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UA community voices opinion of Tibet-China conflict

Abstract:
Protests continue around the world against human rights issues in China involving Tibet, and UA professors and students are also voicing their opinions.

In Tibet, protests began March 10, commemorating the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising of 1959....

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andy_lwz@yahoo.com

posted 3/30/08 @ 9:12 PM CST

You were so misled. The riot ran for probably around 4-5 hours in the afternoon Mar. 14 GMT+08:00 until enforced security forces moved into the town to control, based on the only journalist stayed in Lhlsa and the eyewitness of tourists whose names have been reported. Meanwhile, Chinese government did not release any information and baned the journalists outside the area, whereras exile groups gave bunch of information within no time. On Mar. 14 GMT+05:00-GMT-00:05, More than three Chinese Embassies in Europe and North America were under violent attack by exile protesters. At the same time, CNN interviewed Richard Gere, claiming peaceful protesters were shot by army in Lhlsa, with the footage that Indian police clashed with exile protesters in India around Mar.10. These footage were blocked in China, but I can watch it here in US. Then every media re-told the stories provided by exile groups and Richard Gere for several days (and even now). Thereafter, unrest led by monks spreaded to provincial areas. Although some media are very careful recently, confirming it was a deadly riot rather than shoting peaceful protesters, all people can remember are the wrong information fed earlier. BTW: I cheked more than 10 atlases published between 1900 and 2008 by European countries and United States that are available in university library. I did not find single one in which Tibet is not part of China. The information mentioned found in Phayul.com is believed published several days ago by a Falung Gong backed press which is outlawed in and frequently attacks China. The information is not confirmed by the British intelligent agency which was mentioned as the source in that report.

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Alwz

posted 3/30/08 @ 9:14 PM CST

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James

posted 3/31/08 @ 1:13 PM CST

Originally posted by
Alwz
You were so misled.

Poor China's always being unfairly attacked by the big, bad western media.

Of course, it's impossible to know the true story of what happened in Tibet because China kicked out all the foreigners. When they allowed a few journalists and diplomats back in, China carefully controlled their movements and limited their access. Why would China do that if they had nothing to hide?

While we may not have complete information about recent events in Tibet, and while it may be possible to argue about whether Tibet has historically been independent or not, it is impossible to argue against the fact that China has one of the worst human rights records of any country in the world.

According to the U.S. State Department's 2007 report on Human Rights in China (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100518.htm):

"The government's human rights record remained poor, and controls were tightened in some areas, such as religious freedom in Tibetan areas and in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR); freedom of speech and the media, including the Internet; and the treatment of petitioners in Beijing. As in previous years, citizens did not have the right to change their government. The government tightened restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, particularly in anticipation of and during sensitive events, including increased efforts to control and censor the Internet. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), both local and international, continued to face intense scrutiny and restrictions. The government continued its severe cultural and religious repression of minorities, with some tightening of control in the XUAR, and an increased level of religious repression in Tibetan areas. The government stepped up efforts to rid Beijing of petitioners seeking redress for various grievances. Other serious human rights abuses included extrajudicial killings, torture and coerced confessions of prisoners, and the use of forced labor, including prison labor. The government continued to monitor, harass, detain, arrest, and imprison journalists, writers, activists, and defense lawyers and their families, many of whom were seeking to exercise their rights under law. The party and state exercised strict political control of courts and judges, conducted closed trials and carried out administrative detention. Executions often took place on the day of conviction or immediately after the denial of an appeal. A lack of due process and restrictions on lawyers further limited progress toward rule of law. Individuals and groups, especially those deemed politically sensitive by the government, continued to face tight restrictions on their freedom to assemble, their freedom to practice religion, and their freedom to travel. The government continued its coercive birth limitation policy, in some cases resulting in forced abortion and sterilization."

Amnesty International's 2007 report on China (http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/asia-and-pacific/east-asia/china) states:

"An increased number of lawyers and journalists were harassed, detained, and jailed. Thousands of people who pursued their faith outside officially sanctioned churches were subjected to harassment and many to detention and imprisonment. Thousands of people were sentenced to death or executed. Migrants from rural areas were deprived of basic rights. Severe repression of Uighurs in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region continued, and freedom of expression and religion continued to be severely restricted in Tibet and among Tibetans elsewhere."

and, relating to Tibet specifically, Amnesty notes:

"Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other areas experienced severe restrictions on their rights to freedom of religious belief, expression and association, and discrimination in employment. Many were detained or imprisoned for observing their religion or expressing opinions, including Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns. Excessive use of force against Tibetans seeking to flee repression in Tibet continued. In September witnesses saw Chinese border patrol guards shooting at a group of Tibetans attempting to reach Nepal. At least one child was confirmed killed."

China seems like such a wonderful country. I just can't understand why the western media continues to pick on them.

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Tom Dino

posted 3/31/08 @ 12:13 AM CST

Waku up, people. Protests and demonstrations can solve problems at all. Let's do something real, people.

The U.S. should stand up for Tibetans and show the world that we are the true leader of freedom and democracy. We at the very least should re-open the CIA military training camp for the Dalai Lama's resistance fighters at Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado.

We can ask Japanese to financially support the Free Tibet operation. Dalai Lama loves Japanese people. He enthusiastically endorsed a Japanese spiritual movement, 'Aum Shinrikyo', in 1980's-1990's.

We can also ask Germany for some substantial support from Europe. Germans had deep connections with Tibet in 1930's and 1940's. Dalai Lama's tutor in 1940's was Heinrich Harrer, a member of the 'Schutzstaffel'. These people are closely linked together. We can form a huge coalition force for sure to change Tibet back to Shangri-La.

We can't wait for any longer. Let's all dream together for a
Free Tibet!

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