet, let my country awake!

from the poem for Korea by Rabindranath Tagore
in March 1th 1919 Independence Movement

Asian   March 19th, 2008 2315 GMT

Tibetans,
We who love freedom are always with you.
Never forgive your dream!

Americans,
You who love freedom are not seen around.
Where did you go?

I think God gives you Americans freedom and absolute power.
Come back freedom-loving Americans!
and Give lights to Tibetans who want freedom!

Chemi   March 20th, 2008 106 GMT

IT'S ABOUT TIME.. ..

FREE TIBET!!!

Michael   March 20th, 2008 208 GMT

The photo in this blog is cropped!

http://observers.france24.com/en/content/20080317-cnn-accused-propaganda-tibet-riots

Forrest   March 20th, 2008 209 GMT

CNN deleted my previous post. Now I post an abridged version of it, and hope CNN will publish it.

To those who think that China illegally invaded and conquered Tibet in 1950s, I’d like to suggest you do some history study of Tibet. A fairly good source is Wikipedia at the following link,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet

After studying the history, you should realize that Tibet was conquered by Moguls and for the first time became a part of Chinese Yuan Dynasty during 1200s. Later in 1700s, the Chinese Qing Dynasty re-secured Tibet, and since then, Tibet has been undoubtedly a part of China and never gained legitimate and recognized independence. Yes, China did conquer Tibet, but not in 1950s! It was rather in early 1700s! About 60 years prior to that, even China herself was conquered by Manchu, and that’s how the Qing Dynasty came to being! Such things happened all the time in ancient history.

Keeping the unity of a country is always that country’s central government’s duty. Even for the United States herself, about 150 years ago, after the southern states declared independence through a democratic way, everybody knows what happened next. Given that the back then U.S. Constitution allowed individual states to secede from the union if they chose to, the U.S. federal government answered them with brutal military force, and some 600 thousand men were killed in the Civil War. Where was the law and order, where was the democracy, human rights and freedom of American southerners back then?

Forrest   March 20th, 2008 215 GMT

To those who still call China a communist country:

The definition of communism by Wikipedia is:
Communism is a socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production.

And the definition of capitalism by Wikipedia is:
Capitalism refers to an economic and social system in which the means of production are predominantly privately owned, are operated for profit, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a market economy.

Most of economies of today’s China are privately owned, and China is practicing a free-market economy. Therefore, according to the definitions of communism and capitalism, China should be considered as a capitalistic country.

Forrest   March 20th, 2008 223 GMT

What’s now happening in Tibet is just a regional ethnic riot; it’s not about so-called human rights or freedom. Human rights and freedom are two good terms that have already been exploited and misused too much and too often. If similar things happened in United States, there is no doubt that the U.S. government would have taken the same measures to put down the riot.

Somebody said, “Choice is Freedom”. Yes, choice is freedom. But this choice should be mutually-agreed choice or bilaterally-agreed choice, should not be unilateral. No kind of freedom and no kind of choice is unlimited. One party’s unlimited choice or freedom would mean no choice or no freedom for other parties. When the American South wanted to choose the choice of independence, the choice was not agreed by the Union. The freedom of the South would mean no freedom for the Union. Similarly, the free Tibet would mean no freedom for China.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 257 GMT

For all those Tibetans who want freedom: please leave China and go to America, Australia or Great Britain!!! Every day there are a lot of liars pretend they were tortued by the Chinese government. And they will get accepted as refugees in these so-called freedom countries. Remember you HAVE TO lie that your were tortued "physically" or "mentally" by the Chinese government in order to get accepted. Go to these "freedom" countries and learn for yourself what is "Freedom"....

If I am the Chinese government, I will hand out plane tickets to all the brain-washed monks and send them to the Western world.... let them see how a catholic/christian society will treat them. Obviously Muslims around America get attacked by racists everyday. So I am sure these monks will be treated the same. If you think Americans are more tolerate about religion, THINK AGAIN!!!!

One more thing, if you don't know English, you probably cannot survive in these countries. Same as China, if you don't know chinese, you can't survive there either... Don't blame the Chinese government if the monks refuse to learn Chinese... You will never get a job in China without knowing Chinese. Money will not come to you for free if all you do is sitting in the monesteries all day long.... Please use some common sense here!!! The Globalization is killing all the cultures around the world, including the Chinese culture. So don't blame the Chinese government for cultural genocide. It's the Globalization and Modernization!!!!!

Asian   March 20th, 2008 311 GMT

Dear Kenneth,

You reminds me of two chinese words.

賊反荷杖 (A buglar blames a victim)
厚顔無恥 (A man feels no shame because he has no conscience)

and If I am the Tibetan government, I will hand out plane tickets to all HAH people to where they were from.

Riot is a riot   March 20th, 2008 313 GMT

I dont get why people get so upset when police is "cracking down" (Peace keeping) on the riots, they are burning shops and houses! they are lucky chinese citizens dont have have the right to bear arms.

if the anti-war protesters came anywhere near my house, no matter how much i agree with them, if they try to light my cars on fire or burn my house, i would exercise my second amendment rights to the max, my land, my property, my fort and i have the right to defend it... I mean seriously we can get arrested by just blocking traffic or trespassing into the IRS, if you burn properties or attack people, you should be shot

im all for peaceful demonstrations but this deserves a real crackdown

Forrest   March 20th, 2008 323 GMT

Asian, apparently you’re a Korean. You know that there were three kingdoms (Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje) in the nowadays Korea Peninsular about 1500 years ago, and in the late 7th century, Silla conquered the other two kingdoms with the help of China (Tang Dynasty). Let me ask you a question, if the descendants of Goguryeo and Baekje would have up-risen today and demanded for the restoration of their own nations of Goguryeo and Baekje, would you like to stand up for their independence from Korea, as you support Tibetan independence from China?

Even nowadays Korea Peninsular is divided into North Korea and South Korea. I’m pretty sure that most Koreans want the two Koreas to be reunited one day. But I’m also pretty sure, when that day does come, there must be some North Koreans who don’t want the North Korea to be reunited with the South Korea. Would you like to stand up for those North Koreans and keep the North Korea from being reunited with the South Korea?

Yes, some Tibetans want Tibet to be independent from China, but how much percentage do they count in the total Tibetan population? Do you know that much more Tibetan people would like Tibet to stay in China? Even Dalai Lama himself claims that he does not seek Tibetan independence.

Dolma Sherub   March 20th, 2008 355 GMT

How can one give what they do not have?
How can one understand another's desire for freedom,
when they themselves have never had it,
nor dare think it without dire consequences.
Only those with a brave, sincere heart dare.

cheng   March 20th, 2008 444 GMT

actually im chienese. still i cant believe that wat they did with poor tibetans im so sad.,this is not fare.u know we should give there country back as soon as we can..., this is request to all chinese memmber...., and please world help these tibetan poor tibet.....,

SUDAN SHRESTHA   March 20th, 2008 510 GMT

FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET FREE TIBET

LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE
LONG LIVE H.H DALAI LAMA AND TIBETAN PEOPLE

Eric   March 20th, 2008 551 GMT

It's unfortunate the Tibetans are so brainwashed in their native tradition and religion.

How can anyone with any ability of reasoning accept a leader who got his power from inheritance?

They're born and raised to be used. Very much similar to the cult victims and religious fanatics.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 644 GMT

"Asian",

Since you can write Chinese, I assume you are either from Taiwan or from the South East Asian countries; Or you are someone without an identity. Yeah, American/Aussie will always see you as a Chinese (doesn't matter if you are Japanese/Koreans), but you can't accept yourself as Chinese, right?! Foreign people usually can't tell if you are Japanese, Koreans or Chinese, etc. If you hate the "Han" (Chinese) people so much, then you should NOT even write Chinese here. You should only communicate in Japanese, English, Spanish or German, etc. And if you are a Taiwanese, then you should ask your government to start a new language and abandon using the Chinese characters.

It's a shame that you are trying to break up China. Remember, if you are a Taiwanese, then you should ask your government to give back its land to its aborigines. And if you are not in Asian descent, then you must be a foreign spy that trying to spur problems to destablize China... Whatever your view on Tibet, it will not change the reality. Tibet is part of China now and in the future. Are you praying for a World War III?? I bet Americans would love the idea of wiping all Asians on this planet.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 659 GMT

I agreed totally with Eric except one point. Dalai Lama is not from inheritance. Tibetan Buddhists hold the Dalai Lama to be one of innumerable incarnations of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

If Dalai Lama pass away today, they will search for a BABY BOY that is born on the same day... The incarnation is basically pick by the high ranking monks. Why pick only the BOY?? Can someone prove incarnation exists?? Anyway, then this little baby boy will start to be brain-washed by these monks. By the way, the Dalai Lama will be treated like a king.

China government provide free education to the Tibetans but a lot of them prefer to spend their lives in the monestaries to study something that is not science or something supernatural... China didn't stop them from going there...... Now everyone is blaming China for the cultural genocide in Tibet. I guess we should tell the Americans to stop all the science research, and go back to live like a caveman??

Asian   March 20th, 2008 712 GMT

"Eric"

I think It’s unfortunate the Tibetans has been brainwashed by han people since 1950.
I don't agree han people's tradition and religion is better than Tibetans.

"Kenneth"

Tibet was not part of China before 1950.
It's a shame that you are trying to rationalize China's conquest.
I want china to give Tibetans what they want.
I want asian people to respect each other and to live peaceful and prosperous life.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 758 GMT

Who broke or tried to break the peaceful and prosperous life in Asia???

Look at these things that the Americans committed:

(1) Broke up Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam... selling tons of arms to the South Vietnam... at that time, they used "Fighting Communism" as an excuse to kill and to make money....... Nowaday, they used "Terrorism" to do the same. Sound familiar?? Once the Americans squeezed all the money out of Iraq, they will look for another way to make money for its corporations. I guess the easiest is to cause problems within China again, right?! The next may be "Free Tibet. Fight Chinism"??

(2) Broke up Korea into North Korea and South Korea... selling tons of arms to the South Korea... Again, they used "Fighting Communism" as an excuse to kill and to make money...... US already caused so much problems around the world... there will always be "terrorism"... it takes 10 good deeds to cover 1 bad deed...

(3) Instigated Taiwan to go for independence. In return, Taiwan bought billions and billions of out-dated arms from USA every year. Taiwanese bought all these obsolete parts from USA (Of course, US always claims those are new parts / refurbished parts). Remember US will not make money if there are peace in the Asia area.

(4) Americans also instigated the Japanese to go with its Space defense system... asking Japanese for billions and billions of dollars again. Yeah, China is scary, and everyone needs to join their SPACE program. The USA always use the "Fear" card to get what it wants.

(5) Secretly supported the Pakistanians to fight with Indians... this is nothing new....

(9) the 1989 Tianenman Square demonstration was also rumored to be orchastrated by the CIAs...

The list will go on and on....... please tell me how can we have a peaceful and prosperous life when there is an outside force trying to cause problem?? Especially when everyone see this outside force as the Saints?? I guess there are a lot of people here who are so narrow minded and just can't accept to hear the truths....

QZ   March 20th, 2008 809 GMT

I wonder if there have been studies done on what causes people to become Uncle Toms.

"A lie repeated a hundred times" does indeed become truth. Namely, the lie of Tibet as some Shangri-La and the lie of a historical basis for Tibet being an independent country.

We never "invaded" Tibet – you kinda can't "invade" your own land. There was never a "Tibetan genocide". Great Leap forward – mismanagement due to communism sucking. Cultural Revolution – was not aimed at Tibet but affected everyone NOT GENOCIDE. Read moar history.

Not to mention the CCP sees the above events as disasters that should never be allowed to happen again. If Mao was alive, the grotesque deviation from communism that is modern China would give him aneurysms.

keystone   March 20th, 2008 817 GMT

西藏過去,現在,將來,永遠都是中國的領土!!
Tibet WAS, IS, and ALWAYS WILL BE a part of China!!
チベットは過去、現在、これからの将来、永遠に中国の領土であり!
티베트는 과거,현재,아프로 영원히 중국의 땅이다!!!
Tibet war, ist und wird immer ein Teil von China!!
Tibet était, est, et sera toujours une partie inséparable de la Chine!
N'importe d'avant,aujourd'hui ou future,Tibet est toujour une partie de chine.

keystone   March 20th, 2008 831 GMT

西藏过去,现在,将来,永远都是中国的领土!!

西藏過去,現在,將來,永遠都是中國的領土!!

Tibet WAS, IS, and ALWAYS WILL BE a part of China!!

チベットは過去、現在、これからの将来、永遠に中国の領土であり!

티베트는 과거,현재,앞으로 영원히 중국의 땅이다!!!

Tibet war, ist und wird immer ein Teil von China!!

Tibet était, est, et sera toujours une partie inséparable de la Chine!

N'importe d'avant,aujourd'hui ou future,Tibet est toujour une partie de chine.

Θιβετ ηταν, ειναι και θα ειναι παντα ενα μερος της Κινας!

التبت ، هو ، والى الأبد ستكون جزءا من الصين!

Тибет был, есть и всегда будет частью Китая!

Tibete foi, é e sempre será uma parte da China!

Tíbet fue, es y siempre será parte de China!

Tibet was, is, en zal altijd een deel van China!

Tibet var, er og skal heletiden være en del av Kina!

Tibet var, är och skall alltid vara en del av Kina!!

Tibet ay dating isang lugar at mananatiling parte nang china!!

keystone   March 20th, 2008 835 GMT

You guys want free Tibet? No Problem

But you have to kill all of us.

WE ARE CHINESE. COME ON !!!

Asian   March 20th, 2008 906 GMT

I heard that the CCP has 邊疆史地硏究中心(a branch of china' administration for distorting tibet's and uighur's history).

Stop distorting history and lying!!

I don't think a lie repeated a hundred times become truth.
History and Truth can't be changed, unless we human who want to know the truth and have a freedom-loving spirit are all gone.

And it is obvious that Tibet was an INDEPENDENT nation before an invasion of the CCP in 1950.
Tibetans show it by their tears and blood.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 942 GMT

When something repeated a hundred times, a perception is already created. This perception becomes the so-called "truth" or "standard of thinking", doesn't matter if it is right or wrong. When all these ignorant Holywood stars (Robert Thurman, Richard Gere, Jean-Jacques Annaud and Jon Avnet) repeat their voice on the "Free Tibet" stance, the Americans become attached to them. Since Americans were worst in World History (by public exam results), they perceived China as the monster in addition to their fear of communism.

Another example is the Weapons of mass destructions (WMAs) in Iraq. There were hundreds and hundreds of reports stating there were WMAs in Iraq. Now, have Americans find any WMAs?? This proved the CIAs are totally flawed. All their reports were based on what people said. These people just told them what they wanted to hear or basically lied to get the money/food for their interviews.... You can't trust journalist because their views are all biased, especially the CNN reporters. They always think Americans are the greatest race and are the saviors of the world.

Anyway, the Dalai Lama might had tortured a lot of people before his exile in 1950s. That did not matter anymore because people are focusing China as the evil and not the Dalai Lama himself.

I suggest the China government should start making friends with the Holywood stars to create a better image; otherwise, the entire world will always perceive China as the evil even when she did so many good things to enhance lives in Tibet.

Wangdui   March 20th, 2008 950 GMT

If the chinese do not take up the offer of peace, while this Dalai Lama lives, they will earn their fruit of violence for decades to come, when this Dalai Lama has passed away. The chinese should not be afraid because of the tibetans alone. There are the mongols, the turcmene and last but not least their own farmers who are not better treated than slaves. Either they will use the extraordinary power of peace of the Dalai Lama or they will have to build a second great wall.

zly   March 20th, 2008 1014 GMT

These tebetan exile indepandance protesters are fed on the fund donations by those polician hostile to China, certain money came from innocent tax payer's money, certain came from these kind- hearted people's donations who doesn't know the truth. their job is to do anti-china activities, protest for their indepandance, to destablise china and even destroy china. If they stop doing these, they won't receive these funds and they will die of hunger as they don't know how to earn their living by work with their hands. Do you think these people can manage a indepandant country? it is going to be a big burden and trouble for you financially and politically. If you are a kind peace loving people , pls Help them by educate them with the living skills, offer them jobs, buy their products, go to admire their historical monuments....not encourage them go on street to riot.

love yourself   March 20th, 2008 1056 GMT

From past history China never invade any single country, but other countries invaded China and humiliate you even now.
The current situation is caused by outsiders to add fire for the coming Olympic game.
Buddhist monks to involve politics and join in the protest go against the Buddha teaching.
If you do not love yourself, other will not respect you. Do not think that the grass outside China is greener.

Anand   March 20th, 2008 1141 GMT

I do not know much about American history so much. But I am confident about Tibetan history as it is our neighbour and we had a long trade relation with the place. Tibetans and real Chinese are as different as Albenians of Kosovo and Serbs of Serbia. If Kosovo has right to be a separate nation then Tibetans also has a right to fight for a separate nation.

Eric   March 20th, 2008 1251 GMT

"Asian"

The Chinese government does not promote religion.

The elite lamas do, to promote the Tibetans' fear for the supernatural, to ensure the lamas will stay in power.

I cannot take someone who claims that he has dialog with the Buddha himself, as well as the 5th Dalai Lama who died many years ago, seriously.

After this 14th Dalai Lama dies, the crony lamas will elect another one.

Why do I side with "Kenneth" and others on this blog? Because I also feel that the Chinese government is enlightening, liberating, educating the Tibetans, doing them a good deed – teaching them to make a meaningful and independent life in this world, away from superstition.

George W. Bush   March 20th, 2008 1326 GMT

Chinese people are blinded by their own leaders..

Chinese people are blinded by their own leaders, because the communist party (the only allowed party) is sencering the informations, media is totally governed by the state.
The foundation of Journalism is upon unbiased, free report of the actual event..... HAHAh... not yet in China.....Chinese government fool their own people because they don'r want to admit, the invasion over Tibet....one out every six Tibetan being killed, in so call the "Chinese liberation army's peace"..
Muslim minorities are killed in abundance, by the chinese gov...Labour unions are not allowed to be formed in China....The list can go on........................
China is not a normal state like it seems to be,,,,, Its governement is playing a foolish role,,,, It is sick....................
Free people of the world,,, should Support Tibet,,, and also help Chinese people to see what really is doing by their,,, Government,,,,,,,

Free Chinese people from blindness,,, Free suffering Tibetan People

David   March 20th, 2008 1349 GMT

While a lot of ppl talking about history here. I d like to focus on the facts.
1, what happened in tibet last week is not a crackdown, it is a racial riot. Han chinese and muslium chinese were stabed and burnt to death by tibetan mobbers. It is a social disaster. They break into banks and shops and takes what ever they can and burnt the building afterwards.
2, monks are supposed to be a group of peace-loving people which I respect the most as spirital guiders. And still the majority of the monks are praying for the good, whereas a group of monk in the tibet area used the trust of ordinary civilians and fostered such a riot and taking away ppl's lives on street. When ppl shows sympathy to the tibetans, who cares about the Han chinese and muslium chinese's right to live. There is a video on youtube shows clearly monks in red in a group of tibetans trying to break in a commercial bank in lhasa.
3.I criticized the chinese government a few days ago on blocking the journalists going into tibet. Now I understand why, simply on everything I read through these few days, BBC, CNN, Washington post are all biased on their reports. Lots of report focused on the historical debates on whether tibet is a part of china while ignoring innocent people killed by racists in lhasa. Journalists are color blinded on this sensitive area, hence I question them for a report based on FACTS rather than their slant interpretations.
4. There is another video on youtube taken in front of UN, how NYPD slapping FREE TIBET protesters while Rice asking the chinese government to restraint their actions. I really suggests that the chinese police and army come to NYPD for anti-terririst training. It will effectively reduce the death on lhasa street.

want truth?   March 20th, 2008 1441 GMT

hey, if you cnn or free-tibeters have balls, please launch a war to free tibetans. Especially those americans and europeans. Please do that!
If you don't, please just shut up.

We chinese will be well prepared.

KC   March 20th, 2008 1442 GMT

As someone who has lived in communism I am sick and tired of these old, twisted, heinous regimes. Communism doesn't work moreover NO MATTER WHERE IT IS it will ALWAYS create human rights issues believe me I know I've been there.

TIbet was NOT always a part of CHINA you poor brainwashed souls. The western media isn't the best but it is inarguably better than a centralized media. Furthermore with new technology the only neccesity is becoming access for the citizens. Pictures and videos come out in profusion these days when there is a conflict and allow the people to see and decide for themselves. China is afraid of what the world will see and so they stop any access into Tibet. Those who argue otherwise are fools if this were not true then WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TONS MORE INFORMATION ON TIBET, we do not, the chinese regime is corrupt as was mine. Get rid of these communist crack pots they've done nothing but hold the world back.

Alex   March 20th, 2008 1443 GMT

This is sad and shameful.

I am sympathetic to the Tibetan people. The claim that it has always been a Chinese province is bogus. Tibet and China have had a history of each of them controlling some of the other's territory at different times throughout history. There is no justification to say "it has always been Chinese".

In my opinion, all you need to know about who has the moral high ground in this moment is looking at the grievances of the Tibetans, and how the Chinese government has reacted. Blacking out and keeping out foreign media, locking down the provinces so no one can know what is going on, and continued repression of free flow of information and only allowing their government controlled media to deliver "the facts" as to what is going on. What are they trying to hide?

Tibetans may not be perfect, but I think it is clear the Chinese have behaved far worse in the history of this conflict. How would you feel if you were the Tibetans?

Forrest   March 20th, 2008 1546 GMT

To people such as SUDAN SHRESTHA,
Please stop repeatedly copying and pasting “Free Tibet” and “Long Live Dalai Lama” or similar empty slogans but without providing any meaningful and logical supporting points. Such doings won’t do you any good in defending your stance, and would only show to the world that you have been brain-washed, and have a narrow and empty mind. Do you really think if you emptily chant “Free Tibet” for one hundred times, it would become truth?

To “Asian”,
You repeatedly said that “it is obvious that Tibet was an INDEPENDENT nation before an invasion of the CCP in 1950.” Please show me the proof, and give me the link to the credible, reputable and well-accepted history sources which show that Tibet was legitimately an independent nation and was recognized as an independent nation by the world before 1950s. You keep repeating your claim but without providing supporting materials. Such doings won’t do you any good in defending your stance, and would only show to the world that you have been brain-washed, and have a narrow mind. Do you really think if you simply repeat “Tibet was obviously independent before 1950s” for one hundred times, it would become truth?

david   March 20th, 2008 1702 GMT

Why Dala Lamai is powerless to stop the violant protect????!!!!

He is the spiritual leader and he should come out and strongly denounce the violance, just as Gahdi did in India.

want truth?   March 20th, 2008 1712 GMT

Why you guys are so blind: please go to youtube and search tibet.

Peaceful protest in Tibet, China, filmed by western tourists,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8zrILo7CF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhjCX4KIz4Q

As Chinese police have done almost nothing (not armed, without guns) in Tibet to those mobs, US and other european country police have been doing very well against peaceful protest. So what's wrong there? You guys haven't seen such a scene on screen by CNN or BBC? Oh, pity on you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGbaJN4j-DE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7NUNwq2MGc

For those who said we Americans have "no desire to occupy Tibet, because it would gain nothing. Tibet has nothing we need..." Bravo. Not only you said that, but the former CIA Executive Assistant, Sam Halpern, also said "I think the basic the whole idea was to keep Chinese occupied somehow, keep them annoyed, keep them disturbed. No body wanted to go to war over Tibet. That's pretty clear. We did go to war over Korea. We did go to war over Indochina. We won't go to war over Tibet. And so, it was nuisance operation, basically nothing more. And I'll think it's American point of view, it wouldn't cost very much, even money or manpower. Anyway it was not manpower, it was Tibetan manpower. We were willing to help Tibetans from becoming a running sore and a nuisance to the Chinese" . Watch the video clip at time mark 05'28",

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDBriDq4LRI

BTW, according to those ppl's logic, Ameircans lunched a war in Iraq, in Afghaniastan because you guys had "desire to occupy those countries, because it would gain something. Iraq/Afghaniastan has something we need...oil".

Hopefully this time CNN will let me post. I have tried several times. People have the right to know the truth!

want truth?   March 20th, 2008 1726 GMT

Q:Why Dala Lamai is powerless to stop the violant protect????!!!!

A: Situation now is good for him. Simple people like hollywood stars will view Dalai lama as a holy man. Nothing wrong. But please be aware: Dalai is requesting his political power. What thehell does his holiness needsthe secular power? Does theBuddha teach Dalai to pursue political power? Buddha said :"Desire is a sin". Dalai should have known it very clearly. If Dalai is his holiness, he must have been struggling between politician and lama. If he is not, then what he is doing now is reasonable and logical.

We should pay attention: nowadays only several Islamic countries have their political leaders as same as regilous leader. It is very dangerous as the power of religion can push ppl very much to the extreme.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 1746 GMT

Just make it simple: Look at the fact here:

Will the US government let the Native Indians proclaim independence? NO
Will the US government let any of its 50 states to proclaim independence? NO
Will the Australian government let the Native Aborigines proclaim independence? NO
Will Russia let Chechen proclaim independence? NO

Don't tell me that China is different than any of the above countries!!!

Dalai Lama has obviously lost control with its younger followers. These foreign born exiles have obviously turned into extremists and would rather see blood than peace. It is their goal to cause chaos in 2008 so everyone can start critizing and pressuring the Chinese government. We, as Chinese people, are all loving people. However, that does not mean we will tolerate other foreign countries to get into our internal business.

If US wants to interfere, I think China is ready for it. In today's world, China and Japan are the two major US bond buyers. If China decide to stop buying the US debts, ..... well, things can just get real messy under "Globalization". How can US repay money to China??

Truth   March 20th, 2008 1752 GMT

Please google Kadfly. This is probably the ONLY accurate and honest news report over Tibetan Riot so far.
http://kadfly.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-from-lhasa.html
http://kadfly.blogspot.com/2008/03/safe-and-sound-in-kathmandu.html
http://kadfly.blogspot.com/2008/03/lhasa-burning.html

want truth?   March 20th, 2008 1753 GMT

Kenneth said "well, things can just get real messy under “Globalization”. How can US repay money to China??"

Dunn worry my friday. Amercan has 100+1 ways to repay the debt. A simply and easy solution: Fed can print more money or depreciate the greenback. As one of my American friends told me "debt? we Americans can simply print those useless papers to you guys..." And he is a Professor in Economics in one of top US schools. Shocked? That's the reality. Keep your eyes wide open.

Kenneth   March 20th, 2008 1758 GMT

George Washington knew whole lot better than George W Bush. The first amendment of the US Constitutions already clearly defined the Separation of Church and State. That means religion should be separate from politics. How can a monk who represents the god/budda became a god himself?? He wants total control and political power?? Isn't that against the US constitutions???

Also, if you think American media is not biased, then look at the following issues:
(1) Iraq war
(2) Hillary Clinton's primary

There were a lot more but since the topic is about Tibet, not US media, I will stop here for now.

peacewisher   March 20th, 2008 1801 GMT

I would like to comment on what is said by "want truth".

I think it is side tracked the issue by more emphasizing how much Dalai Lama is power hungry. But the real issue is Tibetan people, how much their rights are protected and how they are feeling. Its not about how much Dalai Lama is desiring power. Eevrybody can simply quote that "Desire is sin" but one should really understand the innermost meaning of it and context of how it applies in day-to-day real life. The truth is every government, every race is power hungry. Every one wants to prove their dominance. That is actually the worst desire.. to dominate and suppress the rights of other human beings..whoever it is..

Truth   March 20th, 2008 1820 GMT

It looks like the western media is trying to claim India and Nepal are also part of China. Should China take them over? It's your chance China! LOL
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200803/news-gb2312-546438.html

david   March 20th, 2008 2032 GMT

Someone said the US media and US government is not biased. Let me tell you the truth.

All my comments are censored and a lot of them didn't get published by CNN.

Voice of America increased their boardcasting by 2 hours into Tibet to spread more rumors and stir up more riots.

What the Voice of America should do is to increase their boardcasting by 10 hours and strongly denounce the violence and tell these rioters to restrain from violence, IF the US government is really for the world peace.

I think my tax dollar is wasted by the US government on this propongates. Do I have the right to refuse to pay the tax? NO.

The Chinese are treating the Tibetans just like the US government is treating the American Indian: Giving them more money, better education, more jobs than their ordinary citizens. American Indians also wants to be independence. Do they dare to vow to violence in the US? No. The US government will put them down and send them to jail in NO TIME! If the police is not enough, the US government will send in National Guard for them. National Guard is just another name of US army.

This is nothing wrong for the Chinese Army to be sent in and for the Chinese government to send these rioters to jail.

Edwards Tahat   March 20th, 2008 2048 GMT

From what I saw those videos and pictures, CNN is very biased. This was a riot in tibet, and innocent people were killed, this is NOT a peaceful protest. In ANY country this should be cracked down and those so called peaceful protesters should be punished.

Asian   March 20th, 2008 2337 GMT

"Forrest"

Han people repeattedly say tibet is always a part of china.
Please show me the proof, and give me the link to the credible, reputable and well-accepted history sources which show that Tibet is always a part of china.

And I don't think Western media and Western government are not biased.
But I think Chinese media and Chinese government are more biased than Westerns'

Communists sometimes say religion is people's opium.
but to Tibetans and Uighurs, religion is their's life.
I have no religion. But I respect Christianity, Islam and Buddism.
I want chinese to respect Buddism/Islam and Tibet/Uighur people who believe religion.

Jack   March 21st, 2008 219 GMT

Those Tibetans/Monks DID NOT behave like demonstrators, What they had done looked more like a goup of brutal TERRORISTS. They killed 10+ innocent people, robbed & burnt many stors/buildings.

Many reports from CNN regarding Tibet were either bias or unjust.

Shame on you CNN!

Forrest   March 21st, 2008 248 GMT

To “Asian”,

One point needs to be clarified first – we Chinese people never said Tibet is always a part of China, if this word “always” refers to the entire history of human being. But because of the inaccuracy of human language, when people want to express a time period which is very long, say some 500 years or 1000 years, it doesn’t hurt to use the word “always”. By the way, I’m not a Han Chinese, I am a Manchurian Chinese.

I already listed a link to the credible, reputable and well-accepted sources which talks about Tibetan history in my first post on this blog. It’s Wikipedia, and I put down the link again below,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet

On that website, you would learn that Tibet was invaded by Mongols and submitted to the Yuan Dynasty in mid 1200s. Then it was the first time for Tibet to become a part of China. And in early 1700s, after a new and last Chinese dynasty, the Qing or Ching Dynasty, was founded, China re-secured Tibet, and since then, Tibet has been undoubtedly a part of China and never gained legitimate and recognized independence.

Some other links to Tibetan history I happened to found are as follows and they basically tell the same history:
http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9380726
http://www.reference.com/search?q=tibet
http://cc.purdue.edu/~wtv/tibet/history.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Tibet.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0861546.html
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ti/Tibet.html
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/tibet.htm
http://www.tibettravel.info/tibet-history/
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Tibet
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Xizang

Jigdral   March 21st, 2008 528 GMT

How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free? How many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn't see?

The cycle is intensifying. In times of great distress it is helpful to look at the horizon, not down at the ants biting one’s legs.

We’re trying to establish a Transcendent Nation. This is about realizing that fighting over pieces of earth and dominating other people’s belief systems is outmoded. This is a chance to see through duality in a most practical way. This is not about Chinese and Tibetans, old and young, but a unified humanity.

In order for healing to occur, there is an intensification of feeling ill at ease. That is the critical time to be still. This leads to purification of the energy and ultimately realization of emptiness. With the restoration of Shambhala on Earth, there is going to be a process of purification.

As Vajrayana Buddhists, we need to ride the currents with our bodhisattva intent. The young people need to orient to the elders and respect the values of the elders. These are time-tested truths.

All the lamas who have spent their entire lives, generations upon generations, will not be destroyed by a few thrown stones. Compassion is the only alternative.

Have you forgotten that all beings are your mothers? How many lives do you want to spend in the hell-realms?

Change is here. Hold steady. As a great sage asked, “How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?”

http://www.timemachinetantra.com

Meck   March 21st, 2008 619 GMT

"Free Tibet" is an organization with strong backing of the Western imperialism. As the common practice of the Western imperialism, they will took procession of any territory whereever they can by any means. If they can take the procession, then they will encourage splitism and encourage the local to fight for independent. And then they will come in to control the new small nation if the local had grant their wish.

zly   March 21st, 2008 806 GMT

why the chinese government don't let the foreign media to go to the site ? I can understand very well,
The most of the journalists have their conscience of profession while some of them don't have. they intend to make up the story for all kinds of reasons. Some of them at this moment may have other intention or mission out of their profession. So at this extreme situation, if let these foreign journalist go there may means ' pour oil on the fire', which will complicate and worsen the situation. the chinese government want to control the situation quickly, it's better to do so. It's more important to act for the benifit of controling the riots,save the people's lives and properties than listening to condemnation.

Kenneth   March 21st, 2008 851 GMT

Wangyao, thx for your concern; I am a outspoken and happy person. If the radical Tibetan exiles are allowed to protest violently everywhere around the world, I think I am allowed to post my comments here, right?!

The UN is a complete joke. Israeli soldiers could stormed into Gaza and killed hundreds of innocent people without any condemns by the West or by the UN. Now, China is trying to restore order within its own country and is receiving so many criticism and boycotts from around the World???? Why Israel always get special treatment by the West???

Anyway, Dalai Lama is smart. He simply let his radical followers to do all the dirty work. Let them spur chaos in China. At the same time, he told the world that he is powerless to do all the violence.... Wow, I can see his "Holiness"!!!! George W. Bush has Holiness because he indirectly killed over a million of innocent Iraqis and made millions and millions still suffering in Iraq.

He knows he has the upper hand because the Olympics is coming up and the Western world may boycott the Olympics to support him. Dalai Lama should be ashame of himself to mix religion into Politics as well as into sports.

rochelle   March 21st, 2008 856 GMT

There has difintely been some BIAS in the Western media coverage of the issue, e.g. depicting 'crackdown' in Tibet but showing pictures of Nepalese police hitting protestors (on various media); picture of a Chinese ambulance vehicle with the description "heavy military presence" (BBC) etc. etc. Having said that the Chinese media is no less biased either, and the lack of transparency is really bad PR.

Do some reasearch and reading (from a variaty of reliable sources) on the history of that part of the world and you will find the issue is very COMPLICATED and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Eric   March 21st, 2008 923 GMT

Tibet should never be independent in my books. Why? Because monks (or any religious heads) make terrible political and economic leaders as they gain their power from promoting superstition.

The lamas and monks promote a class system giving gross power to the religious heads with no equality among the common people.

So what if they used to dictate the country before the 50s? Should we bring back slavery and witchcraft, or the church owning all the land in a country? Or the British owning America? It was a poor and abusive social system maintained by the elite lamas and it is better for all the world put a stop to it.

Why should we support leaders that are not freely elected? Why should we support governments that promote violence? Why should we support theocracy instead of democracy?

The best part about the USA is our founding fathers' insight insisting on the separation between the church from the state.

At the expense of containing China, we lose sight in this important guiding principle which our freedom is based upon. We throw our support over any government regardless of its merits, simply because it'll give us influence over China.

Similar to the war on Iraq, we do it just

Rachel   March 21st, 2008 945 GMT

to all the chinese who belived that tibetans are well off after china invaded tibet, please use your common sense. will people uprise? will monks become violet for nothing? if your parents are killed infront of you, will u be peaceful or violent? it is not so simple and easy! wake up and stop being brainwashed from your heartless government!!!

Eric   March 21st, 2008 948 GMT

Similar to the war on Iraq, we do it just out of our desperate situation, not good.

Akar   March 21st, 2008 1046 GMT

so called western peace-loving people , open your eyes please, not only han chinese got beaten by tibetan rioters but also the local tibetans were killed and beaten by dalai's crazy followers!!!!

Does China' s fast growth & development make all of you westerners uncomfortable so all of you start blaming on China just because you got jealous of China's progress?

Tibet is ours, it belongs to CHINA ever and forever !!!

tibet Goba   March 21st, 2008 1049 GMT

TIBET BELONGS TO CHINA !!!

ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE BLIND ON THE SIMPLEST TRUTH !!!

Open your eyes! Why all journalist are rejected from Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu ..?   March 21st, 2008 1106 GMT

When someone resorts by force to occupy a territory, it is because he is forcing a situation in opposition to the inhabitants of this territory. Do you think that if in the year 1950 they had asked all the tibetans their opinion about a possible Chinese invasion of Tibet, the majority would have agreed?. Nobody in his healthy judgment will think that they should answer affirmatively.

The occupation of a territory based on the use of the force and in opposition to their inhabitants it can never have either the reason or the justice of his part.
I have been two times in Tibet and know first hand the treatment that the Chinese authorities give to the Tibetans. Really they are citizens of the second category. All the business are directed by Chinese, except very little exceptions. The tourists have prohibited to move for free and – theoretically – to relate to Tibetans, out of the perimeter of Lhasa and few populations more. Why?.

Under the international law there is no way of justifying the Chinese invasion of 1950. Only the apathy of the big powers after the second world war and the self-isolation of Tibet, allowed that China should occupy and remaining in Tibet in 1950.
But it can never it nor will be able to justify the above mentioned invasion and the current permanency of the Chinese in Tibet. The current protests show clearly that the Tibetans have never accepted the above mentioned situation.

I have been two times in Tibet and know first hand the treatment that the Chinese authorities give to the Tibetans. Really they are citizens of the second category. All the business are directed by Chinese, except very little exceptions. The tourists have prohibited to move for free and – theoretically – to relate to Tibetans, out of the perimeter of Lhasa and few populations more. Why?.

Under the international law there is no way of justifying the Chinese invasion of 1950. Only the apathy of the big powers after the second world war and the self-isolation of Tibet, allowed that China should occupy and remaining in Tibet in 1950.
But it can never it nor will be able to justify the above mentioned invasion and the current permanency of the Chinese in Tibet. The current protests show clearly that the Tibetans have never accepted the above mentioned situation.

Why Chinese authorities have expelled all the foreign journalists of Tibet?, Why prevent the tibetans the access to Internet or to speaking for telephone?, what do they want to avoid with it?. It is clear, they want to prevent at any expense the rest of the world from finding out about the real situation that exists just now there. And why want to prevent the rest of the world from knowing of the real situation in Tibet?, so because we all would find out about the treatment that they are giving to the demonstrators and of the real number of dead men that have exist in Tibet. There is the well-read one someone the book " Buda's mountains " of Javier Moro. I recommend it to all those who want to know that it happened in Tibet in 1989 and since they were treating the arrested.

Can Arabs be going to Spain to claim all his territory because they were from the year 710 until the year 1492 there?. Might they occupy it pacifically today?.

imchinese&tibetisours!!!   March 21st, 2008 1111 GMT

some people here gave malicious comments on CHINA with manipulated chinese names pretending they are genuine chinese citizens! I completely look down on these fakes!!!

imchinese&tibetisours!!!   March 21st, 2008 1114 GMT

FREE TIBET ?

I THINK IT IS THE TIME TO FREE WHOLE WORLD !

COME ON!!!!

mary   March 21st, 2008 1117 GMT

the chinese are being greedy by being in tibet
this was never their land
and it is not their people

the chinese have no right being there
and yes they do lie
check out radio free asia
there are more stories there
and on cnn
you can see the blacked out version of one story
and then the real story that was actually covered

give me a break
this is a NO BRAINER

FREE TIBET

Open your eyes! Why all journalist are rejected from Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu ..?   March 21st, 2008 1138 GMT

Certainly there are many other things that I hate: the Nazi over Jewish genocide, the war of Vietnam, the invasion of Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq; but also I believe that the artificial establishment of a land for a Jewish state in Palestine has been one of the major mistakes of the history of foreign policy after the second world war. It is the origin of an immense hatred between Jews and Palestinians and a wound that difficultly it will heal. Perhaps other kind of solution it was necessary.
Of any form, to expel all the foreign journalists of Tibet, some zones of Sichuan and Gansu it is never going to prevent from knowing the treatment that the Chinese are doing of the situation. With this expulsion, nobody can believe the Chinese version of the conflict; what are they trying to conceal?, why are they trying to conceal it?, of what are they afraid if the world finds out?. They are questions that quite civil of the world should be done.

John   March 21st, 2008 1149 GMT

TO THE HAN CHINESE INSIDE THE PRC.
It is remarkable to hear that about 100 Han Chinese students demonstrated outside their University in Beijing a few days ago in favour of the Tibetans. I believe that they have all been arrested. Is this true?
If yes, it was very brave of them.
However, my sympathies are also with the majority of Han Chinese for their complete lack of understanding of the situation in Tibet and other minority areas. Not only is it extremely difficult for them to obtain accurate information, they are also blinded by Han Chauvinism. This chauvinism can best be understood in terms of 19th century white colonialism. Europeans, some with the best intentions, set out to build schools, roads, hospitals and Christian churches to bring progress and development to backward populations. They also sustained their presence and their Empire extracting valuable minerals and prime materials which were sent to their "motherlands". For all the material progress that the colonialists bring, they inevitably attack and erode the values and culture of the indigenous population.
If anything is to be understood by these recent demonstrations in Tibet (including the areas that were part of historic Tibet) it is that the Tibetans are not content under Chinese rule. The continuous oppression felt by the ordinary Tibetans was like a pressure cooker, building up and building up before exploding. There are many ways to rule: the total control, iron-fist approach or a middle way in which the Tibetans could have control of their internal affairs, tend their fragile environment, practice their religion with qualified teachers etc etc. Lets hope the future leadership of the PRC, backed by one billion inhabitants opt for the later.

874xiaoxin   March 21st, 2008 1207 GMT

I wanna clear one thing that many people think Tibetans do not have religion rights in China. This is not true.

The monks need to file report to government agencies before any religion activities or events. You may think this is the not free part.
But the truth is all the temples, monstaries and their religion events are funded by the Chinese Government. And even more, the government paid for the monks' salaries.

If you are a scholar and you want apply for research grant from some angencies, you have to file report and proposal right? Does that affect your freedom in academic research? I believe the answer is NO.

Similar situtaion in Tibet.

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 1301 GMT

Kenneth:
I think I understand your point and we all know UN is joke when America started war on Iraq a few years back.

I don't know what would happen if a group of people carry photos of Bil Ladin to show their support to him in New York. One's freedom fighter is the other's terrorist. I told you all the government is the SAME.

I know – Democracy, UN and Justice – all these are joke in practice and therefore we are talking about resistance shown by Tibetans to unjustice. What do you think?

chinaman   March 21st, 2008 1323 GMT

Enough of peaceful methods. Who ever said independence was won with non violence. Tibetans pick up arms and fight force with force. Be ready to sacrifice your life but hit the Chinese Government where it hurts. Force them to listen to you. Don't depend on any support from the west or others, they are only interested in their own profits. Fight your own fight. The greed of the west has made China this powerfull.

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 1324 GMT

Eric:
All the 56 ethnicity including Han Chinese would happy if China could change into democratic political system. Look what is going on in China. China is run by a single political party and that is why there are so many problems in China. There is no room for different point of views other than the Chinese Communist Party. Why China can't be open to foreign journalist to report about the protest in Tibet? Why they can't transparant on many other issues in all over China – including AIDs, Falung Gong and other things. I would like to know what makes you happy about the Communist Party's rule in China (including Tibet).

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 1357 GMT

John:
I am a Chinese from P.R China and I think what you said is reasonable. China has never experienced "democracy" and it's understandable that many are ignorant about wishes of other ethnic minorities. You only see these ethnic minorities on Chinese state run TVs singing and dancing to praise the Party policies. I don't blame on ordinary Chinese citizens including some young Chinese who are posting – "Tibet was, is, and will be part of China"- this sort of thing. They are "Made in China" products and what you can expect from them. There is no "independent" media in China and all students in China are studying unified school text books edited by the state. Media and education are political tools used by the state to produce cheap and plastic "Made in China" mass- "products".

millian   March 21st, 2008 1403 GMT

china is destroying the culture of Tibetians which is worthess. They are the innocent people who has a great heritage and spritualty.
stop china
stop china
please save tibet
dont kill innocent people

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 1412 GMT

Kenneth, Eric, John,

If China is filled with these cheap "made in China" "mass-products", we will have little chance to see China compete against the USA to win the cold war – let along to develop Tibet.

rong7777777   March 21st, 2008 1413 GMT

Eric:

I totally agree with you.

Western people are blind to what Tibet was under The lamas and monks's rule. And they don't want to know the truth about Tibet.

WHAT THEY WANT IS TO WEAKEN CHINA AND THEY DON'T WANT CHINA TO BE STRONG AND POWERFUL TO CHALLENGE THEIR ROLE S IN THE WORLD. SO THEY WILL DO WHATEVER TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL.

DO NOT DREAM THAT THERE ARE ANY democratic AND JUSTICE BETWEEN COUNTRIES.

Jason   March 21st, 2008 1423 GMT

They are terrorists. It is necessary to protect innocent people by using force.

chinaman   March 21st, 2008 1447 GMT

if chinese govt is right then they should not be afraid to let the world see what is going on in tibet. they should let all the news channels into tibet with free access to any part of tibet. they should also allow a referendum to be held in tibet to get the true feeling of the tibetans whether they are happy under the chinese rule or they want independence. if the situation is as the chinese government claims then they should be confident of the result.
if the same situation persists then the only alternative for the tibetans is to turn to violence in the true sense and not just riot

David   March 21st, 2008 1514 GMT

They are “Made in China” products and what you can expect from them.

Pls take it back. It make you silly. Do not just judge people by where they are from rather than their content.

I admire what they are doing. Stating the fact, this has nothing to do with CCP. just my point of view.

Kenneth   March 21st, 2008 1534 GMT

Wangyao, it's obvious that you are not from PRC!!! STOP pretending that you are from PRC. Are you trying to start a propaganda here?? What do you mean by Cold War?! Did anyone mention Cold War here?? Cold war is a term that US used in the last century. China does not give a damn about the cold war. Only US always assume there is an evil country always going against them. The previous one was USSR and Japan. Now it is China. So the US government always see China is the Evil force.

Anyway, if you refer the students in China as "Made in China" products, then you dead wrong because they are not a product. They all have own thinking. Majority of them love their country and will stand by their country. Do you know how many foreign people applying for teaching jobs in China every year??? Do you know how many private schools in China?? Do you know how the officials get elected to the communist body?? If you don't know, then you should shut up and stop spreading propaganda against China.

If you are here for a debate, I am very welcomed. But by all the information that you posted, I think you are more of an instigator. Please show me your intelligence because I cannot debate with someone who does not have a brain.

David   March 21st, 2008 1535 GMT

Wangyao:
Also, I just found out that the guy who made the video has moved to a western country when he is 15 with the whole family. He is currently a undergrad students in that country. The language he used most frequently is english. I do think he is far away from the chinese propaganda.

Kenneth   March 21st, 2008 1548 GMT

"if chinese govt is right then they should not be afraid to let the world see what is going on in tibet"......

Do you know how many CIAs, MI6, KGBs pose as reporters/journalists in this world??? How can China keep track of these people once they are inside that region? They could be fueling more fire and making the situation worst. What happen if these so-called reporters get hurt or get killed by the radical Tibetans?? Does China has to take responsibility??

Anyway, if China lets the foreign media go into the region, information will get twisted. The media will only the pictures/videos that the West wants to see/hear; that is China is the devil. If China bans them from going in, information will still get twisted and China will be criticized. No matter what it is a NO-WIN situation for China. I think there is really a lot of narrow minded and simple-minded people here in this blog.

Open YOUR eyes! western journalist seldom report things about China objectively   March 21st, 2008 1619 GMT

In wertern media, there are full of biases & double standards to all things happening in China.

How come you regard those behaviors of Tibetan TERRORIST as legal things in China and support such TERRORISM?

Ethnic minorities(including ethnic Tibetan, Hui, Man...) usually have more privileges than ethnic Han Chinese in China. Ethnic Han Chinese are actually treated as second class citizen in China. If anyone did go to China and did look into it, he should know about this.

erickh   March 21st, 2008 1641 GMT

I think CNN report is not fair. they support to let the world know the truth, but they Distortion fact.

So, now I think youtube normal people can do better job them cnn report.

go youtube and find fact for yourself, don't wait time on this wetsite

NeedTruth?   March 21st, 2008 1644 GMT

The delebrately modified photo indicates the professional moral of such CNN reporter. It is straightforward that his objective is nothing related to the freedom of Tibet.

Dalai lama=liar   March 21st, 2008 1644 GMT

Those protester monk are slave owners. They simply hate to lose their slaves during chinese rule. Dalai Lama is the bigger slave onwer , he established his respectful yet fearful image among tibetans by demostrating his collection of human skull and pealing of children skin.
The chinese brought in too many things don't belong to tibet, polution, trains, factory. Average tibetans just want to live simple lifes.
But if Dalai lama were to return to tibetan and bringing back his bloody goverment, i'd rather kill myself before that.

News from the Sonecta lab » Blog Archive » test   March 21st, 2008 1655 GMT

[...] Quoting Wikipedia, "Tibet was once an independent kingdom, which later became a part of China. The government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Tibet in Exile, however, disagree over when Tibet became a part of China, and whether this incorporation into China is legitimate according to international law." [...]

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 1713 GMT

Kenneth,

从你的性格我明白你为什么支持中国共产党。 你想控制人,难道不? 记得有多少学生被中国共产党谋杀在北京6.4事件期间?
我是中国人我爱我的国家! 我为什么要请你接受我?

Off you go to be wild about supporting the Chinese Communist Party. The world is watching the CCP telling lie about many issues in China. I don't need to tell you what these issues are and you will learn them during the Olympic Game. How would the Chinese Communist Party win anything? The protest in Lhasa, Labrang (Gansu), Ngaba (Sichuan) is good example of the Chinese Communist Party's failure in winning Tibetan's heart and mind.

The video footage we see on this blog is what happend on 14th March in Lhasa and this is not all about the protest took place all over Tibet. I condem what they did to the motorcyclist but we shouldn't miss the bigger picture. The Chinese Communist Party should replaced by a democratic party led by Wejing Shen and Wangden and so on!

willwemeettomorrowpei-di?   March 21st, 2008 1717 GMT

I am a deep lover of chinese and tibetan cultures, and I would like to leave here first the facts, and then a few opinions on hidden political phaenomena.
Facts.:
1.-China invaded Tibet , October 1950.
2.-Human rights of tibetan population have been violated sistematically since then.
3.-The Dalai Lama is not even asking for independance for Tibet.
4.- The ethnical violence of rioters is easily understandable since inmigration is making ethnic tibetans a minority in their own country, and the subsequent repression of the authorities is and will be, by far ,more brutal .

My opinions:
This is only the beginning, no matter how powerful a state is, there is a point of maturity in the minds of the people, and they don´t want to be treated like kids anymore, one party, controlled media, absence of freedom of speech and association... The worst nightmare of the chinese government would be that democracy comes along with simultaneous dismembrance of the state, former soviet union style.
Some young han nationalists have stated here that western powers are jealous and even affraid of China´s economic success and are playing some kind of secret cold war, well, in international politics and macroeconomy most paranoids are right.
PEACE AND LOVE

Oh deep mountain forest, man does not know you.
Wang Wei

p.s.: Tibetan kings used to campaign militarly around China for centuries, the wheel of fortune never stops...

Forrest   March 21st, 2008 1722 GMT

Quotations of Wikipedia:
(Mongols) entered the country with military force in 1240. A second invasion led to the submission of almost all Tibetan states.

In 1751, the Manchurian (Qing) government, ..., established the Dalai Lama as both the spiritual leader and political leader of Tibet.
...
A second, larger, expedition sent by Emperor Kangxi expelled the Dzungars from Tibet in 1720 and the troops were hailed as liberators. They brought Kelzang Gyatso with them from Kumbum to Lhasa and he was installed as the seventh Dalai Lama in 1721.
...
The Qing put Amdo under their rule in 1724, and incorporated eastern Kham into neighbouring Chinese provinces in 1728.
...

Quotation of Encyclopedia Britannica:
It (Tibet) came under the control of the Mongols in the 13th century and the Qing (Manchu) dynasty in the 18th century.

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 1727 GMT

erickh,

If the Chinese Communist Party has got nothing to hide, why did they block youtube in China? It shows they are not confident to run the country – let alone Tibet. Is Youtube run by CNN?

Kenneth   March 21st, 2008 1755 GMT

Wangyao, nice try!!! You can translate a few words! I know a lot of word processing program can do translation, but they can never translate into the daily words that we use.

You can keep pretend that you are from PRC or pretending that you are a Chinese. When you said "you will learn during the Olympics game...", does it mean you know there will be more riots happen during those time?? If so, you are obviously a member of those Separatists. Are you part of the "Falun Gong"?? By the way, if the FG group starts in US, it will be considered a cult and will be banned. In fact it is a cult. Since it starts in China, US sees it as a religion and China is criticized for banning their practices.... this always amazes me....

Jeff   March 21st, 2008 1910 GMT

In my opinion, the real reason for the Dalai Lama’s ‘Middle Way’ policy has not been announced as part of that policy. I believe His Holiness knows full well that the determination of the Tibetan people for complete independence would not allow them to accept only the ‘Middle Way’ freedoms, were they to be given by the Chinese government. If the Tibetans were given all the freedoms the ‘Middle Way’ policy states, they will continue to push the envelope of those until they return to complete freedom and independence. He also understands that China will never allow even the ‘Middle Way’ freedoms anyway, and seeks to let the actions of the Chinese government speak to the lie of their policy statements. If one charts the positions of the respective sides, I believe you will see that while the positions of His Holiness have moved closer to the Chinese side, the Chinese have retreated from earlier positions they have stated towards the Tibetan people. By allowing the world to see the positions of China retreat as His own have advanced closer to the Chinese, He is teaching the world that the actions of China today are not matching the words of China decades ago. In other words, China lies. Most of us know this already, just look at their refrain even now that they will talk to His Holiness only when he renounces independence, which He did years ago. But China still won’t talk to him. The argument can always be made that ‘this Chinese leader will be different, so we need to give him the benefit of the doubt.’ His Holiness is allowing those who are somewhat naïve in this sense to learn from China’s actions. Of course, His Holiness can never say this out loud, because the ‘game will be up’, and China will likely retreat even more.

erickh   March 21st, 2008 1929 GMT

THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES'
Occasional Paper
Tibet, China and the United States: Reflections on the Tibet Question.
by Melvyn C. Goldstein
John Reynolds Harkness Professor
Chair, Department of Anthropology
Director, Center for Research on Tibet
Case Western Reserve University

--------------------------–

Foreword
Executive Summary
Introduction
The Qing Dynasty Period
The Emergence of the Qing Hegemony
The British Enter the Picture
The Chinese Reaction
The Period of Defacto Independence, 1913-1951
The Simla Convention
Tibetan Attempts to Modernize
The Initial Period of Chinese Communist Rule:
1951-1978
The 17 Point Agreement
Coexistence Under the Terms of the 17 Point Agreement: 1951-1959
Post-Mao Tibet: 1978 to Present
Dharamsala's New Initiative
The First Riot on October 1, 1987
Etiology of the Riots
Beijing's Shift to a Hard-line Strategy in Tibet
The Future
China
The Dalai Lama and Dharamsala
The United States and the Tibet Question
Endnotes

Foreword

Ethnic and sectarian conflicts throughout the world have emerged in the post-Cold War world as perhaps the most dangerous and durable threats to peace, prosperity, stability, democratic institutions and human rights. Recognizing these dangers, the Atlantic Council of the United States launched a policy project in 1993 on "Individual Rights, Group Rights, National Sovereignty and International Law." An interdisciplinary Working Group composed of experts on ethnic questions, practitioners in conflict resolution, regional specialists and policy-makers was formed under the leadership of Ambassador Max Kampelman.
The objectives of the policy project are practical: to identify U.S. interests in specific conflicts and potential conflicts; and to identify appropriate methodologies and techniques, as well as multilateral and bilateral instruments that might be used to mitigate ethnic tensions before they become violent.

The current work program is composed of three components:

five case studies, the policy paper and a seminar for emerging leaders. Working papers by specialists have been commissioned – and the majority have now been published – on "International Law and Self-Determination;" "Hungarian Minorities in East-Central Europe;" and "Tibet, China, and the United States Policy;" "International Implications of the Civil War in Tajikistan and United States Policy;" and "Tibet, China, and the United States: Reflections on the Tibet Question." The case studies are reviewed by the Working Group, and appropriate experts on the topic are invited to join the Working Group's discussion. A rapporteur has been appointed to draft a policy paper, and, after thorough review by the Working Group, the policy paper will be published in 1995 as a Working Group report; it will be addressed to the U.S. administration and Congress and appropriate international institutions with recommendations to be initiated and implemented to mitigate or resolve conflicts.

A selection of the working papers served as the focus of discussion for a Young Leaders Seminar held in Romania in October 1994. This seminar was the 22nd Young Leaders Seminar since the Council initiated the program in 1981.

Tibet was selected as a component of this project because of the nature of the challenge and its importance to U.S. relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). The future of Tibet is admittedly a controversial complex of issues. When the Atlantic Council and the national Committee on United States-China Relations published a policy paper in February 1993, the report commented, "Beijing's human rights practices have become powerful issues in the United States, as well as in many other Western nations. Tibet, for instance, has been a recurring point of friction in Sino-American relations, with the Chinese crackdown in 1987 only one pre-Tiananmen example."

Tibetan-PRC relations today are tense and unpredictable. The question appears to be not whether violence will erupt again, but when – unless there are major efforts aimed at conciliation by the leadership of both parties. At the same time, Tibet remains a point of friction between the United States and the PRC, and Tibet-PRC relations are hotly disputed between the United States and the PRC, and Tibet-PRC relations are hotly disputed in the United States. Those who champion Tibetan human rights and self-determination disagree over tactics with those who favor policies pursuing human rights within a broader context of the overall U.S. strategic relationship with the PRC. Almost any statement assessing and recommending changes in Tibet-PRC relations is likely to be perceived and denounced as unbalanced. Is it possible to encourage a reasoned dialogue in pursuit of a pragmatic, viable compromise?

Dr. Melvyn Goldstein, a distinguished professor of anthropology at Case Western Reserve University and a longtime analyst of Tibet, the PRC, and their relations, has attempted to do so in this Atlantic Council Occasional Paper. Given the passions and emotions attached to Tibetan issues, it is unlikely everyone will agree with everything he says. Yet his thoughtful suggestions describing a pragmatic, middle way to avoid violent confrontation and preserve Tibetan culture certainly deserve careful consideration by all parties, including the U.S. policy makers. As he notes, the United State "appears clearly to have a major, albeit negative, strategic interest in Tibet – namely, preventing the conflict from turning violent."

On behalf of the Atlantic Council, it is a pleasant duty to thank The Pew Charitable Trusts for their forward-looking support of this project on ethnic and sectarian conflict. In accordance with our practice, the views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council or the Pew Charitable Trusts.

David C. Acheson

President

The Atlantic Council of the United States

--------------------------–

Executive Summary
The "Tibet Question"-the political status of Tibet vis-a-vis China-is an intractable nationalistic conflict that has become a volatile component of Sino-American relations and a contentious issue in the American political arena. It is also a conflict that appears to have reached a critical juncture in its long history. This essay explores the nature of this conflict, examining its historical background and explicating recent developments with the aim of informing policy.
The roots of the conflict can be traced back hundreds of years, but in modern times the Tibet Question entered the international arena at the turn of the 19th century when British attempts to open relations with Tibet culminated in the 1903-04 invasion and conquest of Lhasa. The Qing China, which considered Tibet politically subordinate, countered this perceived threat to its hegemony by taking measures to increase its control over Tibet's administration. These actions ended in 1911 when the Qing Dynasty was overthrown in China. Tibetans then expelled all Chinese troops and officials and the 13th Dalai Lama triumphantly returned from exile in India, immediately issuing a proclamation that is considered by many Tibetans to be a declaration of independence.

From 1911-1951, Tibet functioned as a defacto independent nation, conducting all governmental functions without interference from China or any other country. Nevertheless, its international status was ambivalent since China continued to claim Tibet as part of its state and the relevant Western countries like Britain and the United States refused to recognize Tibetan independence. The current dispute over the political status of Tibet is to no small extent an artifact of the Western democracies' decision to publicly acknowledge Chinese suzerainty over Tibet throughout this period, even though Beijing had no direct influence there.

The founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 quickly ended Tibet's defacto independence. The Communists, like the Nationalists of Chiang Kaishek, claimed Chinese sovereignty over Tibet, and invaded Tibet's eastern province in October 1950 to force the Tibetan government to commence negotiations to accept such a status. They quickly vanquished the Tibetan forces, and when neither the Western democracies, India, nor the U.N. responded positively to Tibet's pleas for help, the 14th Dalai Lama sent a negotiating team to Beijing. It signed the 17 Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in May of 1951. This agreement recognized Chinese sovereignty over Tibet for the first time in Tibetan history, but also recognized the right of the Dalai Lama's government to continue to administer Tibet, at least until the Tibetan people and leaders wanted reforms.

This agreement, however, proved difficult to operationalize, and after an eight year period of coexistence, a Tibetan uprising occurred in Lhasa in 1959. The Dalai Lama then fled to exile in India, followed by about 80,000 Tibetans. China now set aside the agreement and established a people's government in Tibet. The Dalai Lama, in India, similarly denounced the agreement, claiming Tibet's right to self determination and independence. The political status of Tibet vis-a-vis China reemerged as a contested issue.

During the two decades after the 1959 uprising, China ended the feudal estate system in Tibet and gradually implemented a system of pervasive communes. It also destroyed the vast monastic system and, during the Cultural Revolution, vigorously attacked traditional Tibetan culture and prohibited all religious activities.

During the same period, the exiles criticized Chinese actions in Tibet and made their case for self-determination and independence. They won sympathy and some support in the West, but were unable to exert any influence on Chinese policies in Tibet. Negotiations between China and the Dalai Lama to resolve the conflict, moreover, did not occur during this period.

Sino-Tibetan relations entered a new phase in 1978 when China embarked on a more liberal trajectory under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. Beijing shifted its Tibet policy away from the assimilationist/class struggle policy of the Cultural Revolution, instituting in its place a policy that emphasized meeting the ethnic sensibilities of Tibetans while improving their economic situation. At the same time, Beijing and the Tibetan exiles began secret talks to resolve their dispute. The Dalai Lama formally sent negotiating delegations to Beijing in 1982 and 1984.

These talks, however, proved fruitless. The Chinese were unwilling to consider real political autonomy in Tibet, i.e., a political system different than the rest of China and run by Tibetans. Conversely, the exiles were unwilling to accept a solution that addressed only cultural, religious and linguistic issues and did not give them political control over Tibet. Complicating the situation was the exile's demand for creation of a "Greater Tibet" that would include not only political Tibet (the Tibet Autonomous Region) but also the ethnic Tibetan areas in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces.

This failure left the Dalai Lama and his leaders in a difficult position politically. On the one hand, they did not have the means to compel Beijing to accede to their demands, while on the other, they saw China moving ahead with its internal reform program without them. In 1986/87, therefore, the exiles countered by launching a new strategic initiative whose aim was to secure increased political support from the U.S. and Europe in order to exert new and effective leverage on China.

A key element in this new strategy was that the Dalai Lama for the first time would make political speeches in the West. In September 1987, he initiated this strategy in Washington, D.C. with a major speech before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. The following June, he made a another important address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In the latter speech he laid out publicly for the first time his willingness to accept something less than independence for Tibet, namely, complete political autonomy.

Several days after the Dalai Lama's speech in Washington, a small group of monks in Lhasa demonstrated in support of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence. They were arrested without incident, but a few days later when more monks demonstrated to demand the release of the first monks, a full-scale riot erupted. During the succeeding two years, three other riots occurred in Lhasa, the last compelling Beijing to declare martial law in Tibet for one year.

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama's initiative achieved considerable success internationally and in the U.S.. The U.S. Congress passed legislation supporting Tibet, the Dalai Lama and his envoys gained access to top leaders in the U.S., and in 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

China's Tibet policy was now in shambles.

Beijing reacted predictably by shifting to a more hard-line strategy. This policy developed new and effective security measures to prevent further political demonstrations from turning into riots, and is accelerating a program of rapid economic development that is increasing Tibet's integration with the rest of China and, over time, is hoped to create more "modern" Tibetans who will be less influenced by religion and lamas. The economic strategy, however, pulled in large numbers of Chinese entrepreneurs/laborers to Tibet to work, increasing the size of the non-Tibetan population in Tibet. Beijing's refusal to reverse this influx is the core issue creating the current crisis.

As a result of this new Chinese strategy in Tibet, the Dalai Lama again finds himself relegated to the sidelines watching events unfold that from his point of view are tragic. For well over a thousand years of recorded history, through wars and conquest, famines and other natural disasters, Tibet remained the exclusive home of a people. Now Tibetans in Tibet and in exile see this being lost right under their eyes and are unable to stop it. Beijing, therefore, has, in a sense, turned the tables on Dharamsala, and the triumphs won by the Dalai Lama's international campaign look more and more like pyrrhic victories. The international initiative won significant symbolic gains for the exiles in the West but did not compel China to yield to its demands and played a major role in precipitating the new hard-line policy that is changing the nature of Tibet. Ironically, by threatening China's political hold over Tibet, Dharamsala and its Western supporters provided the advocates of a hard-line Tibet policy the leverage they needed to shift Beijing's Tibet policy away from the more ethnically sensitive one of the early 1980s.

How is this conflict likely to play out in the coming years? Is there any common ground upon which reconciliation between the Dalai Lama and China can be constructed? Does the United States have a role to play?

1. China-Beijing now has little interest in holding discussions with the Dalai Lama because it feels he is still unwilling to accept rapprochement without political power, and, in any case, feels its rapid modernization policy is working well.

2. The Tibetan exiles-The situation in the exile community also is not conducive for a negotiated resolution to the current impasse. The Dalai Lama and his top officials are anxious to stop the influx of non-Tibetans into Tibet, and they hold deep convictions that Tibet should be a predominately Tibetan area whether independent or part of China. However, the fundamental impasse is the same as it was in the early 1980s-China is unwilling to give the Dalai Lama real political autonomy, and the Dalai Lama is unwilling to accept less than that. What is new, however, is China's current Tibet policy. It is exerting tremendous pressure on the Dalai Lama and his leaders either to quickly resolve the conflict or to develop effective counter-measures that will prevent the influx of non-Tibetans from changing the ethnic character of Tibet.

The Dalai Lama and his officials appear to have three-not mutually exclusive-main options.

i. to maintain the status quo by continuing the current campaign to enhance their international support.

The Dalai Lama and his officials appear to understand the current limitations of Western support so do not expect the West to force China out of Tibet. Consequently, implicit in this strategy is the hope that the flow of history will provide them the victory they desire but can not attain on their own. Ideally, they hope that China will soon disintegrate like the Qing Dynasty did in 1911 (and the U.S.S.R. more recently), and that this will afford them the opportunity to regain control over Tibet. But even if this does not occur, they hope that the supreme leader who replaces Deng Xiaoping will be more sympathetic to giving Tibetans real political autonomy. Thus, while waiting for history to solve their dilemma in a satisfactory manner, they are trying to induce Western nations to renounce their acceptance of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet and to pressure China to make concessions.

ii. to escalate by encouraging (or organizing) violent opposition in Tibet .

