Tibet watch

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Philip
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Philip »

As a BBC reporter critically put it,the same western nations who have loudly cried out for intervention in Egypt,Libya and Syria,are strangely silent with the Chinese inhumanity in Tibet!

With the latest assessment from HH the Dalai Lama,that the suffering will continue and that the PRC will only increase the presure,the GOI has no alternative but to plan for a future questioning of the "One China" policy by upping our relations with Taiwan,and a view to future full recognition of Taiwan as an independent sovereign nation,plus also qyestioning China's sovereignity over Tibet and treating the Tibetan govt. in exile with full diplomatic recognoition.We should also bring into being a Tibet strike force usign many exiled Tibetans,wihth the aim of liberating parts of that nation less heavily defended if need be.The timing of these decisions is of the utmost importance.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by joshvajohn »

Situation in Tibet Very Worrying, Says Switzerland
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_dis ... _id=122774

China’s Latest Bid to Flex Its Regional Muscle and Intimidate Tibet
http://www.tnr.com/article/world/97669/ ... ibet-exile

If Nepal is playing around then we should bring the govts down! During Rajiv's time, India was able to show Nepal a lesson for King and Maoists to focus on developing people rather than working with Red Army in China!
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by joshvajohn »

Two More Monks Arrested in Tibet; China Imposes Religious Celebrations
http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/tib ... lebrations

Tibet's monks driven to resist by Chinese repression, says exiled abbot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/no ... tion-china
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by joshvajohn »

Nepal’s India snub at UN vote shows Chinese clout
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 863451.cms

Tibet group says Nepal sent refugee back to China
http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/tib ... 43686.html
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Agnimitra »

Nepal bends to China over Tibet
Tibetans who've reached northeastern India say China has toughened refugee controls and increased pressure on Nepal to tighten its borders, while Dharamsala's exile community says arrivals have dropped too sharply since Lhasa's 2008 riots to be attributed to Beijing's economics-based ethnic policy. With China's premier set to visit Kathmandu, Nepal's Tibetan minority fears more restrictions.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by joshvajohn »

Tibet's Problems will Definitely Be Solved One Day Soon; His Holiness
http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/int ... s-holiness

'China Is Refusing To Exercise Its Own Law,' - Tibet's Political Leader
http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/int ... cal-leader
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Victor »

Things have been heating up lately among Tibetans with a raft of self-immolations, beatings, arrests etc. Need to keep the drumbeat up on this.

Tibet Violence: Despair, Crackdowns Breed More Killings
1/28/12
The three clashes, all in the past week, killed several Tibetans and injured dozens. They mark an escalation of a protest movement that for months expressed itself mainly through scattered individual self-immolations...
Tibetan self-immolation triggers clash in China
1/14/12
A Tibetan has set himself on fire in China, the latest in a series of self-immolations, prompting clashes between police and locals, activists say.
Tibet monk dies in China after self-immolating
1/9/12
Activists say at least 15 people have set themselves alight in the past year, demanding an end to tight Chinese controls in ethnically Tibetan areas.
Tibet 'sees first monk self-immolation protest
12/2/11
Activists say 11 monks and former monks have set themselves on fire this year, but the incidents have all taken place in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province.
GRAPHIC VIDEO: Tibetan nun's self-immolation
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ramana »

Looks like PRC fears a Tibet uprising:

China tells its officials to prepare for civil war in TIbet



PTI from Beijing. Could be psy-ops fed to them.
Describing the situation in Tibet as "grave", China has ordered authorities there to prepare themselves for "a war against secessionist sabotage" by the Dalai Lama amid reports that security forces shot dead two Tibetans protesters.

Officials in the Tibet Autonomous Region have been ordered to recognise the "grave situation" in maintaining stability and to ready themselves for "a war against secessionist sabotage", Chen Quanguo, regional Communist Party chief of Tibet told official Tibet Daily.

The orders come ahead of the February 22 Tibetan New Year and this year's Chinese Communist Party Congress to elect new leaders.

The Congress would elect new leaders replacing the President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao who are set to retire later this year.

Chen and other top officials called for extra vigilance to foil any attempts by the Buddhist Monks and supporters of the Dalai Lama out that the Tibetan spiritual leader has a spoken of a "decisive battle" to be launched ahead of this year's Communist Party Congress, likely to be held in November this year.

Meanwhile, US based broadcaster Radio Free Asia today said that two Tibetan brothers, who have been on the run after protesting against Chinese rule have been shot dead.

Yeshe Rigsal, a 40-year monk, and his 38-year-old brother, Yeshe Samdrub, had been pursued by the authorities after they participated in January 23 protests against Chinese rule. The two brothers had been on the run for more than twoweeks, and had been hiding in the hills in a nomad region when they were surrounded and fired upon.

The fight against the Dalai Lama clique is a "long-term, complicated and sometimes even acute" one, Chen was quoted as saying.

Xu Zhitao, an official with the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party Central Committee, told state-run Global Times that "secessionists led by the Dalai Lama appeared more determined to plot conspiracies this year."

The Dalai Lama clique had claimed that they might carry out some schemes to wreck the upcoming Tibetan New Year, which falls on February 22 this year, Xu said.

This year the region saw self immolations by Buddhist Monks calling for the return of Darla Lama from his self exile in Dharmashala. So far 17 monks and nuns have attempted suicides.

So far 17 monks and nuns have attempted suicides. Many of these attempts were confined to the Sichuan province, neighbouring Tibet and the Tibetan officials fear that the restive monks would attempt some thing big during the New Year celebrations in Lhasa, the provincial capital.