Such a campaign of violence would seek to disrupt Beijing's hard-line policy and prevent China from pursuing business as usual in Tibet. It's goal would be to persuade China to adopt a more conciliatory line, not militarily drive it from Tibet. However, if China began to disintegrate in the coming years, this strategy would be used to try to wrest actual control.

This option would be difficult for the Dalai Lama to accept even tacitly given his commitment to non-violence, but may begin even without his sanction.

iii. to compromise by sending Beijing a clear message that the Dalai Lama is ready to scale down his political demands in order to preserve an ethnically homogeneous Tibetan homeland.

A compromise for less than real political autonomy will be difficult for the Dalai Lama to accept. However, it might occur if the leadership change in Beijing brings no significant shift in Beijing's attitude toward Tibet and the Dalai Lama concludes as a result of this that a major compromise is the only way to preserve an ethnically homogeneous Tibetan homeland.

3. The United States

U.S. policy toward Tibet has vacillated over the past 45 years, but at present is based on the assumption that the U.S. has no vital strategic interests in Tibet. The executive branch and State Department are pursuing a policy that seeks to avoid allowing the Tibet issue to create unnecessary complications and irritants in U.S. relations with China. It appears willing to urge both parties to resolve the conflict peacefully, to occasionally mention human rights violations in Tibet, and perhaps to privately encourage China to meet with the Dalai Lama for a new round of talks, but no more.

As currently defined, U.S. interests in the area are satisfied if the Sino-Tibetan conflict continues at its present level, i.e., if it does not degenerate into serious violence. However, if a shift to violence occurs, this would likely impact U.S. strategic interests negatively:

(i) if it remained localized in Tibet:

Serious violence would likely result in a heavy-handed Chinese response that would create powerful pressures in the U.S. domestic political arena for America to support Tibetans' "struggle for freedom." Any such steps, of course, would be perceived in Beijing as a threat to Chinese core strategic interests and would worsen the already fragile relations between China and the United States, potentially complicating the U.S's entire Asia policy.

(ii) if it spilled outside of Tibet

Serious violence could impact on the internal stability of China itself. It might, for example, precipitate a chain of events that would destabilize China at this very important juncture in its history. Or it might significantly exacerbate forces of disintegration that started elsewhere in China. One of Beijing's worst case scenarios, in fact, is for serious disturbances in Tibet to spread to other minority areas such as Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and the Muslim (Hui) areas in Gansu.

But is a descent into serious violence a reasonable assumption? Unfortunately, the answer appears to be affirmative. Tibetans are unlikely to stand on the sidelines for much longer watching Beijing transform the demography and economy of their homeland with impunity. Nationalistic emotions coupled with desperation and anger make a powerful brew, and there are Tibetans inside and outside of Tibet who are intoxicated with the idea of beginning such a campaign of focused violence-in their view a "war of conscience," a Tibetan-style intifada.

Moreover, given that the exiles and their supporters in the West and in Tibet see Soviet-like disintegration in China as their greatest hope, they are likely to leap in with alacrity at any sign of major economic or political instability in order to exacerbate and accelerate this instability. The experience of the previous (13th) Dalai Lama offers a powerful model to Tibetan leaders. When the Qing Dynasty fell in 1911, he organized military action in Tibet from exile in India, quickly expelled all Chinese officials and troops from Tibet, and ushered in a golden period of 40 years of (defacto) independence.

Consequently, the U.S. appears to have a major, albeit negative, strategic interest in Tibet-namely, preventing the conflict from turning violent. The current U.S. approach to Tibet is seriously flawed since it can neither bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict nor can it prevent the exiles (and/or Tibetans in Tibet) from launching a new tactic of large-scale violence. Even in the unlikely event that U.S. prodding persuades China to resume talks with the Dalai Lama and his leaders, since they appear unwilling under current conditions to agree to a settlement that does not include political control in Tibet, this will be an empty exercise certain to fail. Such a failure, moreover, could actually be counter-productive by increasing the anger and frustration in Dharamsala (and Tibet) and thereby push the existing momentum further towards violence (which would likely include "terrorist" type attacks).

Of course, it can be argued that Tibetans will not be able to organize and sustain a program of violent attacks against Chinese targets (and nationals), but it seems shortsighted for the U.S. to allow the situation to deteriorate to a state where this will be tested empirically. The current U.S. policy is deficient, therefore, because it is allowing a dangerously volatile situation to develop according to its own momentum when its most likely outcome is clearly not in its strategic interests. It seems prudent, therefore, for the U.S. to reassess the role of Tibet in its China and Asia policy and strive in a quiet, non-public fashion to facilitate a speedy resolution of the conflict.

However, is there a reasonable compromise solution that could meet the needs of both parties to this conflict, and if so, what would it entail?

The following terms are suggested as a possible compromise solution. On the Chinese side, a number of important concessions would be necessary:

1. In the political sphere, a "new" Tibet Autonomous Region would retain its current political system but Beijing would move in stages to appoint Tibetans to head all its party and government offices. All positions of real power would be placed in the hands of ethnic Tibetans, e.g., the position of First Secretary of the Party would for the first time be given to a Tibetan, and by the end of a ten year phase-in period, the percent of Tibetan officials would increase substantially from its current 60-70% to as high as 85-90%.

2. In the cultural sphere, a variety of measures would have to be implemented to enhance the degree to which Tibetan culture predominates. One of the most critical of these would be to phase in Tibetan language as the basic operating language of government. Although all Tibetan officials would have to be bilingual in Chinese, and the education system would continue to teach Chinese along with Tibetan, restoring written Tibetan as the language of the government of Tibet would enable Tibetan culture to grow and modernize to a degree not possible now. Other cultural measures such as allowing the number of monks in monasteries to increase and permitting Buddhist clerics from abroad to give religious teachings, could be worked out by the parties.

3. In the critical demographic and economic spheres, Beijing would have to take measures to decrease substantially the number of non-Tibetans in Tibet and to reduce outside economic competition so that Tibetans become the main beneficiaries of economic development there. Tibet would continue to modernize rapidly, but the rate would be adjusted to the realities of the Tibetan situation. Since the overwhelming majority of non-Tibetans in Tibet are not legal residents (colonists), Beijing has no responsibility for their resettlement and re-employment, and could accomplish this, although not without difficulty.

4. With regard to the exile's demand for creation of a "Greater Tibet," Beijing would agree to enact parallel changes in policy in ethnographic Tibet and both sides would agree to delay addressing the "reunification" issue until the new program has been in operation for five or ten years. i.e., until new relations of trust and respect are established.

The end result of such a process would be a Tibet that was predominately Tibetan in culture, language and demographic composition. It would continue to modernize and would be run by Tibetans, albeit by "communist" Tibetans under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. However, if China in time evolves more democratic institutions such as multiple political parties, the political leadership in Tibet would similarly broaden its base. The underlying premise of this compromise solution is that transforming Tibet into a "modern" society is perfectly compatible with preserving its rich language, culture and religion, and that it is in the interests of both sides to facilitate such a development.

To secure these concessions from China, however, will not be simple. Beijing considers that even an "ethnic" solution such as this would be a potential threat to its position in Tibet given the strong anti-Chinese and pro-separatist feelings of Tibetans, particularly those associated with religion and traditional culture. Consequently, a compromise plan such as this would have to include components that greatly enhanced Beijing's de jure control over Tibet and ended the internal and external attacks on its position there.

Only the Dalai Lama can provide this for Beijing. He, therefore, would have to make a major compromise that would involve two main areas:

(1) return to China/Tibet and publicly accept Chinese sovereignty over Tibet.

(2) work actively to create cooperative and harmonious relations between Tibetans and non-Tibetans, persuading Tibetans in Lhasa to stop disturbances and accept that a truly Tibetan Tibet is not incompatible with being a part of China or with becoming a "modern" society. This would include deflecting any international criticism of the agreement.

He would, therefore, have to use his enormous prestige and stature to change the attitude of Tibetans (in Tibet) toward being part of China. He could certainly do that if he tried and if Beijing supported his efforts by promptly phasing in the changes outlined above.

However, this kind of compromise is unlikely to occur without external encouragement. If progress is to be made, a "catalyst-facilitator" is needed, and this is where the U.S. could play a constructive role, either directly through private diplomacy, or through a proxy country such as Norway or Mongolia. It would be injudicious to specify further the nature of such a U.S. role, but suffice to say that such an effort might well be the deciding factor in determining the direction the Tibet Question takes in the coming decade.

In conclusion, the Tibet Question has currently reached a dangerous turning point in its turbulent history. The Chinese are pursuing a policy that the Dalai Lama knows is changing Tibet, perhaps irretrievably, and that the situation will only worsen in time. At age 60, he must be thinking about how best to preserve his people and their way of life in his remaining years. He may decide to continue to sit on the sidelines, hoping that external forces will destroy his enemy, but it is more likely that he will soon feel compelled adopt a proactive approach-either moving to preserve Tibet by accepting a major compromise such as that outlined above, or more likely by tacitly and reluctantly accepting a new tactic of countering Chinese policies in Tibet through organized violence. It seems clearly in the interests of the United States to develop a strategy that will ensure that he and his leaders choose the former over the latter.

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The Qing Dynasty Period
The Emergence of the Qing Hegemony
Although the current manifestation of the Tibet Question involves the People's Republic of China with its communist, autocratic-style government, the Tibet Question is not about communism per se and predates the creation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Throughout the Twentieth Century, in fact, different Chinese and Tibetan governments have sparred over this issue, each shifting positions and strategies, gaining advantages at specific points in time, but not being able to achieve the ultimate, but very elusive, goal both sought and seek a permanent, mutually agreeable solution to what should be the political status of Tibet.

The current conflict over the Tibet Question, therefore, is being contested by players who carry a heavy load of historical baggage to the field of battle. Consequently, it is important to begin this discussion with an overview of the history of the Tibet Question in modern times.

The origin of today's Tibet Question is rooted in Qing (Manchu)-Tibetan relations in the late 17th and 18th cen- turies, in particular, during the period between 1720-1792. During that time the Qing Dynasty sent armies into Tibet on four occasions, reorganized the administration of Tibet and established a loose protectorate. The Qing Emperors' motives at this time were primarily geo-political, they sought on the one hand to prevent Tibetans from using their religious leverage to unify the Mongols(5) in a common front against them, and on the other hand, to oust their main rivals, the Dzungar Mongols, from Lhasa, which they had conquered in 1717. Nevertheless, even at the height of its power in Tibet, the Qing Dynasty made no attempt to absorb Tibet into China as a province. Tibet, therefore, maintained its own language, officials, legal system, and army and paid no taxes/tribute to China. The Qing Dynasty sought to influence the decision-making of the Tibetan government on issues that affected its interests rather than directly administer Tibet. It sought to do this after 1720 by reforming the administrative structure (e.g., doing away with the office of regent) and stationing Imperial Commissioners (amban) and a garrison of troops in Lhasa.

The precise authority of these amban is somewhat unclear, and in actuality, their power appears to have varied in accordance with many factors such as their personality and competence vis-a-vis that of the leaders of Tibet, and the nature of the political situation in China and Tibet. In general, however, it is clear that the degree of Qing power and authority in Tibet waned as China itself faced more pressing threats in the 19th century. For example, the Tibeto-Nepalese War of 1855-56 was conducted by Tibet without any involvement from China, and the 13th Dalai Lama was chosen in 1877 without recourse to the "golden urn" lottery that the Qing Emperor Qian Long had ordered in 1792 as part of his "Twenty-nine Regulations for Better Government in Tibet." By the turn of the 20th century, therefore, the Qing hegemony over Tibet was more symbolic than real, and the Tibet Question was, in a sense, latent. Tibet did not explicitly try to sever its ties to Beijing, but also did not defer to the Emperor's amban in Lhasa.

That laissez faire arrangement was permanently transformed when a third party entered the scene and set in motion a series of events that altered the status quo dramatically.

The British Enter the Picture

By the mid-19th century, British influence on the Indian sub-continent had extended right to the border of Tibet as the string of Himalayan states and principalities fell under British influence. British India then tried to establish direct relations with Tibet, but the Tibetan government declined to discuss such matters with them, let alone permit them travel and trade. British India, therefore, turned to China, the nominal (and recognized) overlord of Tibet and in 1890 and 1893 obtained a variety of concessions regarding Tibet from Beijing. However, the 13th Dalai Lama refused to acknowledge them and would not agree to face-to-face talks with British Indian officials. Since it was now apparent that China had no practical control over events in Tibet, in 1903 London permitted Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, to send an expedition to Tibet to open negotiations. The Tibetans again refused to negotiate with this expedition, so its British officers and officials led their Indian troops deeper and deeper into Tibet, ostensibly to induce the Tibetans to negotiate. Defeating the Tibetan forces that attempted to block their advance, on 3 August 1904, they entered Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. They were the first Western troops ever to conquer Tibet.

Throughout this period the Chinese government (through its amban) urged the 13th Dalai Lama to negotiate with the British expeditionary force, and then when it was about to enter Lhasa, to meet with Younghusband, its leader. But China had no control over the Dalai Lama who ignored these admonitions and fled to exile in Mongolia, presumably to seek Russian support against Britain.

In order to secure the withdrawal of the British, the Tibetan government reluctantly agreed to British terms which were codified in an agreement known as the Anglo-Tibet Convention of 1904. Signed by only Tibet and the British head of the expeditionary force D the Manchu amban refused to place his signature on it D it gave India (Britain) the right to establish Trade Marts in Tibet and maintain British Trade Officials in three Tibetan towns [Gyantse, Gartok and Yadung]. It also excluded any other foreign power from exercising political influence in Tibet, a clause which was vague enough to exclude China as well as more obvious countries such as Russia. A large indemnity was levied and British troops were to occupy a part of Tibet contiguous with Sikkim until this was paid. By virtue of these terms, British India virtually converted Tibet into another of its "native-state" protectorates.

However, news of the fighting in Tibet and the seizure of Lhasa shocked many in London who had not authorized Curzon to conquer Tibet. Britain's interests transcended those of India, and considerations of Hong Kong and Russia led the Foreign Office to repudiate some of the political advantages secured via the Anglo-Tibetan Convention of 1904. London also promptly assuaged China by entering into negotiations with it to obtain its acceptance of the convention Younghus- band had signed with Tibet. The resultant 1906 Anglo-Chinese Convention reaffirmed the Chinese overlord position in Tibet and restricted the British role primarily to commercial affairs. In 1907, an Anglo-Russian treaty internationalized this.

The Chinese Reaction

The invasion of Tibet and the Lhasa Convention of 1904 dramatically altered Chinese policy toward Tibet. Until then, the Qing Dynasty had evinced no interest in directly administering or Sinicizing Tibet. The British thrusts now suggested to Beijing that unless it took prompt action its position as overlord in Tibet might be lost and Tibet could fall under the British sphere of influence. The Qing Dynasty, although enfeebled and on the brink of collapse, responded with surprising vigor. Beijing got the British troops to leave Tibetan soil quickly by itself paying the 2.5 million rupee indemnity to Britain, and began to take a more active role in day-to-day affairs in Tibet. Britain's casual invasion of Tibet, therefore, stimulated China to protect what it felt were its national interests in Tibet by beginning a program to integrate Tibet culturally, economically, and politically more closely with the rest of China.

The position of the Dalai Lama during all this is important. He was languishing in exile, spending time first in Outer Mongolia and then the ethnic Tibetan areas of what is now Qinghai Province. His overture to the Russian Czar proved futile and his position in exile was somewhat precarious since he had been "deposed" by the Chinese Government in 1904 because of his flight. Although Tibetans never questioned his legitimacy as their ruler, the increased domination of affairs in Lhasa by the ambans after his departure made him unwilling to return to Lhasa without first achieving some accommodation with the Qing Dynasty that would guarantee his control of Tibet. In 1908, he went to Beijing to visit the Emperor and Court. Arguing that the amban did not faithfully transmit his views to Beijing, the Dalai Lama requested permission to petition the throne directly (i.e., to bypass the amban). Beijing, however, was in no mood to loosen its control over the unpredictable and independent 13th Dalai Lama, and rudely refused.

Ultimately, however, China agreed that the Dalai Lama could return to Tibet to rule, but since they did not trust him to follow their instructions, unbeknownst to him, they sent an army of several thousand troops from Sichuan province to support the amban and ensure that the Dalai Lama was compliant. Thus, when the 13th Dalai Lama arrived in Lhasa in late December 1909, five years after he had fled from the Younghusband Expedition, he learned that a Chinese army was on its way. As that army entered Lhasa in February 1910, he again decided to flee to exile, this time south to his former enemies in British India.

China again deposed the Dalai Lama and expanded its efforts to expand its real control in Tibet, its officials assuming more direct command of administration. A Chinese postal service was established and Tibet's first stamps were produced (with Chinese and Tibetan scripts). Tibet seemed set on a trajectory that would have ended in Tibet's incorporation into China proper. This, however, did not occur. The process was abruptly halted when the Qing dynasty was overthrown in China in 1911.(6)

The Period of Defacto Independence, 1913-1951
The Simla Convention

The fall of the Qing dynasty was a stroke of good fortune for the 13th Dalai Lama, and he immediately capitalized on it. From exile in India he organized a military force to regain his power, and with the help of Nepalese mediation, quickly succeeded in expelling all Chinese officials and troops from Tibet. The 13th Dalai Lama triumphantly returned to Lhasa in 1913 and at once unequivocally declared himself the ruler of Tibet, no longer paying even symbolic subordination to China. Many interpret this announcement as the equivalent of a declaration of independence. For the Tibetan political elite, the idea of Tibet as a modern nation state had now gained prominence.

The Tibet Question, however, was far from settled since the new Chinese Republican government continued to claim Tibet as a part of China. In fact, since one of the fundamental nationalistic goals of the Chinese revolution against the Qing was to restore China to its former greatness, control of Tibet took on great symbolic significance. Given the disputed international status of Tibet at the time, Tibet had to reach some accommodation with China regarding its political status or be prepared to defend its territory and newly declared "independence." As we shall see, it turned out to be unable to do the former and unwilling to take the steps needed to do the latter.

With no effective army at its disposal, Tibet sought to reach an agreement with China's new rulers and received support in this from a new friend D British India. The Government of British India had found China a bad neighbor during the 1905-11 period of direct Chinese power in Tibet and wanted to prevent any recurrence of such direct control. It sought therefore to create a buffer area in Tibet, i.e., a territory in which Chinese officials would not be in direct control. In 1913, with the intent of achieving that end, it pressured the new Chinese government to participate in a conference with itself and Tibet in Simla, India. The Simla negotiations produced a draft convention in 1914 that set the background for the Tibet Question during the next four decades.

Tibet initially wanted the conference to declare it independent. The Tibetan plenipotentiary expressed this in his opening statement when he said:

Tibet and China have never been under each other and
will never associate with each other in future. It
is decided that Tibet is an independent State and
that the precious Protector, the Dalai Lama, is the
ruler of Tibet in all temporal as well as in
spiritual affairs.(7)

China, on the other hand, forcefully claimed the opposite in its initial Simla statement:

Tibet forms an integral part of the territory of the
Republic of China, that no attempts shall be made by
Tibet or by Great Britain to interrupt the con-
tinuity of this territorial integrity, and that
China's rights of every description which have
existed in consequence of this territorial integrity
shall be respected by Tibet and recognized by Great
Britain. (8)

Tibet's only hope of achieving its aim was for Great Britain to act as its champion. British strategic aims, however, were not congruent with those of Lhasa. As in 1904-05, London did not want to support an independent Tibet or convert Tibet into an Indian protectorate (as had been done in the case of Sikkim and Bhutan). London was still unwilling to face the international criticism that support for Tibet's claim to independence would engender and also was fearful of negatively impacting British trade interests in China and Hong Kong. So Britain proposed that Tibet be accepted as a self-governing dominion nominally under China but with Chinese influence and power severely limited. With China excluded from a position of influence and power in Tibet, Britain would have created a harmless buffer-zone along India's northern border in which its political interests were fulfilled and its commercial interests could develop. Here we see the beginnings of what we can think of as the "Bad Friend Syndrome" D Western powers professing friendship for Tibet but refusing to support it in its real objective D political independence.
The final draft of the Simla Convention illustrates this. While declaring that Tibet would be completely autonomous from China, it acknowledged Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. Tibetans would administrate Tibet with its own officials in accordance with its own customs and laws, and China would not be permitted to station large numbers of troops or officials in Tibet D but China could maintain an amban and his escort of 300 men there. This compromise was not the independence Tibet wanted, but nonetheless was acceptable to the Tibetan elite because it met their nationalistic sensibilities by guaranteeing that they would retain complete control over Tibet's affairs, including the army, currency and so forth. It would also legitimize Tibet's international identity and allow it to avoid having to prepare for possible military conflict with China. The Tibetan and Chinese Plenipotentiaries at Simla agreed to this political compromise.

The political dimension of the Tibet Question, however, turned out to be easier to accommodate at Simla than the territorial one. Tibet and China found it impossible to agree on where to draw the boundary between political Tibet and China. At issue was a belt of semi-autonomous ethnic Tibetan areas in Eastern Tibet/ Western Sichuan (the "ethnographic Tibet" mentioned in footnote 1). British mediation produced a number of compromises, but in the end the new Chinese government repudiated these and refused to ratify the entire Simla Convention.

Younghusband, however, did not drop the issue as British India had clear strategic goals it needed to secure. He sought permission from London to achieve these by signing the Simla Convention directly with Tibet. London, however, denied this, feeling it would be tantamount to recognition of Tibetan independence. Nevertheless, British India finally achieved its goals by taking an unusual action. It signed a bilateral note with Tibet binding each to the terms of the unsigned Simla Convention. British India then felt justified in pursuing its relations with Tibet in accordance with the "autonomy" stipulated in the terms of Simla, and continued to do so for the next 35 years. However, since China did not agree to the convention, for Tibet, the "Tibet Question" remained in essence unresolved. Great Britain had achieved all its goals, including Tibet's ceding of a vast territory east of Bhutan (today's Indian province of Arunachal Pradesh), but Tibet still had no de jure status accepted by China. And it had no guarantees that the new Anglo-Tibetan note meant that the British would militarily defend the rights specified in the Simla Convention if China sought to enforce its claims to sovereignty or suzerainty over Tibet.

Tibetan Attempts to Modernize

The failure of Simla meant Tibet had to face the possibility of future hostilities with China. This prompted a clique of young Tibetan aristocratic officials to urge modernization in Tibet, especially the creation of a strong military able to defend Tibet's interests. The 13th Dalai Lama agreed. In rapid succession, new troops were levied, officers were sent to India for training, plans were made to join the International Postal Union, and a British school master was hired to open an English language school in Tibet. Tibet was taking its first steps to join the modern world.

All of this, however, sent shock waves reverberating through the monastic and aristocratic feudal elites who held most of the land in Tibet in the form of manorial estates. Modernization was expensive and they now found themselves facing large levies to support the military buildup. Modernization, moreover, was perceived by the religious leadership as an ideological threat to the dominance of Buddhism in Tibet, and thus to what they felt was the unique character of the Tibetan theocratic state. They equated modernization with Western atheism and secularism, and over time believed it would diminish the power and importance of Buddhism. Consequently, they campaigned to convince the Dalai Lama that these officers were a threat to Buddhism and to his own power and authority. By the mid 1920s, they succeeded, and in one of the pivotal policy decisions of modern Tibetan history, the 13th Dalai Lama gutted the heart of the reform program by acts such as demoting the entire group of pro-modernization officers and closing the English school. Overnight, Tibet lost its best chance to create a modern polity capable of coordinating international support for its independent status and defending its territory. Maintaining its de facto independence now became dependent on external forces D British/Indian diplomatic support and weakness in China.

Nevertheless, from the fall of the Qing Dynasty (in Tibet) in 1913, to the death of the 13th Dalai Lama in 1933, no Chinese officials were permitted to reside in Tibet. China continued to assert its claim that Tibet was and had always been an integral part of China, but had no role whatsoever in Tibetan affairs.

Chinese fortunes in Tibet improved slightly after the death of the 13th Dalai Lama when Tibet allowed a Chinese "condolence mission" to visit Lhasa in 1934, and then permitted it to open an office to facilitate negotiations aimed at reconciling the Tibet Question. These talks proved futile, but the office was allowed to remain until 1949. China, however, still exercised no authority or influence over the Tibetan government during this period.

The Initial Period of Chinese Communist Rule: 1951-1978
When the Kuomintang (KMT) Government of Chiang Kaishek fell to the communists in 1949, the settlement of the Tibetan Question was no closer than it had been at the time of the fall of the Qing dynasty. Tibet was operating as a defacto independent polity but both communist and KMT leaders were insisting that it was part of China. Tibet, moreover, not only was militarily weak because of the late 13th Dalai Lama's decision regarding modernization, but it was also internally disunified as a consequence of a bitter war between the Sera Monastery and the Lhasa government. And internationally, Tibet had failed to secure support for its assertion of independence. Britain and India (and later the United States) dealt directly with Tibet as if it were an independent state, but at the same time continually acknowledged de jure Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. Much of the current confusion over Tibet's previous political status derives from this double-standard on the part of the concerned Western nations.

One example of this occurred in 1943 during World War II when the U.S. wanted to send two Office of Strategic Services (OSS) officers to Tibet. Since China had no control over Tibet, they were forced to secure permission directly from the Tibetan Government through British/Indian intercession. The two U.S. officers entered Tibet from India carrying presents and a letter from President Franklin Roosevelt to the young 14th Dalai Lama asking him to assist them. Although this must have looked like government-to-government relations to officials in Lhasa, in Washington, Secretary of State C. Hull carefully informed President Roosevelt that this letter was addressed to the Dalai Lama in his religious capacity, "rather than in his capacity of secular leader of Tibet, so as not to offend the Chinese Government which includes Tibet in the territory of the Republic of China." However, neither the Tibetan Government nor the Dalai Lama were informed of this subtlety. Tibetans, therefore, had no reason to assume the letter was not sent to the Dalai Lama as head of Tibet, nor that it did not demonstrate U.S. recognition of Tibet's independence.(9)

A more blatant incident occurred in 1948 when the Tibetan government sent a Trade Mission to the U.S. and Britain using its own passports. British officials in Hong Kong stamped these with entry visas valid for three months. These visas, however, expired while the Tibetans were in the U.S., and when the Tibetans went for what they thought were routine new visas, their request was denied. The Chinese Government (of Chiang Kaishek) in the meantime had asked the British Government how it could accept Tibetan passports when according to its official position it did not accept that Tibet was independent. The British Foreign office then reversed itself and assured the Chinese that a mistake had been made, promising that in the future they would issue no more visas on Tibetan passports. The Tibetans were, therefore, advised to accept entry visas on a separate piece of paper called an "Affidavit of Identity." Surprised and indignant, the delegation refused, saying they would rather not visit Britain than accept this. The British Foreign Office then devised an ingenious solution which truly typifies the double standards rampant at this time. They carefully crossed out the words "three months" on the expired visa stamp and neatly wrote in pen above it, "nine months." This allowed them to keep their promise to the Chinese government not to issue the Tibetans new visas on their passports since this was still the original visa. At the same time they also were able to welcome the Tibetans to Britain on their Tibetan Government issued passports.

Consequently, despite the Wilsonian commitment to self-determination(10) and later reaffirmations such as those in the Atlantic Charter(11), the involved Western countries (and India after independence in 1947), refused to recognize Tibetan independence although they dealt with the government of Tibet directly without reference to China. It is interesting to note that the USSR took a totally different position with regard to Mongolia (the former Mongolian People's Republic), which had a political status parallel to that of Tibet at the time of the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Stalin actively fought to secure international recognition of Mongolia's defacto independence, persuading Roosevelt at Yalta to agree to a plebiscite for independence, and then together with the U.S., persuading Chiang Kaishek to accept the results of the plebiscite which, of course, unanimously favored independence from China.

Tibet's political subordination to China, therefore, was repeatedly validated by the West throughout the first half of the 20th century, and particularly in the critical years during and immediately following World War II. Despite lofty rhetoric about freedom and self-determination, Western democracies maintained a consistent policy of bowing to Chinese sensibilities and accepting that Tibet was not independent.

The 17 Point Agreement

The victory of the Chinese Communists over Chiang Kaishek and the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 1 October 1949 set in motion events which two years later broke the post-1911 Sino-Tibetan deadlock regarding the Tibet Question. Like the KMT and the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949 considered Tibet a part of China.

In its early years, the CCP followed the Soviet Union's lead and advocated a model of nationality affiliation wherein ethnic territories would be autonomous republics and would have the right of secession. By the end of World War II, however, its nationality policy had shifted towards political centralism D the new communist nation would be an indivisibly multi-ethnic state with nationality areas considered only autonomous regions. In late 1949, therefore, the new Chinese communist government proclaimed that Tibet, like Hainan Island and Taiwan, was an integral part of China, and set its liberation as a major goal for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1950.

The Tibetan government now found itself in a very difficult situation. The fortuitous events that had prevented China from dealing with Tibet D including the Japanese invasion and the bitter civil war D were over and the communists had unified the country under their rule. The earlier concern of the Tibetan pro-modernization clique that Tibet would some day have to defend its independence had now come to pass, and Tibet's military was poorly led and armed, with no effective plan to combat an invasion. Moreover, Tibet's main international supporter, Britain, no longer had interests in Tibet. Once it granted independence to India in 1947, it saw its role as supporting India's foreign policy, which at this time was centered on establishing close and friendly relations with the PRC.

The Tibetan government responded to the communist's victory in the Chinese civil war by sending appeals to the U.S. and Great Britain requesting civil and military assistance in the face of the communist threat. The letter to Britain said:

The Chinese Communist troops have invaded the
Chinese Provinces of Lanchow, Chinghai and Sinkiang;
and as these Provinces are situated on the border of
Tibet, we have sent an official letter to Mr. Maut-
setung leader of the Chinese Communist Government,
asking him to respect the territorial integrity of
Tibet.(12)

We enclose herewith the true copy of the letter
which our Government has sent to the leader of
Chinese Communist Government, thinking that he may
duly consider the matter. But in case the Chinese
communist leader ignores our letter, and takes an
aggressive attitude and sends his troops toward
Tibet, then the Government of Tibet will be
obligated to defend her own country by all possible
means. Therefore the Government of Tibet would
earnestly desire to request every possible help from
your Government.

We would be most grateful if you would please con-
sider extensive aid in respect of requirements for
Civil and military purposes, and kindly let us have
a favourable reply at your earliest opportunity.

From,
The Tibetan Foreign Bureau, Lhasa [4 November
1949](13)

The Americans were sent a similar appeal. Neither Britain nor America, however, had any interest in encouraging the Tibetans. The U.S. told the British "they were going to send a reply that would discourage Tibetans from expecting any aid."(14) The receipt of these noncommittal replies from the Western democracies who were the main enemy of communism was extremely disappointing. But with its options limited, the Tibetan Government decided to send missions to the U.S. and Great Britain (and also China and Nepal) in the hope that face-to-face contact would generate support. On 22 December 1949, the Tibetan Foreign Bureau sent the following letter to President Truman and Secretary of State Dean Acheson:

Though Tibet has remained an Independent Country for
about thirty years without any trouble, but recently
the Chinese Communist leaders have announced over
their Radio claiming Tibet as a part of Chinese
territory and many other remarks about Tibet which
are absolutely baseless and misleading. Besides the
Chinese Communists have already occupied the border
Provinces of Sinkiang, Sining (the Capital of Chin-
ghai), and also Shikang [province created in 1927 of
the ethnic Tibetan areas now in Sichuan Province].

Therefore it is impossible for us to remain indif-
ferent at such a critical time. Hence we are
deputing soon Lachag Khenchung Thupten Sanghe and
Rimshi Dingja to lead a special Mission to your
country for the purpose of obtaining aid from your
government.

We would therefore be most grateful to your honour
if you would kindly render every possible assistance
to our Mission on their arrival in Washington.(15)

The new communist government protested loudly on learning of this plan, but its concerns were misplaced since the Western democracies were not interested in encouraging Tibetans, in part because they believed that this would make a Chinese invasion of Tibet more likely. They refused, therefore, to accept the proposed missions. The U.S. government feared that even answering the Tibetans in writing might "be considered by the Tibetans as recognition of their independent status," so Washington instructed its Embassy in New Delhi to pass on a verbal reply dissuading the Tibetans from sending the mission.(16) Britain did likewise.

Meanwhile, in China, Mao Zedung was planning a strategy for "liberating" Tibet. He understood clearly that Tibet had an international status that set it apart from every other nationality group in China and was unique in that there were no Chinese living there. Tibet, as we have seen, dealt with foreign nations directly, signed international agreements and regulated entry to its territory. Liberating Tibet, therefore, could have serious international ramifications, and could even draw in enemies of China such as the United States. Consequently, Mao Zedung decided that the best strategy was to "liberate" Tibet peacefully, i.e., with the agreement of the government of Tibet. This would eliminate the possibility of a long drawn out guerrilla war in the mountains of Tibet, and reduce the potential for international intervention. The problem with this strategy was that the Tibetan government was unlikely to renounce its defacto independence voluntarily to become part of his communist state. Mao, therefore, believed that military action would be needed to force Tibet to the negotiating table (as the British had done in 1903-04), but that ultimately the goal should be to secure a peaceful liberation via an agreement. Mao, consequently, in December of 1949, ordered preparations for an invasion of Tibet's eastern province (centered at Chamdo), and by early 1950, the Southwest Military and Civil Bureau(17) in Qongqing was designated to lead the attack. If the Tibetan government did not quickly agree to peaceful liberation, Mao wanted the attack to start as early as the summer of 1950. He feared that postponing action until 1951 would give the Tibetans more time to muster international support, and was worried that waiting until fall to start the attack could inadvertently lead to such a delay if the troops encountered early snow.

The Chinese communists, therefore, tried to persuade the Tibetan government to begin negotiations for "peaceful liberation" by having well known religious leaders from Chinese-controlled Qinghai and Sichuan Provinces give assurances about religious freedom and so forth. When the Tibetan government vacillated on whether to send a delegation to Beijing and missed a Chinese-issued deadline, Mao ordered the PLA's 18th army to launch the attack on Chamdo. It began on 7 October 1950 with the clear military goal of disabling D encircling and capturing or destroying as a fighting force D the entire Tibetan army stationed in Chamdo D roughly 10,000 troops.

The Tibetan forces were poorly led and organized. Appointment as a general in the Tibetan army, for example, was simply another work rotation for government officials that required no special training. Consequently, when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) crossed the Upper Yangtse River it confronted Tibetan troops strung out in small units all along the river. These were quickly encircled and captured, opening the road to Lhasa. However, in accordance with Mao's basic political strategy, the PLA force stopped its advance and again called for Lhasa to commence negotiations.

The Tibetan government now saw its worst fear realized D it was under a military attack that it had no obvious means to counter. There was not even a plan for the Chamdo army to shift to a guerrilla strategy to harass the PLA. Consequently, Tibet turned for help to the world community, sending appeals to the United Nations (UN), the U.S., India and Britain.

The Tibetan appeal to the UN led to new examinations of the Tibet Question, in particular, whether Tibet was qualified to bring an issue before the UN since it was not a member. Article 35, Section 2, of the UN Charter said that, "A state which is not a member may bring to the attention of the Security Council or the General Assembly any dispute to which it is a party if it accepts in advance, for the purposes of the dispute, the obligations of pacific settlement provided in the present Charter."(18) But was Tibet a "state?" The British Foreign Office examined the issue and concluded that it could qualify as a state,(19) and so could bring an issue before the UN, but the British Foreign Office also felt that India had the primary responsibility for issues dealing with Tibet, and that Britain should follow the lead of the Government of India. London also did not want to see the UN demand that China withdraw its forces from Tibet because it felt the UN could not enforce this and such a failure would weaken the UN's stature. India, moreover, was intent on not letting Tibet hamper the development of close and friendly relations between itself and China, so was opposed to allowing the UN to discuss the issue.(20) Consequently, when the question was raised in the UN by El Salvador, the British and Indian representatives were the first speakers and both recommended that El Salvador's proposal should be adjourned. And so it was.

The Tibetan Government, disheartened and isolated, then sent a negotiating delegation to Beijing in Spring of 1951. Much as they had been forced to do in 1904 after the British capture of Lhasa, these delegates reluctantly signed an agreement on 23 May 1951 D the "Seventeen Point Agreement For The Peaceful Liberation of Tibet."(21)

The 17 Point Agreement was a new chapter in Sino-Tibetan relations since it officially

Forrest   March 21st, 2008 1958 GMT

To "Wangyao",
Apparently you're faking to appear as a Chinese. You said:"从你的性格我明白你为什么支持中国共产党。 你想控制人,难道不?记得有多少学生被中国共产党谋杀在北京6.4事件期间?" It sounds like a foreigner speaking Chinese, even not a foreigner, but a machine speaking Chinese. Real Chinese don't use words and sentence structures in that way as you did. Shame on you! You're lying on your identity, and all of your words are then unreliable!

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 2006 GMT

Kenneth:
Why are you so concerned about my ID? I am anti-Chinese Communist Party but I love my fellow Chinese people(炎黄子孙). I am a Chinese Buddhist and the Chinese Communist Party committed unprecedented crime against all religious believers in China during the Cultural Revolution.

I am not surprised to see why Tibetans are protest against the Chinese Communist Party. It's joke that the CCP showed their interest in selecting the reincarnation of the 15th Dalai Lama a month ago. Do you think it is appropriate for the Chinese Communist Party to do so? Earlier you said the Dalai Lama should shame of himself mixing religion with politics. What about the Chinese Communist Party mixing religion with politics?

No one in China dispute that 藏人文化网 (http://www.tibetcul.com) is the most popular Tibetan webiste in Chinese published by some Tibetans. If anyone who reads Chinese please visit this website and you will read nothing about the protests took place in Utsang (Tibet Autonomous Region), Amdo (Qinghai, Gansu), Kham (Sichual, Yunnan). Why is this? The CCP controls too much in China and particularly in Tibet.

Tell me why Youtube is blocked in China. If you don't I will tell you more...

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 2031 GMT

Forrest:

What makes someone "Chinese"?

Your quotations from Wikipedia clear states that only Mongols (蒙古) and Manchurians (满族) claimed rule over Tibet. Are Mongols and Machurians are Chinese? If they are, don't fuss about my identity. Not all ethnic minorities (少数民族) in China speak Chinese. The prejudice you Han people impose unpon ethnic minorities is a partial cause of the riot in Tibet. Both Chinese and English are not my mother tongue but no one laughed at my English in my entire life but here you go making all sorts of comments ...

It's simple as that.

david   March 21st, 2008 2102 GMT

It is funny watching the US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi to be with Dala Lamai asking all Nations to denounce Chinese government for executing its authority to arrest Tibetan rioters. Why she didn't denounce the violence of these Tibetan rioters?

Nancy Pelosi should go to Palestine to be with Hama's leader and ask all Nations to denounce Israel's Siege of Gaza and to denounce Israel's army's bombing and killing of innocent Palestine people. Israel has taken the Arabic land for 50 years and made the Palestine people 2nd class citizens in their own land and made them to live in poverty for 50 years.

But Nancy Pelosi and the US government wouldn't do that because US is Israel's friend. The US government claims Israel is the only "democracy" in middle east and that is the reason why it is with Israelis.

However, Palestines hold a free election and Hama won the election last year. The US government and European nations immediately cut off the aids to Palestines and refused to recognize the free elected Hama's government because Hama vows to use violence against Israelis.

The truth is "OIL" and "CONTROLLING THE WORLD", nothing to do with "democracy" or "freedom-loving" or "human-right" or "peaceful demonstactions". The US and European governments want to control the WORLD and use the world's resource to their wishes. Even the US Federal Reserve Chairman (Chairman of the US Central Bank) said publicly that G.W. Bush started the Iraqi war for "OIL".

To freedom-loving people all over the world, don't listen to these westerners' bull-shitting.

To Chinese government, do whatever you can and protect your national and your peaceful citizens.

david   March 21st, 2008 2124 GMT

If Tibet is separated from China, it would be easier for US, UK and European governments to control the world. The rest of the world are all split into small pieces. That is the reason why the Western countries are supporting the independence of Kosovo, George, etc.

By the way, when Israeli army bombed the Gaza, Israelis also sealed off the Gaza to protect the safety of western journalists. Gaza was not re-opened until the bombing site is cleaned off. Why the US government didn't want to go to Gaza to get a first hand truth immediately.

Don't worry, the Chinese are sealing off the Tibet to protect these western journalists' safety. Tibet will be re-opened later once the riot clams down.

david   March 21st, 2008 2209 GMT

To those Tibetans want to be independent, be careful with what you are asking for.

The Western countries just want Tibet to be separated so they can control Tibet easier. Initial, the Western countries may give you some financial aids but not for long. Eventually, a poor Tibetan economy will be too big a bag to carry. Tibetans may end up with no food to eat and live in poorer conditions than they have today without the annual injections of funds from Chinese central government. It is most likely better off for the Tibetans to live peacefully with their neighbors and being part of an integrated economy which is growing.

Most of those Tibetans-in-exile or living in Western countries are from the elite groups who used to be Tibetan slave-owners or their off-springs. Of course they want an independent Tibet so they can return to their old glory.

li po   March 21st, 2008 2211 GMT

Why don't the Chinese just pull out of Tibet? There's nothing there for them, and much there, culturally and historically, for Tibetans. It is not rich in resources of the type that the Chinese want–capitalist resources–and its people do not want Chinese occupation. So pull out! Go back into China, where people are much more docile, and where like lambs they tolerate the fact that they have no rights and live in a totalitarian state–a state, by the way, which calls itself "Communist" but has become one of the most brutal, unfeeling Capitalist regimes in history. China can do all it wants to "clean up" its environmental act before the Olympics, but their dirty underwear is showing now, thanks to their response to Tibetan protests. Nations of the world should be embarrassed to hold the Olympics in China. They should pull out unless Tibet is given its full autonomy. Europe, which represents itself to have a liberal, humanistic stance, needs to stand up and walk away. Nations that do not pull out of the Olympics are complicit in the violence China visits upon both its people and the people of Tibet.

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 2216 GMT

To those supporter of the Chinese Communist Party.

Please rember that your claim for killing Tibetan protesters is lawful would be a justification for killing Chinese pro-democracy students in Beijing in June 1989.

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 2230 GMT

David,

Thanks for your warning but you are wrong on a few points.

Why you guys so keen on making comparison between USA and China.America does not block Youtube to censor information

Forrest   March 21st, 2008 2246 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
In one of my previous posts, I already stated that "I'm not a Han Chinese, I am a Manchurian Chinese". I am also an ethnic minority Chinese.

Manchu was not Chinese, or was Chinese. It depends on how you look at it. Before Manchu conquered China, it was once an ethnic minority group in China. Later it became more powerful and became independent. And later Manchu took advantage of Chinese civil war and conquered China. This is the way of history – conquering and being conquered, and huge empires were always created this way. The Manchurian Qing Dynasty is considered the legitimate successor of the previous Chinese Ming Dynasty. After Manchu conquered China, the Manchurian people accepted and learned Chinese culture and language, and were eventually assimilated into Chinese people. So when the Qing Dynasty was overthrown in 1911, there was essentially no difference between Manchurian Chinese and the majority Han Chinese (even the Han Chinese are not ethnically pure, they are the result of mixing many different ethnic groups in 5000 years of Chinese history). And there is no doubt that Manchurian people are also Chinese now and for the past several hundred years. The Qing Dynasty also conquered Mongolia before conquering Tibet, so Mongolia also became a part of China, and Mongols became an ethnic minority group in China. Though the Outer Mongolia became independent in 1940s, the Inner Mongolia still remains in China, and there are more Mongolian people living in China now than in the country of Mongolia.

If you’re really an ethnic minority Chinese who doesn’t speak good Chinese, I apologize for mistaking you as a non-Chinese in my previous post. Then what I want to say to you is, no government in this world is perfect, including the U.S. government and the Chinese government. I’m sure that the Chinese government has mistreated some ethnic minorities on some issues, and also has mistreated the majority Chinese on some issues, but the solution to that should not be to riot and seek independence. There is a Western saying, Rome was not built in one day. It takes time for China to correct mistakes, and to develop and improve, and we’ve seen tremendous improvements and developments in China through the last 30 years. But it will still take more time for China to solve more problems. It’s basically the same for all countries in this world. The U.S. also didn’t develop to today’s level in one day. When the U.S. was founded about 250 years ago, it was written in the U.S. Constitution that every man was born equal. But it took this country about 100 years to abolish slavery, and it took this country another 100 years to abolish laws of racial discrimination and segregation. However, even nowadays, the black people and other colored people are still being discriminated in this country. Also in the U.S., American women were not allowed to vote until 1910s.

Forrest   March 21st, 2008 2250 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
Since you admit you’re Chinese, I hope you really love China as you claimed, by helping to improve and develop her, by helping to strengthen the relations between different ethnic groups of Chinese people, by accepting and learning Chinese culture and language and keeping your own culture and traditions as well at the same time, etc., but not by talking down of China in front of the world, not by instigating intensities or instabilities in China.

Accepting another culture does not necessarily mean to kill your own culture. Cultures are always evolving, influencing, being influenced, and merging. Even today’s Chinese culture is quite different from what it was 100 years ago, and has quite some western influence. I have been living in the U.S. for more than 10 years, and accepted a lot of American culture, and am quite Americanized. But I’m still proud of being a Chinese and keeping most of my Chinese culture.

Wangyao   March 21st, 2008 2253 GMT

David, in short, vivisit Youtube and search for Nangpa la, you will know you are wrong about your comments on Tibetan population in exile.

david   March 21st, 2008 2300 GMT

Wangyao,

You are wrong to accuse everyone pro-china to be pro-communist party. Don't mix up China with Chinese Communist Party.

No one said it is correct for China government to block the Youtube. But the violent riot is not right neither. There may be 4 Tibetans injured by the Chinese police, but there are more innocent people burned to death by the rioters. You should come out denounce that.

For the 4 Tibetans injured by the Chinese policemen, the policemen should be put into trial by a court under the law. Depending on the circumstances, the policemen may be guilty of injurying innocent Tibetans or may be not guilty if their lives were threathened by the rioters. There are a lot of times a policeman injured someone on street but the policeman walked away freely if their lives are threathened. Don't assume there 4 tibetans injured by policemen were peaceful.

The point is that these Tibetans want " indepedence" are just wishful. The reality may not be that pretty even if Tibet is independent.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 030 GMT

Forrest:

I accept your apology and pleased to read your reasonable posts in this blog. There are not many open minded people like you who support China. I believe I am doing a good job for China here to correct some baseless claims made by people like David. I don't want to see China is being criticised for no good reason. I want China to become more prosperious and strong and I believe this could be done through changing current political system into democratic one.

I told Kenneth that "America dropped bom on Japan and Japan mascarred many Chinese. Again China have been killing many Tibetans. If you are talking about who is better than the other, it is complicated."

I know racial prejudice is a problem in the West, but it also exist in China. “Orientalists” are everywhere including Tibet.

I am telling you my own experience of being as an ethnic minority in China. As you have seen that I am more articulate in English than Chinese. The reason why my Chinese written is sounded like "a machine speaking Chinese" is a direct result of Chinese education policy in ethnic minority areas.

Uradyn E. Bulag is one of my favourite ethincic minority scholars from China and he knows all the problems faced by ethnic minorities under the Chinese Communist Party rules. Dr Bulag is a Mongolian brought up in China and he works at the USC US-China Institute (南加州大学美中学院). In 2003, he wrote a book titled "The Mongols at China's Edge: History and the Politics of National Unity". In this book he provides keen insights into majority-minority relationships in China's Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region (IMAR).

To be honest I love Chinese people, musics and movies produced by the Fifth Generation. But I have to say I am against the Chinese Communist Party and its dictating rules on the Chinese citizens including Tibetans. If we want the world to see the true nature of the Dalai Lama, we Chinese should let him into Tibet to taste his words. Deploying military force in Tibet will take us nowhere except increasing their resentment. What is the use of prohibiting Tibetans to display the Dalai Lama's photos at their home. This brings shame on China and it shows China is struggling to win the heart and mind of Tibetan people.

The Chinese Communist Party is started admitting their use of force onto Tibet protesters and Xinghua news agency confirmed killing 4 Tibetan protesters. Only option the Chinese Communist Party has got now is to say "Tibet is none of your business" to the international community. Look what happened in England, the English priminister is going to meet the Dalai Lama in May. I am worried about loosing Chinese face in fron the world due to the Chinese Communist Party's injustice rules. We all know that Tibet is not the problem of China. What will be the next? Let see!

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 148 GMT

Forrest:

You may have already seen this but I want to tell you that when you visit China next time, please visit Buddhist temples (e.g. Yonghe Gong) in Beijing and you can imagine what can the Dalai Lama contribute to the Great China. If the empror Qian Long can spend hours talking about welfare of China with Tibetan Lamas, why Hujing to can't do this in 21st century? Doesn't he talk about "Social Harmony"? I am sure you know that how much the 10th Panchen Lama suffered in hands of the Chinese Communist Party. He was imprisoned before the Cultural Revolution and if the Dalai Lama remained in Lhasa in 1959, it's quite obvious he would have imprisoned too. So, as far as the Dalai Lama himself is concerned, taking refuge in India is not a bad choice and we should understand this from a human point of view.

David, I am not here to argue about superiority of China or Chinese over any other nations or nationalities. I am from China and I know the difference between China and the Chinese Communist Party. You should also distinguish "thugs" and peaceful demonstrators in Tibet this time. Not all protestors in Tibet and other Tibetan areas this time are anti-China. Didn't you hear some of the protestors in Labrang (Ch: Xiahe, Gansu) demanding for the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

The Dalai Lama is not only the religious leader of Tibetan people. Many other ethnic minorities in China worship him and the name Dalai Lama itself is not a Tibetan name and its a Mongolian name. If you don't trust me, you can ask Forrest. I am sure he can give you more information on this. There are many Han Buddhists in China too and if you visit Wutai Shan in Shanxi, you will know more about historical relationship between Chinese and Tibetan.

Tibet is not all about what the Chinese Communist Party says. Tibetans own the most extensive archive on Buddhism and their intellectual capability is known to all. The Chinese Communist Party does't know the significant of this. When the British troops invaded Tibet in 1904, British scholars went along with army to Tibet searching for Buddhist texts and it's claimed that piles of Buddhist texts in Tibetan are archieved in the British Library in London.

Some of the young Chinese are claiming that Tibet was, is and will be part of China. I think we Chinese are shamed of making this statment. Did we defend Tibet against the British invasion in 1904. Watch the film titled <>, produced in China and you will learn more about this. David, I hope all these information can be a bit of use for you to rethink about TIBET and the Chinese Communist Party. The last thing I want to do here is to make anti Han Chinese statements. I hope you can understand my resentment towards the CCP. One party rulling a state is unhealthy! Cheers! – for the development of all 56 ethnic groups in China including Tibetans.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 154 GMT

David:

The film title is 红河谷.

david   March 22nd, 2008 205 GMT

Wangyao,

I know you are not against Han people. Nor am I in favor of CCP.

All I want people, including Tibetans, to know is that be careful with what the Western Countries want. It is not just as simple as "indepedence", "freedom of speech", "freedom-loving". These Western Countries have their own agenda.

Look at Gerogia, Albernia, Kosovo, Ukrine, no country is really doing that great after being independent.

I do want democracy, not only for Tibet, but for all China too. Tibetan dream of freedom should come as part of bigger China's dream of free elected demoracratic China.

Look at which countries are doing well: Singapore, Korean, even Taiwan!

The way to go around is to do peaceful demonstration, obeying the law, slow changing the CCP like India's Gahdi did. 50 years from now, China could have free elections, at least could be like Singapore.

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 230 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
It’s good to see you’ve calmed down a little! And I’m also glad to see that you’ve kind of moved away from supporting Tibetan independence. I’d still like to repeat what I said in my previous post, Rome was not built in one day, it takes time for China to improve and develop. Please be patient, and give China time. Progresses must be made one step by one step.

You said you think China could become more prosperous and stronger by changing current political system into a democratic one. If you think the political system of China should be changed to democracy today, then I do not agree with you. I once also thought this way, but not any more. However, if you think the long term goal for China is to have a democratic system in the future, then I agree with you with no doubt, and I believe China is gradually going toward that way now. We should realize that different countries have different situations, traditions, cultures, people mindsets, etc. Some political systems and policies may work great in some countries, but the very same political systems and policies may be disastrous in other countries if those countries are not ready. We have seen what happened to the former Soviet Union in early 1990s. When the Soviet Union suddenly abandoned communism and adopted capitalism and democracy, the nation of Soviet Union basically collapsed overnight, the country was split into many countries, the economy plunged to the bottom, and the common people suffered tremendously. There was a Russian joke talking about that harsh time, Russian people said, under communism, we had everything but no freedom, however, now under capitalism and democracy, we have freedom but nothing else.

When I was in China, and even for the first couple of years after I came to the U.S., I was quite anti-Chinese-government. However, after I studied in the U.S. for some years, and gained more knowledge and knowledge of history, did a lot of thinking and became spiritually mature, I was surprised to find out that I actually became pro-Chinese-government. Surely the Chinese government is not perfect and makes a lot of mistakes, and wrong doings, or even evil doings, but I believe most of what they did and what they are doing is correct – to develop and to improve China. The things (including human rights, freedom, economy, living standards, etc) in China are no doubt constantly improving during the past 30 years. China is progressing toward the direction of democracy, though still far behind the level of democracy in the U.S. But the current level of freedom and democracy in China suits the situations in China, and can sustain and keep China’s development on track. If the U.S. democracy is transplanted to China today, what’s going to happen will be disastrous, like what happened in the Soviet Union. And for Tibet, it could be like what happened in Chechnya, when Chechen people used military force to seek independence, Russia also answered with military force. Very many Chechen people were killed and Chechnya still couldn’t get independence.

audrey   March 22nd, 2008 243 GMT

Wangyao:
"There are not many open minded people like you who support China. "
You are wrong.
Most of educated chinese is open minded.
Apology if there is any agitated people may use some strong words.
However, from your words, I think you are the group of people who join the Chinese pro-democracy students in Beijing in June 1989.
Do you still believe you are clear about the event.
As I experienced, 20 years ago, there is some shadiness about it. How do I know? It's a long story. If you want to hear, I may tell you later.
Not everyone can learn the truth, even they saw it. Do not trust yourself so much.

What I want to say is that do not blam or judge people who tent to defend for their country. They have their position to do that, and the reason is that they know well about the problems with the party, but the other they know better is that China is becoming better than before. Their manage may not be the best, but still better than most of other countries. Some people say if the KMT is still in power, it will be better.
Do you believe that? Just have a look what TW is like now. Is it better than 50 years ago? Hard to say.
Compare today's China with 50 years ago, you will understand why Chinese people support CCP.
Because at least China is developing peacefully. Compare to the people in those Mideast countries. Do they have a chance to say any thing?
By they Way, do not identify me as on of the not open minded person. I do, but I can see more then you do.

audrey   March 22nd, 2008 243 GMT

Wangyao:
"There are not many open minded people like you who support China. "
You are wrong.
Most of educated chinese is open minded.
Apology if there is any agitated people may use some strong words.
However, from your words, I think you are the group of people who join the Chinese pro-democracy students in Beijing in June 1989.
Do you still believe you are clear about the event.
As I experienced, 20 years ago, there is some shadiness about it. How do I know? It's a long story. If you want to hear, I may tell you later.
Not everyone can learn the truth, even they saw it. Do not trust yourself so much.

What I want to say is that do not blam or judge people who tent to defend for their country. They have their position to do that, and the reason is that they know well about the problems with the party, but the other they know better is that China is becoming better than before. Their manage may not be the best, but still better than most of other countries. Some people say if the KMT is still in power, it will be better.
Do you believe that? Just have a look what TW is like now. Is it better than 50 years ago? Hard to say.
Compare today's China with 50 years ago, you will understand why Chinese people support CCP.
Because at least China is developing peacefully. Compare to the people in those Mideast countries. Do they have a chance to say any thing?
By they Way, do not identify me as one of the not open minded person. I do, but I can see more then you do.

audrey   March 22nd, 2008 246 GMT

agree with Forrest

Ernest Guzman   March 22nd, 2008 308 GMT

Tibet has chosen to stay and live for hundred nay thousand of years in the most remote and harhest region in the world in order to be able to live in peace and practise their relion without or with least of China's and other parts of the world's interference. For hundred of years they avoided the dynamic and conquering chinese dynasties one after the other. Only to be fallen in the 20th century to the most atrocious chinese dynasty of all. The chinese communist dynasty.

Have the chinese been rightious after five decades of rule, the people of Tibet would not have revolted. But they were indeed inposing and atrocious. Reports of annahilation and destruction of the very core of Tibetan culture and religion.

Tibet shoud be set free. And left alone.

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 334 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
It takes time for the Chinese government to change, and we’ve seen that the Chinese government is changing toward the good direction in the past 30 years. You mentioned that the 10th Panchen Lama suffered in hands of the Chinese Communist Party and was imprisoned before the Cultural Revolution. I totally agree with you, and think CCP definitely did wrong on that thing and mistreated the Panchen Lama. But I also hope you realize that, during that time period including the Cultural Revolution, not only Tibetan people, but also most other Chinese people suffered greatly, even the former Chairman of Chinese government (Liu, Shaoqi) was persecuted to death. I hope you understand that those wrong doings of the CCP were not targeting on only Tibetan people, but on all Chinese people. But I fully understand how Tibetan people felt for being mistreated. Anyway, the past has passed, and we’ve seen that after the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese government had been going through reformations, and trying to correct those wrong doings and the effects of those wrong doings.

You also mentioned that Chinese didn’t defend Tibet against the British invasion in 1904. I feel sorry for that, but also hope you understand that it was not because Chinese didn’t want to defend Tibet, but because the Qing Dynasty was too weak at that time. During that time period, China (Qing Dynasty) suffered many invasions in many parts of China by the western powers (British, Russian, French, Germans, etc.) and Japan. Qing Dynasty was so weak that she couldn’t defend herself against foreign invasions, and also suffered from great internal turmoil and instabilities, and eventually came to the end when a revolution occurred in 1911. From this part of history, we should learn that we Chinese must help to develop and improve our nation, and make her stronger, more powerful and more prosperous, otherwise, our mother country could be invaded by foreign powers, and our people could be slaughtered like pigs by foreign armies. I haven’t watched the movie, 红河谷, but I read on Wikipedia that the British army slaughtered thousands of Tibetan soldiers and civilians in the invasion of 1904.

Kenneth   March 22nd, 2008 428 GMT

Wangyao, based on your analogy of the June 4th crackdown, all CCP officials who involved should be jailed, right?! ... if this logic applies, then for those US officials that started the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq war... should also be punished including George W Bush? The Israeli government should step down? The Russia government should step down?

I never said CCP is right or I agree everything with the CCP government. Each generation of the Chinese government committed some mistakes.

If you love China, you should clear your mind and ask yourself does Democracy really helps China now?? Will democracy brings more corruptions and inbalance into China??? Remember I am saying "NOW". Democracy requires a balance society, a group of people with good understanding of what is democracy and a good infrastructure that monitors democracy. None of these exists in China now.

Remember China has been the most rapidly growing economy in the world over the past 25 years. This growth has fueled a remarkable increase in per capita income and a decline in the poverty rate from 64 percent at the beginning of reform to 10 percent in 2004. China's Gross Domestic Product has grown at nearly ten percent annually in recent decades. The total literacy rate in China was 90.8% based on 2002 estimates. These are remarkable achievements. However, there are still over several hundred millions of people living in poverty!!! How long does a US government take to pass a bill?? How long does a bill translate into action?? If we base on how US government functions, then China will never achieve all these results in the past few decades. You can simply look at India as an example.

If you want democracy now, I am sure big corporations will control the government body in China. A lot of interest groups will fund their candidates into the China congress. The US/UK will make sure China elects someone they can control. There will be more and more inbalance within China. Resources will be selling to the West for nothing. Is that what everyone is hoping for?? I am sure that is what the West pray for, but not me. I wish everyone has a good life in China.

Anyway, I admired the 6/4 students but only to those who stayed back in China. For those fled to the West, they don't deserve to be Chinese because they always sit with their big fat ass criticizing China "these" or "that". Critizing a country will not help its growth. You need actions. You need to become an official to make changes. The 6/4 incident already pushed back the Chinese government at least a decade in reform. For the Western world, they always hope to see the dragon will not rise to power.

President Hu Jintao already said that he does not rule out there will be democracy in China someday. These people has been politicians and civil servants for their whole life. They understand a whole lot better what Chinese needs than the foreign people.

Wangyao: fortunately, China is not a democratic country now; otherwise, I am really afraid what you will do when you are in power. When someone give you what you want, you call them good people – that's a selfish act. You should look at the big picture of what the whole group wants. At the current stage, China needs stability and steady development!!! The market reform will lead to democracy when the time is right.

Truth   March 22nd, 2008 433 GMT

Dear Wangyao

The following items are different animals.
1. The structure of a government
2. Perfection of a political party
3. How do people consider Dalai Lama's role?
4. Separate Tibet from China
5. Western media's honesty
The entire incident touched all issues, although you can't put all these different animals in the same cage. An imperfect government structure and its political party cannot be the good reason for the people of the country to lose part of their land and their dignity as a nation. Any media has to keep its ethical attitude to present truthful news to people, at least not too far off. What the western media has done this time is just unbelievably and sadly too awful.

Furthermore, as for 1904 British invasion to Tibet, we all know China was towards the end of Qing Dynasty. The country was so weak and it was in the chaos. British, as well as many other countries, cut off many pieces of land off China. How can you even blame that Chinese people did not help Tibetans out during that period of time. Tibetans are actually so happy that the British invasion happened to them. They've been showing the world with that piece of shameful treaty that was signed by previous Lama with British in order to convince the whole world that this piece of shameful paper is an evidence of the legitimacy that Tibet was an independent country one time. In reality, it was a piece of shameful document to claim that Tibet is part of British colony. Finally the British Empire fell apart, then that piece of shameful paper expired.

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 455 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
I guess you’re either a Tibetan Chinese, or a Mongolian Chinese. You complained that you don’t speak perfect Chinese because of the Chinese education policy in ethnic minority areas. I hope you understand that the goal of Chinese education policy is definitely to teach all ethnic minorities to be able to speak perfect Chinese; otherwise, the Chinese government wouldn’t want the schools in ethnic minority areas to teach Chinese – but that policy would definitely harm the unity of the country and encourage ethnic minorities to go for independence. I think there are a few reasons for why some ethnic minorities can’t speak perfect Chinese:
1. There are not enough Han teachers in schools in ethnic minority areas;
2. Some ethnic minority areas are remote, almost all population is minorities, and they don’t use Chinese in their daily life, and they also don’t have opportunity to interact with Han people on a daily basis.

I think there are a few possible solutions to that problem, although even I myself don’t think they are very good solutions:
1. More Han teachers would like to go to teach in schools in ethnic minority areas;
2. More minorities go to live in Han areas for some years, or move to Han areas, but I understand there are difficulties in doing so – these minorities don’t speak perfect Chinese, and often are not highly educated, so it’s hard for them to make a good living in Han areas, and that could lead to racial problems.

3. More Han people move to ethnic minority areas, so ethnic minorities could interact with Han people and speak Chinese everyday – This would definitely cause problems if not handled well, because ethnic minorities would feel like that Han people come and stay in their home, as how some Tibetans feel and that partly caused the incident in Lhasa of last week.

Anyway, for these specific problems of ethnic minority areas and the corresponding policies of Chinese government, they are often quite complex and I think they are beyond the scope of our talk here. However, I do want to make a point here, it is not that the Chinese government on principle doesn’t want to treat ethnic minorities good, satisfy their needs, and solve their problems, like the problem I talked about above, it is often that the problems are so complex that it is very hard to find perfect solutions that can satisfy all parties involved at the same time and also don’t create new problems.

Ema Smith   March 22nd, 2008 507 GMT

TIBET WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF CHINA. NO MATTER YOU LIKE OR NOT, THAT IS THE FACT! People, weak up!!!

CNN, Report the truth, let the world know that Tibet is belong to China. That is what western media should do now instead of blaming China.

Eric   March 22nd, 2008 743 GMT

Wangyao:

"Eric: I would like to know what makes you happy about the Communist Party’s rule in China (including Tibet)."

It's all relative. I simply dislike the Dalai Lama and the western influence in Tibet more than what the Chinese government has achieved.

I'm happier to see Tibet ruled by the current Atheist Chinese government than a bunch of corrupted lamas feeding the naive people fear and superstition.

Religious leaders should have no place in the world to legislate and/or enforce laws, they feed ignorance and irrationality to the common people.

Eric   March 22nd, 2008 811 GMT

rong7777777:

I agree with your points as well. It's obvious those supporting Tibet only do so for their own political gain.

Most people supporting the Dalai Lama don't even care that he never was democratically elected. They don't care about all the damage the lamas had done creating the slave and serf system all these undreds of years.

The reality is that many people do not have the wisdom and reasoning power to make better judgment. I bet these people who blindly follow Dalai Lama thinking that he was really indeed truly "Holy".

But then, people believe in evangelism, creationism, Falun Gong, too.

tsewang   March 22nd, 2008 919 GMT

I hope CNN posts my comment... unlike last time .
i wrote a long one and it wasn't posted. i will keep this one short.

TIBET belongs to TIBETANS !!!! Its so obvious.........not china not han chinese !!!

Eric   March 22nd, 2008 931 GMT

For the Tibetans, having a theist such as Dalai Lama with unchallenged power, together with US political and financial backing may not be the best outcome. Let's face it, the US is getting involved to influence China and not for the betterment of the Tibetans.

The Chinese government probably wants more stability and prosperity in the region more than anyone else. I am not convinced they are as evil as most tend to believe. The Chinese government is at war with the elite lamas who can challenge their control over the region, but have nothing to gain to see the average Tibetan suffer.

If “cultural genocide” means teaching the people to be less superstitious, then I would welcome the move. Despite what we hate about a totalitarian government, the end result of China’s involvement is actually the liberation of the blind Tibetans to better emerge with the rest of the world. I do not think teaching the Tibetans to look beyond the self-proclaimed King, Holiness, and endless worshipping is a bad thing. For those who genuinely care about the Tibetans, they should think about the people’s standard of living, which has drastically improved under China’s rule; less people are starved to death in Tibet compared to the times under the lamas’ rule, believing it or not.

The situation is not as simple as we like to think, millions of people from outside of Tibet already migrated to the area all contributing to its economic growth, do we really want a puppet government headed by a spiritual leader with no experience in governing to rule the 10 million plus people?

Eric   March 22nd, 2008 941 GMT

Very well said Kenneth, david, Forrest, 874xiaoxin.

onechina2008   March 22nd, 2008 950 GMT

With the police and military coming in Tibet, normal people feel safer now.
The tibetan "protester"are really too cruel. They attacked the Han people shops and Han people.
tibet is a part of china sind 1271 AD.
The important condition that china and US made diplomatic relation is that US accept that Tibet and Taiwan is a nonseperated part of China!
All the countries who have diplomatic relations with china are under this condition.
Your Government leaders know more about China history than you !

Asian   March 22nd, 2008 1336 GMT

"Forrest"

You said "Tibet is always a part of china" and asked me why I said "Tibet was INDEPENDENT before the invasion of the CCP in 1950."

I will answer by quoting Wangyao's saying.
"Forrest's quotations from Wikipedia clearly states that only Mongols and Manchurians(满族) claimed rule over Tibet. Are Mongols and Machurians are Han people?"
(I deliberately omitted 蒙古(Mongo) because it means foolish. I heard that the word Mongo is made by han people for humiliating Mongolian people.)
And I heard that in yeon dynasty and ching dynasty, Tibet's culture and religion was more respected by Mongols and Manchurians than in the CCP by Han people.
I think Tibet was Independent Culturally Linguistically and Religiously before the invasion of the CCP in 1950.

Someone said "Please be patient, and give China time."
Time for what?
For making Tibetans Tibetan Chinese by brainwashing?
For growing of han people by using Tibet's natural resources?

Someone said "we do it just out of our desperate situation."
I understand han people's situation. And I think han people with common sense could understand Tibetans' situation. Because Tibetans show their situation by their tears and bloods.
And I am certain that freedom-loving people worldwide (not chinese and not tibetans) cannot help feeling sympathy for Tibetans the Weaker.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1426 GMT

Kenneth, David and Forrest,

If you admit the Chinese Communist Party's wrong doings in China and Tibet, that is good enough for me. The rest lets wait and see. Free China from the Communist Party!

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1445 GMT

Erik,

I support your freedom of speech but you sound bit dull and your comments are boring, foolish and disgraceful to Chinese people.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1542 GMT

Asian:

There are so many people like "Eric" in China and what they are thinking and saying is this:

"Religious leaders should have no place in the world to legislate and/or enforce laws, they feed ignorance and irrationality to the common people."

I call the "Eric" type as "Made in China" "plastic products".

Forrest is right when he says China needs time. "Eric" type is as dangerous as the radical protersters in Lhasa streets on 14th March.
Until China stop producing "Made in China" 'Eric products', we have to be patient, as Forrest says.

Generally speaking Forrest is alright but he is another kind of "Made in China" cultural products which produced pre-1911. I don't blame him for his assimilation into Han Chinese but I don't think I will let this happen to myself. I believe many peaceful protesters in Tibet are partially fighting against the Chinese Communist Party for protecting their Tibetan identity. Tibetans are more tough than other ethnic minorities in China and the more vulnerable ethnic minorities like me are grateful to the Tibetans to raise the voice of the disadvantaged people.

All the ethnic minorities were happier with the Yuan and Qing dynasties and they were also happy under the National Party rule (国民党政策). But the Chinese Communist Party is different, as Forrest says, they made all of us including Han Chinese suffer too much.

I understand why stronger ethnic groups like Tibet doesn't want to put their fortune into hands the Chinese Communist Party. Hongkong doesn't show much hospitality to them, does she?

Actually the Chinese Communist Party is not really what they claim to be, as we in the West understand the terms "Communism" or "Socialism". They are the same versions of the fake DVDs from China on sale in the New York streets.

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 1607 GMT

To “Asian”,
Please read one of my previous posts to “Wangyao”, in which I explained why the Manchurian Qing Dynasty was also China, and why Manchurian people are also Chinese people. I also stated multiple times in my previous posts that “I am a Manchurian Chinese”. You need realize that not only Han people are Chinese, the Chinese people consists of 56 ethnic groups.

Although I also agree that Tibet was, and even now still is culturally, linguistically and religiously different from other parts of China, that doesn’t mean or equal to that Tibet was an independent country legitimately, or that Tibet should go for independence today. Politics don’t play this way. For huge countries, it is very common and usual that different parts are culturally and linguistically different. Also for the U.S., the North, the Southeast, the Mid West, the Southwest, the West Coast are also culturally different, have different accents linguistically, but that does not mean that they should go for independence. Even for the Han areas of China, the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest also have different cultures and dialects, some dialects like Cantonese are so different that the Han people from other areas could not understand or speak it. But that also doesn’t mean that those different Han areas should go for independence.

You said, “Someone said “Please be patient, and give China time.” Time for what? For making Tibetans Tibetan Chinese by brainwashing? For growing of han people by using Tibet’s natural resources?”

Please stop fooling around like that. You already implied that you agreed that Tibet was not an independent country. So you should realize that those Tibetans are already Tibetan Chinese, even “Wangyao” admitted that he is Chinese. What’s wrong for Tibetan natural resources being used for China if Tibet is a part of China? Do you think that those natural resources are used only for the goodness of Han people? Do you think the Tibetans don’t get benefits for mining and selling natural resources to other parts of China and for using those resources in Tibet? China is a huge importer of many natural resources from many countries (e.g., Australia, Brazil, Russia, Saudi, etc.), you don’t hear those countries complaining about China taking their natural resources. They’re actually happy about that and are making tons of money off it.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1613 GMT

David:

I support what you said: "I do want democracy, not only for Tibet, but for all China too. Tibetan dream of freedom should come as part of bigger China’s dream of free elected demoracratic China."

I believe China needs more "David" and less "Eric".

I wish you all the best David!
祝你好运!

Stan Wang   March 22nd, 2008 1623 GMT

I don;t think the world knows the truth at all. CNN used a chopped picture, which cuts out those criminal activities for mislading public.

It is sad that there are still a lot of people brainwashed by media, even if the truth is out there. But no one is willing to take a different look from the other side of story, in this case it is from China's side. The actual truth in the whole Tibet issue is that it was created for causing the unstability in china 50 years ago, CIA's involvment in this:

read the BOOK CIA's Secret War in Tibet

and this: http://www.timbomb.net/buddha/archive/msg00087.html

Here is some comment I found is very fair and worth reading:
1.
Many ordinary Tibetans want the Dalai Lama back in their country, but it appears that relatively few want a return to the social order he represented. A 1999 story in the Washington Post notes that the Dalai Lama continues to be revered in Tibet, but

. . . few Tibetans would welcome a return of the corrupt aristocratic clans that fled with him in 1959 and that comprise the bulk of his advisers. Many Tibetan farmers, for example, have no interest in surrendering the land they gained during China’s land reform to the clans. Tibet’s former slaves say they, too, don’t want their former masters to return to power. “I’ve already lived that life once before,” said Wangchuk, a 67-year-old former slave who was wearing his best clothes for his yearly pilgrimage to Shigatse, one of the holiest sites of Tibetan Buddhism. He said he worshipped the Dalai Lama, but added, “I may not be free under Chinese communism, but I am better off than when I was a slave.”57

It should be noted that the Dalai Lama is not the only highly placed lama chosen in childhood as a reincarnation. One or another reincarnate lama or tulku–a spiritual teacher of special purity elected to be reborn again and again–can be found presiding over most major monasteries. The tulku system is unique to Tibetan Buddhism. Scores of Tibetan lamas claim to be reincarnate tulkus.

2.
Not all Tibetan exiles are enamoured of the old Shangri-La theocracy. Kim Lewis, who studied healing methods with a Buddhist monk in Berkeley, California, had occasion to talk at length with more than a dozen Tibetan women who lived in the monk’s building. When she asked how they felt about returning to their homeland, the sentiment was unanimously negative. At first, Lewis assumed that their reluctance had to do with the Chinese occupation, but they quickly informed her otherwise. They said they were extremely grateful “not to have to marry 4 or 5 men, be pregnant almost all the time,” or deal with sexually transmitted diseases contacted from a straying husband. The younger women “were delighted to be getting an education, wanted absolutely nothing to do with any religion, and wondered why Americans were so naïve [about Tibet].”

from http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Kek   March 22nd, 2008 1638 GMT

This news itself is biased.
The orignal picture is cut in half to show only the 2 military trucks with 2 rioter in front here. But orignal picture is wider where there are a group of rioter to the right side throwing rocks at the trucks . Just look closely at this picture u ll see rock is flying towards the truck from the right edge of the picture. The orignal picture is here:
http://photos.chinesenewsnet.com/Duowei/2008/03/Duowei_2008_3_14_12_41_24_919_221.jpg

Seriously, CNN/western media has been doing this kinda stuff all the time when it concerns other countries bussiness. All the news are crafted to blaming China when the obvious evidence those "protester" are robbing shops,hurting people commiting crimes. Like what country in teh world would tolerate this kind of "protester"? They are mobs, they dont even have banner or anything to show what they want to protest about, they are just simply smashing. Free tibet my ass.

Sara   March 22nd, 2008 1647 GMT

wangyao, you are shamless! Do you think that China can count on you!

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1708 GMT

Forrest:
I had feeling that you are a bit cunning from the beginning.

Don't paly with words! I am Mongolian from China and there are Mongolians from Mongolia too. I believe people have no problems with understanding terms such as African Amerian, Tibetan Indians and Tibetan Nepalis.

Do you know what BBC stands for in English literature? British Born Chinese! What are you trying to make something out from the identity politics. The Chinese Communist Party "constructed" all these 56 ethnic groups in China during its project of "making ethnic group" in 1960s.

Don't try to twist history and racial issues here. Lets talk about 中华人民 instead of 中华民族. Alright!

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 1709 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
It’s great to see you’ve basically moved away from supporting Tibetan independence! That is good enough for me.

Regarding to the issues of CCP and the changes for China to make, they are totally different topics, so I won’t talk too much about those topics here. My basic point is still my point in my previous post which you agreed on, China needs time.

You’re right when you said “Actually the Chinese Communist Party is not really what they claim to be”.

I hope you’ve realized that China is not really a communist country any more.

The definition of communism by Wikipedia is:
Communism is a socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production.

And the definition of capitalism by Wikipedia is:
Capitalism refers to an economic and social system in which the means of production are predominantly privately owned, are operated for profit, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a market economy.

Most of economies of today’s China are privately owned, and China is practicing a free-market economy. Therefore, according to the definitions of communism and capitalism, China should be considered as a capitalistic country.

China is basically a capitalistic country now, apparently, the CCP is also not really a communist party any more. We’ve seen the changes in the past 30 years, and the changes are still going on.

In your previous post, you expressed your concern about being assimilated into Han people. I fully understand it. But I don’t think you really need worry about being assimilated into Han people for yourself. If you grew up in your own ethnic minority culture, you’ll never be really and completely assimilated into another culture. But this might not be the case for your children. I suppose you’re living in the U.S. Do you plan to stay in the U.S. for the rest of your life? If so, you don’t need to worry about you and your children being assimilated into Han people at all, but should worry about your children being assimilated into Americans. Actually, I don’t think that we should worry about such things. Our children have their own life and time. If I decide to stay in the U.S. for the rest of my life, my children would probably be assimilated into American people and American culture. I would have no problem with that, although I myself would never be really assimilated into Americans.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1736 GMT

Forrest:

Why is it so important for you to classify people whey you even don't speak your Muchurian language? It doesn't do any good for unity of China. The Chinese Communist Part has talked about Unity of Natioanlity (民族团结) for last 50 years but the result is what we have witnessed in Tibet last week.

Without equaly there will be no unity and the Chinese Communist Party should learn this lesson from their "mistakes".

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 1802 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
Those 56 ethnic groups in China were not constructed, or created by the CCP. They were already there, such as Han Chinese, Tibetan Chinese, Mongolian Chinese, Manchurian Chinese, Korean Chinese, Miao Chinese, Hui Chinese, etc. They were already there for hundreds or even thousands of years. The Chinese government just officially classified and recognized these ethnic groups in 1960s. I hope you understand that there is nothing wrong in doing that, and also the Chinese government did that mainly for the better benefits of ethnic minority groups. You know that the One-Child-Policy in China only applies to the majority Han people, and the ethnic minorities can have more than one child per family, and the ethnic minorities also have better opportunities in getting higher educations and getting government jobs, etc. I hope you understand that the classification of ethnic groups is not for the discrimination of ethnic minorities, but on the contrary, it’s for the ethnic minorities to have better benefits than the majority Han people. Actually, it is kind of an inequality in favor of ethnic minorities, but against the majority Han people. You know the U.S. government also classifies the American people into ethnic groups like Caucasians, Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic, Asian and Islanders, etc.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1802 GMT

Forrest:

Double assimilation would be a joke indeed! But I have to say what you said is a bit practical and realistic.

Lets move onto next step:

If you pleased to know that I am against Tibet Independence, why you and the Chinese Communist Party (中国共产党) are unhappy about the Dalai Lama. He has repeadly announced that he is not seeking independence, hasn't he?

Today, I had a conversation with my Han Chinese girl friend about this question and she thinks the Dalai Lama will go to Tibet not alone, he takes old memories, Tibetan nationalism and his Kashag to Tibetans in Tibet and with the Chinese government wouldn't dare to take this risk. What do you think?

Yangchen   March 22nd, 2008 1820 GMT

There are few people like Kenneth, Forest, david,eric.....seems like paid by Chinese govt for full time job to brain wash on the net. hahhahahh...interesting job for jobless – least paid man. Talking in so confused way which is not realistic in this present world. Wat you guys want? Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii- the selfish......trying so hard to proof China CCP is the best and harldy agrees. If Communist is the best then whole world might have applied for their own country or u can say majority in the world might have accept it for the betterment of thier own nation. So, there is no use arguing on this.

Sooner or later CCP will come to end once world get liberates from orthodox-selfish thoughts. Come out from China and live for a year ul know the difference.

On the issue of Tibet unrest i think its all cause of long lived under oppression & frustration! 49 years is not a joke! China couldn't bear these few days protest and doing every possible voilent action to cease it......but Tibetans with a heart of buddha atlast raise thier voice after 2 decades.

Tibetans doesnt have any problem with chinese people as Dalai Lama always advice compassion & Ahimsa, happiness for all sentient beings including Chinese. But Tibetans in Tibet & other part of world cant tolerate this CCP opperession anymore. In emotion of anger they might have few hurt chinese civilians. One or two attacks cant be concluded that hatered for civilians. M sure this can be resolve if Tibet issue resolves.

Its his holiness Dalai Lama's greatness that he is seeking autonomy thinking for happiness for both the side. If there is other leader no one will think about other side, they will think about their own nation which is their rights. Thats why his holiness is different cause he is living buddha in this world – thinking for the happiness of all sentient beings. China has greatiest opportunity to grab & solve the Tibet issue during 14th Dalai Lama otherwise China will see worst situation in near future.

Young Tibetans are educated, more open & straightforward with full of energy......Tibet voices will never end until justice is given.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1843 GMT

Forrest:
I don't want to go into deatails about "Identity Construction" and social benefits here. Because, in my class in University in China, about ten Han Chinese students were holding ethnic minority residential cards (户口本). Who is benifiting from whom is bit complicated and the riot in Tibet is also partialy related to the corruption of administration in the government run by mainly Han Chinese. Why I say Han domination here is because it's claimed that from 1959 till now, the head of Party secretry in Tibet has never been an ethnic Tibetan. This shows the central government don't trust Tibetans.

Earlier someone posted an entire article written by Melvyn C. Goldstein from Case Western Reserve University in USA. I encourage you guys to read his latest book "A Tibetan Revolutionary -biography of Baba Phuntsok Wangyal. In this book Goldestein talks about how Phuntsok Wangyal was dismissed by the central government even before 1959. He was the key man from Tibetan side helping the Chinese Communist Party to "liberate" Tibet in 1950 and he was the official translator of signing the 17 point agreement, You know what happened to him? 17 years imprisonmnet in the prison where Liu shao Qi was imprisoned and died.

I am not an expert on Tibet politics but we Mongolians are quite well informed what has happened in other ethnic minority areas. "The Chinese Communist Party" excludes non party members to take part in politics and they want to solve any kinds of social and political issues by force. I don't think anyone including radicle Tibetans and the Party dictators who want to use force will get anywhere but ending up in blood.

This is what happened to the Chinese students in Tianan Men Square in 1989 and again there was bloody crackdown in Tibet a week ago.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1855 GMT

Yangchen:

Don't mess around here if you really think Tibetans haven't got problem with Han Chinese in PRC.

It's good that you are trying to say that the CCP should grab the golden chance talking to the Dalai Lama to solve Tibet issue.

But a few of us including David think that unless China get free, Tibet will never get free. Don't expect anything from the CCP. They are not ready yet to solve Tibet issue.

Forrest   March 22nd, 2008 1903 GMT

To “Wangyao”,
I believe that we’ve moved too far and away from the original topic of this blog. But I’d still like to talk a little more. The issue of Dalai Lama is a part of the whole political problems about Tibet. Political problems are very complicated as I mentioned in one of my previous posts. Both you and I are not political experts, so I really don’t think we can completely clarify all these political problems and find perfect political solutions, and I even don’t think political experts can do that, otherwise, such problems would have already been solved by now.

But I do want to say a few of my opinions about Dalai Lama. Although Dalai Lama claims that he doesn’t seek Tibetan independence, he does seek to have political power over Tibet and Tibetan people, as the former Dalai Lamas did in the Qing Dynasty. If the Chinese government agreed and granted such political power to him, it’s possible for him to declare Tibetan independence later, so the Chinese government couldn’t risk it. In addition, we know that we’re living in a modern world now, the world and the form of governments have changed. Even in the central Chinese government there has not been an emperor for one hundred years. So is it a good and right thing to restore a Dalai Lama like a king in Tibet as it was a hundred years ago? It is kind of similar to that someone wants to restore an Emperor in today’s Chinese government, or that for the western countries to abandon democracy and restore the ancient kings. Time has changed, and the history must move on.

Asian   March 22nd, 2008 1916 GMT

"Forrest"

I think you have heard about 邊疆史地硏究中心(a China's administrative organization for distorting 56 races' history) and it's processes (西北工程(process for distorting Uighur's history), 西南工程(process for distorting Tibet's history), 北疆工程, 海疆工程, 東北工程 etc.)

You said "China is a huge importer of many natural resources from many countries (e.g., Australia, Brazil, Russia, Saudi, etc.), you don’t hear those countries complaining about China taking their natural resources. They’re actually happy about that and are making tons of money off it."

You compared Tibet which is not an independent country recently with Australia, Russia etc which are independent countries.
PLEASE STOP FOOLING AROUND LIKE THAT!

I don't think Tibetans are making tons of money off it and happy. Maybe it seems more reasonalbe to say that han people are making tons of money off it and happy.

And you said repeatedlly "China needs time"
I think China needs time for the completion of distorting 56 races' history and for brainwashing Tibetans, Uighurs, etc to make them han people who speak chinese and have no religion.

And you said repeatedlly "tibetan chinese" instead of Tibetans.
Don't use that word "tibetan chinese" unless TIBETANS are willing to use and accept that word.
and Don't push Tibetans to give up their language, religion and culture craftily unless Tibetans are willing to do it.

And you said "I(Asian) agreed that Tibet was not an independent country."
PLEASE STOP FOOLING AROUND LIKE THAT! You already implied that Tibet was not conquered by Han people before 1950.

I heard that Tibet thought of Mongols and Manchurians as friends in the Yuan and Qing dynasties.
But I heared that Tibet and Uighur have been thinking of han people as ENEMY since the CCP's invasion. Why?

William   March 22nd, 2008 1933 GMT

It is difficult to talk about history when commenting on today's Tibet violence and we have to see the fact: Tibetan people now lead a good life which they have never experienced before and the Chinese government is the soley legal govenor of the land. The so-called cultural genocide is the only excuse that Dalai Lama and his followers use to try to reverse the history: coming back to his rule as a religious dictator. It is very unfortunate that the 'impartial' Western media, including CNN, is so biased in reporting the violence. Dalai wants to have an independent international invistigation and so does the law maker Nancy. This is a brilliant idea; however, Nancy continues to say that Dalai seeks for the midway and is not involved in mastminding the violence. This seems rediculious! How does she know for sure that this man is not involved before an independent organization comes into existence? She must be a shame of Amercians.
Dalai is not a reliable person but an unscrupulous monk. He can be powerful to make violence and powerless in not bearing responsiblities at the same time. He is cheating the Westerners for more benefits.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 1955 GMT

Forrest:

Although I don't agree with what you said, I still want to thank you to share your opinion on the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet.

Why Tibet Autonomous Region hasn't had an ethinc Tibetan Party secretry so far? All the chief party secretary in Tibet has been ethnic Chinese except one who happened to be an ethnic minorities but not Tibetan.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 2012 GMT

Forrest:

Tibet should be ruled by Tibetans if Tibet is really an autonomous region, as the Chinese gavernment claims! Hujing Tao used to rule Tibet as party secretry in Tibet and this colonial rule of the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet forced Tibetans to protest against the Chinese Government. Actually we should blame for the Chinese Communist Party for the cause of violent.

Wangyao   March 22nd, 2008 2026 GMT

A brief biography of Tibetan Communist who was dismissed by the Chinese Communist Party and imprisoned for 18 years. He is still in China and he encourages the Chinese Communist party to continue its dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

This is quoted from Wikipedia:

Phuntsok Wangyal

Phuntsok Wangyal or Bapa Phuntsok Wangyal or Phünwang is a Tibetan born in 1922 in Bathang, in the province of Kham (eastern Tibet). He is famous for having established the Tibetan Communist Party and was one of the leading Tibetan communist leaders, but spend 18 years in Chinese prisons.

[Edit] Biography
Phünwang born in 1922 in Bathang (Batang County), in the province of Kham (eastern Tibet). Phünwang began his activism in school, where he founded the Tibetan Communist Party in secret in 1939. Until 1949, he worked to organize a guerrilla uprising against the Chinese who controlled his homeland. The strategy of Tibetan Communist Party under his leadership during the years 1940 was twofold: to prevail over progressive elements among students and the aristocracy of Tibet policy to put in place a programme of modernization and democratic reform, while supporting one guerrilla struggle to overthrow the regime Kham Liu Wenhui, a warlords aligned with the Chinese Kuomintang. Its ultimate goal was a united independent Tibet and the fundamental transformation of its feudal social structure. He was expelled from Lhasa in 1949 by the Government of Tibet.

In 1949, to join the guerrilla Chinese communists, Phünwang had merged his Tibetan Communist Party with the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong at the request of the Chinese military, and thus give up its project for a communist Tibet independent self-governed. He played an administrative role in organizing the party in Lhasa, and was the translator of the young 14th Dalai Lama during his famous meetings with Mao Zedong in 1954-55.

In 1950, Phünwang was the official Tibetan highest-ranking Tibetan Communist Party. Although he spoke fluent Chinese, accustomed to Chinese culture, and devoted to socialism and the Communist Party, the deep commitment of Phünwang for the well-being of Tibetans made him soupçonnable in the eyes of its powerful colleagues. In 1958 he was placed in solitary confinement, 3 years later, he was imprisoned in solitary confinement in the equivalent of the Bastille in Beijing for 18 years. He has published a biography in English, which he insists on the need to raise the interests of the Tibetan people.
Phuntsok Wangyal was rehabilitated and will be long in Beijing without outside contact

Recently, he said that Hu Jintao is expected to welcome the return of the Dalai Lama in Tibet suggèrant as it is "... much to stabilize Tibet." In a 3rd letter dated August 1, 2006, he wrote: "If the problem inherited with Tibet continues to be delayed, it is quite probable that it follows the creation of a Vatican Oriental Tibetan Buddhism next to the Tibetan government-in éxil. Then the problem of Tibet, nationally or internationally, become more complicated and more painful.

1Dream1Country   March 22nd, 2008 2216 GMT

ONE DREAM
ONE COUNTRY
TOGETHER WE STAND STILL

Eric   March 22nd, 2008 2240 GMT

Wangyao,

"Erick: ...your comments are boring, foolish and disgraceful to Chinese people."

"I call the “Eric” type as “Made in China” “plastic products”.

“Eric” type is as dangerous as the radical protersters in Lhasa streets on 14th March."

"I believe China needs... less “Eric”."

Wangyao, there is no need to resort to meaningless personal attacks on public blogs boring all the readers, just because we don't share common political views.

Enjoy your nice long weekend too.

Tibetan   March 23rd, 2008 011 GMT

CNN-Please publish my note.You cant behave like Chinese media.The last time I wrote sth u didnt post it.
Anyways Im a Tibetan.I know tht there are many angry Han Chinese in this blog and worldwide who are mad at Tibetans for their behavior.Frankly I dont support their behavior too.This is not the way to attain a free tibet.I dont think Tibetans are ready yet.Let's clear up history.Tibet was not a part of China.Whatever they might have taught you in schools is propaganda.You may have read history but my ancestors lived the history.And during Songtsen Gampo's rule (Tibetan King who annexed large parts of China,and in exchange Chinese emperor gave his daughter in marriage to prevent further annexation) it was the Chinese that were under Tibet.Later Tibet got weak and China has always acted as a big brother to Tibet,as tibet has limited resources.Yes tibetans are a wild nomadic mountainous race perhaps blinded by religion,so what?And the reason you see monks acting violently is perhaps because most become monks non-voluntarily but the families are too poor to feed another mouth.Han Chinese and Tibetans are 2 totally different races.Someone said sth abt culture,that we are a rough uneducated tribe.What you see now is the remains of the cultural revolution and previously Tibet was shut off from the rest of the world and relied on religion and His holiness for guidance.I lived in Tibet for a while.We do have culture.But I think His holiness saying "cultural genocide" is far fetched.Even Chinese culture is changing these days,like the Tibetan culture.But what the govt can do is to improve education in Tibet.We have only one university in the whole of Tibet.That is almost the size of 25% of China.Education should be free of cost.People are too poor to pay for education.China gives a lot of minority preference to tibetans which i deeply appreciate.China should encourage Tibetans to have more children,so that we do not disappear like Native Americans.People fleeing from Tibet and migrating to other countries does not help.And a lot of people who flee from there make up stories to gain sympathy from foreigners. TO ALL THE HAN CHINESE-I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IM SORRY FOR THE ACTIONS OF MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN TIBET. I TRULY MEAN IT! I can only imagine what it must have been for parents to lose their children,partners and life savings.But one thing I don't understand is why monasteries and homes are not allowed to have pictures of his Holiness, because Tibetans are allowed to display pictures publicly in tibetan towns outside the autonomous region.But I sincerely hope that all the families of Tibetan protestors will not be punished for a lifetime(or imprisoned and tortured for decades).Even Han Chinese know that Chinese methods of punishments are extremely brutal, you may have seen videos of some being shot instantly,a public trial and scare to future offenders. We are human,we deserve chances, not a one time trial. Another thing is that if China is behaving morally,it should not be afraid to show the world wats happening and not censor everything.Thats why people become so close-minded about issues like this,because the people can only have the choice to believe what the govt.wants them to believe.They can blog about stuff like this.and they dont know wat the outside world thinks of the issue.. and this is for keystone; its apparent that u are angered by wat happened,but its not an issue of westerners or tibetans wanting to come kill all han chinese..it may be that we have heard only one side of the story and ppl in the mainland china have only heard govt.reports.Its all upto Chinese govt to remove censors and let truths become known.If independence is to come,it will come and till then we should pray for the souls of our Han brothers and sisters and of course the tibetan protesters facing trial.For a moment of excitement and showing off they may have to pay for it with their lives.Not one of us was there experiencing what those tibetans were experiencing and all the frustrations the mob was feeling, so please dont just make comments..Lets be more open minded!

Meck   March 23rd, 2008 016 GMT

For many reasons under many different circumstances that include geo-politics, Tibet alway been part of China except when Imperialism came to China and tried to split China into pieces, water to 1.3 billions people's thrist, China demography that compose of hundred of ethnic, China external enemy... the Tibetan will never get their wishes to go back to live thier unproductive live under the absolute power of a religious figure. Dream on!

Instead on dream on,why not face the reality that they are in China. Why not be productive and make contribution to their motherland? Why not try to improve themselves and make use of themselves to compete just like other ethnic minorities in China. And to Westerner who in the name of what-so-ever to fullfill thier self-fish intentions , why not show them the righteous path to live in these modern society instead of wanting them to live in their old cultural way which is unproductive.

Tibetan   March 23rd, 2008 028 GMT

CNN-please publish this too..
If China gives autonomy to Tibet like it has, to hongkong and macau, then it may solve all their problems.Maybe not democracy,but the least bargain is a system similar to hongkong.We can still use Chinese RMB money, use Putonghua in schools and teach a curriculum according to Mainland.We should have more tibetans in the govt.Obviously most chinese officials do not like living in harsh tibetan climate,so mainland should stop sending so many chinese officials that are paid higher than if they would have stayed in mainland.But we want to be more free and have the ability to move in and out of the country as we please.It takes around 5-10 years to get a passport,if you are extremely lucky and have the connections and have money to bribe officials.And Beijing should not offer incentives to mainland chinese people to move to tibet.thats why in the city,only a small section actually looks tibetan,all the rest of the city is too concrete and too fake.All houses are about ready to collapse with only a shiny exterior.Im not suggesting ethnic cleansing,but we need to save what is left of our race(and tibetans should be encouraged to have more than 2 children,at least the govt allows 2,but there should not be a limit).

Forrest   March 23rd, 2008 044 GMT

To “Asian”,
I already answered your question for me, and gave you the links to the sources of history that I believe in. But you never answered my three questions for you.

I didn’t compare Tibet with other countries from which China imports natural resources. You misunderstood my point. In my previous post to you, in the part related to Tibet, I already stated that “What’s wrong for Tibetan natural resources being used for China if Tibet is a part of China?” It’s already complete. I brought up the issue of China importing natural resources from other countries for another point which I didn’t clarify in the post – there is nothing wrong for China taking natural resources and China should not be blamed for doing that, even if those resources are from other countries, I brought up this point because some western media have started blaming China for importing so many natural resources and causing their prices to soar.

For the邊疆史地硏究中心 that you mentioned, although it’s not relevant to the topic of this blog, I’d still like to talk a little bit about it with you. To be honest, I don’t know much about it. It may be distorting history as you said, or may be doing serious history research and trying to restore the real history of the past. No matter what it is doing, I’m sure its work will be judged by the history scholars and experts all over the world in order to be accepted and justified. Otherwise, it won’t be accepted as a credible and reputable history source worldwide, and no people will seriously believe what it says. If it is distorting history, I would really doubt that the history scholars and experts worldwide would justify its work and accept it as a credible history source. However, no matter whether it is distorting history as you said, or doing real history research, I can guarantee you one thing, even if it is doing real history research and is accepted and justified by the history scholars and experts worldwide as a reputable history source, I still won’t use it as a history source for the discussions in this blog or other similar discussions, in order to avoid the conflict of interest. In the list of the links to history sources that I gave you earlier, I deliberately avoided those many Chinese sources in order to avoid the conflict of interest, although they basically tell the same history as the links that I gave to you.

I’m glad to see that you’re basically similar to “Wangyao” and kind of changed your stance. For those political problems of Chinese ethnic minorities that you mentioned, I agree that they’re real problems, and even serious problems. But they are the specific and detailed problems for the Chinese government to solve, and they are beyond the scope of our discussion here. As I said to “Wangyao” earlier, we’re not political experts, and even political experts cannot find perfect solutions to these problems right now.

david   March 23rd, 2008 215 GMT

Wangyao,

First of all, I am not for CCP. No one likes what CCP did in the Cultural Revoluiton. But I do like what CCP did for the economy for the past 20 years.

Second, I am not paid by CCP. I am living in a western country. I guess I am about 300 miles from where you are living assuming you are living in L.A. near UCLA.

Living in a western country, you know the discrimination and glass ceiling. In the bottom of their hearts, even the ordinary citizens don't want a powerful China. The western politicians want China to be in pieces.

To copy the western political systems, Tibet could be a state of China just like any other states. The head of Tibet can be freely elected. Whoever can develop Tibet better will be elected. Just look at Taiwan's election. The guys playing all independence cards lost because the live of ordinary Taiwanese was not improved for the past eight years.

Dala Lamai can come back to Tibet, but only as an religious leader. He should not have any influence on governing, just like the Pope in Vactican. History has proven again and again that when religious leaders mixed up the governing with their religious idealogies, it is a diaster. I think Dala Lamai should strongly denounce the violence, denounce the separatists, and keep his mouth shut on governing. I think the Chinese government should be ok if Dala does these. Just like the Pope never comments on the politics of Itaily government. Let the democractic process runs its course in China.

You may not agree to what I proposed. That is just an ideal case copying-exact from the western political system. I am not sure it is going to play out this way.

But don't believe what UK/US/Canada/Germany governments want China to do.

Like at Poland, they want you to separate from Soviet Union then they want to install missel defense system on your land. Of course they are going to pay you $xx dollars for that. Your economy is still in bad shape and you are desprate for that $xx dollars.

My personal view is for China, together with Tibet, to develop its own economy and political systems. We can learn/copy from the western. I believe China has been doing that already, although slowly or not up to the speed some people like. China should be strong and be prosprous on the world stage. Otherwise, everyone will look down at China.

I worked three years in Shanghai from 2002 to 2005 for a foreign owned company. China is no old China back in 60s and 70s. The influence of CCP is no-exist in a lot of private and foreign owned companies. Of course there is room to improve, specially in the area of anti-corruption and free elections. But you could be surprised, these changes are on the way and coming as Taiwan has free election and Hong Kong will have free election 10 years from now. Sorry you cannot have free election in China today. You may get it in 20 years, at least to a limited degree.

hlbb   March 23rd, 2008 414 GMT

Response to Teresa Johnson March 15th, 2008 1645 GMT
Please keep reporting about Tibet. The whole world should know what is
going on there. Tibet is not an autonomous region. It is an invaded country. Tibetan people do not have any rights, they are second class to the Chinese. They cannot display their flags nor have a picture of The Dalai Lama. Moreover, you cannot find any postcard of their Spiritual Leader who had to leave his country. The Chinese read the emails and open the letters that Tibetans receive. I can continue, but you got the idea. We visited Tibet in 2006, we love the country and its very nice and compassionate people, to say the least about them.

Regarding your post, very typical western thought, worth to reply,

1. I 100% agree "Please keep reporting about Tibet. The whole world should know what is going on there. "
since you are quite interested in what happened in Tibet, I guess you should already watched those
"peace protest" video and even read the news reported by "the times" regarding how Tibetan gangster
beat those innocent "Han Chinese" looking civilian to death report. Those tourist are from New Zealand,
British, and most likely Caucasian, since you are from the similar civilization, I guess you believe what they say more than what I say. Here is my strategy, I put the link here for your reference:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3578941.ece

Tourists speak of shock and fear at Tibet riots

Could you explain me that HOW do you expect any efficient and responsible government to take NO action for those brutal crime action, like those 5 sales girls who get burned to death alive and that Han civilian family also get burned to death alive including a baby? Shame on you, do you have any conscious? Currently Chinese government’s action to the western media actually helps the Tibetan to cover up those crimes, so unwise. But china government is not smart, or they are too smart to consider the chain reaction of open the media might expand to the other part of the country that might cause the legitimacy of the government get challenged. I have no idea regarding what is in their mind.

2. Tibet is not an autonomous region. It is an invaded country.

I would only agree that Tibet WAS an independent country that that all ends about 8 hundred years ago, when Mongol invaded the whole world, it finished Tibet before it finished up Song China ruled by Han Chinese. Since then, Tibet almost never ever gains back its independence again.

Talking about invade, I also like to condemn that action but who cares Mongol's invasion about 800 years ago now anyway (correct me if you can, probably Russia is still hating Mongol for that last time I heard).

There are tons of official materials by Chinese government now to prove Tibet belongs to CHINA for how many years, some have point other does not. I personally do not believe their stuff, because I cannot agree on Chinese government’s definition of china, it has nothing to do with our topic here.

If you would like to hear the short story, I would like to ask you go any library or just do google, find any world map between 1800 and 2000 that marks Tibet a country. If you have more time, let us see the history everyone can agree, I normally do not read china version history so what you read here is my personal summon which is quite far away from china government version.

a) Tibet was occupied by Mongol, take for 100 years, after a while CHINA is occupied by Mongol as well so at Mongol regime Tibet and CHINA are under one government.

b) Then Mongol is driven out of china, the start of the Ming CHINA did not actually took control of Tibet directly as the Mongol ruler had done. Instead, Tibet surrendered as a kingdom under the Ming empire, more like the relationship between Korean/Vietnam with Ming China Empire, the king need to be authorized by CHINA but the kingdom actually keeps its independent inside as far as Ming China is happy.

c) Then Manchu came and occupied CHINA again, Manchu seek for much more tight control of Tibet and
had its office in Lasha and maintain the army there. Over the Manchu occupation, Tibet, Mongolia and China, Korea, Vietnam are all the colonies under Manchu empire.

d) Korea get its independence from Manchu sometime between 1904 but till 1911, Manchu Empire’s most part (South Manchu, Han China, Tibet, XingJiang, Mongolia) still efficiently under control, including Tibet.
After 1911, CHINA get its long seek independence from Manchu, that is the pivotal time for Mongol and Tibet as well, Both declare independence and failed at that time Since Han Chinese try to re-unite the country and as a matter of fact, the whole world at that time acknowledge that R.P.C (Not Taiwan but has some relations), has the heritage of the Manchu government so why not just KEEP those land. But R.P.C seems never bother to send any military to Tibet during its 38 years in Mainland china (Probably office and some very small army, I would have to go back to history book).

e) Mao and his Communist friends starts the P.R.C, and Tibet and Dalai lama his monks and landlords was kept untouched for 10 years, Remember P.R.C is a communist regime, it would not tolerate any slavery society under it. Within the 10 years given to dalai lama to reform, very little is done to correct the slavery system over there. You know what happens next.

Let us talk a little more of the slavery and Tibet Buddhism, I personally believe Tibet Buddhism is the poison to manipulate those 1 million Tibet slave, to keep them obey, to keep their kids be slave and go on and on again. You probably try to avoid the slavery issue on purpose, let me put you as a simple westerner, how can you consciously ok to support slavery system in 20 century? Shame on you again.
You can image those slave owner, big land load and monk, would not be very happy for communist to end up their continent system. Here comes the struggle in the 1959, communist china took over Tibet totally and freed all 1 million Tibetan slaves.
After a few generations, the youngster Tibetan starts to forget they are the son and grandson communist freed as slave and starts to seek for their independence and challenge the central government.

Regarding the slavery statement I made here, Please go check any British or American version of Tibet history, it would tell you the truth.

Personally I think Tibet's independence is acceptable to me as far as Dalai lama agree to not impose the slavery system back to their people and abolish the punishment like "dig eye" and "peal skin down" and his promise has to be observed by international observer, hopefully not CIA picked.
Actually with today's Dalai lama's image, I did not expect him would make such promise since he might simply deny all his behavior before 1959 or simply say he was a child then. Still suggest you go read the history book of Tibet if you willing to see through the whole deal, British or American version please.

But most Chinese is not as open as I do, I would expect much severe response from them especially after you read my response to your point 3, you probably can understand most Han Chinese's view about Tibetan.

3. Tibetan people do not have any rights, they are second class to the Chinese. They cannot display their flags nor have a picture of The Dalai Lama.

I guess you are either never be to china or lie here. Every Han Chinese knows Tibetan people are "Untouchable", they kill us, probably sentenced to a few years in prison if not just released on site, Han Chinese kill Tibetan, death sentence immediately execute after sentence; the robbery and theft by Tibetan at big Chinese city like shanghai is normally ignored or negotiated by the police with the victim for not prosecuting. They are actually the VIPs in china, has the right to steal and robbery without consequence, and killing with minimum consequences. There is no one child policy for minorities like Tibetan.

Every Han Chinese would tell you their version of the story regarding not involves in the conflict with any Tibetan otherwise you got beaten or worse and no police would dear to help you. I really feel sorry that you feel completely the oppose way, please show me some proof. Not equal right for different ethnic group and even between Chinese and foreigner are big topic and spark from time to time (like the case of American teens armed robbery at Hongqiao area in shanghai, local police does not even have jurisdiction over armed robbery if the robber is foreigner, local Shanghainess really fell some kind of desperate here). We Han Chinese feel not fair to us but as most Chinese are QUIET majorities, we only complain at our dinner table and forget the whole deal tomorrow morning and that is it.

Regarding the picture of Dalai Lama, it is allowed inside temple, I visit the area in year 2002, so I remember it vividly. The snow lion flag though is truly not allowed, since it is considered as a direct challenge to the government to maintain its sovereignty. I do understand American can even allowed to burn their national flag, but china does not allow that, I can hardly say which way is better, different people has different view and feeling regarding the flag issue, that is my understanding. Note that there is no city flag or province flag thing in CHINA, which is different from most European and North America countries.

4. Moreover, you cannot find any postcard of their Spiritual Leader who had to leave his country. The Chinese read the emails and open the letters that Tibetans receive.

Let me put this into two aspects,
1. Dalai Lama is considered the black hand of all terrorist behavior happened in Tibet, which I personally not agree. But for central government of china, Dalai lama is more like Ben Laden's image in the US government, I am pretty sure you won't find Ben La Den postcard over congress mountain.

2. I did not search for the post card with the Dalai lama's picture on it, but neither did I saw any postcard with Banchan lama's picture on it as well. I guess even one day, Dalai lama come back to Tibet peacefully, probably Tibetan would not happy to see his picture on the postcard on which you might write and put stamp on.

People needs to understand each other, their country through contact not imagination, imagination is good, to keep your interest in the unknown area is the nature of the human being, but condemn other people purely through your imagination is something not deserving encourage.

For example, before I came to the United States, I hold a general view of America as a shanghainess, Rural but rich, people are nice and educated, but can be very dangerous as well for the gun crime and robbery.
After staying here for 7 years, I think I do have a more clear idea of the united states, more rural than I thought, so almost no night life for ordinary people and mostly American are very bad dresser; majority of people are nice and good people, but illiterate rate is high due to poor education, social security is bad and quite high crime rate epically violent crime (violent crime is vary rare in shanghai, so every time it happens, it would be big news and be remembered for decades, while here at Bay area, it happens everyday and seems very rarely remembered at all). Money is much easier to earn but that might not last for very long simply for what I did is about 20% of my colleagues working at CHINA and I get about 10 times their salary, how can such system last forever? I am planning for myself NOW). You can see, without first hand experience, there might never be such precise understanding for the difference between those two countries.

Philip   March 23rd, 2008 442 GMT

American law enforcement in L.A. Riots of 1992

During Los Angeles riots of 1992, eight people shot by law enforcement and two by National Guardsmen.

Philip   March 23rd, 2008 444 GMT

British law enforcement in Bradford Riots of 2001

"There were 297 arrests in total; 187 people were charged with riot, 45 with violent disorder and 200 jail sentences totalling 604 years were handed down."

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Riots)

Philip   March 23rd, 2008 449 GMT

French riots of 2005

Nicolas Sarkozy, interior minister of the time, declared a "zero tolerance" policy towards urban violence after the fourth night of riots and announced that 17 companies of riot police (C.R.S.) and seven mobile police squadrons (escadrons de gendarmerie mobile) would be stationed in contentious Paris neighborhoods. President Jacques Chirac announced a national state of emergency on 8 November. An extra 2,600 police were drafted on 6 November. On 7 November, French premier Dominique de Villepin announced on the TF1 television channel the deployment of 18,000 policemen, supported by a 1,500 strong reserve.

Michael & Charlie   March 23rd, 2008 652 GMT

""until modern times, It has endured long periods of either Chinese control, Chinese influence, or effective autonomy"" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456954/html/nn1page1.stm Quote from BBC for those who don't believe Chinese statements, In terms of sovereignty, I believe there are times Tibet had been a self claimed independent state for example from 1911 till 1940, however, was not recognized by any country. Many problems such as human rights and religious rights and etc, I believe it is not a problem in Tibet, It is also occurring in other parts of China too, such as 1.3 million killed in Tibet during 1951 (more than half the population? I think the statistic from the US UK etc are more accurate at 10,000), same period of time more than 23 million non-Tibetans killed in other part of China (from Western statistic). And also human rights violations and religious freedom (such as the Christian problem). All these things are not just affecting Tibetans. Now, here is my point, If everyone else in China were able to stay as one for the prosperity of China, and when those issues are improving (not resolved) at an rate that no other country was able to compare (more 200 hundred years for the local Indians in US, Africans in US and aborigines in Australia etc etc), do those Tibetan rights group have to do these stuff now. Protesting should be simply protesting not burning and killing! Don’t bother looking in the Chinese released footage if you don’t believe it, look in Western released footage, I C violence, don’t think that would be tolerated in any part of the world. I used to study in western China and many of my mates are Tibetans, we call ourselves as one. I don’t think Tibet’s issue is an racism issue, for those who tries to separate us and those rights group who call them “heros”, what you are doing is not going to destroy your intended target, the Han Chinese, but the accentual peace and prosperity in Tibet. If you say there aren’t any development in Tibet, you’re blind. Finally, I really believe reporters should be allowed inside Tibet, just to make sure no one is doing anything harmful to Tibetan locals. The 2008 Olympic advertisement had the temples in Lasah and the Himalaya, the first time I saw it, I never had the impression such as, “This Land is part of China” etc, but, “These are some of the most beautiful places in the world, visit their gloriesness.” I love China, I love Tibet, Beijing belongs to Tibetans and all Chinese. Those who what to screw up China “F U”

micheal   March 23rd, 2008 704 GMT

http://military.china.com/zh_cn/top01/11053246/20080323/14742180.html
The editor just use part of the photo. Shame about CNN.

Wangyao   March 23rd, 2008 1002 GMT

David and Forrest,

Wikipedia seems one of your reliable sources as you quoted it several times in your earlier posts.

Wikipedia clearly states that Phuntsok Wangyal wrote to Hu Jingtao in 2006 : “If the problem inherited with Tibet continues to be delayed, it is quite probable that it follows the creation of a Vatican Oriental Tibetan Buddhism next to the Tibetan government-in éxil. Then the problem of Tibet, nationally or internationally, become more complicated and more painful."

It's obvious that Tibetan learders in China warned Hu Jintao 2 years ago that if the Party doesn't try to solve Tibetan problems, there will be a painful consequence.

Look what happened in Tibet now. Instead of lecturing here on topics you have no expertise knowledge, I strongly request you to appeal for the Chinese Communist Party to rethink Tibet issue. Han ethnic intellectuals including Wei Jingshen and Wang Lixiong have started doing this since 1979.

If you guys want China to become stronger, why don't you start to get serious about finding what are the reall problems in Tibet.

weiming   March 23rd, 2008 1157 GMT

My message was completed washed out and moderated off by CNN
censorship, I posted on the 17th of March, how long it normally take to moderate a message ?

My point was CNN was not blacked out in Beijing on 17th while I was watching it alomost whole day, and I read the lip of CNN reporter saying "CNN is currently blasked out by Chinese gevernment".

Wangyao   March 23rd, 2008 1322 GMT

Kenneth:

You said you admired the 6/4 students but only to those who stayed back in China.

Wang Lixiong is a pro-democracy activist Chinese writer who choose remain in PR China and he and some other Chinese intelectuals urged the Chinese government to invite UN investigators to Tibet to change the international community's distrust of China.

They also suggested allowing credible domestic and foreign journalists to independently report from the predominantly Buddhist region and said those arrested should be given an open and fair trial.

The dissidents said they hoped the government would produce evidence to substantiate accusations that the Dalai Lama premeditated the unrest. The Dalai Lama has denied the charge.

They know better than us in terms of what is happening in Tibet/China and we should listen these people who live next to the central government in Beijng to influence the CCP.

Shannon   March 23rd, 2008 1537 GMT

I'm not surprised this is happening. The poor Tibetans have been oppressed for more than 50 years. It's about time they started fighting back!

I'm sick of the Chinese pretending they are innocent because a few Tibetans attacked a few Han Chinese. When the Chinese invaded Tibet, they raped nuns & women (some in front of their children), they burned & buried Tibetans alive and killed so many.

I'm ashamed to be American due to the fact that we have done NOTHING to help the Tibetans over the years. Thank God Pelosi and others have at least made comments. Shame on Bush for staying silent on this matter.

1Dream1Country   March 23rd, 2008 1756 GMT

ONE DREAM
ONE COUNTRY
TOGETHER WE STAND STILL

jack   March 23rd, 2008 1833 GMT

During Tian An meng square time, i was a college student and actively participated in democracy movement. I trusted so much on West media such as VOA by then because I feel i cann't get truth from China Media.

Now I work for a UK bank and have free access to CNN and BBC. However now I feel so disgusting of them.

I feel so sorry for what i have done to my country in 1989.

jack   March 23rd, 2008 1839 GMT

free Tibet what a dream of idiot!

why should we pay any attention for those idiots

w zhang   March 24th, 2008 103 GMT

This is the third time I try to post and I wish it is not to be deleted again. what is the principle on this site of removing or keeping a comment? I don't hide my thought that minimal force may have to be used to restore order in tibet. I am against overly use of force by the government against its own citizens. I think it is clear from some of the videos that some of the protesters are fairly violent against civilians, although this is with a deep root of dissatisfaction against a rude ruling party. But it doesn't justify the violence. I don't understand what is wrong with this comment and it was deleted. In the past, China had overthrown the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China using violence for their inefficient governing. The consequence for each of that is another violent government that only understands the language of violence. Do we need another one? No. China needs to change, but we need to change in a sustainable way without calling for another revolution with loss of millions of lives. I support any appeals for freedom and democracy in China in general, but the way some Tibetans displayed on the videos of burning shops, attacking civilians and killing innocent Han ethnics is not right.

w zhang   March 24th, 2008 136 GMT

On the other hand, I can't help saying that this government is dealing with the Tibet issue in a very bad way. It indicated inefficiency and a total policy failure. I respect Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader and a wise man, but disguised by his past history as a slave master before he left Tibet. He should stand out and condemn all the violence applied by both the Tibetan protesters and Chinese security forces. He shouldn't just defend himself and say he is not behind the violence. Why is that more important to clear himself than to try to stop the violence occurring in Tibet costing human lives? Why under the name for free Tibet peaceful civlians need to be killed on the street? I also personally support the recent letter signed and released by the 30 Chinese intellectuals. It hits a lot of points that I also felt for. This government must take actions to look at its own policies. The key is to allow media freedom and democracy in China. I long for that.

Charles   March 24th, 2008 137 GMT

If CNN finds it so hard to get reporters into Tibet, maybe CNN should consider MOVING OUT OF CHINA. It seems wrong for a "news" organization to locate in a country so completely hostile to accurate news reporting. Also, with a major office in Hong Kong CHINA, how much pressure is CNN under from Chinese? I think CNN's integrity is significantly questioned when it tries to report on China WHEN CNN IS LOCATED IN CHINA ! Move to Singapore, maybe, to escape the heavy hand of China on CNN's neck. What the heck was CNN thinking by establishing a major bureau in China of all evil places?

BTW, I got into Tibet twice as a tourist and traveled where ever I wanted to go. CNN reporters lack basic knowledge of how to get a story under difficult circumstances OR MAYBE CNN DOES NOT WANT TO GET IN BECAUSE THEN CNN WOULD HAVE TO REPORT THE TRUTH ON ITS CHINESE FRIENDS? Sad situation.

Western Game   March 24th, 2008 313 GMT

Western Media has the right of freedom to bias in their "news" reporting. The world know their bias's right and do not take seriously of their "news" anyway.

Western Countries are uneasy to see a more stronger and independence China because they should be on class above the non-white people in the world including "banana" people (inside white, outside yellow).

Even an idiot can understand that "Free Tibet" movement and "Anti-Chinese" riot (west use 'protest') to sabotage the coming Beijing Olympic.

Fire has started successfully, its time to run away from the big fire – I need excuse to resign – I am powerless to stop the violence.

US House Speaker visiting is sending message to the world that Anti-Chinese riot is OK and Tibet independence is OK at the expense of the peace loving CHINESE people. This is disastrous PR for America again to the world.

Daniel   March 24th, 2008 450 GMT

I think most Chinese people hold these beliefs below:
Religion and Politics should always be separate. Mix the two together is never going to bring anything good. XiZhang is like this, Middle East is like this, and most of the western countries including United States is like this and look where we are today? Not only we have wars all the time everywhere, but our economy is a mess globally. Freedom can not be taken away from anybody in the world if people really believe in it. Let me ask these questions. Why XiZhang or so called Tibet not free? Is it because people can’t speak out? Is it because Tibetan can’t practice their religion? Or is it because the fact that the Chinese government run DaLai Lama out of the country and won’t let he go back? Talking about freedom and human right, how about you guys give us Chinese people an apology for the abuse we had to endure before 1949. I know I know, we should not concentrate on the past, but why do you have to concentrate on the past of Tibet. What did Chinese people do wrong to them? We, regular Chinese people born after 1980s, move into that part of China and try to make it better. Are we wrong to do it? Do we deserve to be beaten, stabbed, burned and killed? We build railroad to this so called impossible to reach place. Did we not suppose to do it? Why is it wrong for China to try to rise up so that nobody can bully us? People, who want to free Tibet, free Taiwan, and free XiJiang needs their rights to be protected, what about the other 1.3 billion Chinese people’s right? We didn’t want our country to be separated; especially their effect to do so involve foreign influences because we are tired other countries trying to control our nation. It might be OK for foreign countries to do it 150 years ago, but not today. Not today.

Jason   March 24th, 2008 610 GMT

As a CNN fan, I am really disappointed this time. I saw the real video, pictures.

CNN made some fake breaking news, and copied and cut the pictures to distort the truth.

I am not sure if CNN intended to do it, but I can say CNN will lose its reputation .. hope CNN can correct its mistakes ASAP.

Julius   March 24th, 2008 935 GMT

Cannot find mine.

Said being moderated, and now gone.

Ts   March 24th, 2008 1015 GMT

To CNN:
Stop reporting fake news about Tibet!!
We only want to see the real stuff!!
Just STOP LIBELING by copying pictures from another country,becasue it makes you stupid!

We never have such kind of Police fource in the history!!!!!! Using your head, making it more like" truth" neext time!!!!!!!

Asian   March 24th, 2008 1130 GMT

"Michael & Charlie"

You said "Beijing belongs to Tibetans"
To me, it sounds like "Tibetans will never get freedom from Beijing"
I will quot Wangyao' statement.
"Why Tibet Autonomous Region hasn’t had an ethinc Tibetan Party secretray so far? All the chief party secretary in Tibet has been ethnic Chinese(including Hujing Tao).
Tibet should be ruled by tibetans if Tibet is really an autonomous region, as the Chinese gavernment claims!"

I heard that Han people in tibet had not only Political power but also Economic power since 1950's invasion.

I heard that in Lasa(the capital of tibet) there are more han people than tibetans.

When they(han people) came from? Where they came from? for what?

Some han people's statements remind me of a chinese phrase.
許由洗耳 (I will wash my ears because I heard a complete nonsense.)

Julius   March 24th, 2008 1235 GMT

Hi, Asian,

Do you know why China got so much progress in the last thirty years?

The answer is welcome everyone that wants to interact with China. This interaction brings in many more good things than bad things, and China has progressed extraordinarily faster.

Do you mean you want to keep Xizang people shut within Xizang only? I think more interactions will bring more benefits. More Xizang people should go to other parts of China and Xizang should welcome more people of other ethnic groups.

Let's encourage more interactions rather than shut anyone out of them.

Asian   March 24th, 2008 1307 GMT

Hi, Julius.

I mean :
Political and Economic power have been gotten by han people in tibet.
and Han people in tibet have come from mainland since CCP's invasion in 1950.
so GIVE BACK their political and economic power to Tibetans if Tibet is really an autonomous region as the Chinese gavernment claims.

and relations between Han people and Tibetans, Exploitation seems more reasonable than Interaction.

Please, don't say nonsense any more!

Julius   March 24th, 2008 1355 GMT

Hi, Asian,

What do you mean by "exploitation"? Could you give some evidence?

So far as I know, Xizang does not give a cent to the central government. The central government give them money instead. Xizang people do not pay for hospital services. Xizang has the highest percentage of monks in the population in the world, 2% while Thailand has only 0.5% of its total population. The lamas are supported by the government.

Another figure (do not know whether you have heard of):

The population in the last 300 years before 1951 was dropping, and it came to about 1 million by then. Researchers say that once the monks made up 26% of the population. They were all male, but did not produce nor give birth.

Now the population is 2.4 million.

Han people intend to help. The problem is that they have to examine carefully again how they can help successfully. They have to take into consideration what the locals want and their religions.

Please, don't give judgment only. Give figures.

Please, don't say what others have said is nonsense because you may get it back.

Julius   March 24th, 2008 1357 GMT

Please do not use nasty words like "nonsense", "lies" to try to silence others.

Chundak Tenzing   March 24th, 2008 1357 GMT

As a Tibetan, we have nothing against the Chinese people. We want to live in harmony and peace. But the Chinese government is not allowing journalists and reporters to report what is happening in Tibet. That is bad.

Asian   March 24th, 2008 1508 GMT

Hi, Julius,

You said "Tibet does not give a cent to the central government. The central government give them money instead."
(I deliberately use the word "Tibet" instead of "Xizang(西藏)" because I think Tibet is more proper word.)
I guess you mistakenly omitted natural resources.

As far as I know, Han people in tibet and in china reaps more benefit of CCPC's invasion in 1950 and 西部大開發(a process for developing(?) Tibet) and 靑藏鐵道(a railroad connecting Tibet to China, completion in 2006).

and As you said, if Han people really intend to help Tibetans,
Give them what they want. Freedom.
Give them political, economic power which has been gotten by han people in tibet since 1950's invasion.

and I am sorry to say "nonsense", "lies" (at that time I thought han people repeatedly said the same things to brainwash people worldwide.)

Daniel   March 24th, 2008 1540 GMT

Hey Asian,
Han people or Tibetan people, we are all Chinese. We don't discriminates against each other, at least not majority of the people. If the western journalists can go in Tibet with no prejudice opinion against current Chinese government, they probably can go in there and do their report. That is not going to happen. They will also see China behind their colored glasses. They will always trying to lead the report down the road that Chinese government kill people and they are bad because that sells in western world. The would is saying give Tibetans what they wanted, how many are these? What about the needs of some Tibetans that actually want the Chinese rules? What about the other 1.3 billion Chinese people? We didn't want our country to be divided. Do you want yours to be divided?

Open Your Eyes   March 24th, 2008 1837 GMT

First of all, I would just like to say that the worst rationalization that I've seen in support for the evident violence is to suggest that something horrific has happened to push the normally peaceful monks and Tibetans over the edge causing the violence. Somehow, I don't picture any of Bush's advisors saying that when you-know-what happened. To me, there is no justification for organized violence against civilians whatsoever, especially from a religious group.

On the other hand, whether Tibet was part of China depends on how far you look in history. If you look far enough, anywhere in the world was once independent. Considering human rights, whether a region became part of country by defeat in a war or colonization or a vote, should any of the above have any bearing on the current generation's desire and right to declare independence? Even if a region became a part of a state by a written contract that is unanimously agreed by the region's people several hundred years ago, does this mean that the current generation of descendants have to bear whatever rule imposed by the controlling state? The human rights issue at hand is whether people of a region should have the right to declare independence as Kosovo just recently did?

For me, it is human rights versus national security. To have an independent state that will likely be influenced by foreign interests right next to the current governing state is just NOT going to happen IF the governing state has a say in it, regardless of which part of the world you look at. It will not happen in a democratic nation, and neither will it happen in Tibet.

"Free Tibet" has a nice ring to it and people love to support "free (anything)" because everything should be freed from everything else and have its individual basic freedoms. But there are people's livelihoods at stake. In general, most people from a democratic society assume that "freed" people are free to pursue their personal interests, as long as they are free. There is no doubt that China has lots of room towards the free end of the free spectrum. However, "freeing" Tibetans from China does NOT guarantee them true freedom.

And looking at human rights purely, not with mal-intention or other secret agendas, the human rights activists should really be concerned at the overall rights of Tibetans under the Dalai Lama regime or current Chinese rule? Sure will the Tibetans have a flood of pictures and postcards with the image of Dalai Lama everywhere (to constantly remind the people that "His Holiness" has supreme, supernatural power over them). How is that supportive of human rights? Talk about propaganda. What about property rights of people under Dalai Lama? Or freedom of Tibetans to worship a religion other than Tibetan Buddhism under Dalai Lama regime?

I agree with the view that religion should be separated from politics. The ability to run a country does not automatically come with being the spiritual leader unless there is really some divine power instilled in the Dalai Lama.

david   March 24th, 2008 1840 GMT

Wrong Logic!

If you don't support Tibetan Independence ==> you are not supporting human right and you are support oppression.

If you don't support Tibetan Independence ==> you are supporting CCP.

Please separate the Tibetan Independence issue from Human Right. When Dala Lamai was in power 50 years ago, he didn't want human right for the slaves. Now he wants human rights? For whom?

The US wants the Tibet to be independent so they can install a missle defense system in Tibet and shot down the Intercontinental Missles launched in Western China.

Wangyao   March 24th, 2008 2004 GMT

Missing note!

Dear all,

Where is Forrest? He is missing! Was he arrested by the CCP for what he said? I hope not.

Asian, don't waste of your time on these "Made in China" "One child policy" "products". What do you expect from these brainwashed kids?

They are the same versions of plastic Toys and fake DVDs from China in the streets of New York, Paris and London. No quality, cheap and noisy

Forrest is different. At least he knows what he is talking about.

The rest, I am not bothered.

But if you want to play with the "Made in China" plastic "Toys", it's fun some times.

Lobsqng Dechen   March 24th, 2008 2038 GMT

Representatives of leading countries cannot turn their head away from what the Chinese are doing which is tantamount to Genocide. Why does the Chinese government want to flush Tibet with the Han people? Why are they so against the Dalai Lama who is put into this awful situation only because of the behaviour of the Chinese in the first place? Why do the Chinese wish to grab more land from her neighbours? The Chinese with their cheap goods are tightening the noose of ordinary people in many countries. This is bound to backfire soon. Indeed Pride goes before a Fall. Wen's statements all reveal tremendous pride. Before you know I predict that China will become the number one "Axis of Evil" for more than just America. They will become the enemy of all nations that wish to preserve their identity and their freedom. As they say in Sanskrit VINAASHA KALEY VIPAREETA BUDDHI !
I love my motherland India and the land of my karma the States but I am truly ashamed of the stance that both these countries have taken with regard to the peaceful nation of Tibet.
Lobsang Dechen. BHOD GYALO! @ china! Almighty God is watching!
The Westerns Should not only Boycott the game but also boycott TRADE with china, westerns are partly to be blamed to boost china's economy power. Please wake up before it makes you sleep for ever under it's brutal rule!!!!!!!

Wangyao   March 24th, 2008 2039 GMT

CNN,
I am deeply worried about Forrest's safety. He is from China and he admits that there is a problem with Chinese policy in Tibet.

In his last post he said to Asian that:

"I’m glad to see that you’re basically similar to “Wangyao” and kind of changed your stance. For those political problems of Chinese ethnic minorities that you mentioned, I agree that they’re real problems, and even serious problems. But they are the specific and detailed problems for the Chinese government to solve, and they are beyond the scope of our discussion here. As I said to “Wangyao” earlier, we’re not political experts, and even political experts cannot find perfect solutions to these problems right now."

He posted this March 23rd, 2008 044 GMT and since then we heard nothing from him.

In China, if you criticize the Chinese Communist Party openly, you would get into trouble. Why they are so worried about criticism? Are they not confident to rule the country or are they still constrained by victim mentality of invaders? If it's the latter, lets get ride of the wall (長城). Out of site is out of mind! Shall we?

Forrest   March 24th, 2008 2130 GMT

To “Wangyao”,

Don't worry! I'm doing perfectly fine! I’m in the U.S. anyway. If I were in China, I might have already got a prize or some bonus money from the government for defending their stance.

I stopped posting basically because I think I've basically said all that I want to say in my previous posts. I have my own job to do to make a living. I cannot spend much time on this blog, it's not my job.

Again, let me end here with what is similar to what I ended my previous post with:
Given that Tibet is an integral part of China and Tibetans should not seek independence, those problems related to issues of Tibetans and other Chinese ethnic minorities are specific and detailed problems of the Chinese internal affairs, the solutions to those complex problems are beyond the scope of our discussions in this blog. We are not political experts, and even political experts cannot find perfect solutions to those complicated problems right now. I don’t think our discussions will go and end anywhere if we continue to be entangled with those specific and detailed problems.

Daniel   March 24th, 2008 2308 GMT

To Wangyao,

Name calling can not solve anything even if you know you are losing the argument. True, I am the "product" of one child policy, but I have been punished over and over for that I have problem with the rules I face in school, in society. Most of my teachers didn't liked me, they even said I would never graduate from middle school. Guess what, I did and I got higher points than most of the "good" students. I don't like some of the rules under Chinese government, but I still love the land that I was born. For all the freedom fighters, grow a spin and learn from the ancient Chinese, they fought for their new dynasties. You should fight for what you want heads on and stop barking. If the people of China had enough of CCP, they would answer your call. Think about it.

funkyman   March 25th, 2008 005 GMT

Copied from other web site:

To know how Tibet looked like under Dalai Lama's rule, please visit website: http://newschecker.blogspot.com/ ... -western-world.html, to argue Tibet not part of China, please visit website: http://newschecker.blogspot.com/ ; to see hidden side of Dalai Lama, please visit website: http://www.newspiritualbible.com/index2 ; to verify the truth of Tibet uprise, please visit website: http://newschecker.blogspot.com/ ... t-violence-and.html, then welcome make your comments after visiting the above websites..........................

imChinese   March 25th, 2008 142 GMT

reply to SONAM.

Do You Understand what is a country?? Tibet is a part of China. You don't have any right to say Chinese Policy!!!

Wangyao   March 25th, 2008 144 GMT

Forrest:

Good to hear that you are safe and sound.

I appreciated your good sense of humour and hope you got my joke too. I will let you along with your life and it's funny that sometimes you sound like the People's Daily (人民日报). You repeat what the party wants you to and I am sure you will be rewarded for this.

中国人民向 Forrest 同志学习!

Anyway, America is more safer than China for the people who holds different political views from the state. No need to be self sensoring too much!

Julius   March 25th, 2008 148 GMT

Hi,Asian,

Thanks for not using those nasty words.

Actually many Chinese people are so well-read that they know much more than many Westerners. There is so much literature to read about Xizang. They are records of the history.
Unfortunately many of them do not know English and much of the lit is not in English.

On many western media, "brainwash" is a term used very often to deny what seems to be written by Chinese or what is different from what they know. To me it is really arrogant of them. In fact, they are denying that Chinese are their equals.

Chinese people are really truth seekers. None can stop that. That's why China never stops progressing. Many westerners expect China to collapse but they were shamed by their mis-prediction. Why? Because they refuse to believe that Chinese are also reading and thinking. With the practice of Opening to the Outside, they have many more opportunities to see things from different angles. They have their own conclusions. Fortunately at least on the issue of Xizang, their conclusion is much reflected in the policy of the government.

(I really doubt the intention of the first user of the word brainwash. John Marks found out it was first used by a CIA agent.)

I understand Tibet are Xizang are used to refer to what is now Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tibet is an old name and has its derivation from "Tubo", a powerful kingdom around the time of the Tang Dynasty. (The king asked the emperor of the Tang to let him marry a princess. Then Princess Wencheng was married to him and a temple was built in her name, and also the Potala Palace was originally built for her.)

Dalai Lama preferred to use Tibet or that similarly pronounced and it is clear what he has in his mind.

Xizang has been used for the last 400 hundred years at least in the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and People's Republic of China.

About the Development of the West, I would like to support it, including in Tibet. The railway is a link for that effort.

Isn't it miserable to see people in the same country have different life? People in the east part lead a much much much much better life than those in the west.

Xizang has a very different history and religion. This must be taken into consideration in the development.

Its geographical limitations made it difficult to people to develop on their own.

I believe the problem is more of the development of economy.

hkay   March 25th, 2008 202 GMT

I am an American Buddhist and I don't like what I saw on the news on Tibet. Mob stoning passersby, hitting motorists(men, women, girls) and dragging them off their bikes, setting fire to bikes, turning over trucks and lighting them on fire, smashing stores and setting them ablaze. I saw charred remains of 5 store clerks who were trapped in their store when it was looted and torched. THESE ARE VIOLENT, NOT PEACEFUL ACTS. FREEDOM OF SPEECH COMES WITH RULE OF LAW. THESE ACTS ARE NOT COMPASSION PREACHED IN BUDDHISM. WHOEVER BEHIND THESE ACTS ARE ANTI-BUDDHA, ANTI-CHRIST AND GO AGAINST ALL HUMAN DECENCY.
DALAI AND R GERE, you have broken the vow of PANCHA SILA or FIVE PRECEPTS:
#1 Thou shall not kill
#2 Thou shall not take what is not given
#3 Thou shall not distort facts
#4 Thou shall refrain from misuse of the senses
#5 Thou shall refrain from self-intoxication through alcohol or drugs

Wangyao   March 25th, 2008 205 GMT

As a Chinese citizen, I am really disappointed some of the post -1979 kids. You guys worse than the Red Guard Army 红卫兵! If another Cultural Revolution (文革) broke in China now, it seems Hu Jingtao doesn't have to worry about looking for political weapons. Very disappointing! 太失望了!

Tom Gyrgo   March 25th, 2008 250 GMT

China is not only waging war in the streets of Lasa, but also electronically against Tibet support groups worldwide. The washington post reported on Friday about some research done by the Internet Storm Center (see isc.sans.org). Virus e-mails have been used for years to spy on various Chinese opposition groups.

A chinese   March 25th, 2008 400 GMT

I am a Chinese, born in China, living in usa now. It's true that Chinese government did a lot of stupid and bad things; no doubt they are still doing that. Many times I dislike what they did. But no matter you like or not, in general, China is getting better. I have no doubt that China will have democracy one day. It just needs time to be there.
Many American criticize China, I would say if you have never been in China, please talked to someone who has been there before you say something. Your media may not tell you the whole story about China. In general I don’t trust American media when they report something about developing countries, especially when it’s related with politics, religions.

I am not arguing here that whether Tibet is part of China or not, I am telling the truth. Unless China is weak like a hundred years ago, there is no way Tibet split from China. It’s same with that Native American will never be able to get their land back. And I know American will not return America to them. It is what happened and is what is happening.
When people is saying free here, free there, please ask yourself, should you free the land you are living to the original owner.

Proud Chinese   March 25th, 2008 447 GMT

Please let your present generation leaders develop China into a stronger country in this century, naturally democracy and human rigth will follow when society progress. A stronger China will be prouder CHINESE so that other people(western) will not bully you or look down on you.

From past history China has been bully by other countries(western). Do you want this to happen again to your country???

Red Guard Army and Cultural Revolution belong to the past generation leaders and the SITUATION at that time, look to the future with a confidence CHINESE that people will respect you.

Of course if you sing the same song as the Westerner, they will love you and kiss you. You are make as a HERO (attack your country!!!).

Your present leader need your co-operation to keep peace and stability so to develop into a stronger China. Do not punish China because of past unhappiness.

Julius   March 25th, 2008 504 GMT

Five young ladies who worked for a clothes shop were found dead after their shop was set on fire in this riot, including a Tibetan girl. There were six of them before the fire broke out.

The police have got three Tibetan women who set the fire and these women admitted on TV that they set the fire.

The three women are not residents in the city of Lasah. Two are from two counties of Shigatze and one is from a country of the Lasah City. They were 20-23.

The shop had been broken in by other mobs before the three women came in. They used a lighter three times to set on fire the jeans and other clothes in the shop. They left after they shut the door. One managed to escape from a small opening on the door. The other five were burned to death. The escaped one told on TV that those who set fire were not from Lasah. She could not understand what they were talking.

Chen Jia, one of the girls and 18 years old, left a message 10 minutes before the fire to her father asking him and the other family members not to go outside. She even did not forget to tell her father not to worry about her. That's was her last word in this world.

Now, who turned these three women into murderers? Who murdered the five young ladies?

George   March 25th, 2008 750 GMT

I really don't understand your western people why you care so much about Tibet and hope it separate from China though it has been part of china for centuries. Being china citizen, tibet are treated quite well since they were liberated from Lamas as slaves in middle of 20th century. You support Dalai Lamah because your government say he is the leader of tibet but don't forget what kind of lives most tibetan were living under his control(Commissioned by china central government then). So please study more about tibet history (Not CNN version nor BBC's ) before you decide to support Dalai. For the best interest of most common tibet who are not willing going back tobe slaves, not for the the interest of minor tibet like Dalai and your polititians, you should and have the right to know the truth.

BTW, you are being fooled by your government and media about many thing like Iraq war and american indian. So many people killed for no reason.

George   March 25th, 2008 817 GMT

Dear Mr. Jaime FlorCruz,

I think you should ask yourself why your guys are not allowed to enter Tibet while there are hundreds thousands of foreigners going to tibet every year.

Since non of your crew being there so you contacted someone there who was witnessing the incident and comes out news opposite to the truth. Is it your professional way of making news?

Sincerely yours,
George

George   March 25th, 2008 1037 GMT

To Wangyao,

If I'm not worng you are a chinese, no matter which part of china you are from, Taiwan, hong Kong or mainland china. But from what you say inm your comments I see you totally have no idea of present china at all. There may be many guesses of your background but I would not like to do that. One word, just go back to china, see and listen yourself then give your judgement.

Eric   March 25th, 2008 1056 GMT

I came across an interesting article about the old Tibet from a website of a Yale professor. Seems to be fair objectively.

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

A reading of Tibet’s history suggests a somewhat different picture. “Religious conflict was commonplace in old Tibet,” writes one western Buddhist practitioner. “History belies the Shangri-La image of Tibetan lamas and their followers living together in mutual tolerance and nonviolent goodwill. Indeed, the situation was quite different. Old Tibet was much more like Europe during the religious wars of the Counterreformation.” 5 In the thirteenth century, Emperor Kublai Khan created the first Grand Lama, who was to preside over all the other lamas as might a pope over his bishops. Several centuries later, the Emperor of China sent an army into Tibet to support the Grand Lama, an ambitious 25-year-old man, who then gave himself the title of Dalai (Ocean) Lama, ruler of all Tibet. Here is a historical irony: the first Dalai Lama was installed by a Chinese army.

His two previous lama “incarnations” were then retroactively recognized as his predecessors, thereby transforming the 1st Dalai Lama into the 3rd Dalai Lama. This 1st (or 3rd) Dalai Lama seized monasteries that did not belong to his sect, and is believed to have destroyed Buddhist writings that conflicted with his claim to divinity. The Dalai Lama who succeeded him pursued a sybaritic life, enjoying many mistresses, partying with friends, and acting in other ways deemed unfitting for an incarnate deity. For these transgressions he was murdered by his priests. Within 170 years, despite their recognized divine status, five Dalai Lamas were killed by their high priests or other courtiers. 6

In short, it's all about power struggle.

Eric   March 25th, 2008 1102 GMT

Julius, thanks for enlightening us with the disturbing news. The killing reminded me of the Red Guard Army where children were trained to kill their friends and even their own parents.

Very sad.

Asian   March 25th, 2008 1256 GMT

Some han people said "Han people or Tibetan people, we are all Chinese. We don’t discriminates against each other."
Some han people said "Five young ladies who worked for a clothes shop were found dead."

If you han people really don't discriminate against tibetans, you should also say "How many Tibetans were found dead recently and since 1950's invasion..."

"Wangyao"
You said "The rest, I am not bothered. But if you want to play with the “Made in China” plastic “Toys”, it’s fun some times."
I completely agree with you. It's funny sometimes.
(Of course, a few han people are not bad. I have learned many things from them.)

I made my nickname "Asian" in this cnn blog about relations between tibetans and han people, because (as I already said) I want all asians to live peaceful and properous life together.
I think Han people could be friends with Tibetans If they can solve many problems mainly caused by CCP since 1950...

Wangyao   March 25th, 2008 1302 GMT

I appreciate CNN's openess towards advertisments of what I call "Made in China" products. I agree "Made in China" products should deserve a chance to prove they are "cheap". I have no doubts that there is a market for them in the USA and European countries.

Eric,

I am not sad but disappointed in you. Judging from you and your fellow "Eric"s posts, I don't see a real future for China. Because you have never showed a sign of political progression in your thoughts. Money alone doesn't make a nation stronger. Soudi Arab is a good example of this. They have oil money but no efficient and rounded socio-Economy and political infrustructure.

You post convinced me that I am right about the statement I made on you in one of my previous posts:

China needs more "Davids" and less "Erics".

I see no difference between you and Red Guard Army (红卫兵).

What you are doing here is excatly the same as some of the radical Tibetan protesters did in Lhasa streets on 14th March.

- You are distorting the reality and promoting racial hatred here.
- You are killing the history of the "Others".
- You are repeating what Xinhua says like robbot machine.

I am a Chinese and I don't believe every Tibetans who took part in protest are anti-ethnic Chinese. I condem you and the violent Tibetan protesters equally. All of you are attempting to promote racial hatred between ethnic Chinese and Tibetans. It doesn't do any good to China!

You should learn something from 老革命家 Forrest. He admits that there is serious problem with the Pary policy in Tibet. I agree on this and I request you to rethink about the Party's policy in Tibet.

Many Americans are critical about American foreign policy and why we don't see many ethnic Chinese are being realistic about the Party policy in Tibet.

I strongly recommend you to read Wang Lixiong 's Book on Tibet (王力雄-- 天葬: 西藏的命运). Wang Lixiong is an ethnic Chinese writer who lives in Beijing currently and he did many years' research on the Party's policy in Tibet after 1959. I am a Chinese and I agree lots of things he said in the book. We have to admit that many government officials in China are corrupted and therefore many of the Party policies are inefficient. These are partly the reasons why there was over 10 uprisings all over Tibetan areas in space of 1 week.

We will see more of uprisings in China from ethnic Chinese in the coming days. There are many ethnic Chinese are unhappy about the Party policy and remember the Party was established by the helps of poor Chinese.

willwemeettomorrowpei-di?   March 25th, 2008 1324 GMT

A nation must emanate from the consent of their sublects, and no chinese , nor tibetan have been asked for his consent. Don´t you get tired of being treated like kids? Have you got freedom of speech, freedom or press, freedom of association, freedom of movement?...sooner or later everybody reaches a point of maturity, and then a young boy will stand in front of a tank again.

Wangyao   March 25th, 2008 1327 GMT

Asian:

I am from China and I totally I agree with you. No one in the world could dismiss Chinese traditional culture. China has produced many great thinkers like Kongzi (孔子). But the Chinese Communist Party messed all the great things in China. Apart from common disasters, they also caused ethnic tensions between Tibetans and Chinese. They are still doing it on CCTV by shoing selected images.

Kongzi said: 三人并行, 必有我师 (Every one could be teacher for another). But the relations of Chinese to other ethnic minorities including Tibatan comes in dichotomy like this:

China/Tibet
ruler/be ruled
progression/backward
teacher/student
self/other
.... so on

I don't need to lecture on this and I bet you know all this ...

There are a few nice and influential Chinese people out there and I hope we will see more but very disappointed in some of the youngs who are posting in this Blog ... Free China! Free Tibet!

jack   March 25th, 2008 1349 GMT

Thank you CNN for listening the true voice of Chinese people

Julius   March 25th, 2008 1614 GMT

An abstract from Prof. Micheal Parenti about the relations between Tibet and the central government (http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html)

A reading of Tibet’s history suggests a somewhat different picture. “Religious conflict was commonplace in old Tibet,” writes one western Buddhist practitioner. “History belies the Shangri-La image of Tibetan lamas and their followers living together in mutual tolerance and nonviolent goodwill. Indeed, the situation was quite different. Old Tibet was much more like Europe during the religious wars of the Counterreformation.” 5 In the thirteenth century, Emperor Kublai Khan created the first Grand Lama, who was to preside over all the other lamas as might a pope over his bishops. Several centuries later, the Emperor of China sent an army into Tibet to support the Grand Lama, an ambitious 25-year-old man, who then gave himself the title of Dalai (Ocean) Lama, ruler of all Tibet. Here is a historical irony: the first Dalai Lama was installed by a Chinese army.

Julius   March 25th, 2008 1631 GMT

Who owned the land in Tibet before 1959?

An abstract from Prof. Micheal Parenti
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Until 1959, when the Dalai Lama last presided over Tibet, most of the arable land was still organized into manorial estates worked by serfs. These estates were owned by two social groups: the rich secular landlords and the rich theocratic lamas. Even a writer sympathetic to the old order allows that “a great deal of real estate belonged to the monasteries, and most of them amassed great riches.”

Julius   March 25th, 2008 1633 GMT

The life of a serf in the serfdom time of Tibet before 1959

An abstract from Prof. Micheal Parenti
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Journeying through Tibet in the 1960s, Stuart and Roma Gelder interviewed a former serf, Tsereh Wang Tuei, who had stolen two sheep belonging to a monastery. For this he had both his eyes gouged out and his hand mutilated beyond use. He explains that he no longer is a Buddhist: “When a
holy lama told them to blind me I thought there was no good in religion.”

Julius   March 25th, 2008 1646 GMT

Reports on Lama from western traveler

An abstract from Prof. Micheal Parenti
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Earlier visitors to Tibet commented on the theocratic despotism. In 1895, an Englishman, Dr. A. L. Waddell, wrote that the populace was under the “intolerable tyranny of monks” and the devil superstitions they had fashioned to terrorize the people. In 1904 Perceval Landon described the Dalai Lama’s rule as “an engine of oppression.” At about that time, another English traveler, Captain W.F.T. O’Connor, observed that “the great landowners and the priests… exercise each in their own dominion a despotic power from which there is no appeal,” while the people are “oppressed by the most monstrous growth of monasticism and priest-craft.” Tibetan rulers “invented degrading legends and stimulated a spirit of superstition” among the common people. In 1937, another visitor, Spencer Chapman, wrote, “The Lamaist monk does not spend his time in ministering to the people or educating them. . . . The beggar beside the road is nothing to the monk. Knowledge is the jealously guarded prerogative of the monasteries and is used to increase their influence and wealth.”24 As much as we might wish otherwise, feudal theocratic Tibet was a far cry from the romanticized Shangri La so enthusiastically nurtured by Buddhism’s western proselytes.

Julius   March 25th, 2008 1657 GMT

Does Tibet lost 1 million people after 1951 as claimed by Dalai Lama?

An abstract from Prof. Micheal Parenti
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Both the Dalai Lama and his advisor and youngest brother, Tendzin Choegyal, claimed that “more than 1.2 million Tibetans are dead as a result of the Chinese occupation.”36 The official 1953 census–six years before the Chinese crackdown–recorded the entire population residing in Tibet at 1,274,000.37 Other census counts put the population within Tibet at about two million. If the Chinese killed 1.2 million in the early 1960s then almost all of Tibet, would have been depopulated, transformed into a killing field dotted with death camps and mass graves–of which we have no evidence. The thinly distributed Chinese force in Tibet could not have rounded up, hunted down, and exterminated that many people even if it had spent all its time doing nothing else.

Emma   March 25th, 2008 1821 GMT

To all the pro – China:

I have just had loot at this blog and it's interesting to see how pro-anti China is divided.

I think there are two main arguments that the pro-China are posting on this. But I don't see these are strong arguments.

1. Some of the pro-China are trying to justify Chinese occupation in Tibet by stating that China is purely helping the Tibetans and China is getting nothing from them at all. Why does China want to be so generous to Tibetans when you are not even welcomed by Tibetan people? Tibetans are asking China out and are not asking China staying in Tibet!

2. Then there is a historical argument of whether Tibet belongs to China or not. I don't know about this and I want to learn more.
But posting a list of all the bad things in pre -1959 in Tibet can't help China to justify its occupation in Tibet. Did America succeed in its justification of Iraq war? No!

You can't say I want to rule Tibet because Tibetan serfs there need to be librated? This is not a sensible argument even for an 8-year-old child in the West.

As Tibet has been under Chinese rule for last 50 years, you may say we don't care about what the west think and say. But this is not true. If you don't care, why do you post comments onto this Blog?

Yaoyao   March 25th, 2008 1832 GMT

Hi,
I just want to remind some of the Chinese that if you try to justify Chinese occupation in Tibet on the basis of their social and political condition, this would be exact same argument put forward by the America to launch war on Iraq. I think this is not a clever political step to take. What do you think? People are fool and idiot like you? You are so wrong China!

EyeOnTheWorld   March 25th, 2008 1842 GMT

Has China adopted Scientology into their totalitarian government's policy toward the rest of the world?

George Bush   March 25th, 2008 2005 GMT

One thing the Chinese should thank the Western Media is that through them most of the Chinese recognized the nature of the Western Media - LYING!

Reports from Germany are DISGUSTING - They should pay more attention to clean their own butts.

Things happened in Tibet, Taiwan, Xingjiang etc are Chinese internal affairs, never did the Chinese government or people invite any outer forces to intervene. So do your own business - CNN, VOA etc try to persuade the U.S. government how to manage the IRAQI issue - Do not use different CRITERIA to comment national and international issues any more, that's not so important though - Your covers has been peeled by yourselves and the methods you've used are so SIMPLE and NAIVE.

The rising of China is just a time issue - only because she is too big, when she sunk in the past, no one could help her and no one could stop her when she rises. No one does not know the western media are jealous about China's rising, unfortunately there is no way to convert it. So go and make friends with the Chinese people or continue to propaganda for your government and distort any progress of China.

Smoker   March 25th, 2008 2123 GMT

Why everybody want independence? Can we not learn to live with each other in this world? Any group with a bit of a difference wants to be an independent country. Just look at the mess in former Yugoslavokia. They used to live in harmony for many years. Will the world be a safer place if every ethnic group is their own country and no outsiders are welcome? Independence is not always the solution. Tibetans in China need to work harder to make their lives better. Having DaLai be their leader is not going to help them economically.

willwemeettomorrowpei-di?   March 25th, 2008 2235 GMT

So democracy will come, but later, not now, we will wait until everything collapses, soviet union style.
Can´t you smell that stink ,the corruption, the controlled media, the silenced groups and opponents, the tortures, the killings...

FREE TIBET AND FREE CHINA, I think both need it.

cindy   March 25th, 2008 2315 GMT

truth? you call this the truth?
shame on you shame on cnn shame on who made up thinsgs

"peaceful protest"? very peaceful huh?
killing people, set cars on the fire? that call peaceful?
what a joke?

willwesleeptogethertomorrow   March 25th, 2008 2333 GMT

TO: willwemeettomorrowpei-di

You can meet Dala Lamai, in a wonderful dreamed heaven called "Free Tibet", after he is dead. You may not be able do that tomorrow though. But you don't have to wait long since he is 74.

Thank you for your post although. That is exact what the Chinese people need to know and need to be careful about when they deal with the Tibet and Freedom issues. There are tens of hundreds of people in the West wish China just disintegrates as the former Soviet Union.

My bet would be that China probably will transfer itself into something like Singapore or India. Even if China adopts free election, China would be still powerful or even more power than Russel or India if China continues on its current course of economic development. You cannot stop that. Sorry.

Wish you have a nice dream in heaven, of course, with HH Dala Lamai.

chinese   March 25th, 2008 2354 GMT

"we chinese treat minor race too good.they are vips in china .they have more priviledge than normal people.
we treat they like brothers. luckly .99%of they appreciate that".

99%of they appreciate that? or (0).99%of they appreciate that? we just need a voting. But is there a real voting in China?

Yining   March 26th, 2008 050 GMT

Many images and videos displayed on different news websites and newspapers claim to show Chinese police attacking Tibetans. But it is obvious that these images and videos are not they are claimed to be.

For example, if you compare the police uniforms, you'll notice that the police hitting the Tibetan monks are Nepalese, not Chinese. You can also see the difference between an ambulance (with the red cross emblem on it!) and a military truck. And helping someone to the hospital is definitely different from dragging them away to kill them.

I am a 14-year-old aspiring to be a journalist. It is issues and times like these that make me feel torn; I want to speak up and speak out, but the very people that I admire only show part of the story they are supposed to cover. That is, the part that makes their articles look more dramatic. If journalism does not show the truth–the complete, whole truth– then what will?

Julius   March 26th, 2008 114 GMT

Well. It is important and useful to read history. Prof. Michael Parenti has a lot answers to many questions over Xizang or Tibet.

Understanding the history will help prevent saying things funny or disgusting.

If anyone wants to cut Xizang or Tibet out of China, he may work for it, but of course, there are a lot more people who will stand up to defeat him.

Julius   March 26th, 2008 136 GMT

One thing about the debate over the riots in Xizang or Tibet is very enlighening.

People who criticize opinions or comments that are different from theirs are really good examples of neglecting the right of others to say what they have in their mind.

Their universal technique is to say these comments are paid-to-post (repeated again and again by Neil McGowan without any proof although demanded) or controlled media or words like that.

This technique is easy to use but begin to lose its power so long as the users do not recognize posters here have no less right to say what they have in their mind or they can produce any proof to support their accusations.

I really doubt they can. That Neil McGowan said he went to China for seven times, and had friends their, but he could not take out any proof to support his accusation of paid-to-post posts. Instead he only has curses. In one of his posts, he had 123 words but there are 14% percent of them are curses only. If counted against the content words only, the percentage is as high as 25.4%. From that piece, I can only see how many nasty words he knew. Nothing else.

Those who criticize do not really bother to bring out facts, figures, years, etc.

That's really a good lesson of the free speech in their mouth.
GOOD.

Julius   March 26th, 2008 145 GMT

One thing about the debate over the riots in Xizang or Tibet is very enlighening.

People who criticize opinions or comments that are different from theirs are really good examples of neglecting the right of others to say what they have in their mind.

Their universal technique is to say these comments are paid-to-post (repeated again and again by Neil McGowan without any proof although demanded) or controlled media or words like that.

This technique is easy to use but begin to lose its power so long as the users do not recognize posters here have no less right than they do to say what they have in their mind or they can produce any proof to support their accusations.

I really doubt they can. That Neil McGowan said he went to China for seven times, and had friends there, but he could not take out any proof to support his accusation of paid-to-post posts. Instead he only has curses. In one of his posts, he has123 words but there are 14% percent of them are curses and nasty words only. If counted against the content words only, the percentage is as high as 25.4%. From that piece, I can only see how many nasty words he knows. Nothing else.

Those who criticize do not really bother to bring out facts, figures, years, etc.

That’s really a good lesson of the free speech in their mouth.
GOOD.

cindy   March 26th, 2008 215 GMT

http://bbsimages.military.china.com/1011/2008/3/25/3267.jpg

very peaceful huh??
y dont u post this picture on cnn news?

coco xu   March 26th, 2008 258 GMT

To those who shouts"Free Tibet", How much you know about Chinese history? Have you ever been to China or Tibet? If not, just shut up!!!
Tibet is a peaceful and beautiful tourism city where all the Tibetans and Hans live hamonously. But just before the Olympics, Dalai Lama instigated the so-called peaceful protest for his own unspeakable purpose. That's him who caused the chaos and break the peacefulness in Tibet.

CNN, Shame on YOU!!! Pls report all the trues, not only those support your view!
Americans, Do some learning before you make comment!!!

david   March 26th, 2008 427 GMT

I have a 'B' word for French President Nicolas Sarkozy too!

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to Boycott Beijing Olympics. I have a 'B' word for him too – 'BIG-DEAL'. I have another 'B' word for him again – 'Boycott French Products'. China can cancel its order for Airbus planes it ordered, or not place any new orders. China can also cancel the high speed train project linking Beijing-Shanghai French were awarded.

Mr. Sarkozy exhibits typical biased and color-blinded western views of China because he has personal gain as reported by CNN because he was elected on the promises of promoting human right around the Globe and he is now under pressure from the opposition parties. That same report by CNN was later deleted when I go back to check. It shows how much these new medias are tweaking the reports.

However, Mr. Sarkozy forgot about the Radical and Violent French Muslim Riots happened in his country around November 5, 2005. He ordered French police and paramilitary force to move into various French citied and put down the riot.

This Tibet Riot is no difference from what happened in French in 2005. Radical Tibet Independence groups vowed to violence to advance their cause. The Tibetan rioters set buildings on fire and set people on fire alive. All Chinese government is doing is exactly what Mr. Sarkozy did in 2005.

Another example is the 2004 Madrid Train Bombing by the Spanish Separatists. The EU was united to denounce the violence of the Spanish Separatists.

Why EU and French are acting differently this time on the violent Tibeten separatists' acts. The only explaination is that the EU and French are double standarded. They and western news media have a built-in bias when they come to view China and Chinese affairs.

I suggest Mr. Sarkozy spend more time with his newly wedded wife and enjoy his own life rather mess around with the 'B' word.

Posted by FrancisTrashTalk at 8:33 PM

George   March 26th, 2008 541 GMT

to willwemeettomorrowpei-di?

I agree with you, nobody wants to be treated as kid. But is more unwilling to be slave. Being a rational and responsible person you may talk to the sons/daughters of previous slave (not sons/daughters of Tebitan on exile), to understand what majority tebitan really want, though it's china domestic affairs.

Kelvin   March 26th, 2008 614 GMT

It seems no one very care about the true any more. Well, CNN has been done it successfully. I was in Tibet at the time. It was the worst days in my life. I will never forget what I saw in Tibet. However, what I saw in Tibet was totally opposite of what I read from CNN. The PLA in Tibet was much nicer that most cops in US. Why it has such huge difference? Is that a problem in CNN?

the poor and the rich   March 26th, 2008 805 GMT

Those exile Tibetans have tasted uneasy life in foreign countries so now they want to go back to Tibet but not to lose face they now want to ask for something "independence" in order to go back. They are behaving like kid asking for something which is impossible in any countries in the world.

The Western can not use the word "independence" so they using "human right" as smoke screen of independence to split China.

Any countries in world go through the same stages of progress, from poor economic to rich to democracy and human right as society advance. This a natural process of development in any countries.

If your stomach is hungry, will you think of human right issue???

If you are a poor man, will you be thinking of going to a classical concert or art exhibition, will you???

The rich Western countries are at developed stage of progress so they are using double standard to judge you and your countries at the developing stage of progress.

new China   March 26th, 2008 902 GMT

Even today Western countries still have many human right problems in their own countries. They should not teach other about human right!!!

Chinese must co-operate to support China next step of development.

The past is the old China, today is the new China. Its take time to develop China moreover China is changing very fast, faster than any countries in the world.

Wangdui   March 26th, 2008 1049 GMT

To all those chinese who talk about slave system in old tibet : Your own rural poppulation for whome Mao installed the communist rule are today no better than slaves. They leave their homes because they get robbed by the local governement, they go to the metropols only to get again enslaved by private companies. If they than have the guts to protest, they get beaten down, jailed or tortured. Those chinese who write on this site : why do you care about tibetans? Your own rural poppulation don't think that they are chinese. They don't even think that they are people because the local and central governement treat them worse than animals. Animal rights sometimes get enforced. Human right have never been applied for chinese farmers. They would love to be "slaves" in old tibet.

david   March 26th, 2008 1230 GMT

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JC26Ad02.html

Asian Times reports:

Tibet, the 'great game' and the CIA
By Richard M Bennett

Given the historical context of the unrest in Tibet, there is reason to believe Beijing was caught on the hop with the recent demonstrations for the simple reason that their planning took place outside of Tibet and that the direction of the protesters is similarly in the hands of anti-Chinese organizers safely out of reach in Nepal and northern India.

Similarly, the funding and overall control of the unrest has also been linked to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and by inference to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) because of his close cooperation with US intelligence for over 50 years.

Indeed, with the CIA's deep involvement with the Free Tibet Movement and its funding of the suspiciously well-informed Radio Free Asia, it would seem somewhat unlikely that any revolt could have been planned or occurred without the prior knowledge, and even perhaps the agreement, of the National Clandestine Service (formerly known as the Directorate of Operations) at CIA headquarters in Langley.

Respected columnist and former senior Indian Intelligence officer, B Raman, commented on March 21 that "on the basis of available evidence, it was possible to assess with a reasonable measure of conviction" that the initial uprising in Lhasa on March 14 "had been pre-planned and well orchestrated".

Could there be a factual basis to the suggestion that the main beneficiaries to the death and destruction sweeping Tibet are in Washington? History would suggest that this is a distinct possibility.

The CIA conducted a large scale covert action campaign against the communist Chinese in Tibet starting in 1956. This led to a disastrous bloody uprising in 1959, leaving tens of thousands of Tibetans dead, while the Dalai Lama and about 100,000 followers were forced to flee across the treacherous Himalayan passes to India and Nepal.

The CIA established a secret military training camp for the Dalai Lama's resistance fighters at Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado, in the US. The Tibetan guerrillas were trained and equipped by the CIA for guerrilla warfare and sabotage operations against the communist Chinese.

The US-trained guerrillas regularly carried out raids into Tibet, on occasions led by CIA-contract mercenaries and supported by CIA planes. The initial training program ended in December 1961, though the camp in Colorado appears to have remained open until at least 1966.

The CIA Tibetan Task Force created by Roger E McCarthy, alongside the Tibetan guerrilla army, continued the operation codenamed ST CIRCUS to harass the Chinese occupation forces for another 15 years until 1974, when officially sanctioned involvement ceased.

McCarthy, who also served as head of the Tibet Task Force at the height of its activities from 1959 until 1961, later went on to run similar operations in Vietnam and Laos.

By the mid-1960s, the CIA had switched its strategy from parachuting guerrilla fighters and intelligence agents into Tibet to establishing the Chusi Gangdruk, a guerrilla army of some 2,000 ethnic Khamba fighters at bases such as Mustang in Nepal.

This base was only closed down in 1974 by the Nepalese government after being put under tremendous pressure by Beijing.
After the Indo-China War of 1962, the CIA developed a close relationship with the Indian intelligence services in both training and supplying agents in Tibet.

Kenneth Conboy and James Morrison in their book The CIA's Secret War in Tibet disclose that the CIA and the Indian intelligence services cooperated in the training and equipping of Tibetan agents and special forces troops and in forming joint aerial and intelligence units such as the Aviation Research Center and Special Center.

This collaboration continued well into the 1970s and some of the programs that it sponsored, especially the special forces unit of Tibetan refugees which would become an important part of the Indian Special Frontier Force, continue into the present.

Only the deterioration in relations with India which coincided with improvements in those with Beijing brought most of the joint CIA-Indian operations to an end.

Though Washington had been scaling back support for the Tibetan guerrillas since 1968, it is thought that the end of official US backing for the resistance only came during meetings between president Richard Nixon and the Chinese communist leadership in Beijing in February 1972.

Victor Marchetti, a former CIA officer has described the outrage many field agents felt when Washington finally pulled the plug, adding that a number even "[turned] for solace to the Tibetan prayers which they had learned during their years with the Dalai Lama".

The former CIA Tibetan Task Force chief from 1958 to 1965, John Kenneth Knaus, has been quoted as saying, "This was not some CIA black-bag operation." He added, "The initiative was coming from ... the entire US government."

In his book Orphans of the Cold War, Knaus writes of the obligation Americans feel toward the cause of Tibetan independence from China. Significantly, he adds that its realization "would validate the more worthy motives of we who tried to help them achieve this goal over 40 years ago. It would also alleviate the guilt some of us feel over our participation in these efforts, which cost others their lives, but which were the prime adventure of our own."

Despite the lack of official support it is still widely rumored that the CIA were involved, if only by proxy, in another failed revolt in October 1987, the unrest that followed and the consequent Chinese repression continuing till May 1993.

The timing for another serious attempt to destabilize Chinese rule in Tibet would appear to be right for the CIA and Langley will undoubtedly keep all its options open.

China is faced with significant problems, with the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province; the activities of the Falun Gong among many other dissident groups and of course growing concern over the security of the Summer Olympic Games in August.

China is viewed by Washington as a major threat, both economic and military, not just in Asia, but in Africa and Latin America as well.

The CIA also views China as being "unhelpful" in the "war on terror", with little or no cooperation being offered and nothing positive being done to stop the flow of arms and men from Muslim areas of western China to support Islamic extremist movements in Afghanistan and Central Asian states.

To many in Washington, this may seem the ideal opportunity to knock the Beijing government off balance as Tibet is still seen as China's potential weak spot.

The CIA will undoubtedly ensure that its fingerprints are not discovered all over this growing revolt. Cut-outs and proxies will be used among the Tibetan exiles in Nepal and India's northern border areas.

Indeed, the CIA can expect a significant level of support from a number of security organizations in both India and Nepal and will have no trouble in providing the resistance movement with advice, money and above all, publicity.

However, not until the unrest shows any genuine signs of becoming an open revolt by the great mass of ethnic Tibetans against the Han Chinese and Hui Muslims will any weapons be allowed to appear.

Large quantities of former Eastern bloc small arms and explosives have been reportedly smuggled into Tibet over the past 30 years, but these are likely to remain safely hidden until the right opportunity presents itself.

The weapons have been acquired on the world markets or from stocks captured by US or Israeli forces. They have been sanitized and are deniable, untraceable back to the CIA.

Weapons of this nature also have the advantage of being interchangeable with those used by the Chinese armed forces and of course use the same ammunition, easing the problem of resupply during any future conflict.

Though official support for the Tibetan resistance ended 30 years ago, the CIA has kept open its lines of communications and still funds much of the Tibetan Freedom movement.

So is the CIA once again playing the "great game" in Tibet?

It certainly has the capability, with a significant intelligence and paramilitary presence in the region. Major bases exist in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and several Central Asian states.

It cannot be doubted that it has an interest in undermining China, as well as the more obvious target of Iran.

So the probable answer is yes, and indeed it would be rather surprising if the CIA was not taking more than just a passing interest in Tibet. That is after all what it is paid to do.

Since September 11, 2001, there has been a sea-change in US Intelligence attitudes, requirements and capabilities. Old operational plans have been dusted off and updated. Previous assets re-activated. Tibet and the perceived weakness of China's position there will probably have been fully reassessed.

For Washington and the CIA, this may seem a heaven-sent opportunity to create a significant lever against Beijing, with little risk to American interests; simply a win-win situation.

The Chinese government would be on the receiving end of worldwide condemnation for its continuing repression and violation of human rights and it will be young Tibetans dying on the streets of Lhasa rather than yet more uniformed American kids.

The consequences of any open revolt against Beijing, however, are that once again the fear of arrest, torture and even execution will pervade every corner of both Tibet and those neighboring provinces where large Tibetan populations exist, such as Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan.

And the Tibetan Freedom movement still has little likelihood of achieving any significant improvement in central Chinese policy in the long run and no chance whatever of removing its control of Lhasa and their homeland.

Once again it would appear that the Tibetan people will find themselves trapped between an oppressive Beijing and a manipulative Washington.

Beijing sends in the heavies
The fear that the United States, Britain and other Western states may try to portray Tibet as another Kosovo may be part of the reason why the Chinese authorities reacted as if faced with a genuine mass revolt rather than their official portrayal of a short-lived outbreak of unrest by malcontents supporting the Dalai Lama.

Indeed, so seriously did Beijing view the situation that a special security coordination unit, the 110 Command Center, has been established in Lhasa with the primary objective of suppressing the disturbances and restoring full central government control.

The center appears to be under the direct control of Zhang Qingli, first secretary of the Tibet Party and a President Hu Jintao loyalist. Zhang is also the former Xinjiang deputy party secretary with considerable experience in counter-terrorism operations in that region.

Others holding important positions in Lhasa are Zhang Xinfeng, vice minister of the Central Public Security Ministry and Zhen Yi, deputy commander of the People's Armed Police Headquarters in Beijing.

The seriousness with which Beijing is treating the present unrest is further illustrated by the deployment of a large number of important army units from the Chengdu Military Region, including brigades from the 149th Mechanized Infantry Division, which acts as the region's rapid reaction force.

According to a United Press International report, elite ground force units of the People's Liberation Army were involved in Lhasa, and the new T-90 armored personnel carrier and T-92 wheeled armored vehicles were deployed. According to the report, China has denied the participation of the army in the crackdown, saying it was carried out by units of the armed police. "Such equipment as mentioned above has never been deployed by China's armed police, however."

Air support is provided by the 2nd Army Aviation Regiment, based at Fenghuangshan, Chengdu, in Sichuan province. It operates a mix of helicopters and STOL transports from a frontline base near Lhasa. Combat air support could be quickly made available from fighter ground attack squadrons based within the Chengdu region.
The Xizang Military District forms the Tibet garrison, which has two mountain infantry units; the 52nd Brigade based at Linzhi and the 53rd Brigade at Yaoxian Shannxi. These are supported by the 8th Motorized Infantry Division and an artillery brigade at Shawan, Xinjiang.

Tibet is also no longer quite as remote or difficult to resupply for the Chinese army. The construction of the first railway between 2001 and 2007 has significantly eased the problems of the movement of large numbers of troops and equipment from Qinghai onto the rugged Tibetan plateau.

Other precautions against a resumption of the long-term Tibetan revolts of previous years has led to a considerable degree of self-sufficiency in logistics and vehicle repair by the Tibetan garrison and an increasing number of small airfields have been built to allow rapid-reaction units to gain access to even the most remote areas.

The Chinese Security Ministry and intelligence services had been thought to have a suffocating presence in the province and indeed the ability to detect any serious protest movement and suppress resistance.

Richard M Bennett, intelligence and security consultant, AFI Research.

Julius   March 26th, 2008 1247 GMT

The Chinese are suffering because they are faced with negligence of their rights by those who shout for Boycott China, Boycott Beijing Olympics, Boycott Chinese goods, Shame China, Screw China...

In their eyes, the 1.3 billion people are nothing.

In China, there is one saying "the crying baby has the milk."
Please do not sacrifice the silent majority just in order to pamper the crying baby.

Eric   March 26th, 2008 1258 GMT

There is a difference between theocracy and democracy.

I simply do not want to see Tibet ruled by the current Dalai Lama because personally, I think he is a crook, or more kindly put, a politician, using Buddhism as his means to achieve power.

In my eyes a Dalai Lama should have no authority in politics whatsoever. To think that one can be born a Holy man and rule over millions is absurd. And looking at the monks’ track record in the past centuries, I have no faith in them ruling over anybody.

What the elite monks did to the serfs and slaves was absolutely unforgivable.

Wangyao,

I’m puzzled by your expectation hence disappointment in "Eric". I do not represent the future of China or any country. I'm not in the business of making any particular nation stronger. (In fact, I question the merits of patriotism, but that's another topic.)

Here on this blog, I am simply sharing my view on my disapproval in monks running politics. I'm not a big fan of religions in general, and I believe that when any religion is mixed with politics, the combination becomes too deadly. People lose their ability to reason and become victims of manipulation, blindly following their spiritual leader resulting in dangerous and irrational acts.

Don't label me as pro-China or pro-Tibet, but rather, anti-Buddhist-monks-in-governments or anti-theocracy.

Yaoyao   March 26th, 2008 1318 GMT

Forrest/Julius:

You are indeed a 老革命家 with sneaky tactics. I have to say it’s a good move switching from Forrest to Julius to mess around on this bolg. I believe you know how to play this political game. Shame on you.

Dear all,

I can't believe what Forrest or Julius are up to here. This person is trying to say Tibetans are happy under Chinese rule? Please stop, you embarrass me of being a Chinese.

I have just had looked at this blog and it's interesting to see how pro-anti China is divided.

Forrest or Julius have fowarded two main arguments on this, but neither of them are strong arguments.

This person is saying that China is purely helping the Tibetans and China is asking nothing from Tibetans.

Let me ask you, why does China want to be so generous to Tibetans when you are not even welcomed by Tibetan people? As far as I know, Tibetans are asking China out and are not asking China staying in Tibet!

Then there is a historical argument of whether Tibet belongs to China or not.

Posting a list of all the bad things in pre -1959 in Tibet can't help China to justify its occupation in Tibet. Did America succeed in its justification of Iraq war? No!

You can't say I want to rule Tibet because Tibetan serfs there need to be librated? This is not a sensible argument even for an 8-year-old child in the West.

As Tibet has been under Chinese rule for last 50 years, you may say we don't care about what the west think and say. But this is not true. If you don't care, why do you keep posting comments onto this Blog?

There should be a dialogue and not separation between Tibet and China. "Tibet" is an official term used by the Chinese govermnet for a long time and if you have got problem with it, tell it to the CCP and don't blame on the Dalai Lama.

Eric   March 26th, 2008 1336 GMT

How can one talk about human rights, if one allows these abusive lamas, who practiced slavery, return to rule millions of people?

Wangyao   March 26th, 2008 1340 GMT

It's good you made it clear that what you stand for.

I am a Chinese Buddhist and I have no problem that you dislike Buddhist monks take part in politics. Maybe you are right monks should not hold political position in government domain.

What suprises me is the Chinese Communist Party's interest in selecting so called Tibetan Lamas. A month ago, the Chinese government issued an official document stating that they are going to select the next Dalai Lama by themselves. The CCP selected their Panchen Lama in 1995 and I can't understand this. I remember Jiang Ziming was meeting a Tibetan Lama called Karma pa in Beijing, but later this young boy escaped to India and now lives closely with the Dalai Lama.

Tell me why does the Chinese government also play the religious political game?

If you are truely anti-Buddhist-monks-in-governments, you should

Guonan   March 26th, 2008 1525 GMT

It is hard to claim that setting shops to fire and burning people to death is peace-loving and not hatred.

It is remarkably double standard for some "media king-makers" to treat different sources of information differently and yell Chinese policy cracked down "peaecful" demonstration.

There has not been one clear-cut condemnation by these "media queen-makers" of the violent mobs attacking innocent poeple in Tibet.

The Australian government never even apologiesed to the native aboriginal people for its decedes-long white-only policy until this year. Yet, those slient raciast human-rights champions yesterday at the Sydney Olympic suddently become noble and noisey today.

Should we kick out all the white people out of Australia and North America so that Olympic can be held there?

david   March 26th, 2008 1643 GMT

The Free Tibet groups are holding the Beijing Olympics hostage. At one hand, the Western countries give the Olympics to China. At another hand, they play games to use this as a tool to press for separatists' cause. A third hand is to fund the Free Tibet groups by CIA.

A good way to deal with this is to tell these countries:

Forget it! Chinese don't like to be held hostage. Let's cancel this year's Olympics altogether. The public would be outraged at the Free Tibet organizations. If French don't like to come, let's revoke the invitation to the French team. Don't bother to come!

Coca-Cola and other western companies probably have more to loss. Yes, China probably will waste $20B dollar on construction cost, but it is ranking in $200B from exports to the US.

Open Your Eyes   March 26th, 2008 1645 GMT

From the video linked above about CIA's involvement in Free Tibet movements, and various references cited above, they raise serious questions about the intentions and interests behind "Free Tibet".

From Chinese government standpoint, it's quite simple. There is little natural resources in Tibet and the major issue is about national security and unity. As I've mentioned in my earlier posts, no government will tolerate the independence of a region so close to itself especially if the region may be influenced by foreign interests. The involvement of the CIA as suggested above has raised legitimate concerns about the existence of foreign interests.

On the other hand, THE argument for Tibet independence is human rights, so I urge those Free Tibet supporters to recognize the lifestyle you're pushing Tibetans towards when you chant "Free Tibet". Don't just assume that "freeing" these people from the rule of China will improve their lives and freedoms. Many people here recognize the track record of China in human rights but do you also recognize that of the Dalai Lama regime of theocracy? What I'm trying to say is, don't "free" these people out of one sh*thole (if you really think it's so bad) and push them towards a bigger one. Personally, I think there are indeed improvements in infrastructure and rights during Chinese rule relative to Dalai Lama regime and many Chinese actually have less privileges than Tibetans. I cannot say that the majority of Tibetans want to go back to the old ways, but all certainly want improvements in their lives. I have deep reservations about whether restoring the Dalai Lama influence on these people will really improve these people's lives and freedoms. So before you chant "Free Tibet", please think about this.

Guonan   March 26th, 2008 2307 GMT

This is a re-submission - besides minor grammer matters, I wondwer the reasons it could not be uploaded sooner. I made some corrections to faciliate your DECISION.

It is hard to claim that setting shops to fire and burning people to death is peace-loving and not hatred.

It is remarkably double standard for some “media king-makers” to treat different sources of information differently and yell Chinese policy cracked down “peaecful” demonstration.

There has not been one clear-cut condemnation by these “media queen-makers” of the violent mobs attacking innocent poeple in Tibet.

The Australian government never even apologiesed to the native aboriginal people for its decedes-long white-only policy until this year. Yet, those slient raciast human-rights champions yesterday at the Sydney Olympic Game suddently become noble and noisey today.

Should we kick all the white people out of Australia and North America so that an Olympic Game can be held there?

Chinese   March 27th, 2008 313 GMT

CNN should by now received enough feedback of the good stuff in this blog.

CNN, BBC and western media have paid a heavy price of BIASED "news" reporting against China. You lose your credibility badly.

The Chinese will not buy your news reporting anymore, you have also lose the respect of the 1.3 billion CHINESE people.

Your biased news reporting clearly shown that you have no respect of the CHINESE people. You have lost a big MARKET already.

Once your credibility and respect is lost it is difficult to win back.

Those who boycott the Beijing Olympic also shown no respect of the Olympic principle and the 1.3 billion peace loving CHINESE people.

Those politician who use boycott and human right song is for their personal commitment to the voters and for the western audience.

The Chinese people are no idiot except may be very very small number are idiot.

Eric   March 27th, 2008 358 GMT

Wangyao,

I'm not a political scientist but my guess is that the Chinese government is trying to also leverage on the centuries of brainwashing the monks had carried out.

Most Tibetans have been tricked (in my opinion) to believe in the Holiness and the absolute authority of the Dalai Lamas (how sad). So, it is only natural that every government would like to have one on its side, be it the medieval elite lamas, Dynasty Emperors, US or China ruling parties.

It's all ugly politics.

In my opinion, the Tibetans will truly be free if they see beyond theocracy and stop blindly idolizing spiritual leaders, But then, I guess I'll be criticized as carrying out a cultural genocide too.

Eric Law   March 27th, 2008 424 GMT

I don't think this is a peaceful demonstration. If this happened in US and any other country in Europe, what will the police do?
How often you see US police pull their gun and point to innocent black people?
Do we remember how the police in Florida treat the drunken student?
Don't just believe what CNN said, you have to face the truth.

Julius   March 27th, 2008 559 GMT

Yaoyao,

[[ I can’t believe what Forrest or Julius are up to here. This person is trying to say Tibetans are happy under Chinese rule? Please stop, you embarrass me of being a Chinese. ]]

Please don't.

Just remind yourself that's their opinion. You are surely a different Chinese from me.

By the way, don't you think so when one is freed from slavery? Do you expect them to be happy under the slavery system with Dalai Lama as the head slave owner?

Please read my post about the population in Xizang or Tibet in the past 400 years.

Eric Law   March 27th, 2008 629 GMT

Julius,
I totally agree with you.
If Tibetan or Dalai Lama is as rich as Osama bin Laden, it will be even worst.
Tibetan are not friendly people like what the outside world thinks.
Look at the histroy and you will know how they treated foreginer.

Eric Law   March 27th, 2008 643 GMT

In this world, USA always talked about human rights, but it is only telling other country.
Is there human rights in the US?
USA always tell other country what to do, and that makes itself became enmery of the world while they think they are police of the world.
American are afriad to go aboard, why? Think...American think...! Why US lost 4000 good soliders in the Middle East? Do they flight for freedom or George Bush?

save the trouble   March 27th, 2008 829 GMT

Let do away with the Olympic so there no need to boycott by any Presidents or any countries. Its save all the trouble. Anyway who need Olympic as there are many other world games enough to go around. And the issue of human right will be gone too. Save all the unwanted noises.

Wangyao   March 27th, 2008 1132 GMT

Eric:

I totally agree with whtat you said.

I believe the Chinese Communist Party should not interfer religious rituals practiced by the Chinese and Tibantan Buddhists, similarly I believe Tibetans also shouldn't support Lamas and monks to take part in politics.I am saying this from my religious point of view.

Speaking from a political interest of Tibet and China, to be honest, I am not sure of the idea about dismissing the Dalai Lama as a political leader NOW.

Because it's known to me that there are many Free Tibet support people are questioning about the Dalai Lama's power because they want a secular leader who supports military actions against China.

I don't want to see any violent actions take place between Tibet and China. No doubt that China is stronger than Tibetan exile government, but they can do a lot damages to China with helps from many foreign anti-China hidden agencies.

I believe there should be more to celebrate between Tibet and China than fighting against each other. The problem is China doesn't trust Tibetans to rule themselves within the political frame of autonomous region, which designed by the Chinese government in early 1960s.

Since the CCP's rule in Tibet in 1959, there has not been a single Tibetan chief party secretay in Tibet. I don't see why Tibetans shouldn't protest against the Chinese government.

Wangyao   March 27th, 2008 1228 GMT

Eric,

Many, including you, talk about slavery system practiced by the Dalai Lama in pre -1950.

I am not sure whether "slavery" is a proper term to use, but anyway, I assum you are talking about "class" conflicts. In my opinion, no matter what political systems we take examples, there is this conflicts of rulling class against to be rulled. What does matter is, to what extent the rulling class will be able to win consensus over its subjects.

I think in the case of Tibet, unlike many other areas in China, the CCP has failled to win Tibetan's agreement of Chinese rule. I think this is because the central government has misread situation in Tibet and I think they should rethink their policies more seriously if they don't want to see more unrests in Tibet.

david   March 27th, 2008 1734 GMT

The TRUE FACE of the Free Tibet groups behind the 3/14 Tibet Riot

The name of the violent free tibet group is called Tibetan Young Congress, established by His Holiness Dala Lamai in 1970. Do a search of TYC on google, you will find:

at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Tibet_Independence_Movement

QUOTATION: "The International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM) is a movement to establish historical Tibet, comprising the three traditional provinces of Amdo, Kham, and Ü-Tsang as an independent kingdom."

Commentary: At a time the world is moving toward democratic political systems. The Kingdom of Bhutan, the next door neighbor of Tibet and Napal, just abolished their royal political system and adopted free election a few days ago. The Free Tibet organizations' goal is to re-establish their old kindgom. Who would be the king and the nobles and who would be the subclasses in their dreamed kindgom? They are not fighting for human rights! They are fighting for their own right to return to Tibet as the King and the Noble. The TYC has only 30,000 members. Go ask the 2.2 million Tibetans remaining in Tibet, do they want these 30,000 nobles to come back to rule them? If a free election is held in Tibet, the TYC may not win the election.

At look at the home web site of TYC:
http://www.tibetanyouthcongress.org/aboutus.html

Quote:
"The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is a worldwide Organisation of Tibetans united in our common struggle for the restoration of complete independence for the whole of Tibet, which includes the tradition three provinces of U-Tsang, Do-toe, and Do-med. An independent Organisation, with a written constitution and its own plans and programmes, TYC has emerged as the largest and most active non-governmental Organisation of Tibetans in exile. It has more than 30,000 members worldwide.

TYC does not subscribe to any particular political ideology nor to any particular religion or religious" sect. Being a national movement, activities of TYC is not restricted just to its members, but. also receive the active support of all Tibetsans -young and old, men and women, monks and lay, Furthermore, TYC commands a targe following inside Tibet. TYC was founded on October 7, 1970 in Dharamsala with His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivering the inaugural address. The founding of TYC in 1970 came at a time when the first group of young Tibetans who had received a balanced modern and traditional educationwere graduating from schools and colleges. This strengthened the Tibetan people's struggle for independence and ensured its continuity.

The founding members of TYC were : Tenzin Geyche Tethong, Lodi G. Gyari, Sonam Topgyal and Tenzin N. Tethong. Tenzin Geyche Tethong was the first President.

From its very inception TYC emerged as an active force with clear aims and objectives. It also served as a catalyst to bring out certain reforms and changes within the Tibetan community so as to enhance the development of truly democratic society. TYC therefore, sees itself as an instrument

Aims and Objectives

Members of TYC accept to perform the following tasks :

1. To dedicate oneself to the task of serving one’s country and people under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Spiritual and Temporal Ruler of Tibet.
2.To promote and protect national unity and integrity by giving up all distinctions based on religion, regionalism or status.
3.To work for the preservation and promotion of religion and Tibet’s unique culture and traditions.
4.To struggle for the total independence of Tibet even at the cost of one’s life."

Commentary: Based on its own charter, TYC is strange mixed child of religion (Objective 1 & 3 above), violence (Objective 4 above), democracy ( [QUOTATION] TYC does not subscribe to any particular political ideology nor to any particular religion or religious" sect [UNQUOTE]).

Commentary: Any one with knowledge about modern political systems knows that one cannot mix up and choose and pick religion, violence, and democracy. If one wants democracy and fight for human right, he needs to denounce the violence and separate the religion from the politics.

Commentary: TYC is the violent group within the Dala Lamai groups that is promoting violence. Tibetan Young Congress = Irelish Liberation Army = HAMAS

Commentary: Who is funding TYC, Dala Lamai for the past 50 years living in exile without any land to produce food, without any industry to earn income? CIA

Commentary: Why the Western countries are so biased and color blinded and so much in favor of Dala Lamai. Why the western news media are so biased. No matter what the facts are, they will just blame the Chinese government even if the Chinese government is do the just thing to put down the riot and re-establish the law and order. They have their agenda. That is to destablize China. They start with human right, then get Tibet independent, piece-by-piece, they wish to tear China apart just like they did to Russia.

Yaoyao   March 27th, 2008 1801 GMT

"Forrest/Julius"

I know I am a different Chinese from you and I am glad that you knew this.

Not all Chinese are anti Dalai Lama and what you think of him is just a matter of personal opinion (if you are not a Chinese agent) and I have no problem with that. But the problem is I cannot openly show my respect to the Dalai Lama in China. Possessing a picture of the Dalai Lama is being considered as a criminal act in China. This surprises me and convinces me that China is not as strong as people think. Why a big country like CHINA is too much bothered with a Tibetan refugee?

Whatever Tibetans want, it's their wishes, it's none of our business.

Although I condemn what happened to the Chinese people during the riot in Lhasa, we have to accept the reality that the Chinese are not welcomed in Tibet under the current socio-economic and political condition in Tibet. Let see what will the Central government's reaction to be? I think they didn't expect this unrest at all and I wish they will take this as a wakeup-call.

Once again Tibetans proved us wrong to think economic or military force alone can pacify them.

Earlier someone said that how can we call Tibetans are peace loving people when they attack on civilians?Well, we know that Tibetans attacked Xian before Buddhism was officially accepted and established well in Tibet.
If you read English Victorian literature on Tibet, you would know it's wrong to think Tibetans are more peaceful than any nationality. They are nothing special and they are just human, like you and me.
They know exactly what they are doing and it's up to them what they want to choose between the Chinese Communist Party or the Dalai Lama. But the problem is both you and I know that not many Chinese people are happy to give them this choice, don’t we?
This is where I differ from you, my Chinese fellow "Forrest/Julius"!

david   March 27th, 2008 1930 GMT

UK military admits Iraqis tortured

LONDON, England (AP) - The British military admitted Thursday that it breached the human rights of an Iraqi man who died in custody, and that its soldiers also violated the rights of eight other detained Iraqis.

The nine - taken into custody as alleged insurgents - were held in stress positions and deprived of sleep for about two days in extreme heat at a British army barracks near the southern Iraqi city of Basra in September 2003, prosecutors told a British military court.

Mousa, a 26-year-old hotel receptionist, died from asphyxia after soldiers restrained him following an escape attempt.

In Mousa's case, the Ministry of Defense admitted "a substantive breach of Articles 2, right to life, and 3, prohibition of torture, of the European Convention on Human Rights."

Mousa was one of six Iraqis killed by British troops in separate incidents in 2003 whose cases were reviewed by the Lords. The other five cases did not involve detention - a critical factor in determining whether British laws should be applied.

Commentary: For the cases not involving detention – the British laws don't apply. The detentes' right are not protected by law.

Forrest   March 27th, 2008 2017 GMT

I haven’t been here in this blog for a few days, and am surprised that there are still so many posts which continue to be entangled with the specific problems and the specific Chinese policies in Tibet. Why don’t you learn from what I said at the end of my previous post? Such discussions will go and end nowhere. It takes time for those problems to be solved.

To “Yaoyao”, I am not Julius, and Julius is not me. Don’t mistake me with Julius. You should be able to tell that we are two different persons by our wording, and opinions. As long as you agree that Tibet became a part of China at least 300 years ago, and it never gained legitimate independence since then, and Tibetans should not seek independence, that’s good enough for me. I don’t care if you blame on some of the Chinese policies in Tibet. I just would like to remind you that it takes time for those problems to be solved, and you should help to facilitate this process, but not to make the problems worse, if you’re really a Chinese as you claimed.

I’m now actually suspecting that you posted in this blog before, and now you’re using a new name and pretending to be another person. I’m also suspecting that you are actually an agent of an anti-China organization.

Tibetan   March 27th, 2008 2121 GMT

I was just wondering what people thought of the latest video from tibet, when beijing was trying to show the west how peaceful tibet was and suddenly all hell broke loose when monks started shouting their discontentment with the govt. I think its time China did something about the situation.GIVE TIBET AUTONOMY LIKE HONGKONG AND MACAU! Soon, they will imprison everyone and Tibet will be the lost Shangrila, and then maybe after 20 years Han chinese will be operating the monasteries, collecting entrance fees. In case no one noticed, the protesters who burned down shops and attacked the Hans were not the monks.Why is the govt. not letting the monks out ? I admire the monks for being so brave and coming out in front of the cameras, I am sure that very soon after that they were taken away and will be executed or imprisoned for life and tortured. Even Han Chinese must agree with me on this that the government uses extremely brutal torture measures.

Yaoyao   March 27th, 2008 2138 GMT

Dear all,

As you can see Forrest is saying that he has no problem to accept me as a real Chinese if I agree:

1. Tibet became a part of China at least 300 years ago.
2. Tibet never gained legitimate independence since then.
3. Tibetans should not seek independence.

Forrest claims he is Manchurian from PRC and now lives in the USA.
Yaoyao is a Tibetan from Tibet.

yaoyao   March 27th, 2008 2149 GMT

The latest video in which monks shooting in front of western journalists' camera is actually showing there are plenty of freedom in tibet. I don't really think these monks will be subjected to any physical torture, probably they have to participate in some kind of educational lessons. They probably would not shoot out if their life is threatened.

Monks are considered the elite groups in old tibet. Of course, they are not happy after they lost the power, so are the American Indians in the US.

wangyao   March 27th, 2008 2154 GMT

The latest video in which monks shooting in front of western journalists’ camera is actually showing there are plenty of freedom in tibet. I don’t really think these monks will be subjected to any physical torture, probably they have to participate in some kind of educational lessons. They probably would not shoot out if their life is threatened.

Monks are considered the elite groups in old tibet. Of course, they are not happy after they lost the power, so are the American Indians in the US.

david   March 27th, 2008 2340 GMT

The REAL FACE of the violent Free Tibet organizations behind 3/14 riot.

The International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM) is a movement to establish historical Tibet, comprising the three traditional provinces of Amdo, Kham, and Ü-Tsang as an independent kingdom. They want to return Tibet into a Kindgom, ruled by a King and Nobles. Who would be the King and who would be Nobles – the elite exile group. They are 30,000 strong of them. The Tibetan population in Tibet is about 2.2M, mostly the slaves of them prior to the 1959 uprising. The Free Tibet groups are not fighting for human right, but their own right to be the ruler!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Tibet_Independence_Movement

What are their Chaters?

Aims and Objectives
Members of TYC accept to perform the following tasks :
1.To dedicate oneself to the task of serving one’s country and people under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Spiritual and Temporal Ruler of Tibet.
2.To promote and protect national unity and integrity by giving up all distinctions based on religion, regionalism or status.
3.To work for the preservation and promotion of religion and Tibet’s unique culture and traditions.
4. To struggle for the total independence of Tibet even at the cost of one’s life.

They are not fighting for democracy and human right, but for religion (Objective 1 and 3). They are also violent (Objective 4).

Who found TYC and who fed them?

TYC was founded on October 7, 1970 in Dharamsala with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With no income from any industry or no land in the host country India, the Dalai Lama and his groups are funded mostly by CIA.

http://www.tibetanyouthcongress.org/aboutus.html

CHEAP SORRY   March 28th, 2008 201 GMT

Western countries and leaders only admit they are wrong AFTER everything is over and when their objective is achieved.

Example after they found no weapon in Iraq and Saddam is gone. So what??? This is cheap admission!!! They have achieved what they want and they say SORRY.

When China is broken up into pieces, then the Western leaders will say they are sorry to past wrong judgement. So you Chinese has to pick up the pieces after the riot party is OVER.

Whether under Lama or any other rulers is not a matter, the key point is whether is there any improvement in quality of life that matter – education and job to do. If a person has nothing to do is a dangerous person.

A educated person will be here talking and writting in this blog about human right and what right you have under the sky.

You can not talk about democracy or indepedence or rights if your stomach is hungry. Be practical not just day dreaming.

Everywhere in any countries in the world are all the same problem and issue. The western nations are no better than China.

Eric   March 28th, 2008 329 GMT

Not quite sure what political system will work best in Tibet. Most people have been brainwashed by theocracy for hundred of years. They believe in superstition with their spiritual leader living in a big palace while the common people suffer, working as a slave or serf. They blame their poor condition on their past lives and blindly listen to the 'Holy Man', whoever he is.

I hate to sound arrogant, but do these people really have the intelligence to see through the crooks and all the lies from the politicians?

I think the Tibetans will actually benefit more in the current situation than being ruled by Dalai Lama with the US being the puppet master. I doubt the US will pour as much resources into the area as China.

Sik Chong   March 28th, 2008 519 GMT

A true Buddhist will NOT resort to violence. A true Buddhist will NOT seek so much publicity for himself. We are all prisoners in this life. Whenever we want, we are a slave in this world. Who is free? Are you free of your wants? Are you free of the freedom that you are seeking? Are we working towards the cycle of life?
In this free world, we will be enslave by our wants. We will be controlled by money and who are controlling the world economy. We will be enslave by the greed and the excesses of this world.
So if you are looking for freedom, look for it in your mind. If only you can get rid of your greed, hatred and delusion.

spiro   March 28th, 2008 642 GMT

Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed?

In the infamous anti-communism roars in 1950s in post World War II US when McCarthyism was at its summit, Joseph R. McCarthy, Junior Senator from Wisconsin once quoted Shakespeare's Cassius: "Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed? (that he is grown so great)" in his attack on Army Secretary Stevens for his alleged protection of the alleged wide spread of communism in the army. Anyone who is aware of that part of US history would know how much fear and destruction McCarthyism had brought to American citizens and America as a nation. Fortunately enough that dark era was also a time that had many journalists such as Edward R. Murrow (CBS), who many consider as one of journalism's greatest figures.

In a series of TV news reports that helped lead to the censure of Senator McCarthy, Murrow once asked: "And upon what meat doth Senator McCarthy feed? Two of the staples of his diet are the investigation, protected by immunity, and the half-truth", pointing out the typical tactics McCarthy had been using, that accusation was often used as proof and that conviction of the accused was often based upon evidence without named witness and without due process of law.

As Murrow pointed out so clearly in the series of news report that whether particular accusations made by McCarthy were true or not (many were not) was of no importance but rather, as President Truman put it, "it is the corruption of truth, the abandonment of the due process law. It is the use of the big lie and the unfounded accusation against any citizen in the name of Americanism or security. It is the rise to power of the demagogue who lives on untruth; it is the spreading of fear and the destruction of faith in every level of society".

In any journalism text book, I would assume that any reporter from CNN, Washington Post and BBC can quote better than I do because they should all have learned this, "To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be truthful". After all, they are the new generation of journalists that are inspired by the footsteps of Murrow, Cronkite, Woodward and Bernstein. Or, are they?

In the recent events of violence broke out in Tibet, flood of reports, pictures, and videos were brought to people all over the world. Many accusations were made along with many editorial comments, but few facts were presented objectively, and even less truth has been published by major media such as CNN, Washington Post, and BBC. It is neither my intention nor is it within my capacity to present the world what truly have happened in Tibet or to defend Chinese government, after all this is the time of information, many of us who want unbiased news report would be able to go through our own sources over the internet and see many sides of the stories as they are. It is my intention however, to point out that McCarthyism has, and still is corrupting the so called truth reported by most major media on anything that is related in anyway to communism. China as one of the only major power that is considered under communist rule, certainly is and will always remain as the center piece.

In one of the most famous photos that were first published by CNN, two Chinese military trucks drove through a deserted street in Lhasa while two Tibetan civilians wondered in far distance apparently in panic and in fear. Later several larger photos surfaced over the internet and it is obvious that the CNN photo was cropped carefully from one of them. What the CNN photo did not reveal, is that there was a mob of Tibetan rioters, throwing rocks to trucks and stores and setting building on fire. Why CNN chose to crop the picture in such way that is vastly different from the truth is certainly worth wondering, but not for us to find out. CNN's official reply is that the cropping is due to the format limitation on the photos. Well, I will leave that for the reader themselves to judge its truthfulness.

In another photo published on Washington Post's website, several uniformed policemen armed with sticks were beating some appeared to be Tibetan protestors. The caption for the picture reads "China's government is cracking down Tibetan protestors who took the streets to protest Chinese rule of the province". Later it was some careful readers who questioned the policemen's uniform discovered that the photo was originally published on a Nepal newspaper on police cracking down Tibetan protestors in Nepal.

Once Murrow said, "We, like everyone in this business, are going to be judged by what we put on the air; but we also shall be judged by what we don't broadcast. If we pull back on this we'll have it with us always." Now, why CNN and Washington Post chose to reduce themselves to a low level that is unprecedented to the mainstream journalism? Again, I will use Murrow's words to answer that.

Earlier, the senator asked, "Upon what meat does this, our Caesar, feed?" Had he looked three lines earlier in Shakespeare's 'Caesar,' he would have found this line, which is not altogether inappropriate: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves."

Yes, all of us, as little as we may realize it, McCarthyism is still among us. We fear communism, not for its ideas but for the part that it is so vastly different from ours, that anyone or any nation that is associated with it must be evil and hence must be treated as one. The reporters at CNN and Washington Post did not created all these, they merely exploited it – and rather successfully, as McCarthy did in the 50s, and as they always have been doing when reporting so-called truth from China or anything related to communism. No one man can bias a whole nation and whole world unless we are all his accomplices. We first feel the prejudice and fear, as we are told to, and then we spread the prejudice and fear which is our human nature. Cassius was right. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.

Once Murrow said, "We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home". There could not be more trueth to that. Equally if not more importantly, we can not proclaim ourselves the defenders of freedom, in one place in the world while deserting it elsewhere. Unfortunately today, in the new era beyond the years of Murrow, Cronkite, Woodward and Bernstein, the journalists in CNN, Washington Post, etc, have shown us just that.

Balance reporting   March 28th, 2008 703 GMT

News reporting President Bush call President Hu to express his concern about China's crackdown on protestors (rioters) and more detail of what Bush said but nothing about President Hu responsed and what he said. Its seem like President Hu is not talking.

I hope this is not another biased reporting by ignoring President Hu said in reply to President Bush expression.

Julius   March 28th, 2008 750 GMT

Yaoyao = Tibetan?

Well. Here is a link of two pics showing a lama hitting hard at the police.

There are lamas telling journalists that lamas never got involved in burning, smashing, hitting, and this was broadcast all over the world.

With these pics and the TV news in front of me, I was wondering whether he should add to his saying a modifying phrase "the lama I know" or "the lama in my monastery". Otherwise he is not telling the truth.

I still believe no matter who he is, he should obey the law. To listen to Dalai Lama or to obey the law, I think one should do the latter.

Yaoyao, you said you could not openly show my respect to the Dalai Lama in China.

I think you have the right to do that in China, but I guess you will make an idiot of yourself then in the eyes of people around you because you are worshiping a person who wants to split their country.

You know it is against the law to split any part of the country in whatever way no matter who he is.

Think before you leap.

Julius   March 28th, 2008 750 GMT

Here is the link:

http://club.backchina.com/main/viewthread.php?tid=646877&extra=page%3D1

Julius   March 28th, 2008 846 GMT

Got another link of lamas hitting savagely against police with shields in front of them.

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/p/2008-03-28/092215244857.shtml

Julius   March 28th, 2008 901 GMT

Another link shows that Lama was pouring boiling water on the police holding shields in front of them.

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/p/2008-03-26/074815226652.shtml

Law and Order   March 28th, 2008 1028 GMT

Do not try to defend the riot behaviour and demand for independence. This is wrong and against the law of the country.

History and human right have nothing to do with the riot behaviour or independence. Anything which is against the law will be tolerated in any civilised, law abiding countries as China.

Please don't keep trying to make excuses and excuses and excuses to justify your WRONG.

Asian   March 28th, 2008 1113 GMT

Most han people constantly say that PRC is similar to USA.

(1) Tibetan and Dalai lama = Osama bin Laden (But I don't know why it seems more reasonable to say that CCP is terroist)
(2) China is a melting pot like USA. (Immigrants to USA want to learn usa's culture and language, but inhabitants in Tibet and Uighur may not want to learn han people's culture and language)
(3) Making ethnic minorities into han people is globlization..
(I think that promotion(COMPULSION?) of interaction between 1.2 billion han people and millions of 56's ethnic minorities should not be called globlization, but hanization or ehnic genocide. Of course, many ethnic minorities who don't want to interact with han people and don't want to lose their language or religion will become another Tibetans or Uighurs...)

The more I see han people's statements in this blog, the more I feel disgust. (of course I feel pity for some han people and me..)

As you see in this blog, CCP and most han people will not change their position. and They constantly blames Tibetans and Dalai lama as USA blames Osama bin laden.

But as time goes by, CCP and most han people look like terrorist and an Axis of evil.
I don't know why...

want truth?   March 28th, 2008 1254 GMT

My reply to "peacewisher" and other PEACE LOVERS, on

his comments :"I think it is side tracked the issue by more emphasizing how much Dalai Lama is power hungry. But the real issue is Tibetan people, how much their rights are protected and how they are feeling. Its not about how much Dalai Lama is desiring power. Eevrybody can simply quote that “Desire is sin” but one should really understand the innermost meaning of it and context of how it applies in day-to-day real life. The truth is every government, every race is power hungry. Every one wants to prove their dominance. That is actually the worst desire.. to dominate and suppress the rights of other human beings..whoever it is.."

We Chinese also love peace. Yes, whoever in the world doesn't? But what you see is not always the truth, though we know seeing is believeing.

Yesterday some major media outlets reported the monks in one temple in Tibet "cried for human rights". Therefore journalists question the human rights in Tibet. To some extent, I'd like to admit that the "rights" of monks are limited by the Chinese government. But don't be fooled by them. We would like to ask, which rights then? Those monks were on the top of Feudalism society 50 years ago, Mao launched a war again those monks, lead by Dalai Lama, to free those slaves (Tibetan people). Now you may already understand: the situration in Tibet is somewhat similar to the Civil War in the US 200 years ago. Of course, who lost their power over innocent tibetans will keep mourning, and crying for their rights, which is not surprising at all.

So, I would rather ask: expect for those monks, whoelse in Tibet crying for their rights? Barely no one. And the population of those monks are actually only a very small part of the total pplt there.

Hopefully my answer will be helpful for you and other peace lovers.

THE VERY IMPORTANT FACT we need to know: the dark side of Tibetan Buddhlism. Please look the Tibetan situation as the Civil war to free the slaves in the US.

want truth?   March 28th, 2008 1309 GMT

My reply to Asian, who said,

"Most han people constantly say that PRC is similar to USA.

(1) Tibetan and Dalai lama = Osama bin Laden (But I don’t know why it seems more reasonable to say that CCP is terroist)
(2) China is a melting pot like USA. (Immigrants to USA want to learn usa’s culture and language, but inhabitants in Tibet and Uighur may not want to learn han people’s culture and language)
(3) Making ethnic minorities into han people is globlization..
(I think that promotion(COMPULSION?) of interaction between 1.2 billion han people and millions of 56’s ethnic minorities should not be called globlization, but hanization or ehnic genocide. Of course, many ethnic minorities who don’t want to interact with han people and don’t want to lose their language or religion will become another Tibetans or Uighurs…)

The more I see han people’s statements in this blog, the more I feel disgust. (of course I feel pity for some han people and me..)

As you see in this blog, CCP and most han people will not change their position. and They constantly blames Tibetans and Dalai lama as USA blames Osama bin laden.

But as time goes by, CCP and most han people look like terrorist and an Axis of evil.
I don’t know why…"

First of all, I seriously doubt you are tibetans. Secondly, I would let you know that the Han people sacrify a lot compared to the other minority groups. The long-been-blamed ONE CHILD POLICY is ONLY for Han people, not for any other ethnic groups. The percentage of population of Han has decreased from 95% some decades ago to 91.96% in 1990 and recently around 90%. In addtion, the minority ethnic groups enjoy a lot of privileges over Han people. One clear example is that the minority ethnic students will get 20 points higher in their college entrance exam, which will make them enjoy almost 15% -20% more chances of being admitted by colleges compared to the similar Han students. I mention here the example because you guys should know how important and treasurable EDUCATION as a social resource at scarce in almost every country. There a lot of other examples, you can easily find online if you use google.

I just want to question, what kind of "terrorist" or "fascist" government will treat their the minority ethnic groups in this way? and what kind of "terrorist" or "fascist" ethnic group (as you mentioned, the Han people in China), will treat the other minority groups in this way?

Please use your brain before you get any conclusion next time.

anti-cnn   March 28th, 2008 1341 GMT

to be a real man, not like cnn, bullshitting and misleading the western all the time. what is relation ship between cnn and CIA?

A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth – by CNN

any one who can tell me how can i find the evidence that CIA supported Dalai Lama group since last century?

please do not delete it if you think you can let

anti-cnn   March 28th, 2008 1343 GMT

sounds no freedom here, why the western complain CCP? you guy do the same.

Asian   March 28th, 2008 1347 GMT

Yes, I know one child policy is for the survival of Han people. If that policy didn't exist, innumerable Han people have starved to death.

And I know Education for making ethnic minorities into han people is very important. If that policy didn't exist, PRC was already divided into many countries.

If han people really do ethnic minorities any good, DO NOT what you want, but do what they want.

Please use your brain before you reply next time.

DigDeeper   March 28th, 2008 1434 GMT

Tibet, the 'great game' and the CIA (by Richard M Bennett is, AFI Research)

Given the historical context of the unrest in Tibet, there is reason to believe Beijing was caught on the hop with the recent demonstrations for the simple reason that their planning took place outside of Tibet and that the direction of the protesters is similarly in the hands of anti-Chinese organizers safely out of reach in Nepal and northern India.
Similarly, the funding and overall control of the unrest has also been linked to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and by inference to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) because of his close cooperation with US intelligence for over 50 years.

Indeed, with the CIA's deep involvement with the Free Tibet Movement and its funding of the suspiciously well-informed Radio Free Asia, it would seem somewhat unlikely that any revolt could have been planned or occurred without the prior knowledge, and even perhaps the agreement, of the National Clandestine Service (formerly known as the Directorate of Operations) at CIA headquarters in Langley.

(read the entire article at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JC26Ad02.html )

Julius   March 28th, 2008 1535 GMT

Asian,

Your hatred for CCP strongly demonstrated here has already misled you to be biased in your judgment.

And you have messed up things and stand opposite the Chinese people in protecting the unity of the country.

Your three ifs in your last post are good examples of your hatred against CCP and the Chinese people.

vhalit   March 28th, 2008 1538 GMT

Simply asking a couple questions:

Who burned 10 civilians to death?

Who burned schools while kids and teenagers on campus?

Who bit and tortured civilians?

david   March 28th, 2008 1912 GMT

Disgusting US human right record – G.W. Bush is still defending it!

US does not have the moral authority to judge China – With Guantanamo, serious and widespread allegations of torture, and illegal occupation in Iraq underway, the US' human rights record – never lily-white to begin with – has been severely tarnished.

US has been holding 775 Muslim detainees in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. US has been using water-boarding to torture them. The US Supreme Court has refused to give them any rights whatsoever to be tried. These detainees have been held for five years now without any possibility of receiving even a hearing in any foreseeable future.

The US government has given only one guided tour of the Guantanamo Bay camp to the journalists without letting the journalists to see the water-boarding and torturing equipments.

All these Free Tibet groups are funded by CIA anyway. CNN, please report the CIA involvement with these Free Tibet movements!

david   March 28th, 2008 2212 GMT

Dalai Lama and Osama bin Laden were twin step-children of CIA.

Osama bin Laden was funded and armed by CIA to fight Soviet Union in Afghan. After Soviet Union pulled out of Afghan, Osama bin Laden, differing ideologically from the western countries, turned against the western interests. He is now labeled as a terrorist by the western countries.

Dalai Lama was funded and armed by CIA of US government and MI-5 of Britain government and carried regular raids into Tibet for the much of the 50s and 60s. The CIA funding ran dry only after US and China established diplomatic relation. Without any more funding from CIA and backing from the US government, Dalai Lama had no choice but to give up the military option and give up the hope of separating Tibet from China. 17 years later in 1989, Dalai Lama convienently won the Noble Peace Prize. He is now labeled as a peace-loving monk by the western countries.

The goal of the western countries has not changed. What they cannot archieve militarily, they want to archieve it peacefully. They want Tibet to be the 2nd Kosovo.

Free Tibet Groups = Irelish Liberation Army = HAMAS=Osama bin Laden=Separatists=Hatred Groups.

Wangyao   March 28th, 2008 2347 GMT

CNN,

I was shocked to see that some people are posting using my name "wangyao" in this blog since 27th March 21:54.

A same post was submitted in the name of both "Yaoyao" and "Wangyao" by someone. The post reads:

"The latest video in which monks shooting in front of western journalists’ camera is actually showing there are plenty of freedom in tibet. I don’t really think these monks will be subjected to any physical torture, probably they have to participate in some kind of educational lessons. They probably would not shoot out if their life is threatened.

Monks are considered the elite groups in old tibet. Of course, they are not happy after they lost the power, so are the American Indians in the US."

I am speechless and I don't know what to say to the person who did this. This is purely an act of childish, isn't it?

I warn China that you will never able to silence me to tell the truth!

Yaoyao   March 29th, 2008 027 GMT

Julius:

Apparently you are bit frustrated about what happened in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa a couple of days ago. You can kill Tibetans but you can't kill the truth.

You said I am idiot to worship the Dalai Lama.

I am an adult Tibetan and I know what I am doing.

I am quite sure that the whole world know who is being idiot here in this blog by now. I hope you can take things are more easier. Your use of words like IDIOT doesn't help you to get nowhere.

I practice Buddhism and I feel pity for you.

Watch how CNN make fake news, if you know Chinese   March 29th, 2008 132 GMT

want truth?   March 29th, 2008 445 GMT

My reply to Asian, who said
"Yes, I know one child policy is for the survival of Han people. If that policy didn’t exist, innumerable Han people have starved to death.

And I know Education for making ethnic minorities into han people is very important. If that policy didn’t exist, PRC was already divided into many countries.

If han people really do ethnic minorities any good, DO NOT what you want, but do what they want.

Please use your brain before you reply next time."

Very funny. Obviously you are claiming that CHILDREN and EDUCATION, the VERY BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, are not what the minority ethnic groups want, but ONLY Han people want. Could you be more nasty?

Oh, yes, I understant, what you REALLY or even ONLY want is RELIGION, right? You tibetans don't give a shit to your CHILDREN and EDUCATION. Hold on, my guess is you as an exiled Tibetan (not representing for all tibetans anyway) would rather not let your ppl have enough EDUCATION so that you guys can use RELIGION to brainwash them more easily and to make them slaves?

Myrths about Tibet   March 29th, 2008 802 GMT

http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n09tibet_body.html
The Dalai Lama was a guerrilla army head who preached non-violence.

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
The Dalai Lama was a guerrilla army head who sent armed squads of exiles into Tibet to destablize China.

Print this article and distribute it to the US President, Congress (Ms Pelosi), and friends.
http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n09tibet_body.html
http://www.fpif.org/pdf/vol5/09iftibet.pdf
Reassessing Tibet Policy

The Dalai Lama's Guerrilla Army   March 29th, 2008 808 GMT

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD61538F931A35753C1A96E958260

The Dalai Lama's administration acknowledged today that it received $1.7 million a year in the 1960's from the Central Intelligence Agency, but denied reports that the Tibetan leader benefited personally from an annual subsidy of $180,000.

The money allocated for the resistance movement was spent on training volunteers and paying for guerrilla operations against the Chinese, the Tibetan government-in-exile said in a statement....

The decade-long covert program to support the Tibetan independence movement was part of the C.I.A.'s worldwide effort to undermine Communist governments, particularly in the Soviet Union and China.

The Dalai Lama's Guerrilla Army   March 29th, 2008 905 GMT

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD61538F931A35753C1A96E958260
The Dalai Lama's administration acknowledged today that it received $1.7 million a year in the 1960's from the Central Intelligence Agency, but denied reports that the Tibetan leader benefited personally from an annual subsidy of $180,000.
The money allocated for the resistance movement was spent on training volunteers and paying for guerrilla operations against the Chinese, the Tibetan government-in-exile said in a statement. It added that the subsidy earmarked for the Dalai Lama was spent on setting up offices in Geneva and New York and on international lobbying.
http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n09tibet_body.html
The Dalai Lama was a guerrilla army head who preached non-violence.
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
The Dalai Lama was a guerrilla army head who sent armed squads of exiles into Tibet to destabilize China.
http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n09tibet_body.html
http://www.fpif.org/pdf/vol5/09iftibet.pdf
Reassessing Tibet Policy [US Foreign Policy Recommendations for Tibet]
Print this article and distribute it to the US President, Congress (Ms Pelosi), and friends.

Alex   March 29th, 2008 1201 GMT

It is interesting that, after a tide of biased media reports on the tibet riot, that more even-handed articles start to appear in the western media, after the politicians have successfully claimed the moral high grounds, and after the field days of some people enjoying themselves venting deep-rooted hatred to the chinese people.

Now, you have Dalai Lama coming out with a claim that the chinese security personnels dressing as lamas and instigating the riot. Hmmm, interesting allegation. Shall we put this allegation at the same level as the chinese government allegation that Dalai instigated the riot? I did not believe the allegation by the chinese government then and I do not believe the allegation by Dalai Lama now. But, wait, Dalai Lama shoud be more righteous than the chinese government, right? Or the allegations are just politics as usual and have nothing to do with moral righteoousness?

There is no denying that the tibet riot is racially charged against the Han and Hui chinese. To embrace the riot as a part of a free tibet movement is moral hyprocracy in its purest form.

Yaoyao   March 29th, 2008 1332 GMT

My reply to "want to truth":

I am a Tibetan from Tibet and the protes took place in Lhasa explains that Tibetans don't want China to rule Tibet.

China worked hard to destroy all religions (Islam, Christianity, Buddism, Daoism and so on) practiced in China during the Cultural Revolution, but failed.

Once again, China is conducting so called "patriotic education" in Tibetan monastries now but there are tangible evidence to show that they are stuggling to "control" Tibetan's mind.

China you can control Tibet by military force, but you can't control our mind.

All the protests had been taken place since 1959 in Tibet proves that China has no complete rule over Tibet. It's fun to see that you are struggling and we will make sure that you will struggle for ever to rule our beloved nation -Tibet.

Tibet belongs to Tibetans!

anti-cnn   March 29th, 2008 1354 GMT

In the past, Dalai Lama when rebelled and fled from Tibet, he carries off 67 person articles of apparel of human skin and the human bones Buddhist musical instrument, afterwards, these human of skin human bones product, majority of is treated as by Dalai Lama the precious gift, bestowed separately for Indian government, European and American Government and these national high-ranking official, it is reported, Dalai Lama bestowed for US Government two apparel of human skin, a number of people bone structure and physiognomy, made the handle with the human bones the bucket, US's two high-ranking official obtains the Tibetan's knife, the scabbard was respectively the choosing a person for a job skin makes. US's famous movie star Richard also obtain a person skin scabbard good knife from Dalai there. Governments' and some high-ranking officials and so on England, France, Germany all have accepted the human article of apparel of human skin and the human bones Buddhist musical instrument which Dalai Lama bestows. Has satire meaning is, once had to issue the Nobel prize for peace for Dalai's Nobel prize appraisal committee has unexpectedly also accepted the human skin human bones product which Dalai Lama bestowed, one apparel was made by human skin, a person skull Buddhist musical instrument.

As everybody knows that, the Tibet slave system in the world is most barbaric the cruellest system, the Tibet slave-owner frequently on serves with the torture to the slave, chops the hand or chop the foot, the convulsions skins, cruelty the method, makes the blood boil. The Tibet slave-master uses from these serf body the exhausted under skin, makes each kind of upholstery, the Buddhist musical instrument or the seat.

When Dalai Lama he was at Tibet, feels emotion alone to the human skin accessories the clock, once let the human collect to Tibet each place.

Is known as the civilization to be progressive, often takes the human rights to attack other country as the weapon, interferes other country internal affairs some Western politician, accepts with pleasure Dalai Lama to bestow the decorations unexpectedly which makes with the Tibet serf's skin and the bone, this exposes them fully false and the ugly countenance. Is American that renowned male movie stars, in Tibet's unlawful element beating, smashing and looting fever, slaughters is innocent, on the one hand he wants the Chinese government restraint, on the one hand agitates the Dalai group to continue actually to carry on the violence demonstration.

It seems like that, some Western country government and the politician, they does not hesitate to support the Dalai group, except is afraid China not to be chaotic, must split China, says inconveniently the goal, is hoped Tibet restores the slave system, like this, they may obtain the more person skin accessories.

Michael   March 29th, 2008 1654 GMT

CNN is No good any more! Use twisted matirels misleading people.

Forrest   March 29th, 2008 1700 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

Why do you only talk about the Cultural Revolution? Why don’t you talk about the changes and improvements since then? Don’t you know that those Buddhism monasteries in Tibet have been partly funded by the Chinese government and those Tibetan monks also receive stipends from the government? Do you see any churches in the western countries receiving funds from their government? Apparently the Chinese government is helping and protecting the Tibetan religion, but is still accused by Dalai Lama of doing cultural genocide. Is that fair? Anyone with a sound and objective mind should be able to tell who is lying on this issue.

You already admitted that you’re also a Chinese. Why do you still say “Tibet belongs to Tibetans”? Shouldn’t you say “Tibet belongs to all Chinese”? Shouldn’t you try to help reduce the conflicts, but not to worsen the problems, since you’re also a Chinese? You should realize that you’re a Tibetan Chinese, and your mother country is China. Shouldn’t you help to improve her, and reduce her problems since you’re also a Chinese?

Julius   March 29th, 2008 1717 GMT

Yaoyao:

[[ Apparently you are bit frustrated about what happened in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa a couple of days ago. You can kill Tibetans but you can’t kill the truth. ]]

Yes. I am not just a bit frustrated but very much because when a monk cried in front of a western journalist that no lamas ever did any hitting, burning, breaking-in, smashing, etc. he was found telling lies with many photos showing lamas doing such.

Maybe he could have added a modifying phrase "the lamas that I know" did not".

Julius   March 29th, 2008 1733 GMT

Yaoyao:

[[ You said I am idiot to worship the Dalai Lama. ]]

Sorry for being mistaken for the use of the word “idiot”. I was not saying that you are an i-t to worship the Dalai Lama. What I was saying was that people would find it not worthwhile or incomprehensible for you to worship a person who wants to split the country.

I have no objections to any one believing in any religion and I respect your right to believe in any religion.

However, in the eyes of the majority Chinese, Dalai Lama is not just a lama. He is actually a strong advocate of the separation of Xizang or Tibet from China.

Julius   March 29th, 2008 1805 GMT

[[ I am quite sure that the whole world know who is being idiot here in this blog by now. I hope you can take things are more easier. Your use of words like IDIOT doesn’t help you to get nowhere. ]]

The whole world? Excluding the Chinese who want to protect the unity of the country? I guess what you mean by “the world” is, in fact, the western world.

I doubt the western world knows everything about what is happening in Xizang and Tibet and also in China, and I doubt they really have interest in understanding them well and respecting the rights of the Chinese people. They still believe “all (WHITE) men are created equal”.

The westerners have managed to separate religion from the administration of their own countries since the Renaissance, but they are still crusaders in religion or cultural aspects. They still want to conquer. President Bush was a good example who declared he was a crusader when he started the war against some Muslim countries.
Also that they have been working very hard to change China to be what they want it to be. They were almost successful before 1949. After 1950 they started boycotts or sanctions against China simply because China selected a ruling party that they did not like to see. The sanction lasted for over thirty years and again they failed. So they started to change China through making themselves as the friends of the Chinese. In the Xizang or Tibet issue this time, many westerners bought out what they hid in the back of their mind. They said they “granted” China to host the Olympic Games because they believe this would change China. Now they are coming to see that they are going to fail and so started another trouble to boycott China, to screw China, to shame China, ….

If you believe the biased western world like this, at least in the aspect of China, knows everything, I am afraid that you are not wrong.

Julius   March 29th, 2008 1829 GMT

Yaoyao,

[[ I practice Buddhism and I feel pity for you. ]]

I do not practise any but I myself are full of respect for any religion.

I do not practise any because I have come to see that one is required to stick to the religion or SPECIFICALLY to the rules and regulations rather than the wisdom of the religion once he declares that he would commit himself to it. He is either given promises or threats and scares so that he will not change to believe other religions. From that time on, he has confined himself to his religion only and very often ignores the wisdom of the other religions. He is prevented by the rules and regulations of his religion from getting to know other religions. That’s why they were conflicts between religions.

However, I do not practise any one but I like to know them. I believe all religions are the wisdoms of human beings. Staying out of abiding by the rules and regulations of religions gives me a free mind to understand all religions.

In fact, the Chinese history shows that the Han people at least are the least to have religion prosecution in the world. Did you read of conflicts like that between Islam and Christianity, or even among sects in Christianity?

Please do not cite what happened in the Cultural Revolution because the religions practiced in China became the really spiritual opium for people for a long time. They trapped people in believing they could not lead a better or decent life unless they tolerated the sufferings they had in this life and expected they might be born into a rich family in the next life. This only helps the ruling class to have the well-tamed people to control. The religion disarmed poor people off their rights to ask for a good life. They were misled to donate a lot of money into praying rather than investing them in economic developments.

Maybe you would like to take a look at the population growth in Xizang or Tibet. The population was dropping in the 300 years before 1959 and these years were the time when Buddhism became dominant and lamas became very powerful in Xizang or Tibet.

I am not against any religion but just want to tell what I have observed.

Yaoyao   March 29th, 2008 1917 GMT

Forrest/Julius:

I remember you said to Asian in one of your posts: " Please do not use nasty words like “nonsense”, “lies” to try to silence others.

But you call people who worship the Dalai Lama as "idiot".

I am a Tibetan eductaed in China and USA and I don't need your lecture on Tibet.

To tell you the truth, not many Tibetans from both exile and Tibet want to abandon the wish of Independent Tibet including myself. But I have deep respect to the Dalai Lama and it is the Dalai Lama who has had influence over me to think myself as a Chinese citizen sincerely through his middleway approach. China had never won my consensus over its rule in Tibet although the Chinese goverenment supported in my education up to University level and employed me as civil servant.

It's up to you whether you want more Tibetans like me to be your side or not. If you do, I think it's time for both the Chinese government and Chinese citizens stop perceiving the Dalai Lama as your rivalry. I wouldn't utter this words out if it wasn't for the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is working hard to solve the Tibet issue peacefully and you should realize this.

If China doesn't respond to the Dalai Lama's demand for dialogue, I warn China that you won't enjoy peace. It's wrong to think Tibetan are peace loving people. It's the Dalai Lama who "made" us to be peaceful.

Eric   March 29th, 2008 1957 GMT

I agree with whoever is saying that it is irrelevant to compare the Chinese government during the Cultural Revolution (Mao and the Gang of Four) with the current government.

And yes, it's not easy to control people's minds, not through military, but only through religion or sometimes nationalism.

david   March 29th, 2008 2043 GMT

Just heard from Hong Kong Pheonix TV News Station:

The EU Foreign Minister Summit being held at Slovenian condemned the violence in Tibet and expressed its condonence to the victims of the violence. The FMs are also firmly against the boycott of the Games, without mentioning a unified boycott of the openning ceremony.

This is the first time EU comes out to condemn the violence. It is the right first step. There is no mentioning of openning ceremony so the EU leaders are not united on this.

Good job! To everyone on this blog who has been working to reveal of the truth about the violence in Tibet, the violent nature of the Free Tibet movements. Please continue to work to let the whole world know who was the victim and who was the agressor in this riot. As the truth being known around the world, people will start to choose the right side. It is another loss for the Dalai Lama groups.

It is also interesting that none of the major US news media like CNN and Washington Post have reported this news. What that says about CNN?

Forrest   March 29th, 2008 2215 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

Both you and I are not political leaders, so we cannot decide when the Chinese government and Dalai Lama will resume the dialogue. However, we can think about what we should expect from such a dialogue. Although Dalai Lama claims that he does not seek Tibetan independence, he does seek to regain his political power. In nowadays world, it has been a commonly accepted principle that the church (religion) and the state must be separated. Dalai Lama is already the religious leader of Tibetans, so is it a right thing for him to also be the political leader of Tibet? And will it really be a good thing for Tibet and the whole China in this modern world that Dalai Lama is both the religious leader and the political leader of Tibet at the same time? I understand that Tibet was theocratic before 1950s, but don’t you think that the history should move on and Tibet should move forward and stay away from theocracy? I understand the importance of Dalai Lama in Tibetans’ religious faith, and I believe that the Chinese government also thinks so. I think that there would be no problem that the Chinese government would welcome Dalai Lama back to China if he just remains to be a religious leader, but doesn’t step into the politics. And I believe that when the right time comes, the dialogue will resume. I hope that some Tibetans will be able to persuade Dalai Lama not to seek political power.

I once also heard some Tibetans saying that Dalai Lama doesn’t have to be the political leader of Tibet, but the Chinese government should allow a free election in Tibet and let a Tibetan be elected as the political leader in Tibet. My question is, how could that happen when all other parts of China don’t have such elections? And I actually don’t agree to have such elections in China now, because China is not ready yet. As I said before, it takes time for the problems to be solved, and we need be patient. When the days of free elections come to China, Tibet will have a free election, too.

In your post, you threatened that Tibetans would resort to violence if the Chinese government doesn’t satisfy their demands. Please don’t ever and never think about resorting to violence to resolve the Tibet issue. I give you this advice mainly for the goodness of Tibetan people. Some people in the Chinese government might actually hope that Tibetans will resort to violence, so that they can have stronger and better legitimate reasons to put down Tibetan resistance in a more powerful way. You know that the Uighur separatists in Xinjiang resorted to violence, and then they were condemned by the world and were labeled as terrorists, and got no media support from the western countries. Furthermore, violence will do much more harm to Tibetan people than to other Chinese people, and will cost much more lives of Tibetan people. You know what happened in Chechnya —— when Chechen people resorted to military force to seek independence, Russia also answered with military force. Very many Chechen people were killed, and the Chechen capital city was flattened to ground, but Chechnya still couldn’t get independence. All those Chechen people who died for their independence actually died in vain. I’m sure that you don’t want similar things to happen to Tibet. I also think Dalai Lama is a very great and wise man. He understands that violence will do no good to Tibet but will only lead to the destruction of Tibet. You and all other Tibetans should listen to him on this issue and stay away from violence.

Gary   March 29th, 2008 2259 GMT

As a new comer of this blog, I find the selection of contribtors quite uncomfortable based on my past experiece as a blog sponsor. It needs a higher degree of divesity.

I hope to add one story to the dialogue or debate if you will. 20 some years ago, a closed Tibetan friend of mine told me that part of her grand father's skin was cut off against his will to serve some lamas' ceremony in the 1940s ( I forgot the exact year but am pretty sure it was before Dala Lalma fled Tibet). I was puzzled and asked her it is one thing to sacrefice yourself for your (religous) belief but another to be forced to contribute your skin.

Her reply disburbed me for a long time: (1) please do not tell anyone that she was complaining to the Han Chinese about this experience; (2) her grand father was a slave; (3) those lamas who cut her grand pa's skin were his owner; (4) he died in agony one year later.

I wish this story could help the current debate. By the way, I am now residing outside China so can assure all of you that the fear factor plays no role in my talking to the media about this story.

Julius   March 30th, 2008 108 GMT

Hi, Yaoyao,

Posted again.

[[ You said I am idiot to worship the Dalai Lama. ]]

Sorry for being mistaken for the use of the word “idiot”. I was not saying that you are an i—t to worship the Dalai Lama. What I was saying was that people would find it not worthwhile or incomprehensible for you to worship a person who wants to split the country.

[[ But you call people who worship the Dalai Lama as “idiot”. ]]

By the way, I do not mean to humiliate anyone by using the word "idiot" in that sentence. I would like to say SORRY to you.

I think people view Dalai Lama differently. Believers think he is a religious leader and a peace-loving person. I read some of his things, and I must say he is not lack of wise advice about life. I would have no hesitation to take my hat off to him in this respect.

However, he also has another face and that face shows that he wants to separate Xizang and Tibet from China. That face has really aroused suspicion about him. That’s what I do not like to see and I believe it is not responsible. I don’t think independence solves all the problems present. I believe it may and will create new problems.

One thing encouraging is that Dalai Lama declares that he does not want independence. Hope this will be carried out.

As to the talk between the Chinese government and Dalai Lama, I would be the first to applaud loudly for it. I believe sit-down-and-talk is the best way to solve problems. I would like to see the talk is about how Dalai Lama can help Xizang to develop and to improve the life of the people there, but NOT to be about how to separate Xizang from Tibet.

I believe the problem that Zang people encounters is not a religious one but messed up with the religion. The problem emerges in the economic development just like what people in other places have met. People are struggling between how to keep the good old things and how to develop. They have to give up a lot of old things, sadly, for new developments, and very often what they give up can be things of high value. It is sad but one can just carry one bag of 100 books, for example. He has to give up some books in order to be able to put new books in to his bag.

I sincerely wish that Zang people can lead a satisfying life and benefit from the fast economic development as any other Chinese does besides enjoying freedom of religion.

Forrest   March 30th, 2008 346 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

I just learned from Dalai Lama’s most recent statement issued on this past Friday that, there have already been six (6) rounds of talks between the Chinese government and the representatives of Dalai Lama since 2002, although they haven’t achieved material breakthroughs in reaching an agreement yet. A link to the Chinese translation of the statement is as follows:
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200803/news-gb2312-552919.html

Mike   March 30th, 2008 622 GMT

Liar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is the comment I gave on another report by CNN.
I am a chinese citizen.I am not sure what you wrote is ture or not.Because I just lost confidence of western media.There were so many fake on those reports.
I read the whole article of you.You just try to tell the "truth" without ultra opinion, so I`d like to give my opinion here.
There are three group should be blamed:
1. The people made confusion and aimed at the innocent citizens, they are not "protests".They are mobster.
2.The goverment covered some truth.
3.The western media gave fake news.Even used the photo took in other countries
We chinese people suffered too much in the 18th century, We do not want only campaign. Yes,Something in China is not good enough.We all know that,but we are trying to do better,our chinese people have the ability to make it better.
Anyway your people do not have the right to judge us with your opinion.
I can tell you there are so many chinese like me,we want to have a better life, we are hostile to that people who have prejudice to us. We love our country, I said country, maybe not the present goverment. It is our bussiness to correct the unfaired things.We are just finding a better way to advancement.
Things are getting better in China, do not deny the truth. Do not forget the truth Tibet is part of China since thousands year ago!!!!!!!!!
You(your country) are not so great as a police in the world.You just try to protect your benefit. So do us. You know that.Think about this with external thought.
Ok, That is it.

Siao Bei   March 30th, 2008 920 GMT

Wow, some comments from the Chinese here makes me ashamed to be a Chinese woman. So you are ready to stand behind your government "even if it means shooting a few monks?" Murderers. Blood hungry animals.

I will never marry a Chinese man because I despise Chinese culture adn attitude. I despise how money oriented, manipulative, corrupt the whole country is. For some westerners who have Chinese wives and now talk like they know everything, I say good luck to you, my friend.

Reach   March 30th, 2008 1043 GMT

Those terrorists who rised this riots in Tibet are only abeted by those separatists supported by US secret agents like CIA. Who want to kidnap the inviolable Olympic games by unmentionable political reasons. Compare with the US police did 1992 to the black pepople, the chinese government is really restraint and peaceful.

All the 56 ethnics especially the minorities are treated equal in China, my classmates who come fromTibet were given better chance to enter the national universities. They pay less when they go to the hospital as they show their ethnics and many things just happen everyday beside me. We are all friends to build our own motherland China and we hope our nation can rise up quickly so she will not be discriminate by developed countries.

Yaoyao   March 30th, 2008 1103 GMT

Forrest/Julius:

I am glad to hear that you find it is "encouraging that Dalai Lama declares that he does not want independence. Hope this will be carried out ..... solve problems through dialogue."

As a human being, I believe both you and I "should try to help reduce the conflicts, but not to worsen the problems".

So, what are the problems? The Chinese government doesn't admit their policy in Tibet is inappropriate and inefficient. I think this is the major problem.

Siao bei   March 30th, 2008 1107 GMT

Wow, some comments from the Chinese here makes me ashamed to be a Chinese woman. So you are ready to stand behind your government "even if it means shooting a few monks?" Murderers. Blood hungry animals. Yes, animals that's what you blood hungry Chinese are.

Olympic for boycott   March 30th, 2008 1201 GMT

Any violence/riot and independence are against the law of any countries including China. Wrong is wrong don't try to use human right and "Free Tibet"(or history) to justify your wrong doing.

Get the Olympic out of this world so that we do not have to trouble the Presidents or Politicians to boycott the Beijing Olympic.

Without the Olympic the world will be more peaceful. Who need the Olympic? For the politicians? For the western commercial? For the "Free Tibet" riot activitists?

As journalist and diplomats went to Tibet, more violence protest arised. Without the journalists and diplomats Tibet will be more peaceful. The protestors are the real human right violation against the rule of the law. Who need the journalists and diplomats? More violence?

Steven Deng   March 30th, 2008 1411 GMT

In that statement, I have some question about it.
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200803/news-gb2312-552919.html

1. In this Tibet issue, it's a disaster to cause many people death, and I heard a few of them are Han peole?

Is that interesting to play number games? Who are the majority casualties? Who are the minority? What's the truth are you afraid to hide?

2.In the chinese office statement about this issue, the goverment use some biased news which could bring irreformable mistake to arose race conflict in the furture.

My question is " in these days, I saw many western media saying the dying number have exceeded 100, date from your Tibet-exile goverment.

Could you tell me where do you guys get the information? Do you have the name of these innocent people? If not, who lies? who arose race conflict?

3.Since 1956, the situation in Tibet became unclear. In 1959/3/10, Lhasa break out a peaceful uprising, and I ( Daila Lama) had to exiled.

My question: (1) Why the situation in Tibet became unclear?
(2) "Peaceful uprising"? What's the role of your older brother in that uprising?
(3) Who went to exile? Privilege Buddhist Class or the ordinary Tibet people who are labeled by you as slaves?

4. The Chinses goverment could solve Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongol issue, although Mongolians accounts for only less than 20% of the total 24 million people.

Since this statement, in my opinion, is to ordinary Chinese people. What's your point to arose other issues? Should the one Tibet is enough for the country to bear?

And also I never heard Mongolians want Inner Mongol to be seperate away from China. I'm from north China, and know many Mongolians. I never feel that emotion. So what's your point of mentioning that? Can you tell me?

I'm open to 2-side story.
CCP made a lot of mistakes, but indeed, it brings many benefits to Chinese people.
Dalai Lama is wise in some of his books, but on the other side, he is heavily involved in politics. And also the so-called Buddhist in Tibet before 1950 is not so holy.

Tanor   March 30th, 2008 1656 GMT

Actually the problem is that chinese should revive their policy on the tibet for greater china...and that they are very reluctant to do...Both the sides know that there should be a solution when dalai lama is around ..But for(without) him its almost impossible coming to a peaceful solution..So its better when the time is rite ...Both sides should compromise their stand and come to a solution ....Tibetans under dalai lama have played their part(claim for genuine autonomy only) ..Now its the turn of chinese

Lenny   March 30th, 2008 1754 GMT

Looks like CNN won't publish this but i still want to say this.

TIBET BELONG TO CHINA, AND CNN MUST STOP TAKING SIDES. THE REST OF THE WORLD JUST GONNA HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE FACT THE TIBET IS PART OF CHINA AND PLEASE DON'T START WITH CHINA, NO ONE WILL BENFIT FROM IT .

Chen   March 30th, 2008 2114 GMT

hey all of you people bashing China:
why not say all of this to China's face internationally? Scared? What power do you actually have? Your government doesn't have the guts to do so cause they know its not their buisness to go messing around in. You people are stupid!! You have no shame in saying these acusations. It was fun reading over 400 posts and laughing at over half of them. You might want to get the real facts before you start shooting your mouth off.

Go China!

Forrest   March 31st, 2008 044 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

You said that the major problem of the Tibet issue is that the Chinese government doesn’t admit their policy in Tibet is inappropriate and inefficient. I don’t think so.

I don’t think the major and fundamental problem of the Tibet issue is the Chinese government policies. Although I’m sure that the Chinese government policies are not perfect, and some of the policies are arguable and might be inappropriate or wrong, those arguable policies are just superficial problems, but not the fundamental cause of the problems of the Tibet issue. The key and fundamental problem of the Tibet issue is that Dalai Lama and his close followers are still secretly trying to seek Tibetan independence and to restore theocracy in Tibet, although Dalai Lama claims in front of public that he does not seek Tibetan independence.

A recent article appeared in 香港文汇报 revealed the five major barriers between the Chinese government and Dalai Lama and his close followers preventing them from achieving an agreement during their talks. A link to the article is as the following,
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200803/news-gb2312-554287.html

Those five major barriers are the following five insistences that Dalai Lama and his close followers demand the Chinese government to accept:
1. Dalai Lama insists that Tibet is an independent country historically and culturally, and is not a part of China;
2. Chinese military personnel and military facilities must be vacated from Tibet, and the status of Tibet is pending for discussion in international conferences;
3. Tibet can establish diplomatic relationships with other countries and international organizations;
4. Establish “the Grand Tibet” which includes the current Tibet and parts of Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan where there are also Tibetan inhabitants;
5. All non-Tibetan Chinese must be vacated from “the Grand Tibet”.

As everybody can see, although Dalai Lama claims that he does not seek independence, the above five insistences are no different from demanding independence. If the Chinese government had agreed on the above five insistences, it would be no different from letting Tibet go independent. How can the Chinese government accept the above five insistences of Dalai Lama and his close followers?

I attached the article below for your convenience:

香港文汇报/新华社28日发表题为《“中间道路”真正用意就是要“西藏独立”》的文章,文章引述专家的分析,披露了中国中央政府与达赖集团商谈的五大障碍。

文章表示,长期以来,达赖集团采用的都是两面手法:一方面由达赖出面到世界各地宣扬“中间道路”“非暴力”;另一方面由激进的“藏青会”等出面四处煽风点火,鼓动“藏独”分子用暴力手段制造事端。两种手法,一个目的,就是图谋“西藏独立”。

玩弄两种手法图谋搞分裂

  文章指出,近些年,达赖集团在国际场合经常宣扬的“中间道路”主要内容是:在中国宪法的框架内,在西藏及其他藏区实行“高度自治、真正自治”。但只要稍加研究就可以发现,达赖集团宣称的“中间道路”,其内涵和实质与“西藏独立”主张是一回事,即都是要把西藏从中国分裂出去。

  文章并引述了中国藏学研究中心研究员安才旦的分析,披露了中国中央政府与达赖集团接触商谈的五大障碍:第一,达赖集团坚持“西藏在历史上和文化上都是一个独立国家,不是中国的一部分”;第二,坚持要将中国军队和军事设施从西藏撤走,西藏地位交由国际会议讨论,西藏成为“和平区”“缓冲国”;第三,坚持西藏可与其他国家或国际组织保持外交关系;第四,坚持在包括青海、甘肃、四川、云南等省藏区在内的240多万平方公里的“大藏区”实行“真正自治”,也就是要推翻西藏和其他藏区的社会主义制度和民族区域自治制度,西藏事务全由十四世达赖喇嘛来管;第五,坚持要把非藏族群众从“大藏区”迁走。

  妄想通过“真正自治”夺权

  就拿中央政府不能在西藏驻军,西藏可与其他国家或国际组织保持外交关系来说。众所周知,如果一个国家的中央政府不能在其领土上驻军,允许其管辖下的一个地方政府与外国政府或国际组织保持外交关系,也就无主权可言。所以,达赖喇嘛主张的“真正自治”,实质上是要改变西藏属于中国的法律地位,否定中国政府对西藏拥有主权。

  安才旦说,“真正自治”是达赖集团西藏独立“三部曲”战略中的重要一环,即第一步通过谈判先回到境内来,因为达赖集团在国外搞了几十年的独立活动未能取得任何成果,所以要回到西藏使指挥独立活动变得更直接、更易“见成效”;第二步是通过“真正自治”取得政权;第三步是通过“全民公决”最终实现“西藏独立”。

  达赖之弟声称要赶走中国人

  文章指出,其实,达赖集团提出的西藏“和平五点计划”和斯特拉斯堡“七点新建议”的欺骗性,是连达赖身边人及其支援者都承认了的。比如,达赖的弟弟丹增曲杰在接受美国媒体采访时曾一语道破:“我们先求自治,然后把中国人赶走。”再如,达赖集团《西藏杂志》编辑顿珠次仁在2004年撰写的《越过希望与想像解决西藏问题》一文中承认:“达赖喇嘛西藏和平五点计划和斯特拉斯堡建议的要求,无异于西藏独立。”

Forrest   March 31st, 2008 220 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

I hope that you have learned from my previous post that the key and fundamental problem of the Tibet issue is that Dalai Lama and his close followers are still covertly seeking Tibetan independence and trying to restore theocracy in Tibet, although they claim that they don’t seek Tibetan independence in front of public. As you can see, there is no way for the Chinese government to accept those five insistences of Dalai Lama and his close followers. As a result, Dalai Lama cannot return to Tibet, and the Chinese government doesn’t allow Tibetans to hang up pictures of Dalai Lama in their homes and monasteries. Consequently, the Tibetan people would feel oppressed and mistreated by the Chinese government and some of them would then want to uprise, and all the problems in Tibet were created. As you can see, the fundamental problem and the real key cause of the Tibet issue is that Dalai Lama still wants independence and theocracy in Tibet, but not the Chinese government policies. I definitely agree that some of the Chinese government policies are arguable, and might be inappropriate or wrong. For example, the Chinese government doesn’t allow Tibetans to hang up pictures of Dalai Lama in their homes and monasteries. I understand the importance of Dalai Lama as a living god in Tibetan people’s religious faith, and I personally think that this policy is inappropriate, and the Chinese government should allow Tibetan people to hang up pictures of Dalai Lama, but the Chinese government may have better reasons for that policy. Anyway, this policy is just a superficial problem, and is not the major problem and the fundamental cause of the Tibet issue.

I’m sure that, if Dalai Lama and his close followers truly abandon the goal of seeking Tibetan independence and restoring theocracy in Tibet and Dalai Lama strictly remains to be a religious leader, the Chinese government would heartily welcome Dalai Lama and his close followers back to Tibet.

What do you think, “Yaoyao”? I really hope that you can pass out the messages in all my posts to as many Tibetans as possible, especially to young Tibetans, and even to Tibetans who are accessible to or close to Dalai Lama, and help them to find and understand the real truth and the real cause of the Tibet issue. And all of us should try to help find the final and satisfactory solution to the Tibet issue.

Chinese Proud   March 31st, 2008 819 GMT

The old China belong to the Red Army and Cultural Revolution, the new China belong to the well read and well travel Chinese people. If you are not proud of your tradition and culture, you are as good as a lost human being. And no one will respect you and look down on you.

Any countries have issues and problem like China, as Chinese we have to help China move forward, not run away from your country. You are a coward.

Asian   March 31st, 2008 1156 GMT

Jim Rogers, the author of "A Bull in China", said China will be the wealthist country after one or two generation.
I also thought so. So I made my son's middle name 周(which means 周朝(Zhou Dynasty in China), during that time the Greatest Chinese philosophers(like 孔子(Kong Fuzi), 老子(Laozi)..) were born.)

I thought after one or two generation China could be USA. (of course I hope china will do better than usa.)
But recently I think China could be Hitler's German or 裕仁' Japan.

Because (as Yaoyao said) "The Chinese government (and most han people in this blog) doesn’t admit that their policy in Tibet is inappropriate and inefficient. I think this is the major problem."
and (as Wangyao said) "I am really disappointed some of the post -1979 kids. You guys worse than the Red Guard Army 红卫兵!"

孔子曰 湯武以棍棍而昌 桀紂以唯唯而亡 (Kong Fuzi said that two kings perished because they didn't listen to words unpleasant to the ear.)

(as Tanor said) "Tibetans under dalai lama have played their part(claim for genuine autonomy only) ..Now its the turn of chinese."

I hope China will make a right dicision. Because chinese's misfortune could be asian's misfortune.

Eric   March 31st, 2008 1207 GMT

To Siao bei,

Saio Bei: "Wow, some comments from the Chinese here makes me ashamed to be a Chinese woman. So you are ready to stand behind your government “even if it means shooting a few monks?” Murderers. Blood hungry animals."

I would have no problem shooting any monk or priest if he was setting any innocent girl on fire.

I do, however, find your statement rather intriguing, that statements from other Chinese would make you "ashamed to be a Chinese".

Would statements from other female make you ashamed to be a female? Or, statements from other English speaking Chinese women make you ashamed to be an English speaking Chinese woman?

I am personally only responsible for my own action. Neither proud nor ashamed by things beyond my control.

Siao bei: "I will never marry a Chinese man because I despise Chinese culture and attitude."

I suppose you haven't met too many men. I know lots of American born Chinese, British born Chinese, Canadian born Chinese, Australian born male Chinese friends who know or care very little about Chinese culture and behave just like an American/British/Canadian/Australian. But would their skin color still bother you?

I on the other hand, quite like Chinese culture; while I don't know much about it, I love the food, the poetry, the people, the history, the family value, etc. And no, I do not have a Chinese girlfriend or wife.

Your blanket hatred towards the very diversified Chinese culture is a little extreme, just because you claim to be a Chinese woman does not justify your rudeness.

jack   March 31st, 2008 1259 GMT

CNN:

Do you know what this popular phrase means:

Don't be so CNN

Don't be so CNN

Yaoyao   March 31st, 2008 1519 GMT

Forrest:

I was moved and encouraged by what you said.

In regarding to your quote of the demandings made by the Dalai Lama from 香港文汇报, I need to make a double check. Because some points in your quote are different from I have learnt in Tibetan media in exile.

I will pass on what you said to many Tibetans and Tibet supporters. I may not agree what you said but I believe what you are doing is a positive act. I wish Tibet issue can be solved through dialogue as soon as possible. I don't want to see some people and some countries use Tibet issue for different purpose than peaceful dialogue.

I went for a meeting organised by Tibetan Community yesterday and I was quited disturbed by what some people said. Some people (including some Tibetans) in the West don't care about the dialogue. They are more interested in protesting against China and pour their anger out and get some news coverage about their campaigns.

I am more worried about ordinary Tibetan and Chinese daily life and social welfare. Ultimately they are the one who suffer most from all these disrupts.

I want to thank you to "Asian" for her/his support in peace and harmony between Tibetans and Chinese.

I have to go to work and will discuss more in details later.

Keep in touch, Forrest.

Forrest   March 31st, 2008 1846 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

It’s great to see that you have been influenced! And I hope that more Tibetans will also be influenced like you.

Take care and sure let’s keep in touch!

jeje chiue   March 31st, 2008 2024 GMT

the 14th Dalai Lama is going to die by age, he is too old waiting for death nothing else. his CAP dalai lama is crowned by chinese old government,we are going to crown 15th if he dies and he was a farming boy knowing nothing coming from a village in tsing hai close to my hometown in gansu, my wife's surname is same as his father's and she is also a tibetan while i am a han chinese, but my town is quiet and peaceful, it is some small group of society outcast such as jobless, moneyless, soul-less, aim-less and spirit-less people misled by the 14th making trouble. my hometown is never allowed to cut out from china by any foolish western followers, who want to break-down china for they do not want to see china's economy coming up. listen, even THE CAP "DALAI LAMA" IS A COMPLIMENTARY CROWN GIFTED BY ANCIENT NORHTERN MONGOLIAN CHINESE ETHNIC KING, FROM 5TH TO NOW 14TH, THE CENTRAL CHINESE GOVERNMENT CROWNS IT.now he does not know who is him and where he is coming from. he is a foolish few wersterners' follower who wants to break china.

14th dalai lama's one leg has been stepped into his tomb, and he can not do anything at his remaining times only disturbing a little, he was crowned by china's government and he comes from a farming village close to my town, he is ugly and he is struggling before his remaining life. we can crown another 15th after he dies.even his cap DALAI LAMA is a crown gifted by chinese mongolian ethic king at ancient time, now tibet is not only for tibetan ethnic, there are hui(muslim chinese), han, and other chinese ethnics. he does not know where he is from and whom he is.

jeje chiue   March 31st, 2008 2027 GMT

tibetan is chinese, and if they say tibetan is not chinese, they are fool.chinese has 56 more ethnic groups

tashi   March 31st, 2008 2150 GMT

great wall of china which can be seen from the moon, is the real boundry of china. I hope ancient chinese are not fool to erect huge wall in the middle of their counry!

David   April 1st, 2008 307 GMT

US political writer Dr. Michael Parenti wrote in his article 'Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth' about what happened to Tibet after 1950:

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

What happened to Tibet after the Chinese Communists moved into the country in 1951? The treaty of that year provided for ostensible self-governance under the Dalai Lama’s rule but gave China military control and exclusive right to conduct foreign relations. The Chinese were also granted a direct role in internal administration “to promote social reforms.” Among the earliest changes they wrought was to reduce usurious interest rates, and build a few hospitals and roads. At first, they moved slowly, relying mostly on persuasion in an attempt to effect reconstruction. No aristocratic or monastic property was confiscated, and feudal lords continued to reign over their hereditarily bound peasants. “Contrary to popular belief in the West,” claims one observer, the Chinese “took care to show respect for Tibetan culture and religion.”25

Over the centuries the Tibetan lords and lamas had seen Chinese come and go, and had enjoyed good relations with Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek and his reactionary Kuomintang rule in China.26 The approval of the Kuomintang government was needed to validate the choice of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. When the current 14th Dalai Lama was first installed in Lhasa, it was with an armed escort of Chinese troops and an attending Chinese minister, in accordance with centuries-old tradition. What upset the Tibetan lords and lamas in the early 1950s was that these latest Chinese were Communists. It would be only a matter of time, they feared, before the Communists started imposing their collectivist egalitarian schemes upon Tibet.

The issue was joined in 1956-57, when armed Tibetan bands ambushed convoys of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army. The uprising received extensive assistance from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), including military training, support camps in Nepal, and numerous airlifts.27 Meanwhile in the United States, the American Society for a Free Asia, a CIA-financed front, energetically publicized the cause of Tibetan resistance, with the Dalai Lama’s eldest brother, Thubtan Norbu, playing an active role in that organization. The Dalai Lama's second-eldest brother, Gyalo Thondup, established an intelligence operation with the CIA as early as 1951. He later upgraded it into a CIA-trained guerrilla unit whose recruits parachuted back into Tibet.28

Many Tibetan commandos and agents whom the CIA dropped into the country were chiefs of aristocratic clans or the sons of chiefs. Ninety percent of them were never heard from again, according to a report from the CIA itself, meaning they were most likely captured and killed.29 “Many lamas and lay members of the elite and much of the Tibetan army joined the uprising, but in the main the populace did not, assuring its failure,” writes Hugh Deane.30 In their book on Tibet, Ginsburg and Mathos reach a similar conclusion: “As far as can be ascertained, the great bulk of the common people of Lhasa and of the adjoining countryside failed to join in the fighting against the Chinese both when it first began and as it progressed.”31 Eventually the resistance crumbled.

practical and peaceful   April 1st, 2008 452 GMT

Those exile Tibetan find that life in foreign countries like Europe, America, India, Australia, etc is not so good after all and now they want to go back to Tibet. But the problem is that their demand for "independence" is not acceptable before any talk can be meaningful.

Their demand is not practical and against any law. So they think that they can use the western media and countries to pressure China. Yes, the "Free Tibet" and "Human Right" movements is support by western countries and other interest groups to split China. Sabotage the Beijing Olympics is one to pressure China.

Nothing will be positive if Tibet demand independence which is against the law that any country will not accept.

Violence, Riots, Sabotage, Killing, Arson,... will not help.

"Free Tibet", "Human Right", Biased Western Media, ..... will not help.

Be practical and peaceful will help ........ so that all Chinese live harmony. And western people will not use you for their objective.

Those young Tibetan living in western countries think that western people will help them to get independence. As a matter of fact the western people do not want them to remain in their countries, they also want to get rid of them.

If you stay in foreign countries you should know the true situation. If you stay in your friend house can you stay long? We are all human, we are all the same. Do not dreaming.................

Yugen He   April 1st, 2008 532 GMT

Please pardon my intrusion to this blog as a newbie.
I worked as a tour guide in China in the late 80's and early 90's. I made frequent trips to both inner Mongolia and SiChuan. Trips to SiChuan covers areas of couple of Zang Autonomous Prefectures. I stayed in motels serving both Zang and non-Zang people. I find there are 2 types of Tibetans: 1) tradiotional Tibetan who still practice their religion on a daily base, and 2) the rest who have joined the mainstream Chinese society and enjoy the modern ammenities as a result. The latter is very similar to the Mogolians. They are more interested in keeping the good time rolling as stackholders. One of my local tour operators was a Tibetan by blood, but you will never guess that from his flawless Mandarin or attitude towards religion. He is not fond of Dalai Lama. His ancestors was serfs, and were property of some monasteries. I assume their children will have no problem being assimilated into the Chinese culture and society. The former will always be on the margin of society and rely on government assistance to survive, while wishing for the return of Dalai Lama. Maybe they were the ruling class before PLA marched into Lasha (this is just my wild guess, I had not talked to any of them since they don't speak Mandarin and I know nothing about their language).

I'm not here to debate which group of Tibetans are making the right choice. There are good arguments on both sides over the merit of keeping tradition/culture vs. joining the modern society. I just like to point out my observations:

1) Not all Tibetans wants a return of Dalai Lama.
2) Some Tibetans will never be happy no matter what China does as long as China is keeping Dalai out.
3) Some Tibetans refused to have anything to do with Chinese society.
4) Discrimination against the first Tibetan group I listed were wide spread, and the resentment at Han people was very strong.
5) Resentment by local Hans against Tibetan was also very strong, since the government bend backward to accomodate the Tibetans on many social/educational policies, except on things related to Dalai Lama or Tibet-independence.
6) While in Inner-Mongolia, I NEVER ran into any issue with Han vs. Mongolian. I believe that in couple more generations, Mongolian, as a distinguished group of people with own language and culture, will only exists in history books or museum displays. And again, I'm not arguing that this is necessarily good.

I wonder why such big difference between Tibetan and Mongolian. There are 5 major nationalities: Han, Man, Meng, Hui, Zang.
Man has been completely assimilated into Han, they don't even have their last names anymore. But part of their culture has been absorbed into the mainstream (Han) culture, such as QiPao (the traditional lady's dress). Meng is on the way to be totally merged into Han too. Hui is a different story. Hui is half way there, the only thing keeping them being totally swallowed is their Islamic religion.

Looking at both race/culture, Tibetan is no more distinguished from Han than the Mongolians, so only reasons I can come up with to answer my question was this:

1) history: Mongolians has had extensive contact with Hans for over a thousand years.
2) Geography: Mongolia does not present any natural barrier for human movement.

With the railroad, come more chances for interaction and understanding. Maybe in couple of hundred years from now, Tibetans will be like present Mongolians, separation will be the last thing in their mind.

I keep thinking why Mongolians and Tibetans have such wide

anti-cnn   April 1st, 2008 600 GMT

how western mediea made a such big lie? i am from the place where you media called"hometown pf tibetan". what I have seen is very different to what you report. why you guys are so "not clever" to show how monks turn to hooligans? or monk's duty is bashing people including girls on the streets?

DONT BE SO CNN!!!!!!

JH   April 1st, 2008 604 GMT

SONAM: You don't hate Chinese citizens? Then why hit them, killed them and destroyed their shops and properties? How come the independence of Tibet will benefit the world? You mean those who have given you all the money to buy guns and other weapons or those had lived a peaceful life before 3.14 in Tibet? Get rid of your 'victim mentality' and move on! Or maybe you can go the native Indians and free them? Or go to Australia to free the Aborigines? Or go to France and tell the playboy president you want their la Corse to be independent? I'll support you when you have done one of these!!! Otherwise, stop dreaming please.

Mao Ze Dong   April 1st, 2008 614 GMT

Dear West All Guys,
You should know the history. The tibetans was Helot before about 1950. The Lama, which is less than 5% of all tibetans, was archon. Now Tibet is flourishing. As for the culture of tibet, you shold know this is appeared at all coner of world. For example, the west of american.
American want to be a police in the world, that just persues his big interests. The developing China never give up against american hegemony.

Chen Wei   April 1st, 2008 637 GMT

Let me tell you the truth:
1. Dalai Lama agitated the riots;
2. Some Tibetans were killed, but also some hanese;
3. Tibetans get less chance for good jobs because many of them are lazy and not educated. If they go on praying to Dalai Lama, they will become poorer.
Above is the true situation in Tibet, I know this very well because I worked there for a few years. I am not a supporter of the corrupted Chinese government.

Steph   April 1st, 2008 640 GMT

Why would the Western media always have a single negative tone when they report any political events happened in China?

Have they realized that due to such a consistant median bias, more and more Chinese start feeling they have been fooled in the past?

Recent demonstrations or protests by intellectural Chinese around the world against CNN and western media is an unprecedent wakeup from their dreams in believing in the western media's objectiveness and fairness,

Chen Wei   April 1st, 2008 700 GMT

I am working in a company which builds solar/wind power stations in remote Tibetan area. Chinese government spends a lot of money to set up this type of power stations for Tibetan herders and monks. But most of the power be consumed by the monasteries because they have money to buy TV sets, computers and wash machines. The herders donate 50% of their money to the monks. These monks don't work, but they enjoy better life than normal Tibetans. One monk I know has 2 girl friends near Ta Er Temple, Xining. How can you say it is fair? We hire local monks to help us look after the power stations. But one guy walked to Lasa for worship and deserted the power station. Once there is some problem with the fuse or battery, their village will black out. He is sincere to his belief, I respect him. But do you think he is responsible for his own people?
This is the normal situation for tibetans. They are still living in the middle age and their spirits are controled by Dalai Lama. With the fast modernization there are too many conflicts in this region. How can you make a cursory judgement that it is the fault of Chinese government?
In Tibet who builds the roads? Who supplies mobile phone facilities? Who constructs power stations? Who teaches the computer lessons? All Hanese people. Let Dalai Lama to do it, can he? He is only able to fool his own believers. Poor tibetans, they don't know who is their true friend.

Chen Wei   April 1st, 2008 716 GMT

If you western people really care about the rights of Tibetans, please do something practical!!! Donate your second hand computer to the primary schools, build drinking water pools for the villagers, send hygenic documents/facilities to the local hospitals. Trust me, they need these much more than your democracy!!!!! Otherwise, go to hell with your hypocrisy!

Chen Wei   April 1st, 2008 730 GMT

I am a person working in the frontier to help Tibetans. My company brings brightness to them. I am open to any cricicism or praise. You can contact me personally:
chen7328@gmail.com

Forest Fong   April 1st, 2008 1117 GMT

In response to CNN's statement earlier this week on its Tibet coverage:

That statement itself is proof of CNN's editorial's one-sided journalism.

FWIW, Tibetans ARE Chinese, as far as nationality goes.

If there is civil unrest going on in say Texas, whatever the causes of the participants are, would one reasonably expect CNN to keep referring to the event as a conflict between Texans and Americans?

I have been getting my news from CNN for 10+ years, CNN used to be authoritative thanks to its in-depth knowledge on worldwide issues. It is indeed a very sad surprise to see CNN playing down it's mistaking Tibet as a country as a mistake made "only" a few times.

My comments concern solely CNN's journalism, not the causes of those in Tibet.

Yaoyao   April 1st, 2008 1319 GMT

Forrest:

I checked on the Five point Peace Plan made by the Dalai Lama in 1987 and beow is the list with explaination from him. It's said that this is the basis of the Dalai Lamas's solution for the Tibet Issue.

It's up to the Beijing and Dharamsala governments to find a mutual agreement. As ordinary citizens, we should encourage them to resume the dialogue rather than disrupting it. Not all Tibetans are anti -Chinese and I am sure you know this.

For further information, here is the link: http://www.dalailama.com/page.121.htm

1. Transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace;
2. Abandonment of China's population transfer policy which threatens the very existence of the Tibetans as a people;
3. Respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms;
4. Restoration and protection of Tibet's natural environment and the abandonment of China's use of Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste;
5. Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.

Let me explain these five components.

1. I propose that the whole of Tibet, including the eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo, be transformed into a zone of "Ahimsa", a Hindi term used to mean a state of peace and non-violence.

The establishment of such a peace zone would be in keeping with Tibet's historical role as a peaceful and neutral Buddhist nation and buffer state separating the continent's great powers. It would also be in keeping with Nepal's proposal to proclaim Nepal a peace zone and with China's declared support for such a proclamation. The peace zone proposed by Nepal would have a much greater impact if it were to include Tibet and neighbouring areas.

The establishment of a peace zone in Tibet would require withdrawal of Chinese troops and military installations from the country, which would enable India also to withdraw troops and military installations from the Himalayan regions bordering Tibet. This would be achieved under an international agreement which would satisfy China's legitimate security needs and build trust among the Tibetan, Indian, Chinese and other peoples of the region. This is in everyone's best interest, particularly that of China and India, as it would enhance their security, while reducing the economic burden of maintaining high troop concentrations on the disputed Himalayan border.

Historically, relations between China and India were never strained. It was only when Chinese armies marched into Tibet, creating for the first time a common border, that tensions arose between these two powers, ultimately leading to the 1962 war. Since then numerous dangerous incidents have continued to occur. A restoration of good relations between the world's two most populous countries would be greatly facilitated if they were separated – as they were throughout history – by a large and friendly buffer region.

To improve relations between the Tibetan people and the Chinese, the first requirement is the creation of trust. After the holocaust of the last decades in which over one million Tibetans – one sixth of the population – lost their lives and at least as many lingered in prison camps because of their religious beliefs and love of freedom, only a withdrawal of Chinese troops could start a genuine process of reconcilitation. The vast occupation force in Tibet is a daily reminder to the Tibetans of the oppression and suffering they have all experienced. A troop withdrawal would be an essential signal that in future a meaningful relationship might be established with the Chinese, based on friendship and trust.

2. The population transfer of Chinese into Tibet, which the government in Peking pursues in order to force a "final solution" to the Tibetan problem by reducing the Tibetan population to an insignificant and disenfranchised minority in Tibet itself, must be stopped.

The massive transfer of Chinese civilians into Tibet in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), threatens the very existence of the Tibetans as a distinct people. In the eastern parts of our country, the Chinese now greatly outnumber Tibetans. In the Amdo province, for example, where I was born, there are, according to the Chinese statistics, 2.5 million Chinese and only 750,000 Tibetans. Even in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (i.e., central and western Tibet), Chinese government sources now confirm that Chinese outnumber Tibetans.

The Chinese population transfer policy is not new. It has been systematically applied to other areas before. Earlier in this century, the Manchus were a distinct race with their own culture and traditions. Today only two to three million Manchurians are left in Manchuria, where 75 million Chinese have settled. In Eastern Turkestan, which the Chinese now call Sinkiang, the Chinese population has grown from 200,000 in 1949 to 7 million, more than half of the total population of 13 million. In the wake of the Chinese colonization of Inner Mongolia, Chinese number 8.5 million, Mongols 2.5 million.

Today, in the whole of Tibet 7.5 million Chinese settlers have already been sent, outnumbering the Tibetan population of 6 million. In central and western Tibet, now referred to by the Chinese as the "Tibet Autonomous Region", Chinese sources admit the 1.9 million Tibetans already constitute a minority of the region's population. These numbers do not take the estimated 300,000-500,000 troops in Tibet into account – 250,000 of them in so-called Tibet Autonomous Region.

For the Tibetans to survive as a people, it is imperative that the population transfer is stopped and Chinese settlers return to China. Otherwise, Tibetans will soon be no more than a tourist attraction and relic of a noble past.

3. Fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms must be respected in Tibet. The Tibetan people must once again be free to develop culturally, intellectually, economically and spiritually and to exercise basic democratic freedoms.

Human rights violations in Tibet are among the most serious in the world. Discrimination is practiced in Tibet under a policy of "apartheid" which the Chinese call "segregation and assimilation". Tibetans are, at best, second class citizens in their own country. Deprived of all basic democratic rights and freedoms, they exist under a colonial administration in which all real power is wielded by Chinese officials of the Communist Party and the army.

Although the Chinese government allows Tibetans to rebuild some Buddhist monasteries and to worship in them, it still forbids serious study and teaching of religion. Only a small number of people, approved by the Communist Party, are permitted to join the monasteries.

While Tibetans in exile exercise their democratic rights under a constitution promulgated by me in 1963, thousands of our countrymen suffer in prisons and labour camps in Tibet for their religious or political convictions.

4. Serious efforts must be made to restore the natural environment in Tibet. Tibet should not be used for the production of nuclear weapons and the dumping of nuclear waste.

Tibetans have a great respect for all forms of life. This inherent feeling is enhanced by the Buddhist faith, which prohibits the harming of all sentient beings, whether human or animal. Prior to the Chinese invasion, Tibet was an unspoiled wilderness sanctuary in a unique natural environment. Sadly, in the past decades the wildlife and the forests of Tibet have been almost totally destroyed by the Chinese. The effects on Tibet's delicate environment have been devastating. What little is left in Tibet must be protected and efforts must be made to restore the environment to its balanced state.

China uses Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and may also have started dumping nuclear waste in Tibet. Not only does China plan to dispose of its own nuclear waste but also that of other countries, who have already agreed to pay Peking to dispose of their toxic materials.

The dangers this presents are obvious. Not only living generations, but future generations are threatened by China's lack of concern for Tibet's unique and delicate environment.

5. Negotiations on the future status of Tibet and the relationship between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples should be started in earnest.

We wish to approach this subject in a reasonable and realistic way, in a spirit of frankness and conciliation and with a view to finding a solution that is in the long term interest of all: the Tibetans, the Chinese, and all other peoples concerned. Tibetans and Chinese are distinct peoples, each with their own country, history, culture, language, and way of life. Differences among peoples must be recognized and respected. They need not, however, form obstacles to genuine cooperation where this is in the mutual benefit of both peoples. It is my sincere belief that if the concerned parties were to meet and discuss their future with an open mind and a sincere desire to find a satisfactory and just solution, a breakthrough could be achieved. We must all exert ourselves to be reasonable and wise, and to meet in a spirit of frankness and understanding.

Forrest   April 1st, 2008 2305 GMT

To “Yaoyao”,

The five requests in the Five-Point Peace Plan proposed by Dalai Lama in 1987 are not exactly the same as the five major barriers revealed in the recent 香港文汇报 article. The different points might have been brought up during the talks between the representatives of Dalai Lama and the Chinese government since 2002. I don’t have first-hand reference to those talks now. I might need do some research about it later. For now, our discussion can just stay with the Five-Point Peace Plan proposed by Dalai Lama in 1987.

My point is, the essential requests in the Five-Point Peace Plan still clearly indicate that Dalai Lama and his close followers are still covertly seeking Tibetan independence. My comments on those five requests are as follows,

Request #1: The designation of Tibet as a zone of peace, withdrawal of Chinese troops and military installations from Tibet, and withdrawal of Indian troops and military installations from the Himalayan regions bordering Tibet;

My comment: China has sovereignty over Tibet. I hope you understand that, in international political principles, the necessary components of substantiation of sovereignty include at least military presence and that diplomatic rights solely belong to the central government. In 1980s, when China and Britain negotiated over the return of Hong Kong to China, Britain initially requested that China should not have military presence in Hong Kong after it is returned to China. The Chinese government immediately rejected this request by just asking how the Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong can be substantiated if without Chinese military presence, and the British government took back the request. As you can see, in order to substantiate the Chinese sovereignty over Tibet, there is no way for the Chinese government to accept the request of withdrawing Chinese troops and military installations from Tibet. In addition, Nepal is an independent country, do you really think the Nepalese government would disband their troops in order for Nepal to be claimed as a peace zone? Also, do you really think that the Indian government would withdraw Indian troops and military installations from the Himalayan regions bordering Tibet? Do you know that those regions historically and traditionally belonged to Tibet, but were taken by British in early 1900s, and are now occupied by India? By the way, China (Qing, ROC, and PRC) didn’t and doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of the British and Indian occupation of those regions, so there is still a dispute over that land nowadays between China and India. India has actually occupied that land for over 50 years so far, do you really think that they will withdraw their troops and give up that land if China withdraws troops from Tibet? And as you can see, this request of Dalai Lama clearly shows that he is still planning for Tibet independence. He hopes that China withdraws troops from Tibet and India withdraws troops from Himalayan regions, so he can have the historical and traditional Grand Tibet region as a so-called peace zone, and then he can prepare a referendum later for declaration of independence.

Request #2: Abandonment of China’s population transfer policy which threatens the very existence of the Tibetans as a people

My comment: Given that Tibet is part of China, the Chinese government cannot forbid population migration within the country. Most non-Tibetan Chinese who migrated from other parts of China went to Tibet on their own will, in order to seek business opportunities. At the same time, some Tibetans also migrated from Tibet to other parts of China. Population migrations within country are common and normal throughout the history, and should not and cannot be stopped. This request of Dalai Lama also indicates that he is still covertly seeking Tibetan independence. He and his close followers hope that they can stop non-Tibetan Chinese migrating to Tibet first, and after Tibet gets the so-called genuine autonomy, they will expel non-Tibetan Chinese out of Tibet and declare independence. Here is a quote from that 香港文汇报 article: “达赖的弟弟丹增曲杰在接受美国媒体采访时曾一语道破:‘我们先求自治,然后把中国人赶走。’” I don’t have the first-hand reference of this; we may try to find it later.

Request #3: Respect for the Tibetan people’s fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms

My comment: I’m sure that you’ve seen the improvements of human rights and freedoms in China in the last 30 years unless you came to the U.S. when you were little. Frankly speaking, I feel it’s sarcastic to hear that such request was from Dalai Lama’s mouth. You know that before 1950s, Tibet was a theocratic and slavery society, and most Tibetan people were serfs and they basically didn’t have human rights and freedoms. Furthermore, the very most important reason for Dalai Lama and his followers to uprise in 1959 was that the Chinese government started to reform the social structure of Tibet, free all serfs, and deprive of the privileges of upper-class Tibetans who were serf owners, and give human rights and freedom to serfs – the majority Tibetan population. Dalai Lama and his followers didn’t give human rights and freedoms to majority Tibetans who were serfs, and rebelled against the Chinese government because the Chinese government gave human rights and freedoms to the slaves of Dalai Lama and upper-class Tibetans, and hurt their interests. However, after Dalai Lama went in exile, he started complaining that Tibetan people didn’t have human rights and freedoms under Chinese government’s rule, and requesting the Chinese government to give more human rights and freedoms to Tibetan people. Don’t you think it is very sarcastic? It also let people doubt Dalai Lama’s true intention of this request, and see his hypocrisy on this issue. I think nobody can doubt that Tibetan people nowadays have much more human rights and freedoms than 50 years ago.

Request #4: Restoration and protection of Tibet’s natural environment and the abandonment of China’s use of Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste;

My comment: This request is not essential. Developing economy and preserving environment often conflict with each other. I believe that the Chinese government is trying their best to find the best balance point between them. I’m not aware of any nuclear weapon production facilities in Tibet; I know there are some in Sichuan and Gansu. I really doubt that there are any nuclear weapon production facilities in Tibet, because of its altitude, rough terrain, no train access until recently, not many Han Chinese, far away from energy source (especially huge power plants), etc.

Request #5: Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.

My comment: This request also clearly indicates that Dalai Lama hasn’t given up the goal of Tibetan independence. It indicates that Dalai Lama and his close followers think today’s status of Tibet is undecided, or unclear, not final, and is open to or pending for future negotiations. Since Dalai Lama already claims that Tibet is a part of China and he does not seek Tibetan independence, why the status of Tibet is still an issue here? Does he imply that the status of Tibet should change in the future? And change to what? To independence? By the way, I do not object earnest negotiations on solving the Tibet issue and the return of Dalai Lama to Tibet. As we know, there have already been such talks since 2002, but no agreement has been reached yet because Dalai Lama and his close followers don’t abandon a few essential requests which clearly would lead to Tibetan independence.

“Yaoyao”, I hope you and all Tibetans can realize after studying the essential requests in Dalai Lama’s Five-Point Peace Plan, that Dalai Lama and his close followers are still covertly seeking Tibetan independence, as I discussed above, although they claim in front of public that they don’t seek Tibetan independence.

Another quote of that 香港文汇报 article:
“达赖集团《西藏杂志》编辑顿珠次仁在2004年撰写的《越过希望与想像解决西藏问题》一文中承认:“达赖喇嘛西藏和平五点计划和斯特拉斯堡建议的要求,无异于西藏独立。””
I don’t have a copy of the magazine and the article cited in the quote. If possible, I hope that you can find it and double check it. I would also like to know whether the article in香港文汇报 is accurate on that or not.

Selina   April 2nd, 2008 206 GMT

Tibet was a part of China before the United States Declaration of Independence!
Don't choose the word of "INVADED" any more to describe that war in 1951if you have no idea about history, culture and religions of Tibet!
Leave China alone and chinese know how to run and build their own country!
Stop bias medias in most of western worlds.

money world   April 2nd, 2008 352 GMT

Without the Olympics the world will be more peaceful and safe; no riots, no arson, no stone throwing, no killing, no violence, no western presidents/politicians boycott (no need to trouble them to meeting to get group boycott).

Yes, "Free Tibet", "Human Right", Biased Western Media are all supported by western politicians and interest groups activitists against a stronger and independence China for all peace loving Chinese.

Western media when reporting news on China and Asia countries tend to be biased treatment using double standard reporting language – words choice and tone in bad light. Western politicians and media sell to their domestic comsumption gaining approval in regard to peer pressure. They are using China and Asia countries as a political tool for their foreign policy tough showmanship to show that they are leader of the world. But they have lot of human rights problems in their countries from past history and even today.

This is how the world operate, some one will want to be a fool or idiot for sale, there is alway a buyer out there to pay to those idiots. Chinese saying: its take two hands to make a clapping sound.

Forrest   April 2nd, 2008 440 GMT

I post below someone else's article from the following link:
http://news.creaders.net/headline/newsViewer.php?nid=339707&id=790477&dcid=31

万维读者寒竹来稿(原题:达赖的藏独本质和他与中国政府的谈判):3月28日,位於印度达兰萨拉的西藏流亡政府发表了一封达赖致全球华人的公开信。这封信写得理性温和,文情并茂。达赖在信中表示他既不希望破坏北京奥运会,也并不寻求西藏独立。达赖谈到:“我关注的是西藏民族独特的文化、语言文字以及民族特性,并使之得以延续与保护的问题。做为一个如法守戒的佛教比丘,我保证,我的愿望是真诚的。我的动机是诚恳的。” 平心而论,仅就这封公开信的文字而言,它的确成功地表现出一个流亡僧侣的慈悲情怀和忍辱负重的心情。读到这种文字,人们难以不为之动情。但问题在于,事实真是象达赖讲的那样吗?

对于达赖要求对话的呼吁,中国政府的答复仍跟1979年邓小平对达赖代表提出的原则一样:只要不谈独立,西藏的其他问题是可以协商解决的。客观地讲,中国政府拒绝跟达赖谈判西藏的独立问题是合理的,这是一个主权国家坚持领土完整的题中应有之义。但这样一来,中国政府和达赖在西藏问题上表现出两种根本不同的说法。中国政府说,达赖从未放弃西藏独立的主张,中国政府不可能在西藏的独立问题上去和达赖谈判。而达赖则说,他并不寻求西藏独立,他只是要求西藏的真正自治,中国政府竟然拒不同他谈西藏的自治问题。中国政府和达赖在西藏问题上各执一词,在国内外形成了各自的支持者和反对者。但是,事实的真相只有一个,达赖究竟是主张西藏独立还仅仅是主张地方自治?达赖究竟是要和中国政府谈保存藏民族的宗教和文化问题还是要谈分裂中国国土的问题?

其实,只要揭开表面的煽情文字看一看达赖自己在西藏问题上的主张,事实非常清楚。达赖确实是一个坚持西藏独立的政治僧侣,中国政府不是没有跟达赖谈判。从二十世纪七十年代末以来,西藏流亡政府的代表团和达赖的特使跟中国政府谈了不下二十次。仅从2002年以来,达赖的特使就跟中国政府谈了五次,但终因达赖坚持西藏独立,坚持分裂中国的国土而没有谈出结果。

先来看看达赖关于西藏问题的一些基本主张。1987年,达赖在美国国会人权小组这样讲到:“真正的问题当然不在於印度和西藏之间的未定国界,而是在於中共的非法占据西藏。这使中共可以直接进窥印度次大陆。中共当局试图混淆视听,宣称西藏一直都是中国的一部份。这是不对的。人民解放军於一九四九年进入西藏时,西藏是一个完全独立的国家。………中共的侵略几乎引起自由世界所有国家的谴责,这是一个明显违反国际法的例子。在中共继续强占西藏时,世人应该牢记虽然西藏失去了自由,不过按照国际法,今天的西藏仍然是一个被非法占领的独立国家。”

达赖在这里讲得非常清楚,西藏在1949年以前是一个独立于中国之外的主权国家。而今天的西藏仍然是被中国非法占领。中国在西藏问题上的所作所为不是中国的内政,而是中国违背国际法的问题。

1988年6月15日,达赖在法国斯特拉斯堡对欧洲议会演说宣称:“中共於一九四九年强行侵略西藏。嗣後西藏就进入历来最黑暗的时代,一百多万西藏人民死於中共的占领。……. 每一个西藏人民都在祈祷国家早日完全恢复独立。数以千计的西藏人民牺牲了他们的性命,整个国家都还在挣扎。……….. 中国的领导阶层需要了解,对占领区进行殖民统治已经是过去时代的事了。真正的结合或是结盟只可能在自愿而且对有关各造都有利的情况下发生。欧洲共同体是一个很好的例子。”

达赖在斯特拉斯堡除了重复西藏在1949年以前是一个独立的国家以外,进一步强调,每一个西藏人都在盼望西藏独立。中国政府应该让西藏和中国结成欧盟式的共同体,这就是说,达赖要求西藏和中国建立一种国与国的联盟关系。

任何一个不带偏见的人读了达赖上述的文字,都难以否认达赖是要主张西藏独立。下面再来看看达赖和西藏流亡政府在跟中国政府谈判时要求的是什么。达赖和他的代表是要谈西藏独立的问题,还是要谈西藏自治中存在的民族和宗教问题?

从2002年以来,现任国际西藏运动(International Campaign for Tibet)董事会执行主席,也是西藏青年大会的创始人之一 的Lodi Gyalsen Gyari 作为达赖的特使就跟中国政府谈判了五次。从谈判的基本内容看,达赖在策略上作了重大调整,不在语言上公开要求独立,而是改称西藏在1949年以前是一个独立的主权国家,现在虽遭中国非法占领,但西藏流亡政府不寻求西藏独立,只是要求真正的自治。这个说法跟达赖在公开场合宣称的一样。这个说法是否属实,必须要看达赖在同中国政府谈判时所提出的基本要求。从达赖的谈判代表Lodi Gyalsen Gyari所透露的内容来看,达赖不仅是要求西藏独立,而且还是要求一种有强烈扩张性的独立,其中有两点至为重要。

首先,达赖坚持由全体藏人建立一个单一的藏族政体,从而把所有的藏人统一到一个单一政府下,这也就所谓“大西藏” 的主张。Lodi Gyalsen Gyari 作为达赖的特使向中国政府提出:“无论我们藏族被省界或者其他什么东西分离,我们都是一个民族,其他人也承认,只有一个藏族” 。“我们坚定地相信,我们必须坚定地坚持,告诉北京领导人,将所有藏人统一在一个政府之下是非常重要的。” 在以血缘种族为基础的条件下,达赖的特使向中国政府提出建立一个横跨五省,占中国土地约四分之一的“大西藏”要求。

在现代社会中,无论以民族血缘的根据来划分国际疆界还是划分国内地方边界都是荒谬和危险的。从国际上看,中国和新加坡在血缘和语言上都是由华人组成的社会,但这两个国家中的任何一个都不可能以血缘和语言文化的根据去把另一个国家统一过来。从中国情况看,全国五十六个民族大都混杂居住,没有一个省区是由一个单一民族居住。根据1990年的人口统计,当时居住在西藏自治区内的藏人大约为210多万人。聚居于四川、青海、甘肃、云南四省区的藏族人口也有 210多万人,另外散居于其他地区的藏人约为40多万人。这一人口结构说明西藏境外的藏人数量超过了西藏境内。现在有人说藏族人口有600多万,但中国藏人居住的分布区域并没有根本性的改变,藏民族有一半以上是居住在西藏自治区以外的川滇青甘等省。从藏人居住的地区看,传统上大致分为卫藏、康巴、安多三个地区。其中的卫藏在现在的西藏境内以拉萨为核心,而有藏人居住的康巴、安多地区则跨越了四川,云南,青海,甘肃等省。这些地区的疆土连在一起约占中国全部国土的四分之一。如果由仅占中国人口百分之零点几的藏人在四分之一的中国土地上建立一个以血缘为纽带的单一民族政体行得通吗?为了保持“大西藏”是一个单一的藏族社会,这些土地上的汉族,回族,彝族等民族将被迫迁出。达赖要求以民族和血缘来构成一个政体这个出发点本身就是荒谬的,这既跟现代文明社会的构成背道而驰,在现实中也没有可能性。

“大西藏”行不通是显然的,但这个“大西藏”跟西藏独立又是什么关系呢?达赖在向中国政府提出“大西藏”的基础上进一步提出了另一个超出地方自治的要求,这就是要求中国军队从“大西藏”地区撤走,在包括西藏自治区全境,并跨越川滇青甘等省的“大西藏”建立一个“和平缓冲区”。达赖要求这个由藏民族构成的“大西藏”内不能够有中国的驻军,这样一种“大西藏”难道仅仅是一种自治而不是独立吗?这个占了中国土地四分之一,但中国政府却不能驻军的“大西藏” 还算是中国的领土吗?达赖口头上宣布不寻求西藏独立,但在实质上不仅要求独立,而且还把独立的疆域大大地扩展开来,这不比公开宣布独立更具有危险性吗?这样一种变相独立的要求能够和中国政府谈出结果来吗?如果这种独立的要求不放弃,中国政府还会继续跟达赖谈判吗?从这个意义上说,达赖讲的要求自治而不寻求独立只是一种政治宣传,是想让不了解情况的人对他产生同情之心,从而误导舆论。达赖确实是打“和平牌”和“温和牌”的高手,也确实能够误导一些不了解西藏情况的人。笔者谨希望人们在读到达赖对全球华人谦卑温和的公开信时,应该对达赖的政治主张和跟中国政府谈判的内容有一个基本的了解。事实的真相是,达赖确实是一个主张西藏独立的政治僧侣,中国政府并没有拒绝跟达赖谈判,而是谈了很多次,谈判没有取得成功的根本原因是达赖坚持西藏独立。

news4vip   April 2nd, 2008 1032 GMT

Japan's Emperor Akihito and other members of the royal family are unlikely to attend the Beijing Olympics amid concerns here about China's crackdown in Tibet and other issues, a report said Wednesday.

The Japanese government thinks it is not a good time for a rare royal visit because of the unrest in Tibet, a recent health scare over Chinese-made "gyoza" dumplings and a spat over disputed gas fields, the Sankei daily said.

"We were planning not to ask royals to go even before the gyoza incident (surfaced in January). It is all the more true now that the Tibetan unrest occurred," it quoted an unnamed government official as saying.

Japanese authorities have confirmed at least 10 people suffered pesticide poisoning after eating tainted dumplings imported from China.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao invited Emperor Akihito and other royals to the opening ceremony of the August Olympics when he visited Japan last year.

The emperor told Wen then that the government decides on the royal family's foreign trips, a palace spokesman said.

The foreign ministry said no formal decision had been made.

"Nothing has been decided regarding the attendance of dignitaries," a ministry official said.

The last trip to China by members of Japan's imperial household was a landmark visit by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in 1992.

China remains deeply resentful over Japan's brutal occupation from 1931 to 1945, an era in which the Japanese revered Akihito's father Hirohito as a demigod.

The two countries have recently worked to mend ties, which were strained by former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi's annual visits to a war shrine in Tokyo, which Beijing regards as a symbol of Japan's militarist past.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to visit Japan in the coming months.
http://www.france24.com/en/20080402-japans-royals-likely-skip-olympics-report

Yaoyao   April 2nd, 2008 1643 GMT

Forrest:

It's known to all that the Dalai Lama has repeatedly and openly declared that he is not seeking independence. I think what you and the Chinese government should do now is try to make this statement legitimate at international level to avoid any dispute in the long run.

Otherwise, just keep questioning about the Dalai Lama's statements doesn't help to solve the issue.

It seems both of us don't know what are the real barriers of the dialogue? It's quite frustrating. I don't know whether keeping process of the dialogue for themselves do any favors to the Chinese and Tibetan public. I believe the riots in Tibet partially took place out of frustration for not knowing any progression on the dialogue.

We all are entitled to take whatever position we wish to but we should make sure it’s an informed position. So I don’t want to make any further comments on this.

safety first   April 3rd, 2008 428 GMT

Royals or Presidents not attending the Beijing Olympics is because they are afraid to be hurt by the riot Tibetans/protestors but not about "concern China's crackdown in Tibet" as an excuse to not to attend. They have to think about their own safety first. That the truth.

Asian   April 3rd, 2008 1416 GMT

These posts(about the relation of chinese to tibetan) remind me of "the Pied Piper of Hamelin"

"The rats came out of all the houses in Hamelin. They all followed the pied piper. They ran down the steps and into the river and seemed to disappear into the dark water..."

I think we know the right thing. But sometims we can't help choosing the wrong thing.

But in human history, there have been great humans who made histories.
I(an asian) hope that someone will appear upon the scene of history and solve these problems.

jjjj   April 3rd, 2008 2231 GMT

chinese lies people dies is true, 150 died roughly and how many still dying in torture in prison,

jjjj   April 3rd, 2008 2232 GMT

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, peace please

wang yao fing   April 3rd, 2008 2234 GMT

tibetan are lier, cnn is good, communist is good, they did not kill any tibetan now and they said they did not kill any people of falun gon and tainanmen, i trust china, my mother.

Guonan   April 3rd, 2008 2245 GMT

Most Chinese people and their government support the idea of preserving the Tibetan culture.

What most Chinese and their government want is to keep the seperation of religion and government, even in Tibet.

What most Chinese and their government do NOT want is a return to the old Tibetan slavery system where lamas were the slave masters.

Fanny   April 4th, 2008 1556 GMT

First declare here, I was born and grown up in Hong Kong in British colonial times, and not a "product made in Communist China". I'm not into politics, and enjoy free access to all websites & news sources.

Just want to express my deep disappointment & disgust on how biased report could be made by CNN & some other Western media.

How come people setting fire on and throwing stones towards the innocents, destroying shops and properties can be interpreted as simply "protest". Clearly it was a riot. Without searching various news sources or watching the videos taken by tourists in Tibet, I would be cheated. What's wrong of a government to settle a riot by using limited force?

Ever since the event of 1989 Tiananmen Square, I have had more credit to Western media than Chinese ones. But now, sorry, I should make a second thought.

Asian   April 4th, 2008 1627 GMT

Most Chinese people and their government support the idea of preserving the Tibetan culture.
(Maybe people in Tibet are not chinese.)

What most Chinese and their government want is to keep the seperation of religion and government, even in Tibet.
(Maybe what chinese government have to do first is the separation of the political party and the three powers. (religion and government are up to Tibetans not to chinese))

What most Chinese and their government do NOT want is a return to the old Tibetan slavery system where lamas were the slave masters.
(Maybe what most chinese and their government want is to preserve slavery system where han people are the slave masters. (give back political and economic power to tibetans just like before 1950))

Guonan   April 4th, 2008 2320 GMT

The following contrast is useful for readers at large.

(A)
Most Chinese people and their government support the idea of preserving the Tibetan culture.
(Maybe people in Tibet are not chinese.)

Most people in Tibet may not be Chinese, just like some people in the nearby regions of Tibet are Tibetans. Or Most people in the US and Australia are not natives - they are settlers.

(B)
What most Chinese and their government want is to keep the seperation of religion and government, even in Tibet.
(Maybe what chinese government have to do first is the separation of the political party and the three powers. (religion and government are up to Tibetans not to chinese))

Please make this proposal as a core contition of Dala Lama when he and Beijing meet (for more 20 times in the past).

(C)

What most Chinese and their government do NOT want is a return to the old Tibetan slavery system where lamas were the slave masters.
(Maybe what most chinese and their government want is to preserve slavery system where han people are the slave masters. (give back political and economic power to tibetans just like before 1950))

It is good to know that some choose not to mention that elite lamas were the slave maters in Tibet before the 1950s. It is also good to know that some choose to believe Han Chinese are slave masters in Tibert today. Maybe settlers in Canada are now the slave masters of native Indians?

free tibet!!!!!!!   April 5th, 2008 1001 GMT

I am a Tibetan, I don' t care about independence or freedom, what i want is to humiliate china and make the Beijing Olympics as ugly as possible.
I know Han Chinese have paid a lot for the Olympics, if I can disappoint them, I will do whatever I can......... Tibet forever!!US forever!!!!!

Yaoyao   April 5th, 2008 1427 GMT

Guonan:
Without a bit of knowledge about Tibetan culture, it's impossible to talk about preservation.

Tibetan culture is closely associated with Buddhism and I don't know whether we can talk about Tibetan culture without referring it to Buddhism.

In China, we read more about Karl Marx and we have little access to Max Weber's work. If you read Max Weber's the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, you will have better understanding of religion's role in economic development.

Some scholars are questioning whether it's appropriate to regard Buddhism as a religion. Post-modernists are very much interested in Buddhist philosophy in dealing with interrelation of Mind/Body and the notion of subjectivity/the self.

The 13th Dalai Lama and Tibetan people tried to reform its socio-economic and political system and the current Dalai Lama has reputation of reforming many aspect of Tibetan political system.
I would love to welcome your comments on Tibet and at the same time, I would also like to encourage you to read different sources on Tibet and its culture.

tsewang   April 6th, 2008 219 GMT

Hi
I follow the tibetan budhism by Birth.I have a big reverence for HH dalai Lama. I am Indian .I hav never been to tibet.I hav many Tibetan friends.In my opinion it appears that both HH and CCP misunderstood each others.Let me begin with the very basic doctrine of budhism what HH preaches.
1.Nothing is permanent.Things change with time.Ask the question why the monestries sre crowded with so many monks.1st there are sincere dhamma practitioners.2nd once upon a time that was the only way to survive.Particularly in rugged mountain region shortage of food resouce etc.
2.Source of problem is attachment.Is it not so that people of Tibtet are too much attached to HH.in such situation could we see the reality.
Now question comes what is reality?
tsewang

tsewang   April 6th, 2008 238 GMT

Now lets talk about reality.
Isnot there some reality inCCp arguement about thier position.
there was theocracy in Tibet before 50's.It was partially slave country.
But of course HH dalai was the head.but from historical account it appears that He was always for reforms.either that be 13th dalai lama or present HH.It was the HH who taught Mongal emperor how to be civilized.So CCp should regard all this point.But problems were with High class tibetans.They were never ready to shed thier priviliges.That part was done by CCP.It is true that CCP had done many blunder wrongs.But that all were mistake in persuit to make people and country stronger.Today if we see the recent history of world.It is the CCP which appears fastest learners from thier mistake.Unprecedent growth in economy is not magic.Go to the history of economic development in west.revolutios,1st ww,2nd ww,genocides all were thier byproduct of industrial revolution.still continuing is the Iraq war again for thier economic development.

Buddhism   April 6th, 2008 1534 GMT

Those who are Buddhist know that Buddhism is NOT a religion. Buddha is our teacher. Buddhism is education of life, after life, the non-existence of self.....the 3 poisons of greed, hatred and delusion. We are slave from our attachments such as power, famous, rich, sex, material luxury..... True freedom come from pure mind free from attachments(wants).

Buddhism has no class system, everyone is treated as equal, whether you are Tibetan, Han, Hui, ....all are Chinese (unlike Tibetan class culture, lama upper class, lords, slaves), human or animal. Buddhism seek fact, truth but not superficial believe or hearsay. A true Buddhist will NOT resort to violence and killing, seek publicity and power, create hatred and unpeace.

Buddhist monks are not politician, holy and power do not mix.

Eric   April 6th, 2008 2138 GMT

Buddhism is a religion. Like all other religions, the essence of Buddhism talks about how ones present day actions will affect what will happen to one, after ones death.

To accept Buddhism, one needs faith instead of reasoning.

While one can be philosophical about Buddhism, I have a problem seeing Buddhism as a philosophy (a study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, existence, or reality). Like all religions, Buddhism has a set of a priori dogmatic premises (reincarnation, karma, etc.) one must accept and follow, and it doesn't open itself to criticism or questioning.

Calling Buddhism a philosophy is like calling Astrology or Feng Shui science.

The Tibetans, as many had pointed out, have embraced Buddhism wholeheartedly worshipping, serving the elite lamas hoping to have a better next life.

Asian   April 7th, 2008 332 GMT

Guonan

(A)
(Maybe people in Tibet are not chinese.)

Most people in Tibet may not be Chinese, just like some people in the nearby regions of Tibet are Tibetans. Or Most people in the US and Australia are not natives — they are settlers.

(1) I mean I don't agree that CCP supports the idea of preserving the Tibetan culture.
(as you know, tibetan and uighur people must learn chinese language and culture to get a good education and good job even in their hometown because of CCP's policy. And as you know CCP doesn't like religious people in comparison with other countries.)
(2) I heard that majority people in Lasa are Han people who have come from mainland since 1950.
(Also I heard that many han people have come from mainland to Uighur's Kashgar since 1999 Lanxin Railway completion and they have taken economic power from Uighur people just like they have done in Tibet.)
(3) USA and Australia are regretting what they did to natives, and CCP who knows western's regret very well has been doing and rationalizing what they would regret.

(B)
(Maybe what chinese government have to do first is the separation of the political party and the three powers. (religion and government are up to Tibetans not to chinese))

Please make this proposal as a core contition of Dala Lama when he and Beijing meet (for more 20 times in the past).

(1) Religion and government in tibet are up to Tibetans not to chinese. They are none of chinese's business.
(2) If you really are a patriot, please make this proposal(the separation of CCP and the three powers) to CCP. (Of course I know that If you really do that, you will be put into jail.)
(3) First of all, please persuade Beijing to meet Dala Lama.

(C)
(Maybe what most chinese and their government want is to preserve slavery system where han people are the slave masters. (give back political and economic power to tibetans just like before 1950))

It is good to know that some choose not to mention that elite lamas were the slave maters in Tibet before the 1950s. It is also good to know that some choose to believe Han Chinese are slave masters in Tibert today. Maybe settlers in Canada are now the slave masters of native Indians?

(1) Yes, As Canadian did, CCP has made tibet and uighur's natives into slaves. And in the near future chinese immigrants from mainland will be the slave masters of native tibetans and uighurs?

tsewang   April 7th, 2008 711 GMT

asian
i am from india.this problem of ethnic clash due to migration of one community for economic reason is much common in India also.
In indian constitution some privision are made so that sensitive place remain out of touch.In such place people can rent the property butcannot owe.
i ask you in case of independent coutry will this problem disappear.
No.See the Nepal.I tell you aweful story of Nepal.Butan is not much different.thanks to the maoist revolution that has taken place in that place.
I belong to Hill state in india where most the labour force constitue of Nepali migrant labour.I think all exile tibetans could see themselve.Lets have courage to hear the aweful condition of nepali people.I pray God some peace ,some prosperity prevails there.I know there are paid not more than two dollar aday.They work stranous physical work for 12 hrs aday.(You confirm from any NGo'S if I am wrong.It is one of the poorest country on the earth.The education ,health sysytem is same pre 50's.Maximum no's of gal trafficking is done from Nepal.In major in Indian cities brothals nepali gal are commanly seen.Last but not least Nepal boast itself of having one the oldest morachy on the earth.As some of the our friend has said talking about human right sitting in luxuriou room is mich easy.
And as For HH dalai lama is concerned he knows the the reality.Infact i would say he is the embodiment of reality.
In Nepal most of the businesses are dominated by indian.Native Nepalis have two things to export.1.physiacal labour minus skill.2.Many young one are recruited for soldier purpose in indian army and British army.

Asian   April 7th, 2008 809 GMT

tsewang

Do Nepal people envy Tibetan people?
Do Nepal people want their country to be a colony just like Tibet?

And Tibet and Uyghur are totally different from Nepal.
The majority of natural resources in China is buried in Tibet and Uyghur. I think Tibet and Uyghur could be Saudi Arabia. (If they could be independent countries just like Nepal)

CCP also have developed Tibet and Uyghur (like 西部大開發, 靑藏鐵道, etc) to get natural resources and to migrate han people to those regions.
After one generation, there will be more han people than tibetan or uyghur people in Tibet and Uyghur. And of course those regions won't be called Tibet(Uyghur) Autonomous Province any more. Maybe they will be called Xizang(西藏) Province and Xinjiang(新疆) Province.

Do you really think han people's migration to those regions is natural migration?

tsewang   April 7th, 2008 847 GMT

Some also say nepal could have been switzerland.

tsewang   April 7th, 2008 851 GMT

asian
could you please tell me with example the method of making han to migrate to tibet

China guy   April 7th, 2008 901 GMT

This whole Tibet situation has reviewed yet again all these grand talks from people living in the West. It's just a good topic to discuss in bars & feel elated – head & shoulders above the rest!! Tibetans, you are being used by the West.

Never in America's history had so many white people condeming how the US had treated the Blacks before Martin Luther King Jr. It's so plain obvious that all the talks of boycott has a hidden agenda. I have nothing against the Tibetan people, you guys are being used by the West. Think about this, after the Olympic games is over, do you think that the Western media will still show all these images on TV?? Think again. It's very simple to see what's trendy these days:

1/ China bashing
2/ Boycott the Olympics
3/ Recall ALL Chinese imports
4/ Bash their human rights record
5/ Back to item 1 above, again for "N" times.

It's a pity that times have not changed the way the West approach China as a country, nothing has really changed since the 18th century. It's basically a "pirate culture". Only that the modern day pirates dress in suits, have good acting & presentation skills and with a good media coverage. Shame on you to use the Tibetan people for your greedy ends.
IF you can't beat China, gang-up & beat them!

Damien   April 7th, 2008 951 GMT

Great! CNN has done a great job on turning up the heat.

Now, We can invade China just like we did with Iraq 5 years ago! or we can break China into many small counties just like we did with Russa 10 years ago.

Who care if Iraq people or Russian have freedom or not, the most important thing is "Nobody can challenge us now!" – American is the evil and the god to rule the world.

BoycottLondon   April 7th, 2008 1019 GMT

Today's news said in London that "Some demonstrators threw themselves at the torch, and at least one tried to snatch it away. Another tried to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher. They were quickly pushed back and cuffed by Metropolitan Police, which said its officers made 36 arrests on a variety of charges".

I believe all 36 people should be free without charging. Why are they need to be charged? they are peaseful demonstrators! At least, they did not kill anybody, they did not burn any shops & cars. They are peaseful demonstrators! Is there any freedom in London? Lets boycott London! Lets thrown the London government away!

China Guy   April 7th, 2008 1331 GMT

Damien,

Wishful thinking but what utter non-sense that you have expressed. Nonetheless you did speak out what many people in the West are thinking though. Tibet should be an independent country IF:

California goes back to Mexico, Alaska back to Russia, Scotland becomes independent, The Fauklands become independent, and especially....

New Caledonia goes back to Polynesia

HOW COME THE FRENCH HAVE A TERRITORY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC??

FREE "NEW CALEDONIA"

Goodness, I studied history and never realized that somewhere in the South Pacific in a place called New Caledonia, it's French territory. What a scandal!!!!

Wangyao   April 7th, 2008 1923 GMT

It's time for the "New China" to realize they are wrong to underestimate Tibet and its people. Any justification for Chinese rule in Tibet will be impossible without endorsement of the Dalai Lama.

Look! What has happened to the Olympic torch in Paris and London? Cutting the Olympic torch relay short in Paris is surely not what China expected. What a shame to see the Olympic spirit is dooming in the hands of China. Luckily, Paris and London are not China and no one worries about whether they will be tortured.

Wangyao   April 7th, 2008 2004 GMT

"tsewang":

What matter is not your identity but content of your posts.

If you want to know resettlement issues of Chinese immigrants in Tibet, below is an example and visit this link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/427119.stm) to read the original news article and you will learn more ugly side of the project. I have to say this resettlement project failed to carry out due to World Bank withdrew under pressure. But this is enough to prove that China is working on its resettlement policy in Tibet.

"Controversial project "

The Dulan County relocation program is linked to a controversial World Bank poverty project, which is opposed by the United States and Tibetan exile groups.

The groups say Beijing is populating pro-independence Tibetan regions with thousands of Chinese settlers in a project that could reignite violent ethnic hostilities, wipe out Tibetan culture and damage the fragile environment.

The area is also near to the birthplace of the Dalai Lama who lives in exile in India.

The World Bank has loaned China $160m for the project, but has imposed a temporary freeze on the resettlement money until a panel reviews whether the decision violates the Bank's own rules.

Wangyao   April 7th, 2008 2039 GMT

Eric:

Once again you showed to the world the true quality of "made in china" products.

You said Buddhism doesn’t open itself to criticism or questioning.

I wonder where did you read this from? Can you give any sources?

david   April 7th, 2008 2058 GMT

Dalai Lama accepts money from whoever he can money from including Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Supreme Truth cult, which subsequently attacked the Tokyo Subway system with sarin nerve gas.
-----------------

The Dalai Lama may be universally admired; but he is poorly advised. His condemnation of China for alleged "cultural genocide" strengthens China's depiction of him as a separatist, ethnic leader bent on splitting his homeland from China.

China is an incredibly vast, multiethnic, multicultural country. It will never relinquish its right to modernize and develop Tibet, which was a feudal theocracy (actually admired by Hitler and his Nazi henchmen for its swastika and brutality) before China liberated the Tibetan people from serfdom in 1951. No outside powers (not even occult-obsessed Nazi Germany, which sent emissaries to Tibet) have ever recognized it as a sovereign state. Without China, the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising against China, would most likely still be Tibet's absolute ruler, and illiteracy, ignorance, and crushing poverty would still prevail there.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, incidentally, has never satisfactorily apologized for the fact that monk-exploited, endlessly taxed Tibetans had no human rights before China intervened in Tibet's affairs. Nor has he apologized for his life-long friendship with at least two notorious Nazis, including a major SS figure, Dr. Bruno Berger (whose photo with the Dalai Lama appears below), and shocking acceptance of a substantial donation (45 million rupees, or about 170 million yen) from Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Supreme Truth cult, which subsequently attacked the Tokyo Subway system with sarin nerve gas. A photo of the Dalai Lama and the psychotic cult leader appears above. The Dalai Lama also seems to have maintained a friendly relationship with the Chilean Nazi mystic, Miguel Serrano, whose photo appears below the Berger image.

For most Buddhists, apology is a central teaching. One would also expect the Dalai Lama to apologize for–and unequivocally denounce–the recent, un-Buddhist-like Tibetan riot that targeted innocent Chinese civilians and businesses for destruction.

With the above in mind, a recent essay by Brendan O'Neill, editor of Spiked, is a must-read. A sharp critic of China's Communist Party (which he mistakenly calls "Stalinist"), O'Neill writes:

In many ways, campaigners and commentators in the West are projecting their own disgust with ‘the Western way of life’ on to China. They see in China everything that they doubt or loathe about modernity itself. That is why commentators frequently tell China not to make ‘the same mistakes that we made’. On everything from economic growth to sporting competitiveness, from the use of coal to the building of skyscrapers, today’s China-bashing is motivated by Western self-loathing, as well as by spite and envy towards the seemingly successful Chinese. Ironically, this means that China is now seen as ‘the Other’ precisely because it appears too Western: it is China’s ambition, growth, its leaps forward – things that a more confident West might once have celebrated – which make it seem alien to Western observers who today prefer carbon-counting to factory-building and road tolls to road construction. China-bashing is underpinned by a crisis of belief in the West in things such as progress, growth, development.

It is the sweeping consensus that China is dangerous and diseased that has attracted Western observers to the issue of Tibet. Both left and right elements in the West are exploiting the Tibet issue as a way of putting pressure on China. They are less interested in securing real freedom and equality for Tibetans, and for the Chinese people more broadly, than they are in using and abusing internal disgruntlement in China and nearby territories as a way of humiliating the Chinese government. That is why Tibetans can symbolise different things to different people. For conservative commentators, the Tibetans are warriors for freedom against a Stalinist monolith; their protests are a replay of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989. For greener, more liberal campaigners, Tibetans are symbols of natural and mystical purity in contrast to rampant Western and Chinese consumerism. As one author puts it, Tibetan culture offers ‘powerful, untarnished and coherent alternatives to Western egotistical lifestyles [and] our gradually more pointless pursuit of material interests’. Various political factions in the West are using Tibetans as ventriloquist dummies in order to mouth their own complaints against modern China. They are promoting Tibetan unrest not to liberate Tibetans but in the hope that the protests will represent their own personal disgust for China in a real-world, physical manner.

There is a long history of Western politicians and activists using Tibet as a stick with which to beat China. In his fascinating book Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West, Donald S Lopez Jnr shows how, in the Western imagination, ‘the invasion of Tibet by [China] was and still is represented as an undifferentiated mass of godless Communists overrunning a peaceful land devoted only to ethereal pursuits… Tibet embodies the spiritual and the ancient, China the material and the modern. Tibetans are superhuman, Chinese are subhuman.’ Today, too, pro-Tibetan activism often disguises a view of the Chinese as subhuman. Indeed, in the current, all-encompassing right/left consensus about China, even left-leaning campaigns can employ old right tactics of demonising the Chinese. A poster for the trendy campaign group Free Tibet shows Tibetans as serene and peaceful and the Chinese as smog-producing modernisers with distinctly slitty eyes and goofy teeth.

The Washington-Hollywood embrace of the Dalai Lama fuels Chinese nationalism and refocuses attention on his well documented role as a recipient of CIA funding. During the Cold War, the US intelligence agency spent tens of millions of dollars on pro-Dalai Lama Tibetan guerrillas, set up a training camp for Tibetan fighters in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, helped the Dalai Lama to escape to India after the failed armed insurrection of 1959, and established Tibet cultural centers in New York and Geneva to keep alive the dream of an independent Tibet. The CIA also paid the Dalai Lama a personal stipend of $180,000 a year. The Nixon administration ended CIA support for the Tibetan movement while maintaining the spiritual leader's direct subsidy. In recent years, he has criticized the US for supporting Tibet in those days for narrow political reasons; he has also argued against US retaliation against Al Qaeda and radical Islam for the 9/11 attacks.

VIDEO:

No Shangri-La: More on Old Tibet can be found here.

In feudal Tibet, torture and mutilation–including eye gouging, the pulling out of tongues, hamstringing, and amputation–were favored punishments inflicted upon thieves, and runaway or resistant serfs. Journeying through Tibet in the 1960s, Stuart and Roma Gelder interviewed a former serf, Tsereh Wang Tuei, who had stolen two sheep belonging to a monastery. For this he had both his eyes gouged out and his hand mutilated beyond use. He explains that he no longer is a Buddhist: “When a holy lama told them to blind me I thought there was no good in religion.”21 Since it was against Buddhist teachings to take human life, some offenders were severely lashed and then “left to God” in the freezing night to die. “The parallels between Tibet and medieval Europe are striking,” concludes Tom Grunfeld in his book on Tibet.

In 1959, Anna Louise Strong visited an exhibition of torture equipment that had been used by the Tibetan overlords. There were handcuffs of all sizes, including small ones for children, and instruments for cutting off noses and ears, gouging out eyes, breaking off hands, and hamstringing legs. There were hot brands, whips, and special implements for disemboweling. The exhibition presented photographs and testimonies of victims who had been blinded or crippled or suffered amputations for thievery. There was the shepherd whose master owed him a reimbursement in yuan and wheat but refused to pay. So he took one of the master’s cows; for this he had his hands severed. Another herdsman, who opposed having his wife taken from him by his lord, had his hands broken off. There were pictures of Communist activists with noses and upper lips cut off, and a woman who was raped and then had her nose sliced away.

Earlier visitors to Tibet commented on the theocratic despotism. In 1895, an Englishman, Dr. A. L. Waddell, wrote that the populace was under the “intolerable tyranny of monks” and the devil superstitions they had fashioned to terrorize the people. In 1904 Perceval Landon described the Dalai Lama’s rule as “an engine of oppression.” At about that time, another English traveler, Captain W.F.T. O’Connor, observed that “the great landowners and the priests… exercise each in their own dominion a despotic power from which there is no appeal,” while the people are “oppressed by the most monstrous growth of monasticism and priest-craft.” Tibetan rulers “invented degrading legends and stimulated a spirit of superstition” among the common people. In 1937, another visitor, Spencer Chapman, wrote, “The Lamaist monk does not spend his time in ministering to the people or educating them. . . . The beggar beside the road is nothing to the monk. Knowledge is the jealously guarded prerogative of the monasteries and is used to increase their influence and wealth.”24 As much as we might wish otherwise, feudal theocratic Tibet was a far cry from the romanticized Shangri La so enthusiastically nurtured by Buddhism’s western proselytes.

Benjamin   April 7th, 2008 2345 GMT

We are all focused on the Tibet issue in China?
why because now the Olympics are coming to China, and what better way to advertise this issue. Now im not saying, that Tibet should have freedom, by all means, they should live in freedom and harmony just like everyone else. But what about my nationality...My parents had to leave Spain because they were considered Terrorists. We live in Canada now, I was born here, but my mom worked as a School teacher, and my father for the phone company in Spain. They didnt do anything, but were considered Terrorists, because my dad liked the PKK. I hate bush, and how he likes to play the cards. He gives freedome to Kosovo, and all the countrys follow him, but he WON'T and i say this again WON't recognized our nationality, BASQUE.. We never spoke SPanish or French, and never will, we have never been part of either of these countrys, and I will continue to voice my opionion on my parents HOMELAND. GIVE BASQUE its FREEDOM it deserves. We been waiting over 500 years for this. But if you think French will give us land, or Spain, forget. But the French president wants to Boycott the Olympics, Can i say POLITICS and Favoring one more time

China Guy   April 8th, 2008 031 GMT

Well done David, very good points. Your research on the subject is insightful & provides us a better view of the place from the Western perspective. I must say that some people who have been to Tibet once & then talk as if they are expert on the subject. That is disgraceful. It's OK if someone has a view, but like the CNN slogan years ago, "be in the know". Lets start to have some educated and sensible arguments on the subject.

Eric   April 8th, 2008 622 GMT

Wangyao:

I do find your “made in china products" rather intriguing. You must have a strong hatred towards goods from China. Or do you meant to say "Typical comment from someone from China"?

"You said Buddhism doesn’t open itself to criticism or questioning.
I wonder where did you read this from? Can you give any sources?"

While I will be the first to admit my limited knowledge on Buddhism, my own relatively open minded study on the subject matter concludes that karma is an undisputed premise and so is reincarnation in the Buddhist system.

Of course, the supreme authority of the Dalai Lama is another taboo, despite the fact that he was merely chosen by man just a few hundred years ago. Have you seen anyone carrying out an intellectual discussion on the validity of the fairness of karma or the righteousness of the Dalai Lama?

Buddhism can only make sense to those, and only to those who blindly accept its many dogmatic premises. It is nothing but a faith based religious belief in my opinion.

Nevertheless, I do find Buddhism a most interesting subject to study, especially in the social context of mind control like all other religion. As a philosophy, I'm afraid it doesn't hold water in my books. To me, philosophy has to do with reasoning, and not blind faith or superstition.

Anyway, we are getting off topic. My biggest problem with the Dalai Lama, is that he is getting way too much credit for being a corrupted politician. He plays his religious cards well (as we are all taught to respect others religion), with it, he plays dirty politics.

I agree with whoever was earlier criticizing the Dalai Lama for not ever condemning serfdom. One one hand, he talks about culture genocide, yet his own elite monks (himself included) were practising slavery before they got kicked out in 1959.

C. Chen   April 8th, 2008 655 GMT

i find a very interesting thing is about Chinese governemen't's cencorship. those media often cry they want to visit Tibet freely and report a real Tibet. but when Chinese government organized trip for them to Tibet, did u find anything new about Tibet riot? NO, NEVER! they only reported a monstery where Lama told them they were repressed by the government! I don't think they just visited one place in Tibet in 2-days trip? Otherwise, their efficiency is awful!
so from that, i now totally understand why our government doesn't let western media go to there: they have been lost their credibility to Chinese very long long ago! we never hope truth about China can be told by them! so why do we need them?
And i feel sorry for those western people, because Chinese people know very clearly we are living in the world with strict censership, but they know nothing about their situation! what a pity!

tsewang   April 8th, 2008 707 GMT

Wangyao
you have said,'what matter is the content of the post."

tell me,Does it hurt to listen the reality?

I donot know in where you are born and brought up.i can open up your eye to many of the harsh realities.
To my surpriese many of the pro tibet people donot even stick to reality to which HH keeps reminding them of.
Same is the case with the pro CCp people.

Buddhism 101   April 8th, 2008 859 GMT

Western social science view Buddhism as philosophy but this is western information to you. Tibetan Buddhism become popular by hollywood celebrities like Richard Gere. Because most Tibetan can speak English so the western feel closer to Tibetan.

There are some Tibetan cultural superstition believes blend into Tibetan Buddhism. Just like Han Taoism believe combine with Buddhism that caused confusion sometime. Buddhism is fact, truth and reasoning. Buddhism encourage followers to ask any questions and not just accept anything when given, unlike other religious

Albert Einstein said that Buddhism will be 21 century "religious". Western scientists still struggling about the universe,time,space, Buddhism has all the answers. West do not believe in reincarnation but now they are making some progress. You do not die, you just transcend from this dimension world to another dimension world(space).

economic   April 8th, 2008 1001 GMT

you do not have choice to buy China products, its is something call economic. China dunt owe the west a living and vice versa, no trade no progress. The west also export unapproved drugs and chemical to other countries bcos you dont get from western media reporting. From mistake learned, China is making quality products policy for both domestic and export.

tsewang   April 8th, 2008 1307 GMT

budhism 101
you have started discussion on budhism

Here I do say ,as HH dalai lama keeps reasononig that most of the problem starts from attachement.Isnot it irony that people are too much are attached to HH.Do they really appreciate What He say.

Wangyao   April 8th, 2008 1311 GMT

"tsewang"

You asked:

"asian
could you please tell me with example the method of making han to migrate to tibet."

I gave you example of this in my previous post and isn't that harsh reality. Why did you keep silence on the example of harsh reality?

I was educated and worked in China and I don't think you are in a position to "open up my eye to many of the harsh realities" in China and particularly in Tibet. Even if you have been to Tibet/China, it would be a "走马观花" (Look at flowers while riding on horseback, meaning to gain a superficial understanding through cursory observation).

Wangyao   April 8th, 2008 1347 GMT

"tsewang",

How could people outside China know the reality while China is keeping journalists away from Tibet?

There are many journalists want to risk dangers to report from Iraq and China shouldn't stop indenpendent journalists reporting from Tibet.

Times reported that On 1st Apri 2008, the Olympics committee told China "Stop blocking the internet". (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3659665.ece)

Why China is afraid of information flow if they are "strong", as they claim?

Wangyao   April 8th, 2008 1520 GMT

Eric:

I have to say I don't buy "made in china" products simply because they are crap and I don't get value for my money in buying them. It's simple economic issue and it's not a "philosophical" and nationalistic issue.

I welcome your acknowledgement of knowing little about Buddhism. Although I am not an expert myself, I can tell that you are confused on few points on the topic. Buddhism is not all about Tibetan Buddhism. Even Tibetan Buddhism is differentiated into a numbers of sects.

I don’t think there is much "rationality" in your argument claiming "Buddhism can only make sense to those, and only to those who blindly accept its many dogmatic premises".

I know China has got problem with any forms of religions, not only Buddhism. But I don’t think you can simply degrading Buddhism with sentimental arguments and crazy physical destructions like "Cultural Revolution". The last thing I want to do here is trying to persuade you and China to change your mind on Buddhism and other religions. As a Buddhist, I feel sorry for you being so ignorant.

Many prestigious universities in North America and Europe, including Harvard, Yale and Oxford provide undergraduate and post-graduate courses on Buddhism. If you are truly open to questioning and reasoning, I think it’s time to wake up and do some serious research.
Harvard University:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hbc/courses.php
Oxford University:
http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=O08P616THW
Yale University:
http://www.yale.edu/religiousstudies/fields/astudies.html

Wangyao   April 8th, 2008 1554 GMT

Benjamin:

I support your fighting for freedom from Spain and France. Do you think the Spanish and French public treat you the same way as their governments?

Buddhism 101   April 8th, 2008 1611 GMT

HH Dalai Lama already show so much attachments, so how much do you expect from the people(tibetan), sorry to say that but its fact, needless to say more.

The traditional Tibet culture is lama upper class, lords, slaves class system so what kind of tradition and culture to keep? for the slaves class? Buddhism, all are equal.

Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from China emperor.

david   April 8th, 2008 1712 GMT

Irish Liberation Army is the violent arm of the Irish Independent Movement. British government sent everyone of the Irish Liberation Army to jail who committed bombing or killing in Northern Ireland.

Thus, the Chinese government is justified to send all those Tibetan rioters who committed crime by setting building on fire and setting people on fire alive to jail.

------–
The US government doesn't allow any broadcasting of the English version of TV Al Jazeera because of its anti-US rhetoric. When the US government invite a selected group of journalists to visit the US detention center in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Al Jazeera is not invited because it is not considered friendly.

Thus, Chinese government is justified to close the Tibet to the west news media as they have not been unbiased in their reporting. These news medias have resorted to lying, deliberate fabrication, and distortion at best in their reporting.

I have a small example of that. There are tens of larger examples.

Here is the CNN wording on its report of the Olympic Torch Relay yesterday. Is CNN really a free non-biased media? CNN is showing the world its true face again. No wonder the western news media has no market in Arab World. Now CNN is losing the Chinese Market.

April 8th, 2008 945 GMT

“China has come under international criticism because of its crackdown last month on protesters calling for democratic freedoms and self-rule in Tibet and neighboring Chinese provinces.”

What it shall be read is:

“China has come under unfair criticism by the western leaders because of biased reports by major western news media like CNN on its lawful crackdown last month on tibetan separaist rioters who burned down shops and burned human to death alive. These tibetan rioters didn’t call for democratic freedoms at all and had no ideas about what was democracy about as they ran through the City of Lhasa setting buildings on fire, setting people on fire and caused destruction.”

Wangyao   April 8th, 2008 1756 GMT

CNN is much better than the Xinhua and CCTV to publish this Blog for public to raise their different voices. Does Chinese media do the same in China?

China has been ruled by one party for the last 58 years and anyone who attempts to criticize the Party in China, including ethnic Chinese, will be imprisoned or killed by the state. Tiananmen Square incident is a good example of this. Can you justify June 4th massacre in Beijing for the Chinese government?

I am a Chinese and I trust CNN more than the 新华. Don’t worry about CNN news market in China, actually there was and is no news market in China for foreign media.

david   April 8th, 2008 1816 GMT

There is a fundamental difference between the Student movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and this Free Tibet movemnet.

Student movement – non-violent from start to end for two months – calling for stop corruption – it was wrong for the government to send in tanks.

Free Tibet movement – violent from day 4 – calling for separation (with sugar-coated cover of Human Right – it is correct for the government to send in riot police.

Dontbefool   April 8th, 2008 1848 GMT

Here is my prediction:

If China freed Tibet,

Tibet will become a third world country and terrorist paradise.
Millions of Tibetan (including terrorists) will move to Europe or the US.
The situation will become worse within 2 years.
The US troops will be sent to clean up the mess afterward.
Million of people will die because of the independence.

Wangyao   April 8th, 2008 2155 GMT

But did the CCP admit their wrong doings and apologize for the family of victims of the Tiananmen incident?

tsewang   April 9th, 2008 244 GMT

dear Wangyoa
good morning,let me clear I am niether pro tibet out of emotion nor China bashing.I am trying to deciphor the reality.In my opinion we too often try to overlook the reality,which has to be unearthed vary carefully out of any prejudice.Let me write below What HH dalai lama so often tells
In one occassion He tells,In india indian student cant do without studyibg english.Same way tibetan student cant do without studying Chinese in Tibet.So one should study hard without any prejudice and excell in it.
In another ocassion he tells that when he first time met with Mao he found him like elder brother.Only wrong he said was that relegion is like poision.
In my previous post i tried to make a parallel comparison between Nepal and Tibet if TAr were independent.
Now I tell you socio-political condition of Nepal. Untill Maoist revolution it was been goverened under monarchyWhich of course could not be made parallel comparison with HH institution.Untill today there were no social reform.as you must have heard about caste system.In India practising of caste system in any form is unconstitutional .In cities more or less it totally eradicated.In rural area it is still practiced.
But in Nepal it is still practised in old cruel form in which lower caste people are treated worst than slaves.
As for health and education it is still behind pre 50's.
Most of the business and trade in kathmandu is dominated by outsider.(what you call natural migration.)

I tell you one thing ,today the human rights of many ethanic group of china is under watch just because it is part of China.
Were it independent nobody would have given least thought.Some NGO's must be working on how people are people dying because of faminine etc.They must be showing clipse of gals getting trafficked.
Even weakest niebhour will sometime bully them.

My dear other side of grass always looks greener.

Look at Independent African Nations.Are Darfur and other african tragedies are created by China.Straight ,squre,rectangular division of africa was done by China,no?
It was French,English etc.
People are becoming celebrity asking for independent.Does it conform the reality.
I am not against genuine autonomy.I think if you ask any tibetan about independent.Most of them them see toward HHdalai lama.They think whatever HH thinks that is the right thing.Fortunately He is the wisest man on earth today.So there is little chance of misdguiding.
Afterall He is also Human.Soon or latter He has to leave this earth.For that CCp should thank him not becomingpuppet in hand of western politics.
Here I say there should be unconditional relegious freedom in Tibet.
Hello Wangyao;
I like to ask you that are CCP alien people.They are also chinese.If you really want reform why donot you become member and bring reform in it.
Infact i would say that CCP is fastest learner from its mistake.
It has brought 100 million people out of poverty.
I agree on thier part they have blunder mistake.

What grantee you give .in case of independent tibet there will not be war lords.read the history of tibet ,there was no short of war lord.

david   April 9th, 2008 327 GMT

Tsewang,

At one time you were asking where wangyao is raised and born. Since I have been in the blog for a long time, let me tell you. You can go back to his prior postings to find out. I might be mistaking him with another guy called yaoyao. If that is the case, I want to appology in advance.

Wangyao was born in Tibet. He is a Tibetan from inside Tibet. Sometimes he called himself a Chinese from China. I have no problem either way he wants to identify himself.

Chinese government sent him to college and employeed him as government civilian servant. He didn't disclose if the Chinese government paid all his tuition in college or not. He is now studying/working in USA.

I have no problem he wants to fight for Tibet independent even if his college is paid by Chinese government. That is his freedom.

China has problems with the degree of free religion or level of free speech in comparing to the western standards, but Chinese government is whole-heartly wanting to develop Tibet. That is no question about that. CCP made mistakes which CCP itself even admits. Probably we are still not satisfying.

Western country is no perfect neither. You can drream to build Tibet to be better than USA if it is independent. But it could be just a dream.

70% of Americans want to stop Iraqi, but US President Bush and a small group of politicians wanted it. 70% of majority still cannot stop them. There is a mother called Cindy who staged protest against the war. The only request she had at the end is to meet Bush, but Bush refused. Cindy got divorced and lost her son in the Iraqi war.

US gave the Native Indians total freedom in the indian reserves. Each native indian gets about $20,000 per year from the government without doing any work. Native Indians don't have to learn anything if they don't like to attend school. They have their own police on their reserves. They don't have to pay tax at all.

Guess what. They spent most of time and most of the money on alcohol and not on learning science. The unemployment rate is very high. The crime rate is also very high on the indian reserves before there is not enough funding to hire more police.

There is no problem if he wants to spend his life fighting for tibet independence. There will be more people fight against him. Of course, he is entitled to do whatever he wants.

If wangyao's parents were slaves of old tibetan lamas, please ask him to talk to his parents before he committed his life to free tibet movement.

Buddhism   April 9th, 2008 432 GMT

As you can see for yourself that HH Dalai Lama has shown so much attachments so what do you expect from the Tibet people?

Do you want to keep so called traditional Tibet culture, lama upper class, lords, slave class culture, poor land and uneducated people. So what kind of Tibet tradition and culture you want to keep? Buddhist teaching, everyone is equal and people must change to improve their life.

Buddhism was introduced to Tibet by China emperor, China do not have problem with Buddhism. China is against separatist forces in Tibet using "religious" to politics. As all Chinese know history of China has a very rich culture, why China worry about Tibet culture? China may not technically advance than the west but China is culturally more advance than the west.

John   April 9th, 2008 802 GMT

Can anyone give us some better answers for the following questions please?

1/ America got its independence in 1776. Blacks only got their right to vote in 1964 after the civil rights momement.

It took them 188 years to gain their birth rights as American citizens.

Why no one questioned this for a long time?

In the meantime, America had held the winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California in 1960. AGAIN, not a single media had spoken out against this becuase of America's abuse of Blacks human rights. Let alone to blow out the torch.

2/ Why didn't the French government speak out or indeed act against this on behalf of the Blacks in America back then? They gave America the Statue of Liberty, surely they knew about the appalling conditions the Blacks were in. The French did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Why?

OK, if the answer is "the governments were wrong then". OK, these governments could be wrong now! Why not?

The whole issue in Tibet is simple.

Tibet exile groups (being manipulated as front end TOOLS, they are most innocent as they don't understand the real motives, see below)
+
Ordinary Westerners (somehow they love to romanticize the place, although most haven't been to Tibet either). Even if they have been once, they talked as if they are experts on the subject. They are tools also.
+
The Media (who needs important events to cover to make their quarterly earnings target) I only watch CNN on TV when there is "something" to watch!
+
China Bashing (real agenda is to change the trade surplus)
= what you see today.

It is just a soap opera. Wake up Tibetans. They don't care about your rights either. It is MONEY that is behind this saga. IF you don't trust me, read on.

What will happen to the Tibet issue after the Olympics? No one would mention it anymore. No commercial value!! Welcome to market economy.

david   April 9th, 2008 1446 GMT

McCain is more candidate about all these protests, likely to be funded by CIA.

McCain last month said dealing with a rising China "will be a central challenge" for the next president, but said the United States and China "are not destined to be adversaries."

"China could bolster its claim that it is peacefully rising by being more transparent about its significant military buildup and by ceasing its efforts to establish regional forums and economic arrangements designed to exclude America from Asia," he said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

"Until China moves toward political liberalization, our relationship will be based on periodically shared interests rather than the bedrock of shared values," said McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Wangyao   April 9th, 2008 1846 GMT

tsewang:

Why do you keep silence on my answer to your question about Chinese imigration policy in Tibet? I don't understand why did you ask that question in the first place.

You talked about becoming a member of Chinese Communist Party in hoping to reform within the system. You pointed a good point but I give you another harsh example of "reality" here.

Phuntsok Wangyal is Tibetan communist who helped China to "librate" Tibet in 1950s. But he was dismissed by the Chinese Communist Party before 1959 and was imprisoned for 18 years. He is still in China and he encourages the Chinese Communist party to continue its dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Below is quote of his biography from Wikipedia:

Phuntsok Wangyal or Bapa Phuntsok Wangyal or Phünwang is a Tibetan born in 1922 in Bathang, in the province of Kham (eastern Tibet). He is famous for having established the Tibetan Communist Party and was one of the leading Tibetan communist leaders, but spend 18 years in Chinese prisons.

[Edit] Biography
Phünwang born in 1922 in Bathang (Batang County), in the province of Kham (eastern Tibet). Phünwang began his activism in school, where he founded the Tibetan Communist Party in secret in 1939. Until 1949, he worked to organize a guerrilla uprising against the Chinese who controlled his homeland. The strategy of Tibetan Communist Party under his leadership during the years 1940 was twofold: to prevail over progressive elements among students and the aristocracy of Tibet policy to put in place a programme of modernization and democratic reform, while supporting one guerrilla struggle to overthrow the regime Kham Liu Wenhui, a warlords aligned with the Chinese Kuomintang. Its ultimate goal was a united independent Tibet and the fundamental transformation of its feudal social structure. He was expelled from Lhasa in 1949 by the Government of Tibet.

In 1949, to join the guerrilla Chinese communists, Phünwang had merged his Tibetan Communist Party with the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong at the request of the Chinese military, and thus give up its project for a communist Tibet independent self-governed. He played an administrative role in organizing the party in Lhasa, and was the translator of the young 14th Dalai Lama during his famous meetings with Mao Zedong in 1954-55.

In 1950, Phünwang was the official Tibetan highest-ranking Tibetan Communist Party. Although he spoke fluent Chinese, accustomed to Chinese culture, and devoted to socialism and the Communist Party, the deep commitment of Phünwang for the well-being of Tibetans made him soupçonnable in the eyes of its powerful colleagues. In 1958 he was placed in solitary confinement, 3 years later, he was imprisoned in solitary confinement in the equivalent of the Bastille in Beijing for 18 years. He has published a biography in English, which he insists on the need to raise the interests of the Tibetan people.
Phuntsok Wangyal was rehabilitated and will be long in Beijing without outside contact

Recently, he said that Hu Jintao is expected to welcome the return of the Dalai Lama in Tibet suggèrant as it is “… much to stabilize Tibet.” In a 3rd letter dated August 1, 2006, he wrote: “If the problem inherited with Tibet continues to be delayed, it is quite probable that it follows the creation of a Vatican Oriental Tibetan Buddhism next to the Tibetan government-in éxil. Then the problem of Tibet, nationally or internationally, become more complicated and more painful.

Wangyao   April 9th, 2008 1849 GMT

tsewang:

I want to ask you since 1959, why Tibet Autonomous Region hasn’t had an ethinc Tibetan Party generaly secretray so far? All the chief party secretary in Tibet has been ethnic Chinese(including Hujing Tao). Tibet should be ruled by tibetans if Tibet is really an autonomous region, as the Chinese gavernment claims!

Wangyao   April 9th, 2008 1912 GMT

david/tsewang:

I have full capacity in making my own choice and I am willing to be "slave" of Tibetan lamas rather than "prisoner" of China.

I don't want to be another Hu Jia in China. Hu Jia is a Chinese dissident and was charged more than 3 years' imprisonment for holding different view than the government less than a week ago.

Below is quote of his biography from Wikipedia:

Hu Jia (Chinese: 胡佳/胡嘉; born July 25, 1973 in Beijing) is an activist and dissident in the People's Republic of China.

His work has focused on the Chinese democracy movement, Chinese environmentalist movement, and HIV/AIDS in China. In addition to being an auxiliary member of the team to save the endangered Tibetan antelope, Hu Jia has been involved with AIDS advocacy as the executive director of the Beijing Aizhixing Institute of Health Education and as one of the founders of the non-governmental organization Loving Source.

On December 27, 2007, Hu Jia was detained as part of crackdown on dissent during the West’s holiday season. Reporters Without Borders said that “The political police have taken advantage of the international community’s focus on Pakistan to arrest one of the foremost representatives of the peaceful struggle for free expression in China.”

The decision to take him into custody was made after peasant leaders in several Chinese provinces issued a manifesto demanding broader land rights for peasants whose property had been confiscated for development. [1]He was given 3 1/2 years in jail April 3, 2008. Hu pleaded not guilty on charges of "inciting subversion of state power" at his trial in March 2008.[2]

Wangyao   April 9th, 2008 1927 GMT

Reminder:

It's wrong to think Tibetans are anti-China in nature. Tibetans are anti-China because China is not listening Chinese public including Tibetans. Talking about slave and Tibetan independence is typical excuse made by the Chinese Communist Party refusing t engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Free China! Free Tibet!

tsewang   April 10th, 2008 230 GMT

wangyao
you have written about population transffer projects.I would only say it is wrong.
but again I am confronted with the questions which perhaps only you can clear.Please donot mind if it does not fit the real situation there in china.
Let me start this way.Tibets major part is cold desert.Most of the country has very harsh living condition.Exept bearing some eastern part.
as for eastern part is concerned eastern part were already multiethenic.
recentally I had a discussion with indian defence personnel about tibet.He had served all the border region.He made a simple observation.He said many of the refugees (not all) coming out from tibet is not because they have problem with chinese rule.They are just taking advantage of being refugee and leave for better place.
Here I again qouat HH Dalai lama,He said many of the yound tibetan leave for India so that ultimately they can reach USA or other developed country.
This is natural with all of us.
I tell you Wangyao, I am from Himalaya i can understand it.In such place during winter you donot find even single fresh vegetale.That may not be the case with tibet because of better connectivity etc.
One more observation that defence personnel made was like this ,He said,of course tibetan will be minority on thier land because they themself donot want to stay there.
Second He said who will free Tibet ,they them self comes out of the country in large number.
This may sound simple gossip.
But I tell you lot of reality is hidden in it.

tsewang   April 10th, 2008 526 GMT

Can i have rough estimate of no. of tibetan migrated to other part of china for study, government jobs and for business purpose etc.etc.

tsewang   April 10th, 2008 527 GMT

and also trend please !

Tell you the truth   April 10th, 2008 616 GMT

Wangyao

"Below is quote of his biography from Wikipedia:

Hu Jia (Chinese: 胡佳/胡嘉; born July 25, 1973 in Beijing) is an activist and dissident in the People’s Republic of China"

Did you always believe Wikipedia? This is all the false facts come from, like CNN.

Go back to learn more history. You better say something from facts and from your brain, not follow what CNN's or similar media tell you. Have a look how many red flags today to protect the touch and how many has been reported by CNN.

Eric   April 10th, 2008 726 GMT

Wangyao:

I see, so it was a personal attack comparing individuals here to:

“made in china” products simply because they are crap and I don’t get value for my money in buying them. It’s simple economic issue and it’s not a “philosophical” and nationalistic issue.

You remind me of my Uncle who never buys Japanese cars, except you are worse as you feel that anything made in China is inferior.

Eric   April 10th, 2008 745 GMT

Wangyao:

"As a Buddhist, I feel sorry for you being so ignorant"

Thanks for the kind thoughts. Wishing you a speedy nirvana for being so compassionate and kind.

Dalai Lama and Co. should give up. Regardless of ones religious position, I have no respect for corrupted leaders using religion to run politics. Theocracy is a hinderance to democracy, freedom and human rights.

There are many things I disagree with the Chinese government, but I much respect it for being a atheist state.

Eric   April 10th, 2008 752 GMT

Well said John. Did you enjoy the Farlun Gong series or do you prefer the Belgrade Chinese Embassy bombing? I quite liked that US Navy spy plane captured in China a few years ago. I was expecting a good looking female pilot though. Too bad.


John:

The whole issue in Tibet is simple.

Tibet exile groups (being manipulated as front end TOOLS, they are most innocent as they don’t understand the real motives, see below)
+
Ordinary Westerners (somehow they love to romanticize the place, although most haven’t been to Tibet either). Even if they have been once, they talked as if they are experts on the subject. They are tools also.
+
The Media (who needs important events to cover to make their quarterly earnings target) I only watch CNN on TV when there is “something” to watch!
+
China Bashing (real agenda is to change the trade surplus)
= what you see today.

It is just a soap opera. Wake up Tibetans. They don’t care about your rights either. It is MONEY that is behind this saga.

Wangyao   April 10th, 2008 1233 GMT

"tsewang":

Do you know displaying a photo of the Dalai Lama in Tibet is being regarded as a criminal offence? This is the level of restrictions imposed upon Tibetans by the Chinese government and if you visit Southern Indian places including Mysore district in Karnataka state, you will find different answers to the "hidden reality".

It's up to you whichever way you want to interpret Tibetans leaving for India. But the interesting thing is, instead of travelling with passports, why Tibetans are risking their lives to cross the Himalaya.

As many in this blog, including Eric, repeatedly said they are not fully agree whatever the CCP does, I don't see any reasons to repeat this point here to you.

As you said you want to open my eyes to harsh realities, I would welcome your "realities" as long as they are concerned with barriers of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China. Otherwise, I hope you don't get offended but I have to say don't mess around here with your "gossips".

Most Chinese and Tibetans are here with intention of finding solution rather than making mess.

Wangyao   April 10th, 2008 1303 GMT

Eric,

Who doesn't like who and what (theocracy/made in china DVDs) is a matter of personal taste.

Being as a Chinese, however, it's embarasing and unpleasant to see the flood of fake DVDs from China into bars, parks and streets in New York.

Judging from mentioning the Belgrade Chinese Embassy bombing and US Navy plane incident, I can tell your nationalistic pride is so high. But I can't argue for the "suprior" of Chinese products because I am a Chinese. Did you know that Chinese are given a nick name "DVD"?

Wangyao   April 10th, 2008 1319 GMT

"Tell you the truth":

If I should not listen to Wikipedia, CNN and other similar media, tell me who should I listen to? Tell me the truth ...

John   April 10th, 2008 1423 GMT

Lets be fair, it's not just CNN who's biased in reporting. There's a bunch of them out there imagining they are "The Lone Rangers" in the wild West!! They always described how heavily armed the Chinese police were. OK then, when these thugs were burning up buildings, attacking people etc. What should the police do then? Sit right down & start meditating in the midst of all these?? If this is not biased reporting, what is? How stupid can you get?

As I said, it's all business (money) at the end of the day. My prediction is the Tibetans will find themselves alone again in the wilderness 6 months from now. Why? Hey, all your Western supporters will need to do business, get it? You think they have time for you & stop making money?? Wake up, my friends. You can protest all day, they won't. GET REAL, as they say in the U.S.

Kenneth   April 10th, 2008 1715 GMT

I stopped posting for a while and read all the posts again lately. I found it quite amazing that Wangyao and many others here are so ignorant.

"Made in China products are craps"?? In the past, I worked for four big multi-nationals manufacturers in China. Here are the truths:
Who engineered/designed the Products? Americans/Japanese/Germans
Who approved the materials to be used? Americans/Japanese/Germans
Who came to China and do the Quality Control of the products? Americans/Japanese/Germans
Did they come to China to do real Quality Control? NO, they came to China for vacation. They travelled, ate, drank and enjoyed their good stay in 5/6 stars hotel.
Why only Americans were having quality issues with the Products from China?? It proved that their Engineering Departments are at fault. Of course, Americans were typically more lazy than other people.

It's just so easy to blame China because majority of the world wants to see China fails. Before you make comments on "Made in China" products, please use your brain. If it is not the cheap Chinese goods, Americans would have to spend a lot more on their daily products.

Now, you complained about our "Made in China" products?? If you don't use your brain and eyes, you should NOT make any comments here. If you rely your sources on Wikepedia, then I suggest you to start writing your "Free Tibet" fantasy in that virtual world. Anyone can sumbit any documents into Wikepedia and their accuiracy is never guaranteed.

Also, there are some people said I got paid by the Communist government to post here. I can't stop what you think but you are just so ignorant. If Western people are allowed to be patriot, then I think I am entitle to be a patriot also, right?! Patriot is not only limited in the the Western world!!

Eric   April 10th, 2008 2111 GMT

Wangyao:

Yes, I agree with you we are all largely sharing personal opinions here. I happen to believe extremely strongly, that having anyone calling himself Holy to rule any country is a most terrible move, regardless. Public servants should be appointed or elected to serve a country, priests, nuns, monks do not fit the bill.

As an atheist, I see theocracy as mental abuse on the citizens. I feel sorry for the children brainwashed and victimized by religious indoctrination at an early age when they have absolutely no choice.

No, I am not nationalistic or patriotic at all. I think it is unhealthy that anyone can be proud or ashamed over things beyond ones control. The examples I gave simply illustrate the many international conflicts we see but often forget. My point was that it is not easy to take a black and white approach. One must understand that the CIA funding behind the Dalai Lama must have other agendas which is only reasonable to expect in world politics.

Some Chinese products are good and some are bad. The Chinese businesses were only doing the dirty work to meet the American supply. I wish I could convince you not to be bothered by the fake DVDs. But then, why should you care? Do you get upset over LimeWire, Gnutella illegal file sharing? Should the Thai be ashamed over its sex trade or should the westerners be ashamed being the important customers?

Being a Chinese, American, French, British, Indian, Japanese, Canadian doesn't mean one has to be proud or ashamed of others' action, even if you are born in the same country or if you have the same skin colour, or if you speak the same language. Take a humanist approach, nationalism and patriotism often feed racism.

david   April 10th, 2008 2349 GMT

The below posting is not for arguing with anyone. It is really for any westerners interested in Tibet, especially for other white Free Tibet fighters. Pass around if you have friends or co-workers getting into argument with you about Tibet or become interested in Tibet.

It is a search paper done by western scholars about Tibet, Dalai Lama, Tibetan history, Chinese government role in Tibet, CIA’s involvement in Tibetan. It is a very fair and well documented search paper with candidate critics on both sides. Link below:

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

In that article, it discussed facts most of ordinary western people don’t know about Tibet. For example, if your sex life is not safisfactory, the Lamas can show you how to enlighten your sex life, with others’ wives. Enjoying reading!

david   April 11th, 2008 337 GMT

The Torch Relay in Eurepe and USA is over. Free Tibet fighters, now what?

tsewang   April 11th, 2008 419 GMT

wangyao
you have wirten,"Donot mess with it".
does not it sound like dictator ship.
are you habitual of listening what you want to listen.
If you are really looking for solution for the problem

Step 1.Have a mutual respect to others.Howsover idea may sound absurd,try to to examine.
Step 2.Please have a lot of patience.
If You look for quick fix solutions as CCp does then you see the outcome.
So you are not different.

tsewang   April 11th, 2008 512 GMT

The Torch Relay in Eurepe and USA is over. Free Tibet fighters, now what?
David
we should see them as helpless people protesting.
Many of thier demand are genuine.
take case such as keeping a photograph of HH dalai lama.

among tibetan HH is treated as mother ,think about mother been separated from child.
i will not argue putting reasons etc.
Isnot feeling are also to be respected.

tsewang   April 11th, 2008 526 GMT

David
I was to write we should not see them as helpless proteter.
a person who is on protest, let them feel they have achieved some thing out of it.That will be foundation for harmonised society.
otherwise it would be just frustation ,rupturing time and again.

In opinion CCp will never find better person then present HH to deal with.
I am not saying out of faith,but of reasoning..Had HH really been puppet of CIA picture would have been different.

they should encash it

If HH is brought in to mainstream In China Tibet.He could just minimise the problem of relegion vacuum in china.organisation Like Falungong will just dusappear.

But Time is vary crucial.He is Human afterall.Already age past 70.

Past must have been imperfect,but future should be harmonised.

Dolma Sherub   April 11th, 2008 537 GMT

What troubles me reading the various comments above is the lack of repect towards your fellow human beings. Some of the language andremarks are so vicious, ill informed and lacking in understanding it's unbelievable. Where ever you are from, you need to look at yourselves, and then ask, "how did this come to be?" My family, my culture? Where? None of us are immune to falling in this trap.

Many Chinese above have commented that those outside China should look into our own back yards and keep our mouths shut, because other countries have also committed atrocities. True enough, but to you, I would say the difference is, in those other countries there are freedoms in place to challenge and stop those atrocities – how ever long it takes. People in other countries can challenge their governments about what has gone wrong and OPENLY tell their stories because they have the protected right to freedom of speach. What freedom of speech or freedom to hear another side of the story does China allow? If this freedom is acknowleged, then why does the Chinese government have to censor internet access and the outside media in your country. Any free robust country would not be afraid of an opposing view, they would allow the discussion to happen in a mature way – not say it is a plot against them and shut everyone up.

What processes does China have to stop the inhumane treatment of their own people (eg. taking the land of those in low income homes so that the gov't can build their beautiful olympic games buildings, without providing their own citizens a replacement home and the means to get there. These are the words of your very own people, have you heard them? or were they censored from the news?) If there are processes to challenge the Chinese government, how realistic is it for anyone, let alone people with little or no money, to challenge the denial of their human rights? How can the Tibetan people have their voices heard about land, religious and cultural issues? If there had been sufficient dialogue, there would be no need for the protests to bring attention to these issues. It's no conspiracy, just basic human need to be heard and be respected.

Some say that this is a sporting event that should not be mixed up with politics. That's a convenient, easy way to take the heat off. Sure, these athletes have worked hard to qualify for the olympic games, and it is a shame to see it come to this. But China put sports above human rights and if you feel righteous about going to get your gold medal at the exense of the elderly, low income people and others who lost their homes (with little or no compensation) so a beautiful olympic city could be built, then there is little hope for humanity.

Don't think for a minute, that I do not love Chinese people. I do. I fell in love and married a Chinese man and am part of a wonderful family. It's not about Chinese people. It's about a culture of control within the government that then gets acted out by some people. Yes this happens in other countries, too. But at least we acknowledge it and it does not change the fact that it is still happening in your country, while you deny it. It is our business, because by participating in the olympics and knowing that basic human rights and freedom have been denied makes those participating accomplices to the crime. I for one will not be a part of it.

Just because a person presents a different experience from your own does not mean it is not the truth.

tsewang   April 11th, 2008 600 GMT

dear dolma sherub
for a moment forget about China.
I ask what would you do about your freedom of speech or whatever freedom when 11million inncent iraqis and million vietnamies have already dead.I respect any freedom.
do you really respect American democracy ,where they handover the mightiest military on earth to a single person called President.If It wasnot the President who made the mess,then whom to blame.
At present where are you.In America ,or some whereselse.
Think for a moment silently.11 million dead, orphan childeren,refugees etc.
Donot you feel pity America
news reader of CNN reads these newses using thier freedom of speech so calmly.do they get good sleep after reading all those newses.
Probelm is not that it is happening.But is done by america.Symbol of equality, freedom etc.etc.

want truth?   April 11th, 2008 611 GMT

why are you peace-love ppl wasting your time arguing with guys like Wangyao and Asian? They are obvious CIA agents here. The Wangyao guy by no means looks to me like a Chinese, though he/she claims to be and showed off once with his/her awful chinese mastering. He/she is not even a beginner of Chinese speaker and most ridiculously, he/she doesn't seems not to know Wangyao should be written separately in any conventions in Chinese...

Asian, if i am correct, is the same person as Wangyao. Asian replied once to what I wrote to Wangyao, acting as if he/she was Wangyao. It seemed to me that he forgot to switch his/her user id before he/she should have written anything. What a liar. Can you guys be more professional in acting?

Therefore, how can ppI trust a single word from their mouth given they are such big fat liars?

tsewang   April 11th, 2008 639 GMT

again I tell you today's tibet problem is because of America,You people know why?
Had these truth seeker had seeked truth whole heartedly ,problem would have solved long befor,you Know why?
No more suffering.

Eric   April 11th, 2008 734 GMT

I am not a fan of the olympics but I see absolutely nothing wrong having it held in China. It's just a tourism event redistributing wealth in the economy. If anything, it is good for the world as more people will travel to China and learn a little more about what's going on in the country.

It brings tears to my eyes watching the events though, most boring to say the least.

All these numerous protests we see on the news mean very little these days. It's just a pastime for many attention thrill seeking bored individuals, check out the calendar they have one every week in every city!

http://www.protest.net

Wangyao   April 11th, 2008 1311 GMT

Eric:
david:
kenneth:

You all said you don't agree whatever the CCP does. This is good enough for me!

I am here to criticise the wrong doings of the CCP. I understand why a few Chinese from PRC are defending the CCP in this blog wholeheartedly but you differ from them because you acknowledge the CPP is not perfect.

We may disagree on what are the wrong doings of the CPP in China, but I believe punishing people who hold different views than the government is not something we should proud of.

China needs time to improve on many issues and I hope the CCP open itself to criticisms and prepare to learn lessons from it.

The CCP cannot simply ignore the Tibet issue. So far they have misread the situation in Tibet and the unrest in Tibet certainly have been a wakeup call for them.

Wangyao   April 11th, 2008 1327 GMT

tsewang:

Re: "This may sound simple gossip. But I tell you lot of reality is hidden in it."

I am sorry if I offendend you asking to stop finding "lots of reality" in "simple gossip".

Asian   April 11th, 2008 1500 GMT

"want truth?"

I am just an office worker interested in international relations.
Frankly speaking, I had never written in foreign site before I found these tibet-china cnn blogs.

I think PRC needs 爭臣(people who can tell any wrongdoing bravely to their goverment).
And if you really want truth, please inquire into CCP's problems and tell them truth.

"Wangyao"

It is really funny.

david   April 11th, 2008 1727 GMT

All I am saying is no government/person is perfect.

CCP is no good.
G.W. Bush is no good – Iraqi war
CIA is no good.
CNN is no good – all these biased/selective news reports
Dalai Lama is no good – worked with CIA, saying not want to be independent, but ask China to withdraw military base, want to segregate Han from Tibetans.
.....

People still have to live together. Be realistic about your goal. Be happy with you get already. A total independent Tibet is not realistic in short run. More self-ruling for Tibet then they currently have, ok. I have no problem to let Dalai Lama to go back to Lhasa living in the Podala Place as long he behaves as the Pope II and don't get involved in politics.

david   April 11th, 2008 1751 GMT

I was there in San Francisco in the Torch Relay.
The AT&T stadium is full of pro-China protesters without a single pro-Tibet protesters. Allover on the street, pro-China protesters out-numbered the pro-Tibet protesters by at least 10 to 1. All those pro-Tibet protesters were booed away.

The slogans of these pro-China protesters are:

"Go China"
"One China"
"Go Beijing"
"Tibetan Liars"
"Da-Liar Lama"

Do you read these in the CNN news report?

One of the major reason why there is not much for CNN to report on the pro-Tibet protesters are they were over-numbered by the pro-China protesters.

It was a sea of red Chinese nation flags in San Francisco yesterday.

What did you see on the TV screen?

Tell me CNN is doing unbiased report?

John   April 11th, 2008 1757 GMT

There's a good article on CNN entitled "Why Bashing China is not the answer". Read it.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/09/commentary.wang/index.html

I guess the author really speaks out the mind of a lot of Western educated Chinese readers like us. We don't hate the Tibetans or the West. No. But we feel that one must be objective in reporting. Many of the reports only mentioned how heavily armed the Chinese police were, but failed to mention that the rioters were out of controlled. What should the police do? Sit down & meditate?? Would they do that in London or Paris?

It seems that some of the Western journalists, no matter how "good" their China knowledge, somehow they just can't do a good job! It's easy to explain, these guys only hang around in pubs frequented by foreign reporters & exchange stories. That's why they never get to the heart of the matter & completely misses the point. Quite frankly, you guys need to earn back some credibility when you report on China.

Feller   April 11th, 2008 2028 GMT

I do not really understand how can these "western" people can say there are no freedom in China, let me ask a few questions!

1. Are you Chinese?
2. Can you speak Chinese?
3. Can you read Chinese?
4. Have you ever talked to any person who is living in China?
5. Has any of them complained about their freedom to you?
6. Have you ever been to China?

If you are all "yes"es for these 6 questions, then you have may have the right to judge China.

Otherwise, reading the CNN or BBC makes you no different when you think Chinese can only read Chinese newspaper. Btw, many Chinese can reading your language, but you cannot read Chinese, we know more than you think, so ask yourself, who should wake up?

pinoy   April 12th, 2008 108 GMT

hey they say those who criticise china don't understand china have never been china, well i don't need to go to china to understand they are protesting, blocking, the philippines from declaring its territory to the united nations saying it will create friction and disrupt harmony in the region ALL THE WHILE BUILDING NAVY OUTPOST IN PHILIPPINE TERRITORY
FRICTION THEIR ASS CHINA IS A REGIONAL BULLY

pinoy   April 12th, 2008 131 GMT

the chinese claim the dalai lama is orchestrating the violent protest in tibet. the dalai lama has denied this and called for tibetans moderation and dialogue. the dalai lama could not even call for independence because that will entail some violence.
fact is to fight a brutal state like china,or simply to fight for freedom itself would mean some force.....
and so for the tibetans to have independence you would NEED A SEPARATE LEADER from dalai lama not bound by advocating God and peace

pinoy   April 12th, 2008 154 GMT

one professor wang in u.s. said "bashing china is not the answer" he could not have been more correct, bashing will do nothing to one very CALLOUS government

pinoy   April 12th, 2008 223 GMT

some months ago the chinese was protesting what the JAPANESE did to them in world war II. that was bad but that is the PAST and the japanese have pulled out of china, korea, my philippines. china now have been occupying tibet and invading philipine sea and that is the PRESENT

Denney Jiang   April 12th, 2008 845 GMT

I saw the CNN reported: some pro-Tibet protesters shouted "China lie, people die" several days ago; of course, a very very few reports are side with pro-China protesters. those are the western media style.

Honestly, about the torch relay, from Greece to San Francisco; I have heard so much report about the protestors and heavy police force. I feel it is so hard to China host this great event--Qlimpics, I doubt whether hosting Qlimplcs makes China becoming the enemy of the whole world?

Today, after I read the reports about Jingjing and oversea students great performance, and the post from David . Now, I am so relived, I think, so many Chinese support China hosting Olymplcs, I have nothing to fear.

As a ordinary Chinese, I was born in a very small village in ShaoYang Hunan in 1982; When I was 9 years old, I still remember my father borrowed rice from his friend at the night time. (because his friend was afraid of others will borrowed from him too, the rice he had was limited, it is not good if he refused others). Now, our small village changed very very much, a few people even has a small car.
What I want to say is: as far as I am concerned, China is getting better, even there are still so much problems such as pollution and corruption;

Now, so many people are making effort to successfully host Olymplcs; even there are many boycotte, now I think, these challenge can strengen our confidence and make ourselves know better as well as show our ability

I want to say, thank you , David, Eric, Forrest & Kenneth, your wonderful point make me know the something better.

Lance   April 12th, 2008 1600 GMT

Boycott what, Olympic? Is there a country called Olympic? Wait a sec, I know where it is. It must be that dirty little crappy town I got my pipe beaten off in Texas. I hated these Olympians.

Whatever you texas olympians say I go for it. Yeah, boycott them all from selling us huma rights.

I boycotted Wal-Mart but went broke I now can’t even afford for buy me a pair of underpans. They darn getting more and more expensive Made in China stuff, all darn the same as costy as gas price. I olddy daddy boycotted Japanese cars b’cause he aren’t afford to get one. He told everyone he boycotted Japanese cars only I know he had nothing, not a penny in the bank. I boycotted Chinese clothes, electrics, watchs,toys,whatever you name it, I boycotted. Now I aren’t wearing underpans at all.

Yeah! I boycott everything I can’t afford to get but don’t boycut tibetan monks I like monks. I always wish I was one of them and had slaves and serfs to bring me foods and boozies. I heard they have free gay sex, is that true? Wow, I can’t wait to jump on a greyhound bus to want to go Tibet, is that in Mexico?

“Free T-back! Free T-back!” That was all I heard yesterday on the street on Van Ness and Broadway. I jumped out of my basement window all I saw was a bunch of crappies running down the road chasing by cops. I asked for free t-back they dammy stuck me a yellow flag, told me “thas’s fee T-back. thas’s fee T-back.Wa pay you, Wa pay you.” I asked for $100, they cheaters only gave me $50. What to cheat on me? No way! I aren’t texas Olympians! I tore the yellow flag in half, put half on my head it darn cold yesterday, stuck the rest under my pans.
“Free T-back!”
Cheaters! There was no free T-back at all. They cheated on me! I want boycott anything free b’cauz nothing is FREE! Nothing is FREE! Try to walk away a hamburger from Macky they beat the crap of out of you! www.

Hold on, there IS a thing free, yeah, your mouth water is FREE.

wise   April 12th, 2008 1953 GMT

FREE AMERICA! AMERICA IS NATIVE AMERICAN'S AMERICA!
GO BACK TO YOUR EUROPE WHITE PEOPLE!
YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF NATIVE AMERICAN'S BLOOD!
WHERE IS THE HUMAN RIGHT OF NATIVE AMERICAN???!!!
FREE AMERICAN! AMERICA IS NATIVE AMERICAN'S AMERICA!

wise   April 12th, 2008 2012 GMT

From you guys came to North American to now, native American's population has reduced from 50 million to 2 million. population percentage has reduced from 100% to 1%.

From 1951 to now, Tibetan population has increased from 1.2 million to 2.5 million, and Tibetan population percentage in Tibet keeps above 90%.

So if you think the Tibetan doesn't have human right, how about native American?

wise   April 12th, 2008 2020 GMT

What ever CCP Is, Tibet is a part of China.
Even before you guys come to American, Tibet had been a part of China already. This fact is none of CCP's business.
That's why so many Chinese feel angry with your westerns.

You can blame CCP, maybe none of Chinese will argue with you.
But if you say free Tibet, almost every Chinese will against you.

They are totally two difference topics.

kulit   April 12th, 2008 2327 GMT

what happened to my comment did the moderator thinks it's irrelevant? what we let the chinese government do to tibet they will continue diong to others, tibet is not just the issue the issue is the BULLYING behavior of china towards its neighbors

kulit   April 12th, 2008 2345 GMT

one julius repeatedly rationalize tibet was ruled badly by the tibetan monks and so does he think it justifies the chinese tyrannical ruling tibet. the tibetan people should be given the freedom, but i guess you don't understand what real freedom

Sam   April 13th, 2008 723 GMT

Imitating a Tibet monk without understanding their history, religion, and culture is ignorant. Holding a sign “human rights for Tibet” without knowing who violated human rights is foolish.

DaLai alone would have supported Beijing if US and Britain hadn’t instigated Dalai to declare independence of Tibet since 1957 and provided financial and militarily support to Dalai.

The Tibet's riot was carefully planed. First small group of Tibetans stirred things up in LaSa by burning the shops, cutting off the body parts of innocent civilians (include cutting out a piece of meat size of a fist out of a Chinese police officer), burning people alive, when Chinese policemen came out to enforced the laws, the western countries such as France, Germany, United states came out condemning Beijing for "violating human rights". Along with Dalai group, Falun group, and other anti-china group, they slander China's reputation as wild as they could, trying to fool the world. It doesn't stop here, the so called "violating human rights" will be used as a weapon to bully China in all fields including trading, currency raising, lifting limits for western countries to further invest and control china's economy. Shame on these western countries, Shame on Dalai!

Also, it’s a shame on the western medias who lied to the world about what happened in Tibet. Has western media shown how Chinese government has poured so much investment into Tibet to build bridge, school, trains, to pave road...? Today, Tibetans are not Dalai’s surf any more, they are free to practice their religions, keep their rituals, and they don’t have to pay tax… I watched French TV show of a debate on the issue of Tibet. When they briefly showed a footage of some shops were burned down by some Tibetans, they justified the crimes by saying, “…, well, Tibetans are under oppression.” There is no excuse whatsoever to burn down shops, to slash/injure/kill/burn innocent people alive. No wonder lying medias are not welcomed in China, nor in any countries.

Chinese president said, it wasn’t about the religion, wasn’t about ethnics, wasn’t about human rights, it was about unifying the country or separating the country. I think it’s about how western countries to squeeze as much profit out of Chinese market, Chinese people, and how to beat their competitor - China.

Spring Wang   April 13th, 2008 2117 GMT

It is totally un-acceptable that CNN in reporting the Tibet incidence has been not only one-sided, but also with comments that angered Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese in the US. The most recent example is Jack Cafferty's comment of the security team guarding the relay flame "They are basically the same bunch goons and thugs they have been in the past fifty years", as a journalist this type of slander is totally without any basis and discredit himself and CNN in public eye. The security team, I assume, is a pre-cautionary measure by the Chinese Olympic authority to safe-guard the relay anticipating what could happened, that does not make them thug or goons, the comment as such first came out of London by a British "Lord", by the way Britan had historically tried to colonize Tibet twice and use Tibet as the norther part of the India colony, and British empire was finally removed from Hong Kong as of 2007. As an American citizen I demand that Mr. Cafferty and CNN make open apology to all the Chinese Americans and Chinese people on this matter, and Mr. Cafferty should be removed from hosting "Situation Room" because of his racial profiling.

The one-sided coverage by CNN and other Western media has generated so much angers among Chinese there is a growing nationalism and indignity against Western media, this sentiment is especially strong among the younger Chinese. The question of Tibet is a much more serious issue, Tibet was a feudal religious state that state & religion was one, and practice serfdom with extreme poverty, China may have a more mechanical approach to religion and one-sided outlook of development through market economy; but China had invested so much capital and manpower to help Tibet building schools, providing free education to all, building clinics and hospitals, roads, restoring temples and publishing buddihst texts, promoting bi-lingual education, etc. The "cultural geneside" that Dalai is talking about should be put in that context, with globalization and modernization Tibet will not be the same as he remembered or wished, China has one of the more progressive policy towards Tibet or any other minorities, in the US we killed off native Americans long ago, with remaining few stayed in "reservations" today, have serious social and personal problems throughout. Afro-Americans today , with a few made some progress, majority of them are still left behind, occupying a seat in the prison, or in military uniform because they could not find a job. Most Western European countries have not confronted with their own minority problems, in the middle of Paris you would not see any Afircans or Arabs, they are segregated in the "outskirts", in Germany the Turkish immigrants could never get citizenship, and in England, though it is a more open society, similar problems of Indians, Pakistan, Arabs, and Africans, being housed in segregated communites and have below average jobs. That is why there is so much fear of " terrorism". Let us not use double standard on human rights! let us treat China as if we would criticize our own policies towards Native Americans, Afro-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians in the U.S.

anti-cnn . Anti-snowflake   April 14th, 2008 601 GMT

http://www.anti-cnn.com

come with me to go to Tibet,....

anti-cnn . Anti-snowflake   April 14th, 2008 603 GMT

Free

What does it mean - F -R – E -E

C-N-N
Free Cnn...
Free USA
Free ....................

Poor Chinese   April 14th, 2008 1534 GMT

Tibet needs help.

Tons of poor Chinese in China need help too.

CNN and the US,
If you are so care about them, please provide food and money to all poor Chinese(including Tibetan); it will fix the Tibet and human rights problems right away. This is the ultimate solution.

Please help us. Just like helping Iraq.

david   April 14th, 2008 2242 GMT

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/358991_dalai15.html?source=mypi

Pro-China demonstrators target Dalai Lama's UW visit

By JOHN IWASAKI AND BRAD WONG
P-I REPORTERS

More than 300 pro-China students and professionals rallied Monday afternoon at the University of Washington in anticipation of the Dalai Lama's campus visit.

They waved American and Chinese flags and chanted, "No violence - we want peace."

Wei Dheng, a Seattle computer programmer, said he joined the demonstration "to condemn the violence and riots" in Tibet, which he said is being fanned by "some Tibetan separatists."

The demonstration was the largest so far surrounding the Seattle visit of the Dalai Lama, the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet. The Tibetan Buddhist monk will be at the UW to speak and to receive an honorary doctorate in Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

UW administrators invited students to submit written questions to the Dalai Lama that focused on compassion and other topics that were not overtly political. From those questions, the UW chose certain students to address the monk during the convocation.

There was a heavy police presence on campus, with the demonstrators kept behind barricades.

"It's kind of silly," said Emily Miller, a 21-year-old Seattle University student. "(The Dalai Lama) is for peace, and he's supporting the (Beijing) Olympics."

The Dalai Lama earlier attended a children and youth gathering at KeyArena, where Mayor Greg Nickels presented him the key to the city. He was to speak to business and policymakers at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center before heading to the UW.

The Dalai Lama is in the fourth day of the five-day Seeds of Compassion conference, an event intended to nurture compassion in children and those who influence them.

At a news conference Sunday in Seattle, the Tibetan leader denied allegations that he instigated recent riots in Tibet. He said he supported autonomy for Tibet, which he fled in 1959 after an uprising against Chinese control.
P-I reporter John Iwasaki can be reached at 206-448-8096 or johniwasaki@seattlepi.com.

david   April 14th, 2008 2246 GMT

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004348334_webdalai14.html

Several hundred protest Dalai Lama at UW

By Nick Perry

Seattle Times staff reporter

Several hundred protesters chanted and sang, marching from the University of Washington's Red Square to Hec Edmundson Pavilion today in the biggest demonstration here yet against the Dalai Lama's five-day Seattle tour.

A plane also flew overhead trailing a banner that read: "Dalai: ur smiles charm, ur actions harm."

Once outside Hec Ed, the protesters showed violent images from Tibet on a large-screen TV, chanted through bullhorns and sang songs in Mandarin, including one that protesters translated as "My Chinese heart," saying that their hearts still belong to China even though they are far from home.

UW Police moved barricades to accommodate more protesters as their numbers swelled beyond the anticipated 200.

"I'd say there are 400, maybe a little more," said Ray Wittmier, UW interim police chief. "They have been cooperative and working with us, and doing exactly what they said. We have asked them to turn off the amplified sound as soon as the event starts."

Protester Shufu Xe, a systems analyst at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said the Dalai Lama's message has been distorted by the Western media.

"I like some of his ideas about nonviolence. But I think he is behind some of the violence in Tibet," Xe said. "I don't like that he's using the Olympics to promote his political agenda."

Xe, like many of the protesters, was born in China. He moved to the U.S. seven years ago.

Students lining up outside Hec Ed to see the Dalai Lama watched as protesters marched past. Sophomore Sydney Dale, 20, said she was surprised at the extent of the protest.

"I thought maybe there would be a few students," she said. "I didn't expect it to be so outlandish, with the chanting and yelling and the bullhorns."

Dale said she was excited to see the Dalai Lama and figured she may never get another chance.

Johnny Yeung   April 15th, 2008 634 GMT

Like other western medias, CNN is controlled by some big guys/groups in behind, therefore their reports are "selective" instead of objective. One simple example in San Francisco on 4/9/2008: western media cameras only selective pointed to those protesters although there were far more pro-Beijing supporters and red flags on the street. Naive Americans have always been fooled and cheated for years. Led by this kind of years of "facts", western world is farther and farther away from the real facts. That's why on 4/9/2008 some protesters and supporters peacefully talked to each other and learned a lot from each other! Remember: what you hear from CNN may NOT be right. Don't be naive.

Daryl   April 15th, 2008 741 GMT

It is a pity that your organization together with the majority of the Western media follow the Anti China Bias on Tibet.

I would suggest that you take some time to look history of Tibet and the oppression of the people under the rule of the temple. China has not oppressed the people, it has helped them.

Furthermore, Tibet is and always has been part of China and it will always remain so.

Timothy   April 15th, 2008 1041 GMT

Without submitting to authoirty and burned shops, it means a crime.

Those small portion of Tibetans want to show they want to be independent when they still do not have money to buy an airplane?

Do they have fund to set up a well trained police force or a trained army to guard their territory?

Creating violence in Tibet to gain independent would mean they are against their own law. If Dalai Lama really means peace and godly, he should have asked those to stop rioting.

Those who support riots and crime, you are not walking godly either.

chen ho   April 15th, 2008 1125 GMT

I am ashmed of being a Chinese. Tibet is a free country and will be free sooner or later from this communist rulers. the communist govt. in China are murderers, killers and they dont have any respect for Human rights. my fellow Chinese brothers and sisters, remember 1989 these are the very rulers who murdered our own brothers and sisters. if they really are sincere and honest then why aren't they letting independent reporter/journalist enter Tibet ?????????????. why aren't they closing Tibet to tourist????? I am feeling very ashamed. PLEASE STOP KILLING IN TIBET. PLEASE STOP KEEPING CHINA IN BLACK. LET US BE FREE AND LIVE HARMONIOUSLY. DONT HIDE FACTS FROM US . DOWN WITH COMMUNIST. DOWN WITH COMMUNIST.

kalini   April 15th, 2008 1132 GMT

I'm citizen living in Tibet province of China. Our family live a happy life for the support of Chinese government. We all are happy, free and harmonious. Chinese government is a great government. In the world, no other governments will be better than Chinese government. But recently I am not happy for several mobs they are imposed by Dalailama, a splitist. I don't know why some medias like cnn,bcc talk rubbish when they don't learn about Tibet. They don't know where is Tibet, but they say they report a true. How pitiful as a Americans and Britishers! They are deceived by their medias and governemt. So prond as a Chinese! I heat cnn, i heat bbc.

John Lee   April 15th, 2008 1630 GMT

Just heard from the news that this Jack Cafferty guy is condemned by the Chinese authorities for "throwing up" trash in front of decent people. I just found out that this guy has had a trouble childhood. Appreciate his frankness but it's dangerous to use it as an excuse for saying things irresponsibly. Lets look at what he said about his upbringing, from good old CNN.

CNN shouldn't manipulate the emotionally unstable Cafferty for their own greedy ends. It's a disgrace. How can we take you both seriously??

"My folks were alcoholics who, between them, were married 11 times. It would have been an even dozen, but my dad accidentally killed one of his fiancées. My dad had gotten a medical discharge from the Army for a bleeding ulcer; a half-century later, he died from bone cancer, broke and alone in a V.A. hospital. My mom was so incapacitated by addictions after their divorce that she was eventually unable to hold down a job.

I'm the product of a very dysfunctional, sometimes violent, Irish background. Indeed, very little of my back-story qualifies as Hallmark Card material, but it may help you to make sense of the way I see and interpret what's going on around me. People don't wind up with this kind of jaundiced, offbeat take on things without going through some interesting stuff. I grew up with no money and dealt with some demons of my own. I was never on a fast track from Andover to Harvard to big-media broadcasting. And this book ain't therapy. I'm content being mildly maladjusted, with absolutely no desire to change."

wise   April 15th, 2008 1707 GMT

Why CNN likes to against China?
Do you know the news group which own the CNN has invest billions dollars to China?
Do you know the news group lost the investment in China?
Now you know why CNN likes to against China?

Fred   April 15th, 2008 2101 GMT

Free Tibet?

Tibet has been FREE since 1959, when Dalai left Tibet.
More Than one million serfs/salves were FREED..
But those mobs should never be FREE, they belong to jails.

Human right?

How about the right of those victims? i.e., those normal Hui muslims and Han people who were killed, injured in Lahsa?

Those so called " Peaceful protesters" are in fact racists and fascists.

Asian   April 15th, 2008 2332 GMT

A chinese said "CNN is controlled by some big guys/groups in behind, therefore their reports are “selective” instead of objective."
Do you really think that CNN is more biased and more controlled than Xinhua?

A chinese said "You take some time to look history of Tibet and the oppression of the people under the rule of the temple. Tibet is and always has been part of China."
Did you take some time to look history of Tibet and the oppression of the people under the rule of CCP?
Do you really think that Tibet always has been a part of China(chinese's country)?

A chinese said "China has not oppressed the people, it has helped them."
Why has tibetans' unrest been occurring continually since 1950's invasion? Because China has helped them?
Please imagine that someday Tibetan Government will rule chinese and say "Tibet has not oppressed the chinese people, we has helped them." Could you really feel happy?

It seems that CCP and some chinese don't like tibetan's culture(religion).
I think chinese's culture(religion) is good and tibetan's one is also good.
If CCP really respect tibetan's culture(religion) as much as chinese's one and then help them, tibetans could be happy. (of course, including Genuine autonomy (political(CCP's secretary in tibet) and economic))

Asia   April 16th, 2008 442 GMT

There's nothing to do with human right, freedom, China government,...its the west to do with anti-China, support the separatists for independence. Just bcos the west is anti-communism so China is bad. if west encourage religion freedom so why no political system freedom for China to be communism? double standard?

1.3 billion Chinese   April 16th, 2008 946 GMT

chen ho, you are not fit to be a Chinese. So the west are ashamed of themselves since they are hypocrisy, biased media, lies, keep silence on violence and criminal protesters,....Opium war, Iraq, Afganistan,... The Chinese imporve Tibet with schools, hospitals, life expectancy from 40 to 70, jobs, better livings, railway-link, stop slavery....so you are ashame as a Chinese??? Your are really brainwashed by the west media. People will not respect you if you dont love yourselves. shame on you, you disappoint 1.3 billion Chinese.

Xoffe   April 16th, 2008 1142 GMT

Many PRC fans (often successfully brainwashed or on PRC gov payroll) denounce western media as being biased, yet their post, often defamatory, are still making it for all to see. This definitely would never happen in China where information is tightly controlled and censured! It is time that Chinese people start enjoying true freedom and democracy and for the one party system to end. To the great Chinese people: this is your time to show your government that you will not stay servile and submitted to endless tyranny.

Xoffe   April 16th, 2008 1144 GMT

The reason that all of us should care about what is going on in China is that since it aspire to a predominant role in the world, their laws and ways may become more of the norm beyond their borders (as seen in Tibet...) We owe it to our own children, even far away from Beijing not to accept the kind of things there which we won't tolerate at home.

Xoffe   April 16th, 2008 1223 GMT

Many Pro-PRC bloggers complain about our lack of knowledge for "Tibetan History" as taught by the only allowed source in today's China. If we only had the chance to have been "brainwashed" by the PRC regime, then we too, would understand. Unfortunately for the single party rule in Beijing, we have the possibility to diversify our source of information or worse...disagree!

Wanting Freedom and the right to vote for whom we please is a terrible crime under the PRC regime. However, I will take that risk and post facts that differ from the official story.

The Status of Tibet

Introduction
At the time of its invasion by troops of the People's Liberation Army of China in 1949, Tibet was an independent state in fact and law. The military invasion constituted an aggression on a sovereign state and a violation of international law. Today's continued occupation of Tibet by China, with the help of several hundred thousand troops, represents an ongoing violation of international law and of the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people to independence.

The Chinese Communist Government claims it has a right to "ownership" of Tibet. It does not claim this right on the basis of its military conquest in 1949 or alleged effective control over Tibet since then or since 1959. The Chinese Government also does not base its claim to "ownership" on the so-called "Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" which it forced upon Tibet in 1951. Instead, China's alleged legal claim is based on historical relationships primarily of Mongol or Manchu rulers with Tibetan lamas and, to a lesser extent, of Chinese rulers and Tibetan lamas. The main events relied on by the Chinese Government occurred hundreds of years ago: during the height of Mongol imperial expansion, when the Mongol Emperors extended their political supremacy throughout most of Asia and large parts of Eastern Europe; and when Manchu Emperors ruled China and expanded their influence throughout East and Central Asia, including Tibet, particularly in the 18th century.

It is not disputed that at different times in its long history Tibet came under various degrees of foreign influence: that of the Mongols, the Gorkhas of Nepal, the Manchu Emperors of China and the British rulers of India. At other times in Tibet's history, it was Tibet which exercised power and influence on 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 for some part of its history. In Tibet's case the degree and length of foreign influence and interference was quite limited. Moreover, relationship with the Mongol, Chinese and Manchu rulers, to the extent they had political significance, were personal in nature and did not at any time imply a union or integration of the Tibetan state with or into a Chinese state.

However fascinating Tibet's ancient history may be, it's status at the time of the Chinese invasion must, of course, be judged on the basis of its position in modern history, especially its relationship with China since 1911, when the Chinese overthrew the foreign Manchu rule and became the masters of their own country. Every country can go back to some period in history to justify territorial claims on neighbouring states. That is unacceptable in international law and practice.

The reader of China's White Paper "Tibet: Its Ownership and Human Rights Situation" will be struck by the scant attention its authors pay to Tibet's modern history in the decades before 1949. This is because from 1911 to the completion of the Chinese occupation in 1951, there is no evidence of Chinese authority or influence in Tibet which can support China's claim. In fact, the preponderance of the evidence shows precisely the opposite: that Tibet was to all intents and purposes a sovereign state, independent of China. This conclusion is supported by most legal scholars and experts on the subject.

The International Commission of Jurists' Legal Enquiry Committee on Tibet reported in its study on Tibet's legal status:

Tibet demonstrated from 1913 to 1950 the conditions of statehood as generally accepted under international law. In 1950, there was a people and a territory, and a government which functioned in that territory, conducting its own domestic affairs free from any outside authority. From 1913-1950, foreign relations of Tibet were conducted exclusively by the Government of Tibet, and countries with whom Tibet had foreign relations are shown by official documents to have treated Tibet in practice as an independent State.
[Tibet and Chinese People's Republic, Geneva, 1960, pp. 5,6]

Forty years of independence is clearly sufficient for a country to be regarded as such by the international community. Many members of the United Nations today have enjoyed a similar or even shorter period of independence. But in Tibet's case, even its ancient history has been selectively re-written by the Chinese Government's propaganda machine to serve the purpose of defending its claim to "ownership." Thus, even if it is not necessary to discuss Tibet's early history in order to understand its status on the eve of China's military invasion, we believe it is useful to review it briefly, just to set the record straight.
The status of Tibet: 1911-1951

There can be little argument that on the eve of China's military invasion, which started at the close of 1949, Tibet possessed all the attributes of independent statehood recognised under international law: a defined territory, a population inhabiting that territory, a government, and the ability to enter into international relations.

The territory of Tibet largely corresponds to the geological plateau of Tibet, which consists of 2.5 million square kilometre. At different times in history, wars were fought and treaties signed concerning the precise location of boundaries.

The population of Tibet at the time of the Chinese invasion was approximately six million. That population constituted the Tibetan people, a distinct people with a long history, rich culture and spiritual tradition. Tibetans are a people distinct from the Chinese and other neighbouring peoples. Not only have the Tibetans never considered themselves to be Chinese, the Chinese have also not regarded the Tibetans to be Chinese (hence, for example, the references to "barbarians" in Chinese historical annals).

The Government of Tibet was headquartered in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It consisted of a Head of State (the Dalai Dalai Lama), a Cabinet of Ministers (the Kashag), a National Assembly (the Tsongdu), and an elaborate bureaucracy to administer the vast territory of Tibet. The Judicial system was based on that developed by Songtsen Gampo (7th Century), Jangchub Gyaltsen (14th Century), the Fifth Dalai Lama (17th Century) and the Thirteenth Dalai Lama (20th Century), and was administered by Magistrates appointed by the Government.

The Government of Tibet levied tax, issued its own currency, ran the country's postal system and issued postage stamps, commanded Tibet's small army, and generally conducted all affairs of Government. It was an ancient form of government which had served the needs of Tibet well in the past, but was in need of reform in order for the country to keep pace with the great political, social and economic changes that were taking place in the world. The Tibetan form of government was a highly de-centralised one, with many districts and principalities of Tibet enjoying a large degree of self-government. This was, to a large extent, inevitable due to the vastness of the territory and the lack of modern communication systems.

The international relations of Tibet were focused on the country's neighbours. Tibet maintained diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with countries in the region such as Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Mongolia, China, British India, and, to a limited extent, with Russia and Japan.

Tibet's independent foreign policy is perhaps most obviously demonstrated by the country's neutrality during World War II. Despite strong pressures from Britain, the U.S. and China to allow the passage of military supplies through Tibet to China when Japan blocked the strategically vital "Burma Road," Tibet held fast to its declared neutrality, which the Allies were constrained to respect.

China today claims that "no country ever recognised Tibet." In international law, recognition can be obtained by an explicit act of recognition or by implicit act or behaviour. The conclusion of treaties, even the conduct of negotiations, and certainly the maintenance of diplomatic relations are forms of recognition. Mongolia and Tibet concluded a formal treaty of recognition in 1913; Nepal not only concluded peace treaties with Tibet, and maintained an Ambassador in Lhasa, but also formally stated to the United Nations in 1949, as part of its application for UN membership, that it maintained independent diplomatic relations with Tibet as it did with several other countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, India and Burma.

Nepal, Bhutan, Britain, China and India maintained diplomatic missions in Tibet's capital, Lhasa. Although China claimed in its propaganda that its mission in Tibet was a branch office of the so-called Commission of Tibetan and Mongolian Affairs of the Guomindang government, the Tibetan Government only recognised it as a diplomatic mission. Its status was no higher than the Nepalese Embassy (Nepal had a full Ambassador or "Vakil" in Lhasa) or the British Mission. The Tibetan Foreign Office also conducted limited relations with the United States when President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent emissaries to Lhasa to request assistance for the Allied war effort against Japan during the Second World War. Also, during the four UN General assembly debates on Tibet in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1965, many countries expressly referred to Tibet as an independent country illegally occupied by China.

Relations with Nationalist China

China's position was ambiguous during this period (1911-49). On the one hand, the Nationalist Government unilaterally announced in its constitution and in communications to other countries that Tibet was a province of the Republic of China (one of the "five races" of the Republic). On the other hand, it recognised that Tibet was not part of the Republic of China in its official communications with the Government of Tibet. Thus, China's President repeatedly sent letters and envoys to the Dalai Lama and to the Tibetan Government asking that Tibet "join" the Republic of China. Similar messages were sent by China to the Government of Nepal. Both Tibet and Nepal consistently refused to join China. In response to the first letter of Chinese President Yuan Shih-kai, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama rejected the invitation to join the Republic, explaining courteously but firmly that Tibetans did "not approve" of the Chinese Government due to past injustices and stated:

The Republic has only just been proclaimed and the national foundations are far from strong. It behoves the President to exert his energies towards the maintenance of order. As for Thibet, the Thibetans are quite capable of preserving their existence intact and there is no occasion for the President to worry himself at this distance or to be discomposed. [Guomin Gongbao, 6 Jan. 1913]
In the White Paper, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama is quoted as having told the "envoy" sent by "Beijing" in 1919 that, "It is not my true intention to be on intimate terms with the British. ... I swear to be loyal to our country and jointly work for the happiness of the five races." In that year an unofficial delegation came to Lhasa ostensibly to present religious offerings to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, but in reality to urge the Tibetan leader to negotiate an agreement with China. However, the Dalai Lama rejected the overture outright, and instead, called for tripartite negotiations in Lhasa.

Liu Man-qing, a woman of mixed Tibetan and Chinese parentage, did arrive in Lhasa in 1930. But her visit was described as personal. She also tried to approach the Tibetan Government with communications from the Chinese resident, but the Tibetan gave her no encouragement. In China's White Paper, it is stated that the Dalai Lama, in his communications through her, expressed his belief that Tibet is a part of China. The Dalai Lama is quoted as having said, "My greatest wish is for the real peace and unification of China", etc. There is no historical record of the Dalai Lama having made such statements in 1930. On the contrary, the official record of the Dalai Lama's reply to the Chinese President in 1930 contradicts this statement. The record refers to a list of eight questions submitted to the Dalai Lama on behalf of the Chinese President and contains each of the Dalai Lama's responses.

On relations with China and Chinese influence in Tibet, the Dalai Lama said:

For the stability of Tibet's religio-political order and happiness of its subjects, it may be better to hold negotiations and conclude treaties as this will result in dependable arrangements.

On Tibet's independence and the border territories Tibet wanted returned from China, the Dalai Lama said:

Under the priest-patron relationship that prevailed so far, Tibet has enjoyed wide independence. We wish topreserve this. We feel that there will be long-term stability if the territories we have lost to outsiders are returned to us. [Record of the 13th Dalai Lama's communication, dated 15th day of the 4th Tibetan Month, Iron-Horse Year 1930]

Other Chinese envoys to Tibet, such as General Huang Mu-sung (1934), and Wu Zhong-xin (1940), were also told in no uncertain terms by the Tibetan Government that Tibet was and wished to remain independent. It may be stated here that neither the Chinese Government, nor its "special envoy" (Huang Mu-sung), had any role in the appointment of Rading Rinpoche as the regent after the death of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Huang Mu-sung was the first Chinese to be permitted to enter Tibet in an official capacity since 1911. The Tibetans did not refuse him permission because he came to offer religious tribute and condolences for the late Dalai Lama. In the event, Huang Mu-sung arrived in Lhasa in April 1934, three months after Rading Rinpoche became the Regent. The Tsongdu (National Assembly) nominated three candidates for the regency, Rading Rinpoche, Gaden Tripa Yeshi Wangdhen and Phurchok Rinpoche. Out of them, Rading Rinpoche was selected through a lot-drawing ceremony conducted in front of the statue of Avalokitesvara in the Potala. [Thupten Tenthar Lhawutara in Bod kyi Lo rGyus Rig gNas dPyad gZhi'i rGyu cha bDams BsGrigs, Vol. 12, People's Publishing House, Beijing, 1990]

In the White Paper, China claims that Tibetan Government officials were sent to participate in China's national assembly sessions in 1931 and 1946 in Nanjing. In fact, in 1931, Khenpo Kunchok Jungne was appointed by the Dalai Lama to set up a temporary liaison office in Nanjing and maintain contact with the Chinese Government. Likewise, the 1946 Tibetan mission was sent to Delhi and Nanjing to congratulate Britain, the United States and China on the Allied victory in the Second World War. They had no instruction or authority to attend any Chinese national assembly. Speaking about this to the International Commission of Jurists' Legal Inquiry Committee on 29 August 1959, the Dalai Lama said, "They (Tibetan delegates in Nanjing) had no official part in the Assembly. When the propaganda came to the knowledge of our Government they were instructed by telegram not to attend."

As for the establishment of the Commission for Tibetan and Mongolian Affairs by the Nationalist Guomindang Government, that too served only to keep up appearances: to this day, the Guomindang Government in Taiwan maintains this Commission which, it claims, not only has jurisdiction over Tibet, but also over the whole of Mongolia, including Outer Mongolia, whose independence has been internationally recognised since 1924. In fact, this Commission was not recognised by the Tibetan Government and never had any authority with respect to Tibet.

United Nations Debates

When Chinese Communist armies started entering Tibet in 1949, the Tibetan Government sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations to help Tibet resist the aggression. The General Assembly was advised by Britain and India not to take any action for the time being in order not to provoke a full-scale attack by China. But to most countries, China's attack on Tibet was aggression. This became evident especially during the full debates on the issue in the United Nations General Assembly in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1965, when many governments echoed the sentiments expressed by the Ambassador of the Philippines who referred to Tibet as an "independent nation" and added: "it is clear that on the eve of the Chinese invasion in 1950, Tibet was not under the rule of any foreign country." He described China's occupation as "the worst type of imperialism, and colonialism past or present." The Nicaraguan representative condemned the Chinese invasion of Tibet and said: "The people of America, born in freedom, must obviously be repelled by an act of aggression ... and particularly when it is perpetrated by a large state against a small and weak one." The Representative from Thailand reminded the Assembly that the majority of states "refute the contention that Tibet is part of China." Similarly, the Government of the United States condemned and denounced Chinese "aggression" and their "invasion" of Tibet.

Irish Representative Frank Aiken stated:

For thousands of years, or for a couple of thousand years at any rate, (Tibet) was as free and as fully in control of its own affairs as any nation in this Assembly, and a thousand times more free to look after its own affairs than many of the nations here. [UN GA Docs A/PV 898 1960);A/PV 1394, 1401 1965]
In fact, during those debates, it was only the Communist block which openly sided with China on the issue. From the official statements made during those debates, it is clear that China's assertion that no country ever recognised Tibet's independence or considered the military intervention to be aggression, is simply not true.

Conclusion

The Chinese Government cannot deny the fact that Tibet was independent between 1911 and 1951 without distorting history. Even China's last Head of Mission in Lhasa, Shen Tsung-Lien, wrote after leaving the country in 1948, "Since 1911 Lhasa (ie, the Tibetan Government in Lhasa) has to all practical purposes enjoyed full independence". [Tibet and the Tibetans, Shen, T. and Liu, S., New York, 1973, p.62] Mao Zedong himself, when he passed through the border regions of Tibet during the Long March and was given food and shelter by local Tibetans, remarked, "This is our only foreign debt, and some day we must pay the Mantzu (sic) and the Tibetans for the provisions we were obliged to take from them." [Red Star over China, Edgar Snow, New York, 1961, p.214. Emphasis added].

The origin and position of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama

China's White Paper states, "In 1653 and 1713, the Qing emperors granted honorific titles to the 5th Dalai Lama and the 5th Bainqen (Panchen) Lama, henceforth establishing the titles of the Dalai Lama and the Bainqen Erdini and their political and religious status in Tibet. The Dalai Lama ruled the bulk of areas from Lhasa while the Bainqen Erdini ruled the remaining area of Tibet from Xigatse (Shigatse)." This claim is absolutely baseless.

The Tibetan religious scholar and sage, Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), founded the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It became the fourth major school of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, the Sakya and the Kagyu. Panchen Gedun Drup was Tsongkhapa's principal disciple.

Panchen Gedun Drup's third reincarnation, Sonam Gyatso, was invited to the Mongol Court of Altan Khan who first conferred the title of "Talai (Dalai) Lama" on him. The title was applied retrospectively to his two previous incarnations, making him the Third Dalai Lama. Thus began the line of the Dalai Lamas. It is, therefore, not true, as Chinese propaganda claims, that the title "Dalai Lama" was first established by a Manchu emperor a century later.

The relationship established by the Third Dalai Lama with Altan Khan was a spiritual one, but it would have political repercussions two centuries later, in 1642, when the Mongol prince, Gushri Khan, helped the Fifth Dalai Lama (Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso 1617-1682) to become the supreme political and spiritual ruler of Tibet. The Fifth Dalai Lama, in his turn, conferred the title of "Chokyi Gyalpo" (Dharma Raja) to his Mongol Patron. From that time on, successive Dalai Lamas ruled Tibet as sovereign heads of state. The political position of the Dalai Lamas was, therefore, not established by a Manchu emperor of the Qing Dynasty as claimed in the White Paper, but by the Fifth Dalai Lama with the help of his Mongol patron, two years before the Qing Dynasty was even established.

Tashilhunpo Monastery was established in 1447 by Panchen Gedun Drup, retrospectively known as the First Dalai Lama. Successive abbots of Tashilhunpo monastery were given the title "Panchen" because of their scholarship. The Fifth Dalai Lama gave his teacher, Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662), the ownership of Tashilhunpo monastery and some additional estates. After that, the Panchen Lamas were selected on the basis of reincarnation, each successive Panchen Lama retaining ownership of the monastery and estates. This situation was common among many incarnate lamas, such as the Sakya, Phagpa-la, Dakyab Loden Sherab, etc, who had been given estates by the Tibetan Government. But this had absolutely no political significance. Contrary to Chinese Communist propaganda, the Panchen Lamas and other high lamas exercised religious authority only and were not involved in the political administration of any part of Tibet. In fact, the political authority of Shigatse and Tashilhunpo lay with the district governor appointed by Lhasa.

Thus, the Manchu emperor played no role in the establishment of the religious or political status of the Dalai Lama, and none with respect to the Panchen Lama's position either.

After the invasion of Tibet the Chinese Communist Government consistently tried to use the late Panchen Lama to legitimise its position in Tibet. Beijing appointed him to political positions and urged him to denounce and take the place of the Dalai Lama on a number of occasions. But the Panchen Lama refused to do so, and suffered many years of imprisonment and maltreatment as a result.

The Chinese Government claims in the White Paper, as did past Guomindang Governments, that it played a decisive role, through its envoy Wu Zhong-xin, in the selection and installation of the 14th Dalai Lama in 1940, and states, "... the simple reality that the installation of the 14th Dalai Lama needed the approval of the (Chinese) national government is sufficient proof that Tibet did not possess any independent power during that period (1911-1949)."

In reality, the Dalai Lama was selected according to the age-old religious beliefs and traditions of the Tibetans and no approval of the Chinese Government was needed or sought. As a matter of fact, it was in 1939, before Wu's arrival in Lhasa, that the Regent Rading announced the name of the present Dalai Lama in the Tibetan National Assembly, which unanimously confirmed the candidate.

When the enthronment ceremony took place on 22 February 1940, Wu, like envoys from Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and British India, had no special role. Sir Basil Gould, the British Political Officer who represented British India, explains that the official Chinese version of events was a fiction which had been prepared and published before the enthronement. That fictitious account by Wu Zhong-xin, which China today relies on, reflected what the Chinese had intended to happen, but what did not in fact occur. Chinese propaganda has also used a Chinese news report featuring a photograph of the Dalai Lama with Wu Zhong-xin, captioned as having been taken during the enthronement ceremony. But, according to Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, this photo was taken a few days after the ceremony, when Wu had a private audience with the Dalai Lama.

"Wu Zhong-xin's claim of having presided over the enthronement ceremony on the basis of this photograph is a blatant distortion of historical facts," Ngabo said in Tibet Daily on 31 August 1989.

Early History

According to Tibetan annals, the first king of Tibet ruled from 127 BC, but it was only in the seventh century AD that Tibet emerged as a unified state and a mighty empire under Emperor Songtsen Gampo. With his rule, an era of political and military greatness and territorial expansion started that lasted for three centuries. The King of Nepal and the Emperor of China offered their daughters to the Tibetan Emperor in marriage. The wedding to the Nepalese and Chinese princesses were of particular importance, because they played important roles in the spread of Buddhism in Tibet. Chinese propaganda always refers to political implications of Songtsen Gampo's wedding to the Chinese imperial princess Wen Cheng, conveniently ignoring the Tibetan ruler's other wives, particularly his Nepalese one, whose influence was, if anything, greater than that of her Chinese counterpart.

Tibetan ruler Trisong Detsen (reign: 755-797) expanded the Tibetan empire by conquering parts of China. In 763, China's capital Chang'an (modern day Xian) was invaded and China had to pay an annual tribute to Tibet. In 783, a treaty was concluded which laid down the borders between Tibet and China. A pillar inscription at the foot of the Potala Palace in Lhasa bears witness to some of these conquests.

The peace treaty concluded between Tibet and China in 821, is of particular importance in illustrating the nature of relations between these two great powers of Asia. The text of this treaty, both in Tibetan and Chinese, was inscribed on three stone pillars: one was erected in Gungu Meru to demarcate the borders between the two nations, second in Lhasa where it still stands, and the third in the Chinese capital of Chang'an. Passages quoted from the pillars in the White Paper are inaccurate and out of context, and aimed at creating the impression that some sort of "union" resulted from the treaty. Nothing is further from the truth, as is clear from the following principal passage of that treaty:

Tibet and China shall abide by the frontiers of which they are now in occupation. All to the east is the country of great China; and all to the west is, without question, the country of great Tibet. Henceforth, on neither side shall there be waging of war nor seizing of territory.

It is hard to see how China can, in its White Paper, interpret these events as showing that "the Tibetans and Hans (Chinese) had, through marriage between royal families and meetings leading to alliances, cemented political and kinship ties of unity and political friendship, and formed close economic and cultural relations, laying a solid foundation for the ultimate founding of a unified nation." In fact, the historical records, both Tibetan and Chinese, contradict such an interpretation and refer to separate and powerful empires.
In the mid-ninth century, the Tibetan state fragmented into several principalities. Tibetan attention focused on India and Nepal from where a strong religious and cultural influence brought on a major spiritual and intellectual renaissance.

Relations with the Mongol Emperors (1240-1350)

The Mongol ruler Genghis Khan and his successors conquered vast territories in Asia and Europe creating one of the largest empires the world has ever known, stretching from the Pacific to eastern Europe. In 1207, the Tangut empire north of Tibet fell to the advancing Mongols, and in 1271, the Mongols announced the establishment of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty to rule the Eastern part of the Empire. By 1279, the Chinese Song dynasty in southern China fell before the advancing armies and the Mongols completed their conquest of China. Today, China claims the Yuan Dynasty to be its own dynasty because, by doing so, it lays claim to all Mongol conquests, at least in the eastern half of the Mongol Empire.

Prince Goden, grandson of Genghis Khan, dispatched an expedition to Tibet in 1240 and invited one of Tibet's leading religious hierarchs, Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251), to his court, thus establishing an enduring Tibetan-Mongol relationship. Here began the unique cho-yon (priest-patron) relationship. Kublai Khan, who succeeded Goden Khan, embraced Tibetan Buddhism and adopted Drogon Choegyal Phagpa, nephew of Sakya Pandita, as his spiritual mentor. This cho-yon relationship resulted in Kublai adopting Buddhism as his empire's state religion, and Phagpa became its highest spiritual authority. In gratitude, Kublai Khan offered his Tibetan lama political authority over Tibet in 1254, conferring various titles on him.

These early cho-yon relationships were followed by many similar relationships between Mongol princes or Tibetan noble families and Tibetan lamas. This unique Central Asian relationship also formed the basis of later relations between Manchu emperors and successive Dalai Lamas. The cho-yon relationship itself was purely a personal one arising from the religious devotion of the Patron for the Priest and continued to exist even if the political status of the Patron changed. This was evident in the Mongol-Tibetan relationship, which continued to exist even after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty.

An essential element of the cho-yon relationship was the protection that the Patron provided his Lama in return, not for the latter's allegiance, but for his religious teachings and blessings. Some cho-yon relationships acquired important political dimensions and the Patron was expected to provide military support to protect the Lama and his Teaching or "church". Superiority of the protector was not implied, as the Chinese propaganda suggests, since the lay patron was the student and worshipper of his Lama.

When Buddhism became the State religion in the eastern part of the Mongol empire and the Sakya Lama (Phagpa) its highest spiritual authority, the Mongol-Tibetan relationship could be best described in terms of mutual interdependence. This concept provided for dual political and religious paramountcy of the worldly emperor and the spiritual leader on the basis of equality and interdependence. While the spiritual leader depended on the emperor for protection and for backing in ruling Tibet, the conquering emperor depended on the lama to provide the legitimacy for his rule of the Mongol Empire.

It is undeniable that Mongol Emperors spread their influence over Tibet. But, contrary to the assertion made in the Chinese White Paper that,"In the mid 13th century Tibet was officially incorporated into the territory of China's Yuan Dynasty", none of the Mongol rulers ever made any attempt to administer Tibet directly; Tibet did not even pay tax to the Mongol Empire, and it certainly was never considered part of China by the Mongol emperors.

Tibet broke its political relationship with the Mongols in 1350 when the Tibetan king, Jangchub Gyaltsen (reign: 1350-1364), replaced the Sakya Lamas as the most powerful ruler of Tibet. Jangchub Gyaltsen did away with Mongol influences in the Tibetan administrative system and introduced a new and distinctly Tibetan one. He also enacted a Code of Law (Trimyig Shelchey Cho-nga, 15 Article Code), for the administration of justice in the kingdom. The Chinese regained their independence from Mongol rule and established the Ming dynasty eighteen years after that.

Relations with Chinese Emperors (1368-1644)

The White Paper claims that the Chinese Ming Dynasty "replaced the Yuan Dynasty in China and inherited the right to rule Tibet". But, there is no historical basis for this assertion. As shown above, the relationship established between Mongol Khans or emperors and Tibetan lamas predated the Mongol conquest of China. Similarly, Tibet broke with the Mongol emperors before China regained its independence from them. The Chinese emperors of the Ming inherited no relationship from the Mongols. On the other hand, Mongol Khans continued to maintain their intensive religious and cultural ties with Tibetans, often in the form of cho-yon relationships, for centuries afterwards.

Even if the Mongols did exercise influence in Tibet, it is still too presumptious on the part of China to claim Mongol inheritence when an independent Outer Mongolia exists as the only legitimate representative of the Mongolian people and nation.

Contacts between Tibet and Ming China were scarce and largely limited to visits by individual lamas of various, sometimes rival, monasteries to China, and the granting of honorific imperial titles or gifts by the Chinese Emperor to them. These visits are recorded in Tibetan histories of the fifteenth to seventeenth century, but there is no evidence whatsoever of political subordination of Tibet or its rulers to China or the Ming emperors. In its White Paper, the Chinese Government alleges that these contacts with individual lamas demonstrate Ming authority in and over Tibet. But since Tibet was not ruled by any of those lamas, whatever the nature of their contacts may have been, they could not affect the independent status of Tibet.

From 1350, Tibet was ruled by the princes of Phagmodru and then, from about 1481, by the Rinpung dynasty. In 1406, the ruling Phagmodru prince, Dakpa Gyaltsen, turned down the Imperial invitation to him to visit China. This clearly shows the sovereign authority of Tibetan rulers at that time. From about 1565 until the rise to power of the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1642 (two years before the fall of the Ming Dynasty), the kings of Tsang ruled Tibet. There are indications of sporadic diplomatic relations between some of these rulers and Ming emperors, but the latter exercised neither authority nor influence over them.

In 1644, the Chinese emperors were once again overthrown by foreign conquerors. The Manchus succeeded in establishing their own imperial dynasty, which ruled over a large empire, the most important part of which was China. They called it the Qing Dynasty.

Relations with the Manchus (1639-1911)

In 1642, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, with the help of his Mongol patron Gushri Khan, became the supreme political and religious ruler of unified Tibet. Since then, Tibetans accepted him as their "Gongsa Chenpo" or "The Supreme Sovereign". His prestige was recognised far beyond Tibet's borders.

The Fifth Dalai Lama not only maintained a close relationship with the Mongols but also developed close ties with the Manchu rulers. In 1639, before the Dalai Lama acquired supreme political power and also before the Manchu conquest of China and the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, Manchu Emperor Tai Tsung invited the Dalai Lama to his capital, Mukden (present-day Shenyang). Unable to accept the invitation personally, the Dalai Lama sent his envoy who was treated with great respect by the Emperor. Thus the Cho-yon relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Manchu rulers was established. As was true of the Tibetan relationship with the Mongol emperors, the links developed between Tibetans and the Manchu emperors did not involve China. As Owen Lattimore points out in reference to the Qing Dynasty, "What existed in fact was a Manchu Empire, of which China formed only one part." [Studies in Frontier History]

Having conquered China and annexed it to the Manchu empire, Emperor Shunzi invited the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1653 for a state visit to the Imperial capital. In an unprecedented sign of respect, the Manchu Emperor made a four-day journey outside his capital (Beijing) to receive the Tibetan sovereign and foremost spiritual leader of Central Asian Buddhists. Commenting on the Dalai Lama's visit, W.W. Rockhill, an American scholar and diplomat in China, wrote:

(The Dalai Lama) had been treated with all the ceremony which could have been accorded to any independent sovereign, and nothing can be found in Chinese works to indicate that he was looked upon in any other light; at this period of China's relations with Tibet, the temporal power of the Lama, backed by the arms of Gusri Khan and the devotion of all Mongolia, was not a thing for the Emperor of China to question. [The Dalai Lamas of Lhasa and Their Relations With Emperors of China, 1644-1908, T'oung Pao 11, 1910, p.37]

On this occasion, the Fifth Dalai Lama and the Manchu Emperor bestowed unprecedented high complimentary titles upon each other and the cho-yon relationship was reaffirmed. In the White Paper, the Chinese Government refers only to the honorific title given by the Emperor to the Dalai Lama, but conveniently leaves out any mention of the similar honorific title granted by the Dalai Lama to the Emperor. Chinese propaganda infers that it was this deed by the Manchu Emperor which conferred the legal right to the Dalai Lama to rule Tibet. This interpretation intentionally misses the point of the event, namely that titles were exchanged by two sovereign leaders. If the Dalai Lama was dependent on his imperial title for the exercise of his authority, then so was the Manchu Emperor dependent on the title granted by the Dalai Lama for the exercise of his authority.
Throughout the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) relations between Tibet and the Manchu emperors remained formally based on the cho-yon relationship. The Manchu Emperor readily responded to the appeals for help to drive out invading Dzungar Mongols and escort the newly discovered Seventh Dalai Lama to the Tibetan capital in 1720.

Manchu forces entered Tibet on three more times in the eighteenth century, once to protect Tibet against invading Gorkha forces from Nepal (1792), and twice to restore order after civil wars (1728 and 1751). Each time they came at the request of the Tibetans, and each time the cho-yon relationship was invoked.

The Manchus did succeed in establishing some degree of influence in Tibet during those crisis periods. But their influence declined rapidly afterwards, rendering them unable to play any role when Tibet fought wars against invaders from Jammu (1841- 1842), Nepal (1855-1856), and British India (1903-04). By the mid 19th century the Manchu Emperor's role (and the related role of the Amban) was only nominal.

The White Paper devotes considerable attention to Emperor Qianlong's so-called 29-article edict, or regulations, of 1793 concerning Tibet, and to the appointment of Ambans (ambassadors). It presents the "regulations" as if they were an imperial order proving extensive Manchu authority in Tibet. In reality, the 29 points were suggestions made by the Emperor for certain reforms of the Government of Tibet following its war with Nepal. The Ambans were not viceroys or administrators, but were essentially ambassadors appointed to look after Manchu interests, and to protect the Dalai Lama on behalf of the Emperor.

In 1792, the Gorkhas of Nepal invaded Tibet following a dispute between Tibet and Nepal and the Dalai Lama appealed to the Manchu Emperor for help. The Emperor sent a large army which helped Tibet drive out the Gorkhas, and mediated a treaty of peace between Tibet and Nepal. Since this was the fourth time the Emperor was asked to send troops to fight for the Tibetan Government, he wanted some say in Tibetan affairs in order to prevent Tibetans from becoming involved in conflicts which might again precipitate requests for Manchu military involvement. The "regulations" were suggestions made in the context of the Emperor's protector role, rather than an order from a ruler to his subjects. This emerges clearly from the statement made by the Imperial envoy and commander of the Manchu army, General Fu K'ang-an, to the Eighth Dalai Lama:

The Emperor issued detailed instructions to me, the Great General, to discuss all the points, one by one, in great length. This demonstrates the Emperor's concern that Tibetans come to no harm and that their welfare be ensured in perpetuity. There is no doubt that the Dalai Lama,acknowledging his gratitude to the Emperor, will accept these suggestions once all the points are discussed and agreed upon.However, if the Tibetans insist on clinging to their age-old habits, the Emperor will withdraw the Ambans and the garrison after the troops are pulled out. Moreover, if similar incidents occur in the future, the Emperor will have nothing to do with them. The Tibetans may, therefore, decide for themselves as to what is in their favour and what is not or what is heavy and what is light, and make a choice on their own. [Quoted from Ya Han Chang's Biography of the Dalai Lamas in Bod kyi Lo rGyus Rag Rim g-Yu Yi Preng ba, Vol 2, Published by Tibet Institute of Social Science, Lhasa, 1991, p.316]

Rather than accepting or rejecting the Emperor's points, Tibetans adopted some of the 29 points which were perceived to be beneficial to them, and disregarded those they thought to be unsuitable. As Panchen Choekyi Nyima, the predecessor of the Late Panchen Lama, said: "Where Chinese policy was in accordance with their own views, the Tibetans were ready to accept the Amban's advice; but ... if this advice ran counter in any respect to their national prejudices, the Chinese Emperor himself would be powerless to influence them. [Diary of Capt. O'Connor, 4 September 1903]
Among the important points of this "29-point edict" was the Emperor's proposal for the selection of great incarnate lamas, including the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas, by drawing lots from a golden urn. This important task, however, was the responsibility of the Tibetan Government and high lamas, who continued to select them according to religious traditions. Thus, already on the first occasion when the golden urn should have been employed, namely for the selection of the Ninth Dalai Lama in 1808, Tibetans disregarded it.

Another important point of this "edict" was the role of Ambans. The Amban's role resembled that of an ambassador, at times, and that of a Resident in a classical protectorate relationship, at other times. It is best understood in the explanation Amban Yu Tai gave in 1903 to Mortimer Durand, the Foreign Secretary of the Government of India (as reported by him) that, "he was only a guest in Lhasa – not a master – and he could not put aside the real masters, and as such he had no force to speak of." [Sir Mortimer Durand: A Biography, by Sir Percy Sykes, London 1926, p.166] In the same sense, two Lazarist missionaries, Huc and Gabet, who were in Lhasa in the mid-nineteenth century, described the position of the Ambans as follows: "the Government of Tibet resembles that of the Pope and the position occupied by the Chinese Ambassadors was the same as that of the Austrian Ambassador at Rome." [Decouverte du Thibet, 1845-1846, M. Huc, 1933, p.50] The reference to "Chinese Ambassadors" is a common mistake, because the Manchu Emperors were careful not to appoint Chinese Ambans but Manchus or Mongolians, a fact which stressed that the appointment of the Amban was also viewed in the context of the protector's role in the cho-yon relationship, a relationship from which the Chinese were excluded.

The unprecedented invasion of Tibet by Manchu troops in 1908 was a turning point in relations between Tibet and the Manchu Emperor. Previous imperial military expeditions had come to assist the Dalai Lama or the Tibetan Government and at their invitation. But this time, the Manchu Emperor attempted to establish his authority in Tibet by force, largely in order to remove increasing British influence in Tibet. The Dalai Lama fled to neighbouring India, and the occupation of Tibet was short-lived. When the Manchu Emperor tried to "depose" the Dalai Lama in 1910, the Dalai Lama declared the termination of the cho- yon relationship. The protector had attacked his Lama and thereby violated the very foundation of their relationship.

Resistance to the invasion succeeded when the Manchu Empire collapsed and Tibetans forced the occupying army to surrender. In the summer of 1912, Nepalese mediation between Tibet and China resulted in the conclusion of the "Three Point Agreement" providing for formal surrender and expulsion of all remaining Imperial troops. After returning to Lhasa, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama issued a proclamation reaffirming the independence of Tibet on 14 February 1913.

Relations with British India (1857-1911)

Since the end of the eighteenth Century, Britain developed a keen interest to open up trade with Tibet. Since all the Himalayan states which were closely linked to Lhasa had gradually been tied to British India by means of treaties and other agreements, Tibet feared it would also lose its independence if it did not resist British efforts to gain access to Tibet. The Thirteenth Dalai Lama steered Tibet on an independent course. This policy frustrated the British who feared, more than anything, a Russian infiltration into Tibet, which would tip the balance of power in Central Asia.

Unable to communicate effectively with Tibet, Britain approached the Manchu Court for assistance in forcing Tibet to cooperate. The result was the conclusion, without Tibet's participation or knowledge, of two treaties (1890 and 1893) between Britain and China which had provisions regarding Tibet.

The Tibetan Government rejected these treaties as ultra vires, and this precipitated the British invasion of Tibet in 1903. The Manchu Emperor did not come to the assistance of Tibet and, as noted by Amban Yu Tai, disclaimed any responsibility for the action of the Tibetans. British troops left Lhasa within a year, after concluding a bilateral treaty, the Lhasa Convention, with the Tibetan Government.

The provisions of the Lhasa Convention necessarily pre-supposed the unrestricted sovereignty of Tibet in internal and external matters, otherwise, Tibet could not legitimately have transferred to Britain the powers specified in the treaty. The Lhasa Convention did not even acknowledge the existence of any special relationship between the Manchu Emperor and Tibet and constituted an implicit recognition by Britain of Tibet as a state competent to conclude treaties.

In an effort to persuade China to cooperate, Britain convinced it to sign the Adhesion Agreement in 1906, once again, without participation of Tibet. That agreement and the 1907 agreement concluded between Britain and Russia, confirmed the existence of a sphere of British influence in Tibet and introduced the concept of Chinese "suzerainty" over Tibet, something neither Tibet, nor the Manchu Court accepted. In 1908, during Tibet's brief invasion by the Manchu army, Britain, once again, signed a treaty with the Manchus, with no independent Tibetan participation, concerning trade with Tibet.

Referring to the British concept of Suzerainty, Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, explained:

Chinese suzerainty over Tibet is a constitutional fiction -a political affectation which has only been maintained because of its convenience to both parties. ... As a matter of fact, the two Chinese (ie, Manchu) Ambans at Lhasa are there not as Viceroys, but as Ambassadors. [Papers CD 1920, No.66, GoI to IO, 8 Jan. 1903. India Office Library]
Relations with India

When India became independent in 1947, it took over the British diplomatic Mission in Lhasa, and inherited the treaty relations of Britain with Tibet. Its recognition of Tibet was clear from the official communication the Indian Government sent to the Tibetan Foreign Office:

The Government of India would be glad to have an assurance that it is the intention of the Tibetan Government to continue relations on the existing basis until new arrangements are reached on matters that either party may wish to take up. This is the procedure adopted by all other countries with which India has inherited treaty relations from His Majesty's Government. [Notes, Memoranda and Letters Exchanged and Agreements Signed by the Governments of India and China, Vol 2, 1959, p.39]
Self-determination

China's White Paper speaks about its alleged "ownership" of Tibet, it discusses broad issues relating to human rights, including social, economic and cultural rights, but does not address the fundamental question of the right of the Tibetan people to self-determination.

Under international law, populations which meet the criteria of "a people", possess the right to self-determination. Governments may not deny that right, and must act in accordance with it. In past decades, the right to self-determination has primarily been applied to colonial countries and peoples, but, particularly in recent years, the right has been applied outside the context of decolonisation also.

The Tibetan people clearly constitute a people under international law, as defined, among others, by the UNESCO International Meeting of Experts on Further Study of the Concept of the Rights of Peoples. It is difficult to conceive of a better example of a distinct people, with all the characteristics fulfilled: commonalities in history, language, culture, ethnicity and other manifestations of shared identity and experience; numerousness, ie, enough persons sharing common identity and experience to warrant recognition by the international community; the existence of institutions to give expression and effect to these commonalities; the will of a people to assert the right to self-determination.

The right to self-determination means the right of a people to "determine their own political status and to determine their economic, social and cultural development" free of outside interference. [International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, Art. 1; and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Art. 1;] Tibetans have been denied the exercise of this right since their country's invasion and occupation by China. Under international law, the PRC has the obligation to permit its exercise.

The implementation of the right to self-determination can lead to integration with a state, association with a state or independence, but the choice must be made by the people exercising their right to self-determination. This choice must be made freely, without any interference from outside that people. Thus, it is for the Tibetan people alone, without interference from China, to make the choice.

The Dalai Lama has, for many years, called on China to agree on the holding of an internationally-supervised plebiscite to determine the wishes of the Tibetan people. This, indeed, is the most desirable approach, which is entirely in accordance with the requirements of international law and practice.

Recognition of Tibet's right to self-determination

In 1961, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 1723 (XVI), in which it explicitly recognised the right of the Tibetan people to self-determination. The UN called on the PRC to cease "practices which deprive the Tibetan people of their fundamental human rights and freedoms, including their right to self-determination." Four years later, in 1965, the UN General Assembly expressly reaffirmed this resolution in UNGA Res. 2079 (XX).

Earlier, in 1959, the first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, expressed his strong support for the Tibetan people's right to self-determination. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Lower House of Indian Parliament, he said, "the last voice in regard to Tibet should be the voice of the people of Tibet and nobody else."

Recently, on two separate occasions, experts on the question of rights of peoples and international law met to consider the question of Tibet's claim to self-determination.

The Permanent Peoples Tribunal, which met in Strasbourg for a week to hear extensive testimony and arguments in November 1992, found that the Tibetans meet the generally accepted legal criteria of "a people" with the right to self-determination and "are therefore entitled to exercise the right to self- determination." The Tribunal concluded that "the presence of the Chinese administration on Tibetan territory must be considered as foreign domination of the Tibetan people." Finally, in its Verdict, the Tribunal decided that, "the Tibetan people have from 1950 been, continuously, deprived of their right to self- determination." [Session on Tibet, Verdict, Permanent Tribunal of Peoples, Strasbourg, 20 Nov., 1992, pp.15 and 23, resp.]

In an unrelated conference, several weeks later, thirty eminent international lawyers from many countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas – among them some of the world's foremost authorities on self-determination – met in London for four days, to consider issues relating to the exercise of the right to self- determination by the Tibetan people. After extensive consideration of evidence, including China's White Paper, and after a lively legal debate, the conference participants concluded, in a written Statement, that:

1. under international law the Tibetan people are entitled to the right to self-determination, that this right "belongs to the Tibetan people" and that "(i)t is not for the state apparatus of the PRC, or any other nation or state, to deny the Tibetan people's right to self-determination."

2. "(s)ince the military action of 1949-50, Tibet has been under the alien occupation and domination of the PRC and has been administered with the characteristics of an oppressive colonial administration."

3. "in the particular case of Tibet and having regard to its long history of separate existence," the Tibetan people's claim to self-determination, including independence, is compatible with the principles of national unity and territorial integrity of states. [International Lawyers' Statement on Tibet - London 1993, London, 10 Jan. 1993, pp. 6-8].

The international conference statement called on the United Nations and the members of the international community urgently to take measures to promote an early implementation and realisation of the Tibetan people's right to self-determination.

In both discussions, that of the Peoples' Tribunal and that of the International Lawyer's Conference, the points of view of the Chinese Government, in particular as expressed in the White Paper, were discussed at length and fully considered. The Chinese Government was invited to participate in both events, but declined to do so. It did, however, submit to the meetings for consideration the White Paper and numerous other publications stating its point of view and arguments.

Conclusion

The Tibetan people undoubtedly possess the right to self- determination, by virtue of which Tibetans have the right to determine their political status and their economic, social and cultural development. Even if self-determination is primarily applicable to peoples under colonial domination or occupation, Tibetans fully qualify. The time has come for the PRC to accept its international obligations and to agree to the holding of a plebiscite in Tibet under international supervision.

xoffe   April 16th, 2008 1248 GMT

The "Status of Tibet" text is available on the Tibetan Government in Exile web site, which is not available inside China internet firewall.

Forrest   April 16th, 2008 1534 GMT

To “Xoffe”,

As I pointed in one of my previous posts earlier, when discussing and trying to find the real history, we should not reference the history statements from the involved parties, in order to avoid the conflict of interest. “The Status of Tibet” was fabricated by the so-called Tibetan Government in Exile. It distorted the history of Tibet in favor of the so-called Tibetan Government in Exile, and cannot be held as a trustable and objective history reference. When trying to find the history statements which are less biased and more objective, we should cite the history references which have been reviewed and widely accepted by the academic community.

Kenneth   April 16th, 2008 1722 GMT

To Xoffe and many anti-Chinese ignorants,

Firewalls within China?! Have you been to China?! You probably haven't been to any other countries besides America. So I should ask have you seen the real China in TV yourself? Oh! I forgot CNBC, ABC, Fox and CNN love to show you guys China in its 80s. Anyway, if you do get to see the modern China, you will be surprised by how many Internet cafes there are. There are also lots of proxy server that can bypass the system. I guess you really need a proxy server so your source of information is not limited to the exiled Tibetan groups? Or I should setup a website and describe myself as someone who suffered a long history of tortures by the exiled Tibetan group. If you use your logic, you should trust my source and post the information here, right?!

Anyway, if I am the China government, I will not crack down these Tibetan separatists. I will let them carry out their plans: hijack planes, kidnap foreign atheletes, and plant their bombs in Beijing sporting facilities. Let the world see the real side of these "Free Tibet" separatists. You know what, when those things do happen, I am sure CNN, BBC and CNBC will still find enough things to condemn China and they will continue their sympathy on those terrorists.

ngajang   April 16th, 2008 2106 GMT

those chiness how have not seen inside the tibet they will feel bad about tibetan becouse you are chiness orgine,of couse it also same to me but if you are looking for the world peace then you must see the reality that will help the world. dont simply blem on that you have not seen ok world peace.

SomeoneWhoIsConcerned   April 16th, 2008 2217 GMT

I must acknowledge what an intricate story CNN has put up for us. Sadly millions of people around the world are still unaware of the pathetic and biased reporting and photo editing behind this picture. For those who are genuinely concerned about Tibet, one should find the truth by himself. Those who had no knowledge of Tibet and merely advocate the free tibet campaign are either hypocrisies or short-sighted. Since when did the mainstream media gives you a full reflection of what has been going on?

Ang Peng Eng   April 17th, 2008 111 GMT

The Chinese people have suffered enough of the indignity and the insults from CNN.. Its insincere apology adds insult to injury. I suggest the Chinese Government shut down CNN broadcast in China to show thugism and hooliganism in journalism do not pay. CNN is disgrace to civilisation.

to xoffe   April 17th, 2008 429 GMT

xoffe, you are using "Tibetan government in Exile" story to support your anti-China stance. Your whole blog comments are based on "Tibetan government in Exile" story so who will buy your story??? those anti-China will buy your story.
Why should China put their untrue story in China internet???
So west biased media is not for brainwash???
So everything Chinese is not good???
Did you been to China and Tibet???
Chinese government has improved Tibet life, stop slavery, build schools, hospitals, railway-link to outside world, create jobs,...so what kind of freedom, democracy, human right you are talking about???
So Tibet protesters/monks have right to killing, arson, looting....bcos they have the support of the west???

John   April 17th, 2008 906 GMT

CNN has now lost its credibilty as a reliable source of information. Evey time they showed the Olympic torch relay on its website, it shows the protestors nagging like a baby on the ground.

I now can predict what the picture will be like when the torch is in Australia. Another protestor shouting in front of the camera and the head line would say: "Torch relay in Australia amidst Protestors!!"
FREE TIBET! FREE TIBET!!!

CNN = Complete Nonsence News

This Cafferty guy, given his troubled background, you never know whether he's sober or drunk when he utters those despicable words.
Even more rediculous is the fact that he has audience. Lonely people on a lonely planet in search of entertainment.

You see, you guys condemn China's human rights records, but you are just as bad. If China doesn't tell the whole truth to its people, CNN did the same to a broader audience including the U.S. So China lies to the Chinese people. But CNN lies to everybody in the whole wide world. Shame on you CNN.

Remember this saying: When you point a finger at another person, three fingers are pointing at yourself. If you complain about the State run media in China that they are hiding the truth. Then you should "Walk the Talk" & don't do the same. As far as I can see now, you are not walking the talk.

Guonan   April 17th, 2008 1524 GMT

Cafferty should be regarded as a modern KKK champion backed by CNN.

The arrogant female CNN reporter seemed not to understand that those determined to insult by intentionally disrupt the torch relay are indeed thugs. She chose to forgot that in democracy, one learns to agree to disagree instead of shouting at or interrupting the wedding of someone who has different opinions.

david   April 17th, 2008 1725 GMT

See how CNN is doing an unbiased report:

CNN reports on the Olympic Torch Relay in India:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/17/india.torch/index.html

"For the relay, the Tibetan Youth Congress, a worldwide organization of exiles boasting more than 300,000 members, broke up its supporters into small groups in order to disrupt the run at various points, reported CNN's sister network, IBN-TV. They were unsuccessful."

If you check the website of Tibetan Youth Congress, it only claims to have 30,000 members.

It have been very consistent for CNN to multiple the number of the protesters by at least x10, and divide the number of counter-protesters by x10. Say if there are 200 pro-tibet protesters and 10000 pro-China, CNN would report 2000 pro-tibet protesters and 1000 pro-China. That was the case in its report about London, Paris and San Francisco relay.

Have you ever read a CNN report about the pro-china demonstrations happen in Australia, Canada, France, England and US. CNN just turned a blind eye on these demonstrations.

Chinese government, expel CNN from CHINA.

lost   April 17th, 2008 2258 GMT

cnn reporter well done this is what we call media free the all world will know the true what china goverment lie to the people. world peace.

Yu Jun   April 18th, 2008 317 GMT

CNN half-baked apology to those "anyone" if they feel offended is telling the world that CNN is a comical news agency that you dont have to take it seriously fullstop. This is what CNN want the Chinese and the world to know that they are indeed biased, unprofessional, arrogant and comical too.

Yu Jun   April 18th, 2008 319 GMT

CNN comical news network

ztt   April 18th, 2008 557 GMT

bless you biased westerners! Enjoy the stories you made up yourselves. Do you have the leastest idea of Tibet and its history? Stop judge China and Tibet while you 've never been here a single day! At the end of day, you pay for your ignorance and prejudice.

xoffe   April 18th, 2008 800 GMT

Many have asked...

The reason that all of us should care about what is going on in China is that since it aspire to a predominant role in the world, their laws and ways may become more of the norm beyond their borders (as seen in Tibet...) We owe it to our own children, even far away from Beijing not to accept the kind of things there which we won't tolerate at home.

Many PRC fans (often successfully brainwashed or on PRC gov payroll) denounce western media as being biased, yet their post, often defamatory, are still making it for all to see. This definitely would never happen in China where information is tightly controlled and censured! It is time that Chinese people start enjoying true freedom and democracy and for the one party system to end. To the great Chinese people: this is your time to show your government that you will not stay servile and submitted to endless tyranny.

to xoffe   April 18th, 2008 909 GMT

There is no such thing as true freedom in this world, every countries run by laws and orders for the benefit of the majority of its people. Enjoying true freedom is to distort news, lies, riots protests, arsons, gun shootings? Definitely this is not the Chinese people or the rest of the world wants. Stop dreaming, stop making comments from your imagination of freedom and democracy. Go out visit the world and visit China today. Basic need come first (your stomach), freedom and democracry can not fill the Tibetan stomach now.

xoffe   April 18th, 2008 936 GMT

I am putting forth the Tibetan Government in Exile story because of its merit on the facts. They are very well placed to know what is going on inside Tibet as well because many of the exile community still have extensive family links inside Tibet and eventually get un-censored news. Someone questionned my ability to know the real story besides what you can read on the press, and if I had been there...
The answer is yes I have been there, probably more than you have; I have also known refugees and heard their story, seen their distress and how untrue the official PRC media can be.
Also to your allegation that I would be anti-China or chinese, it simply couln't be further form the truth, I deeply respect Chinese people and many of them have expressed their frustration with their totalitarian government to me. The struggle in Tibet represent very well another struggle for many Chinese people live in silence and submission. It the regime that oppress Chinese people that I don't like. That same regime who is responsible for the death of more than 80 million people; that same regime which will fall alltogether freeing more humdreds of millions from one single party rule and tyranny!
There is not a single totalitarian regime in the world history that hasn't collapsed. The PRC gov knows this, and it is their last ditch effort to save themselves from growing disapproval from inside the wall of China.

xoffe   April 18th, 2008 1016 GMT

Some of the "Tibetans" whose photos were taken waving swords, and attacking civilians were indeed Chinese police officers, who were sent there to facilite the central government reporting of violent Tibetans attacking defenseless Chinese...

There are proofs.

The whole issue is about increasing PLA troop presence in the high tibetan plateau for strategic reasons.

Recently there was a border incident at the Indian/Occupied TIbet (TAR) where Chinese forces attacked and destroyed three Indian border bunker/facilities. There also numerous other incidents closer to Sikim.

The other (guarded) plan of the PRC is to position their troops for projection in the Asia theater and particularly Nepal because of the recent development there.

peacemaker   April 18th, 2008 1349 GMT

Tibet is a part of China. People who want to split China will get corresponding punishment. Olympic Game is coming soon, Chinese citizen should gather together to defeat our enemies, we should spare no effort to cultivate a good environment instead of continuing chaos.

Asian   April 18th, 2008 1401 GMT

I think CCP's wrong policy raised tibetan's unrest.
But CCP has never admitted it's wrong policy. (Because Hu Jintao who ruled tibet and ordered discharge on tibetan demonstrators in 1989 now rules CCP?)

What is worse, some chinese always blame others(tibetans, people worldwide) and never blame CCP.

I hope that the success of Beijing Olympics will be less a vindication of CCP's authoritarian ways and more an opportunity to draw China closer towards being what it aspires to be, a respected and respectable world leader.

Forest Fong   April 18th, 2008 1655 GMT

as we have all noticed, cnn.com has been doing some reluctant self-censorship.

the editorial of cnn.com: it's perplexing the way you are still missing the point.

Ever heard of the Reynold's privileges?

It's responsible journalism you should aim for.

getting carried away and incite-and-misrepresent-all-you-can one moment and down-toning abruptly but not minus sporadic selective reporting: definitely not the kind of journalism one would expect from institutions other than trite tabloids.

it's time to go back to the basic values of journalism: responsible journalism.

lost   April 18th, 2008 1855 GMT

cnn have done very well to chiness people for seek of human right value, what china government have done for the human right ? so far they have to human is gun and arm to the poor country like dafur and pakistan some they make them fight do you people support that ? if so then dont talk for world peace.

lost   April 18th, 2008 1856 GMT

cnn have done very well to chiness people for seek of human right value, what china government have done for the human right ? so far they have to human is gun and arm to the poor country like dafur and pakistan they make them fight do you people support that ? if so then dont talk for world peace.

christina   April 18th, 2008 1941 GMT

i was in Xiahe a few months ago. It is one of the Tibetan areas inflicted with riots and turmoil these days. When i was there, i saw Tibetan culture and religion are well respected and treasured. I felt the tibetans were content and peaceful. There were no resentment towards Chinese nor the government. Then why suddenly the situation changed? I really wonder

Ang Peng Eng   April 19th, 2008 003 GMT

Lost has gone astray. However it is not too late for Lost to be back to the right. God bless.

Ang Peng Eng   April 19th, 2008 015 GMT

XOFFE needs to be scoffed for his lop-sided view. If I am not wrong it is the view of one those Indian Chauvanists who ar still nursing the self-inficted wound sustained from the 1962 Sino-Indian border war.It is lesson still has yet to be learned by most Indains who bend on interfering others' affairs ,

Guonan   April 19th, 2008 501 GMT

To gain a sense of self-labelled free press, please do the following search at the CNN website:

(1) Type "Dalai Lama" and check the results.

(2) Then type "Jin Jiang", the name of the Chinese girl in the wheel chair, who carried the torch in Paris and was brutally attaced by a violent thug. Check the research result.

ming lee   April 19th, 2008 746 GMT

i am ashamed of what our government is doing to the tibetans. the problem is people like myself cannot speak out. we chinese don't even have freedom of speech. our government has all the power, even to bulldoze our own innocent students in their 100s. the government has to change its policy. stop the lies and respect the tibetans as well as our own people. we must learn to live in peace with everyone. life is too short.
look at the what the dalai lama is asking for. i think if our government starts a proper and a concrete dialogue it will be good idea for both sides. it's a win win situation. but then again the problem once more is our government. they don't wish to start dialogue. they have already for many decades demonised the dalai...so because of this they don't want to loose face. sad, very sad.
all the chinese posting comments everywhere should stop posting voilent and threatening comments. it really reflects an agressive attitude. we should all calm down, stop the hating and try to change our government's way of thinking and poisoning our own minds.
FREE CHINA

Choy Hok Kan   April 19th, 2008 924 GMT

ok i've a great idea . Let the Chinese government withdraws everything from Tibet today and let the lamas and their innocent Tibetians run their own 'country' with handouts from you western democracies. Now wouldn't that be splendid. The obvious thing is of course Bush ,Brown et al will never oblige. Tibet has no OIL.,idiot. . The Tibetians can then go back to their medieval way of life with the lamas lording over the serfs and their life expectancy cut by half. But by then most of you western hypocrites would have forgotten all about them. Tell me frankly do you still recall a place call east Timor/

Kenneth   April 19th, 2008 1738 GMT

Everyone can see what CNN is trying to do. CNN's mission is to label China as the big evil monster that sells arms to every corner in the world... But here is the truth:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/30/america/arms.php

Shame on you CNN!!! I bet CNN will never criticize its own country, right?! It's funny to see Americans love to criticize everyone in the world except himself/herself.

Kenneth   April 19th, 2008 1756 GMT

To Xoffe,

You and Wangyao are basically the same group of people get paid by the Tibetan exiled group. When you accuse some of us of being employ by CCP, have you use your brain? There are 1.4 billions of Chinese in China (1/4 of the world population). There are also millions and millions of Chinese that lives in almost every country in this planet (3.6 millions in America, 1.3 millions in Canada)....

Everytime when some of us post something to defend China, you accuse us of being a spy for China? That's a serious accusation!! From the way you talk, I think you must be working directly/indirectly for the CIA. Your mission is to distort China's image in public and create anger and fear around the world. You and CNN are just so irresponsible. All you want to do is to bring hatre and to bring fear to the public. Shame on you!!! We all love peace but you obvious don't.

Ang Peng Eng   April 19th, 2008 2207 GMT

I am puzzled why my postings here are still being moderated.
My comments are still far milder than the labels "goons" and "thugs" used by CNN's Cafferty on the Chinese people which they deemed it fit to broadcast to the world.

To hell with the CNN's double standard !! who would abide with your rule of game.

CNN has debased and brought down the journalism to the gutter level.

lost   April 19th, 2008 2301 GMT

to kenneth
if you love to peace then you sould not support chiness government. they are the trouble maker btween chiness and tibetan so if you really love chiness people you must see the true couse in side china and inside tibet as well then you will get the answer world peace

Ang Peng Eng   April 20th, 2008 219 GMT

The real troublemaker is the America which supported and trained and funded the Tibetans before 1959 rebellions. This is true story revealed thru the CIA archive.

Till this day Dalai Lama is still on the CIA payroll.

Aborigine of the World   April 20th, 2008 909 GMT

I like to hear comment from those Americans who support for the cause of free Tibet. Are they also support Native American (or American Indian) to get back their land from USA? Is Tibetan treated a lot poorer than the Native American? If those Americans are so considerate to support Tibet, should they be more thoughtful to let Eskimo to have Alaska be independant and Native American to have their own country and let them represent themselves in the United Nation?

Aborigine of the World   April 20th, 2008 922 GMT

Concerning the above questions that I raised, I like especially to have comment from politicians and celebrities who support free Tibet such as Senator Pelosi, movie star Richard Gere, etc. Do they support to partition part of US to let Native American (NA) to build their own nation? Or they think pushing NA to remote reserve area is correct? If they show so much support on a foreign minority such as Tibetan, why don't they spend more compassion to their own aborigine such as promote more culture and religion of their native Americans?

john   April 20th, 2008 925 GMT

I think people who has posted their message here need to understand the history of China, Culture background, its development, problems they are facing today, etc.

China has changed for good. If you do not agreed with this then it would be a pointless discussions.

Many westerners only charging China based on one snapshot of the long history of China and a single incident. Very often, the media instead of promoting positive development, they rather choose to make the news more exciting for the audience and resulting in focusing the side issues.

Whenever there is an incident happened in China, the mediate in the west will try to find the opportunity to discredit China. I think this is an unfair treatment to a nation who has struggled so long to put the country in peaceful and development path.

Vivien   April 20th, 2008 1530 GMT

Shame on CNN, as a international press media, CNN has been biased and distorted the news for showing selective photography and provocative language to upset the Chinese people. It has been shameful in the western media and especially for CNN. CNN staff in USA are a full bunch of DONKEY and ignorant. They refer Tibet as an invaded region where Tibet has been under China rule long before the discover of America continent. Should they think Tibet legitimacy, then the whole America continent is a TERRIBLE INVASION by the west. Shame on CNN and Shame on those that trying to provoke Tibet indepandance. SHAME ON CNN.

Ruby   April 20th, 2008 1949 GMT

fist of all, we should be more interested in the peoples' safty situation rather than just talk about "free".

Where are those innocent civilions voices? Hundres of them been attacted, been hurt, been killed by the Dala Lama's believers in Tibent, March 2008. Have any of those pro-Tibet concernt about them?

As equal, we should't respect the pro-Tibet, shouldn't listen to their voices, untill they give up violent.

david   April 20th, 2008 2026 GMT

Hi lost,

I am with you. Unlike Kenneth, I don't love peace. I love slaves and serf girls. I love money. I love violence too.

Hi lost, can you tell me how many slaves you had back in old tibet. If you were growing up in exile in india, I am sorry you might not have any slaves and you had to work your ass off to clean your own toilet. In that case, tell me how many slaves your dad or your granddad had. As long as you agree to share half of your slaves with me, I will chant "Free Tibet" with you and will fight for you to get the tibet back to you.

Hi lost, I know you receive monthly paycheck from CIA. Sorry, CIA had such a bad name these days they don't get involved in this business any more. Right, you get paid by the National Endowment for Democracy. Doesn't matter to me. As long as they paid you in dollars, I need 50% of your greenbacks.

Hi lost, I know you also get paid in pounds and euros? Right? I will need 50% of that as well. I know you don't like to tell people your finances. But come on, we are friends. Just let me know. You know, I am willing to attack any wheelchair-bound Chinese torch bearers in the torchy relay if you can share these dollars, pounds, and euros with me. But I will have do that in a free country. I know I will not be sent to jail in these free countries. I will just spend a half day at the most in the police stations after the attack. Shit! I am still afraid of jail terms so I will not do this business for you in any other countries there is an remote possibility that I would be jailed.

I heard you guys also plan to oragnize suicide bombers. That you have to do it yourself. I love violence but I am not dumn. If I committed suicide bombing, what is the use of all the money I collected from you.

I heard there are 130,000 tibetans in exile. I do an rough calculation. If one of you kills 100 chinese as a suicide bombers, you can kill all these 1.3 billion chinese on the plant. Just enough to wrap out the chinese communists from this plant.

Shit! That wouldn't work for me. Who would be my slaves if you tibetans all get killed together with all these chinese commuis. Your bosses may be happy to come in and divide up a "free" china in that case.

By the way, why you got this name "lost". Is this because you lost your slaves? Did Dalai give you this name. Shit, that is an unlucky name to start with.

lost   April 21st, 2008 044 GMT

i think you get money from chiness government like those who protests in usa they get $350 per protest. if you dont like peace dont chat those word for your future it will hart yourself.pleace take care world peace

Julie   April 21st, 2008 115 GMT

From the outset, I would like to say that I'm a little disappointed in how this is being reported by CNN. I visited Tibet two years ago. I have to say people there seemed to be happy with their lives. While on the road, I chatted with many Tibetan Chinese , and in particular with our (unofficial) guide. He was candid about their history and the shift in their culture. He made a good living, owned his own car, and he was very proud that his son was going to good college in another province in China.

From conversations such as this it seems that many Tibetans feel the same way. After all most people just want a good life, whether they are American or Tibetan Chinese. From my own research, it feels to me that our media has given us a very biased view of this issue and unless we know the whole truth, we should not be so quick to judge. We have no right to intervene in the choice the majority Tibetans Chinese make, it is not like we are doing well in that aspect ourselves.

Wangyao   April 21st, 2008 123 GMT

"david"

Well said! I would love to support you to be the head of the Chinese Red Army formed in recent time. I urge you don't hang around in this blog with pro-Tibetans. We got other serious issues within ourselves. Let go to attack Grace Wang and her family. I impressed with your sharp tongue in insulting others. You are true representative of the authentic Chinese from PRC and I salute you. I really adore you! Long live david!

david   April 21st, 2008 156 GMT

Hi Wangyao,

Since when this blog belongs to pro-Tibetans? I thought you have gone to DHARMSALA, India to join the Free Tibet fighters.

You tibetans are nice folks. It was not my intent to cause offense to the tibetan people, and I would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way. I was referring to the slave-masters and goons and thugs who attacked the torch bearers.

Tommy   April 21st, 2008 928 GMT

Regarding the Tibet matter, it can be traced back as long as some 5000 years ago. By then, one group of the common ancenstors of Chinese and Tibetan migrated from Yellow River region to the inland. It has been proved that northern Chinese has very closed DNA match than that with Southern Chinese!!!

As an ethnic Chinese, I view all Tibetans just as my brothers and sisters.

The truth is we are living in a world that we have more commonalities than differences. For those narrow minded people, you can never have the feeling of how painful Chinese people feels, if Tibet was torn apart from rest of China.

so, before you call Free Tibet, Think about Free your mind first.

Lee GK   April 21st, 2008 1017 GMT

Why some comments in this blog are still picking on China in the past, why not see China today. This is what the west do, just keep picking China in the past and ignoring the true fact in today China. You are no different from the west mindset or its is just anti-China.

Do the west run by laws and orders? So what freedom??? Freedom to arson, looting, killing, gun shooting, slander, called Chinese goons and thugs??? is this freedom of expression??? Get real, stop dreaming. Freedom come with respect and responsibility without causing damages to other people.

lee   April 21st, 2008 2243 GMT

you guys really kept well thanks

Joshua   April 22nd, 2008 349 GMT

Tibet had been part of China since Qing Dynasty. During the reign of Jiang Jieshi, more than 30,000 KMT troops were stationed in Tibet. People can simply argue that it is imperialism. Well...Europeans had done the same. Does that mean European colonialists are evil? For example, Great Britain helped Hong Kong and Singapore to develope into one of greatest cities today. People who lived in HK and Singapore loved the British. Since China had become an economic power house today, it can industrialize Tibet the way how China itself was industrialized. Those who want self-determination in Tibet are the Tibetan working class. They believe that Chinese immigrants took away their jobs and other opportunities. I believe that best way to solve the Tibetan problem is that China uses its current economic power to dominate Tibet. As more Han Chinese start to move into Tibet, the economy in Tibet develope. Tibetans will become Chinese. By the way, China should remove all its racist policies. I used to be a Chinese citizen, and I know that the name of my race is being printed on my passport. The Chinese should get rid of that and make everybody equal under the law.

Tang Dynasty   April 22nd, 2008 1539 GMT

To get some background information on the US attitude towards China and Tibet, and the geopolitical reasons behind it, please take a look at this analysis by Michel Chossudovsky:

"China and America: The Tibet Human Rights PsyOp" http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8673

There are many other interesting articles about global events on the site as well.

jack   April 22nd, 2008 1941 GMT

dirty Pig Cartefy

lee   April 23rd, 2008 402 GMT

you r indian pig or chiness pig

Tang Dynasty   April 23rd, 2008 455 GMT

My attempt to post this 12 hours ago got "moderated", let's see if this one gets through...

It'd be great if the readers of this blog would read some analysis written by people who don't belong to CCP, Tibetan exile groups, or the main stream western media. Here's an intriguing analysis of the geopolitical factors behind the US-China-Tibet issue.

"China and America: The Tibet Human Rights PsyOp" by Michel Chossudovsky
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8673

pranay chettri   April 23rd, 2008 1136 GMT

the events of the past days in tibet, reminds us that there are other nations, peoples and cultures, who are fatbottommed by china, and squeezed by india. so for a brief, but hopelessly fruitless time, tibet out her existence, and it is a cry of anguish.

the western leaders have all come out of their chummy closets, albeit briefly, and showed they really care. hey, but they are thinking, thank goodness for the respite from all the other shit happening in the world. like darfur. when all the while, cowered down by the financial, military, geopolitical dominance of the land of the dragon, they supplicate and take a share. the asian nations? they rather not embarrass big momma.

the tibetan diaspora wakes up and prays that it wields power to change the way their world is. protests and marches, organised from various parts on nothern india, sikkim, and nepal, aim to enter tibet.
protests were marked at major cities in the world. well-meaning, white activists tried their best to disrupt an old greek olympic ritual, ( which, i find farcical – women in dresses the greeks long shed, lighting torches we've long discarded, chanting verses to gods that have no worshippers) .

so, will lamaism descend into a farce, or has it already? suddenly, violent outbursts are are becoming a part of the tibetan nationalist struggle. gone are the days of peaceful marches and porcelain smash fests. buddhist monks are as vociferous as career rabble rousers. but then, religion breeds fanaticism.

in india, the police lost a man, with scores of others injured in micro riots and clashes. so the mob killed an indian policeman: it's not as if they cared a to much

it seems india doesn't too. but tibetans have an assured life in india, with government jobs from the scheduled tribe quota, education grants and de-facto indian citizenships.

this brings to mind the border marches: would tibetans leave india, even if they achieved any autonomy of sorts, the freedom to practice your faith; of equality, liberty and fraternity? the answer has to be a resounding no.

tibet is doomed to disappear. when people leave their homelands, their culture disappears into oblivion. soon, only the scholars will remember.

the death knell has sounded. the reign of the yellow hat sect is over. china will ruthlessly cut down tibet to size. gulag it, if needed.

Wangyao   April 26th, 2008 512 GMT

"david":

What do you mean by "slave masters"? I think you need to review the Chinese national anthem before talking about slavery practices exculsively in refererence to Tibet before 1950s.

The Chinese national anthem reads "起来! 不愿作奴隶的人们, 把我们的血肉, 筑成我们新的长城." (Arise, who refuse to be slaves! With our very flesh and blood, Let us build our new Great Wall!).

Who are the "slaves" you talking about in this Chinese national anthen contexts? I think we need to be bit careful about using this kind of terms which imposed upon us by the Chinese Comunist Party for its power struggle purpose pre 1949s.

The media has started to talk about "the talk" between China and Tibet, but I think unless people like you to re-educate yourself on Tibet, the talk is going be just a political decision and it won't be able to solve many other social and cultural issues.

If you don't want to offend Tibetans, then think twice for posting sentences like this: "Who would be my slaves if you tibetans all get killed together with all these chinese communists".

bhoepa   April 28th, 2008 727 GMT

The problem with China is its authoritative nature. Why do they feel obligated to take control of all free countries? Beginning with Tibet.. moving on to Hong Kong... and now possibly Taiwan? Not only does the government wish to control territory but they use military measures to control the rights of the citizens. If they are claiming innocence, then why shun the outsiders from their country. I recently saw a video on CNN where a journalist attempted to discover the truth behind the death toll. If China doesn't have anything to hide, then why stop the media in going forward and investigating?? Are they afraid of what we will discover in Tibet and their harsh treatments? I am saddened to hear news from fellow Tibetans currently living inside Tibet of abuse, torture, and suffering. These are true telling from those who are living under such circumstance. I have no power but to feel saddened. Are they left with no conscious when they commit brutality? Legs, Arms, Ears, are said to be cut off by the Chinese military. What has the Human Race come to? Have we lost sense of Consciousness, fear, sadness, guilt?? I pray for those suffering because I am living and I thank god for my minimal suffering, for someone else is going through greater pain than I.

China will never change it policy because their objective in this world is to RULE!! Let truth be told. You will be Judged for the heinous actions committed against innocent civilians.

There is no need to spread hate but for those supporting China, you have the right to your own opinion. I simply ask for you to listen to mine.

We all want what was ours. We do not wish to be called Chinese, we want to retain our Culture, Language, Writings, and most of all... our Religion!!!!

Poor Chinese   April 29th, 2008 1703 GMT

bhoepa,

You mentioned about "Hong Kong"?

What are you talking about?
I think you totally misunderstood the situation in China.

Don't be too CNN

Chen   April 29th, 2008 1911 GMT

bhoepa,

Did your friend tell you this?
"Arms, Ears, are said to be cut off by the Chinese military."

Did your friend also tell you that he saw pigs flying?

Did you get this story from the Tibetan government-in-exile? They made it up to brainwash you.

I have been living in China for all my life. I didn't see anybody missed their arms and ears to Chinese army, not a single person.

I believe you are referring to the Old Tibet prior to 1949 when Dalai Lama was in power there. The slaves not only missed their arms and ears, they also missed their eyes, skulls, skins if the slaves did anything that was remotely wrong regarded by their masters. Did you see one of the chairs or drums covered by human skin that had been saved to keep your culture alive?

Lee KK   April 30th, 2008 712 GMT

bhoepa

Tibet is part of China. Tibet is one of the many ethnic groups in China. China main religion is Buddhism, HK and Taiwan are Buddhist so is Tibet. China has many dialect language so Tibet is one of them.

In America, black, brown, asia, hispanic are all called American. So British, French, Australia…many other country also consist of different ethnics and races people.

So why do you thinking that Tibet is special/different from other ethnics or races in the world???

China Emperor introduced Buddhism to Tibet before Tibet practise superstitious believes. China has 5000 years history and culture why China worry about Tibet culture. Do you want to keep Tibet lama upper class and slave class culture???

Buddha teaching that all things are impermanence, every human need to change to improve life. Do you want to retain the poor, slave, uneducated Tibetan??? Buddhist monk is not politician, holy and power do not mix. Did the Tibetan/monk follow the Buddha teaching???

The Chinese government build schools, hospitals, railway-link, create jobs, improve life,...or you want to retain the primitive Tibet life style???

bhoepa   April 30th, 2008 2004 GMT

Chen,
You cannot see or discover those who are tortured because they are hidden in jails or in some horrendous location! Have you even been put in a jail and beaten?? We haven’t practiced violence for years under China's rule. We are not fabricating stories to get attention... WE ACHIEVED THAT GOAL ALREADY! You will never understand what we feel.

Lee KK,
Tibet is a special case. We were once a country. I understand your point about ethnic Chinese but we do not fall under those sections. Yes, China has Buddhism but does it allow the freedom of religion? Why are we punished for carrying a picture of our religious leader? Please ask your government. China is not perfect. China has gone against its own people. Do I want Tibetans to live in poverty? The answer is No. In fact, we lived just fine before China and did not need material things, which China imposed onto Tibet. Han Chinese benefit from their businesses in Tibet. What do we get? Beaten for raising our concerns and voices! On the topic of poverty.. why are there such a high number of low income families in China itself. Poverty will always exist. Are you claiming that China will eradicate this epidemic? NO they will not and Cannot! You cannot compare America to China… America has Freedom where as China lacks that opportunity! In America, we have the right to challenge our government.. in China you will be secretly wiped off the earth!

Wangyao   April 30th, 2008 2309 GMT

"Chen", "Lee KK"

Do you think the "old China" is perfect? The Chinese communist party says "没有共产党就没有新中国" and they have already compiled many evidence of how dark the China was. Do you want me to give you all these lists? Do you think talking about these things help Tibetans to live with Chinese harmoniously in new China?

"Slaves in Tibet"? What do you mean by this?

“起来! 不愿作奴隶的人们, 把我们的血肉, 筑成我们新的长城.
(Arise, who refuse to be slaves! With our very flesh and blood, Let us build our new Great Wall!).

Who are the slaves mentioned in this Chinese national anthem? Only Tibetans? This is a CNN blog and the entire world could read what you are posting in this and it's disgraceful.

Chen   May 1st, 2008 041 GMT

To "bhoepa"

I probably met more than one million people in China since I am more than 55 years old now. Those had been tortured cannot hide in jails forever. Why I had never seen a single person without arms and ears in my lifetime. Don't fabricate stories!

To "Wangyao"

The Chinese national anthem is a anti-Japanese Imperialism song. The slaves in that song refer to all Chinese including Tibetan Chinese. The anthem says no Chinese liked to be slaves of Japanese Imperialists.

The Old Tibetan Slaves was enslaved by their own people – Tibetan masters including Dalai Lama. Dalai had 2000 slaves for himself.

It was the PLA liberated the tibetan slaves from their masters.

Can you tell the difference?

The point to talk about the slaves is to reminder the people in this whole world that Dalai Lama doesn't really have a moral high ground. It is cheap for him to talk about human right now. It is very easy and cheap to talk rather than practice. He practiced slavery then he talks about human right. He is deceptive.

Of course, if Dalai stops all his bullshiting, there is no point to talk about old Tibet anymore. Past is past. Han Chinese and Tibetan Chinese can live together. It is Dalai keeping bringing up and accusing China for "human right violations". That is the point to bring up his dirty background and the whole world know.

bhoepa   May 1st, 2008 108 GMT

Chen,

Are you sure you only met 1 million.. China is Overpopulated. Im sure you meant 10 million. haha jk. But back to being serious, these stories I mentioed are recent. And it seems like you are lying when you claim you have never seen people with no armm, ears, or legs. Im sure they have handicaps in China as well. So please, don't overstate your comments. I am just brining awarness to what the truth is. You don't have to accept my comments. Just realize that China has its bad qualities.

China didn't enjoy Japan invading its country.. why do you expect us to? Hmm contradictions. On the issue of slavery, human civilization has been notorious for keeping slaves. So please don't accuse only Tibetans for doing so.

Boepa has left the building**

Chen   May 1st, 2008 309 GMT

bhoepa,

I understand you or your grandpa were a slave owner as you had been notrious for keeping them. Of course it is understandable you were pissed off when PLA drove you out of Tibet. No, I never expected you would enjoy that moment. I am sorry PLA probably killed your dad or grandpa. Just get over with it.

Wangyao   May 1st, 2008 1802 GMT

"Chen"

As you claim that Tibet "was and is" part of China, I wonder why we should blame all the "bad" things in old Tibet on the Dalai Lama? According to your claim that Tibet "was, is and will be" part of China, it's China who should responsible for whatever happened in old Tibet, not the Dalai Lama.

If you want to continue this argument, I am happy to talk about dark side of old China, but I think this won't help us to get anywhere except hurting each other. Is this what you want?

Jan   May 1st, 2008 2338 GMT

I agree with Julie that we should not be so quick to judge.

I disagree with Dalai Lama's statement that Tibetans are treated as the second class in China. Everyone in China knows:
1. One Child per family policy is only applied to Han Chinese, not Tibetans or other minority groups.
2. Tibetans can be enrolled (accepted) into Unverisities at a much lower score than Han Chinese in other cities.
3. Marrige Law (one husband – one wife) is also (practically) not applied to Tibetans. We respect their custom that brothers may share one wife. Similarly, Muslim men in China can have multiple wifes.
4. In all minority school, both Chinese and their own language are taught.

Wangyao   May 2nd, 2008 1624 GMT

"Jan"

According to what you posted, it sounds Tibetans would be much happier without Chinese rule.
Because without China,

1. Tibetans don't have to bother about birth control.
2. Tibtans don't have to go to China to get Chinese education.
3. Tibetans don't need to seek Chinese permission to get married.
4. Tibetans don't have to study Chinese language.

As you can see from the list you gave, Tibetans are free in making their own choices without Chinese occupation. I don't think these are good reasons for Chinese are occupying Tibet and I encourage you to think hard to come up with something more positive.

Chen   May 2nd, 2008 1641 GMT

TO Wangyao,

Tibet was, is and will always be a part of China.

Chinese government and Chinese people have been too nice to the Tibetans as Jan pointed. That is also evidenced by the riot in Lhasa and Tibetans turned against their own government and their Chinese brothers. No matter how nice are the Chinese. The Tibetans will always complain. So forget, just threat them as second class citizen. If they are not happy, they can go talk to their masters. They would be still be treated as second class citizens no matter where they go, in India, in US, in German, in England, or in their own hands of their own tibet slave owners.

Wangyao   May 2nd, 2008 2116 GMT

"Chen",

Well said. Tibetans will never give up to fight against people like you. Your type of people are exactly the target of the protesters in Tibet and we will see who will win.

Chen   May 2nd, 2008 2128 GMT

Hi Wangyao,

Bring them on. Dalai tried with CIA's help from 1959 to 1972 and failed. Dalai tried to seek full independence without CIA support from 1975 to 1987 and failed. Dalai is seeking full independence under his "middle way" cover from 1987 to now and still failed. You guys are going anyway. Just get over with it.

Chen   May 2nd, 2008 2133 GMT

Hi Wangyao,

Bring them on. Dalai tried with CIA’s help from 1959 to 1972 and failed. Dalai tried to seek full independence without CIA support from 1975 to 1987 and failed. Dalai has been seeking full independence under his “middle way” cover from 1987 to now and still has failed. You guys are not going anywhere with protests. Just get over with it. You may get better treatment if you submit yourselves.

Asian   May 3rd, 2008 2317 GMT

"Wangyao"

I am glad to see you again. I have been around another tibet-related blogs in cnn.

Hitler’s Jugend
USSR’s Komsomol
Mao Zedong’s Red Guards
Hu Jintao’s Tuan Pai(共靑團, Communist Youth League of China)

Recent publice opinions in China’s INTERNET remind me of Hu Jintao’s Tuan Pai. We can see public opinions of Chinese only through state-run medias and China’s internet.

Mao gave bamboo spears to millions of Red Guards.
Hu is giving internet access to tens of millions of Tuan Pai.

Tuan Pai(共靑團, Communist Youth League of China)
-Age limit : 14-28
-Members : 71,880,000
-Leaders : Hu Jintao(1th ranked in China), Li Keqiang(7th, now competing with Xi Jinping(6th)), Hu Chunhua(current First Secretary inn Tuan Pai)
(I guess that some chinese in these blogs are or were related to Tuan Pai.)

Hu Jintao has been on a fast track in CCP after he suppressed Tibetan’s unrest in 1989 ordering discharge on Tibetan’s demonstrators.

I heard that he and his followers(from Tuan Pai(共靑團)) mainly have been in charge of 0.2 billion ethnic minorities’ Autonomous regions and have not admitted their wrong policies.

I think he and his followers will not and can not admit(or change) their wrong policies on ethnic minorities (esp, after Tibetan’s unrest in March).

And if he and his followers would not change their wrong policies on ethnic minorities, Beijing Olympics could not succeed.

I wonder who will be blamed after Beijing Olympics’ failure (by Hu or Chinese’s Internet).

Wikipedia says :
Xi Jinping is considered the emerging leader of China’s fifth generation of leadership, and now ranks above Li Keqiang.
At the 11th National People’s Congress, he was put in charge of the preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Xi Jinping is a member from Crown Prince Party(太子黨) and was appointed as Shanghai’s party chief in 2007.

When I heard the news that Xi was put in charge of Beijing Olympics by Hu Jintao, Chinese’s phrase 上屋抽梯(After putting up an enemy on the roof, put away the ladder.) came to my mind.

Wangyao   May 4th, 2008 1141 GMT

Hi "Asian",

It's fun to play the game with "chen"-type for pleasure. They are hilarious!

"chen":
Re: "You may get better treatment if you submit yourselves."

Thanks for you offer but I am more than happy to live freely outside China. Without "Chen",

1. I don’t have to bother about birth control.
2. I don’t have to get Chinese Communist education.
3. I don’t have to seek Chinese permission to get married.
4. I don’t have to study Chinese language.

I remind you that the protests in Tibet in March has proved "Chen" is wrong to think economic or military force alone can pacify Tibetans. We love the Dalai Lama and we hate "Chen".

The best treatment I am dreaming for is the end of "chen" era in China! I believe Tibetans can live peacefully with Chinese when "chen" is eliminated.

I don't want "chen" in Tibet. I don't want "chen" in China. Free Tibet! Free China!

Chen   May 5th, 2008 440 GMT

To Wangyao,

Look at the protesters happened in nine cities in China against Tibet Independence. I am sorry to say that you are out of luck. There are millions of 'chen's in China. Good luck with your "Free Tibet".

Jan   May 5th, 2008 1734 GMT

To those who love the Dalai Lama, please go to Dalai Lama's offical web site www. DalaiLama.com to learn and understand Dalai Lama's positions.

Number 1, in "An Appeal To All Chinese Spiritual Brothers And Sisters" – by Dalai Lama on 4/24/2008, Dalai Lama states "I have repeatedly assured the leadership of the People’s Republic of China that I am not seeking independence."

Number 2, in "An Appeal To All Chinese Spiritual Brothers And Sisters" – by Dalai Lama on 4/24/2008, Dalai Lama states "This year, the Chinese people are proudly and eagerly awaiting the opening of the Olympic Games. I have, from the start, supported Beijing's being awarded the opportunity to host the Games. My position remains unchanged."

To those who love the Dalai Lama, do you love Dalai Lama enough to follow his positions to not seek independence and to support Beijing's Olympic Games?

To those who love the Dalai Lama and live outside China, I assume that you have to study English or other languages. By learning English or other languages, you learned a different culture. It opened up an endless opportunities to you. As Dalai Lama's wish, Tibet will be a part of China. To learn Chinese will open a endless opportunities to Tibetans.

Chen   May 5th, 2008 1824 GMT

Don't believe Dalai Lama. He is a liar. He did everything opposite to what he said. Some protesters are calling him "Da-Liar Lama".

There is no wonder those who love Dalai Lama did everything opposite as well.

Go read the posting by pranay chettri. If those tibetans who love Dalai Lama and love Tibet don't go back to Tibet and go to exile, the Tibetans in China will become more and more like Han Chinese. There will be no more independent calls.

Wangyao   May 5th, 2008 1828 GMT

"Jan"

Why can't you stop telling Tibetans what to do? Leave us alone and mind your own business.

Wangyao   May 5th, 2008 1847 GMT

Jan,

"Chen" gave answer to your question about why Tibetans don't want to study Chinese.

If "Chen" is confident in undermining Tibetan identity, why can't you stop talking about "Da-liar" and a few Tibetan refugees in exile?

Jan   May 5th, 2008 1906 GMT

Wangyao,

If you have to ask me to stop talking, I wonder what kind of freedoms are you seeking? You can not even tolerant me to quote your beloved Dalai Lama's statements.

Wangyao   May 6th, 2008 1627 GMT

"Jan"

I didn't ask you to stop talking. All I said was "stop telling" me what to study. Most Tibetans want to study Tibetan language and we know what is good for us. What annoys me is some Chinese are ready to tell Tibetans "what to do".

Maybe I am wrong but I believe this is something to do with Chinese culture in PRC. I feel pity for many of my Chinese friends in the USA for studying something they don't want to. Most of them study "business" because this is what their parents want them to study. They have no choice what to study! There is too much direct and indirect interference in their lives from parents. But Chinese from Taiwan and Hong Kong are different and they are free to choose their courses.

Unlike Chinese leaders, the Dalai Lama is open to criticisms. He is ready for referendum in making political decisions. If I see the needs I am ready to criticize the Dalia Lama and I know the Dalai Lama welcomes different voices and criticisms from his people.

Poor Chinese   May 7th, 2008 1558 GMT

Titanans just want to ruin their own place and seek the way to immigrate to the US and Europe. From the western standpoint, they can easily claim that they are refugee.

France, German, Italy, USA should take them home and give them food and human rights.

Problem solved.

Wangyao   May 8th, 2008 2210 GMT

A Chinese Student’s Interview With the Dalai Lama

Lingxi Kong (孔灵犀) is a fourth year student majoring in Greek and Latin at Columbia University. He met with the Dalai Lama on April 24, 2008, and wrote an essay recounting the meeting. The Chinese version has spread widely on the Internet, both inside and outside of China now. The following English text is also written by the author and is published by CDT with his permission:

After the turmoil in early March, China’s media heavily attacked the Dalai Lama as the sponsor of violence in Tibet, setting off a surge of nationalistic reactions among Chinese students and immigrants around the globe. Has the whole world been hoodwinked by the simple monk, or have we built up blind hatred based on distorted information? Either way, as a student supporting the Olympic Games and an individual who is determined to make contributions to the Harmonious Society, I do not wish to see Chinese and Tibetan people hating each other due to lack of necessary communication. With some questions and advice, I came to Colgate University and met with the Dalai Lama in a private house on April 24th, 2008.

In fact, after watching the turmoil in Lhasa on the Internet, some friends and I organized a panel discussion on Tibet in the International Affairs Building at Columbia University, where we included not only Tibetan speakers such as the Dalai Lama’s representative to the United States, the Director of Tibetan Youth Congress in US, but also scholars such as the Director of Modern Tibetan Studies at Columbia, as well as a political analyst representing the views of the Chinese government. It has been our firm belief that the best way to resolve bias and misunderstanding is through free exchange of ideas among people with different perspectives from all walks of life. The discussion lasted for three hours, with around one hundred and eighty attendees, including some of my friends and classmates, who, even at that time, had expressed their wish to hear the Dalai Lama’s positions towards the Olympic Games, Tibet’s future and the Youth Congress.

So on April 22nd, I zigzagged through the highway system without satellite signals, and managed to arrive at the very beautiful upstate institute, Colgate University, where His Holiness was giving a lecture on “happiness.” Five thousand eager faces crowded in the lecture hall where a fresh energy was surging through the air. Sitting in the ballroom between two large screens, he spoke slowly in a sincere manner. Despite making some occasional grammar mistakes, he was clearly a man of swift intelligence and great personal charisma. During the two-hour lecture, the main theme was always about compassion, pity, tolerance, understanding and forgiveness. After the event, when the audience was slowly dissolving into the beautiful campus with contented smiles, I saw twenty Chinese students waving national flags outside the lecture hall and shouting “We’re one family, don’t break it!” Due to a sore throat, I couldn’t engage in more communication with my fellow students, but I thought when seeing the Dalai Lama I would ask some serious questions that we all care about.

On the 24th, in Colgate Inn, a beautiful hotel with classic renaissance style decorations, after meeting several Buddhist students, the Dalai Lama was going to hold a news conference with Chinese media, including the Xinhua News Agency. He shook hands with each journalist as he walked into the small conference room, where some fifteen journalists representing ten media groups had set up their equipment behind the chairs. A female journalist not knowing the proper etiquette put a hada over his neck. Throughout the press conference, he explained his commitment to non-violence, his support to the ‘greater unity’ between Han Chinese and Tibetans, his promise of not-seeking-independence and his support for the Games, which he wishes to attend.

Finally at noon, we were led to the front yard of a two-floored house where a security check was operated in a friendly manner by some officers who, after asking where I am studying, were a little surprised by being boldly asked back where they are working. They were not those legendary CIA agents, but working for the State Department. At the door, the Dalai Lama and a Tibetan monk along with some staff from the delegation greeted us. Following Tibetan custom, I shook hands with His Holiness and offered him a hada which represents purity; he pronounced “huan ying (welcome)” in Chinese, inviting me to sit down on the sofa. I mentioned that the feverish emotions displayed by people discussing the Tibet issue are perhaps due to the limited information received and the lack of real heart-to-heart communication between Chinese and Tibetans, especially the younger generations. I was hoping to hear his opinions.

The Dalai Lama felt that this is a serious moment as both sides are too emotional, and explai