Global Times which carried the Tibet story today with banner headlines 'Tibet officials prepare for war' also mentioned discussions on Tibet during External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's just concluded visit here to inaugurate the new Indian Embassy building. "Separately, during a meeting with Krishna in Beijing on Wednesday, Zhou Yongkang, a senior leader of the party stated that the question concerns China's national interests and that the Chinese government will crack down on secessionists and safeguard its territorial integrity," the Times said.

"Krishna reiterated that India recognises Tibet as a part of China and will not tolerate "anti-China activities" on Indian territory", it quoted a report by state-run Xinhua which also carried an interview with him.

Chinese Foreign Ministry also carried a statement Zhou appreciating India's stand.

On beefing up the local administration the daily also carried a stern warning that those officials in Tibet who were found to be lax will be punished.

"For those irresponsible officials who walk away from their duties, fail to implement policies or are found guilty of dereliction of duty in maintaining stability, they shall be immediately removed from their posts, pending punishment, regardless of how great the contributions they made in the past or what kind of position they held," Chen said.

Chen asked local officials to "improve the precautionary and emergency management mechanism," and ensure the government's ability to immediately and resolutely handle any emergency.

"We should make every effort to win the tough battle to maintain stability, and seize the initiative in our fight against separatism," Chen said.

Xiong Kunxin, a professor with the Minzu University of China, said the further tightening could be related to a string of recent self-immolations in Tibetan areas of the provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai bordering Tibet.

"There are five regions that are inhabited by Tibetan people in China. Turbulence in one area can affect others," said Xiong, referring to Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces where Tibetan communities are located as well as Tibet itself.

An official surnamed Gou with the publicity department of Ganzi in Sichuan told the Global Times that cases of violence were isolated and that the majority of Tibetan people in the prefecture yearn for stability.

"Such tragic incidents in Sichuan's Tibetan area have to do with geographic and historical factors, which made Tibetan people there more aggressive," Xiong said.

"Meanwhile, less strict management in this area also led to this problem," he said.

The Ganzi Daily earlier quoted Liu Daoping, Party chief of Ganzi, as saying that the Dalai Lama clique had claimed to wage "a decisive battle," posing great challenges to the stability-maintaining tasks.

Xiong said such violence and self-immolation cases have violated the creeds of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by svinayak »

The spring revolution is going to spread to every part of the world. unrest against the govt will increase
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by sanjeevpunj »

Source:http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/tib ... -in-prison
China Sentences A Young Tibetan Writer to Two Years In Prison
Dharamshala: - The Chinese clamp-down on the Tibetan intellectual diaspora continues to gather momentum. Chinese authorities in Central Tibet (Ch: Tibet Autonomous Region) have sentenced a Tibetan author to a two-year jail term on charges of writing a book about the 2008 mass protests in Tibet, according to a report received on February 14th.
ManuT
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

For Reference

Documentary: The Sun behind the clouds.
80 mins

ManuT
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

Nova Documentary: Lost treasures of Tibet (2009)
54 mins

Nepalese piece of Tibetan culture.

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Re: Tibet watch

Post by kmkraoind »

Red rage: China to strip Tibetans of minority status?

Free Tibet cannot happen in vacuum. India has to lead the charge and a timely embargo by western countries on China will fuel massive unrest that CPC cannot control. For people of western countries, they have to satisfy themselves with iPad2 and iPhone4, but for Chinese this is an unemployment of 100-300K people.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

{I don't understand nor approve of self-immolations, a form of suicide. Word is -atm ghaat or self-harm}
----
4 March 2012 Last updated at 16:44 ET

Tibetan woman burns herself to death in Sichuan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17254051

A Tibetan mother-of-four has died after setting herself on fire in south-west China, activists and exiles say.

The UK-based Free Tibet group said the woman set herself on fire near the Kirti Monastery in Aba prefecture in Sichuan province.

It is the latest in a spate of self-immolations by ethnic Tibetans in apparent protest against Chinese rule.

Security in Tibetan areas of China has been further tightened ahead of sensitive anniversaries.

The Kirti Monastery has been at the forefront of pro-Tibetan protests in recent months.

Reports said that the woman, with her body in flames, shouted for Tibetan freedom and the return of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama before she died.

Local officials have not commented on the incident.

More than 20 Tibetans have burned themselves to death in the past year, despairing at what they say is repressive Chinese rule and the erosion of their culture.

China has poured money into Tibetan-inhabited areas, seeking to win them over by boosting the economy.

But it has also flooded the same areas with police, increased surveillance at monasteries and partially blocked the internet and mobile phones.

Foreign journalists caught trying to reach the scene of much of the unrest - in the west of Sichuan province - have been turned back or detained.

March is a month of sensitive Tibetan anniversaries including that of the Dalai Lama's flight into exile in 1959.

BBC Asia-Pacific editor Viv Marsh says Chinese authorities will be keen to avoid protests during a parliamentary meeting in Beijing this week ahead of a big leadership transition later this year
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

Documentary: The tragedy of Tibet

It is mostly made up of original footage. Covers from first time when Tibet was seen through a camera lence.

Explains the sack of Tibet.
Some footage of partisans (SFF)

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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

Tibetan teen burns himself to death in China protest

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17267925

A young Tibetan teenager has burned himself to death in China, rights groups say, becoming the third such reported case this week.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

Tibet immolations 'will not stop development'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17282483

also on self immolation
Of the three recent cases, China has only confirmed the death of student Tsering Kyi, who died after she set fire to herself in Maqu county of Gansu province. Rights groups reported her death on Saturday.

Xinhua quoted local police as saying that an accident in which she hit her head affected her studies, "which put a lot of pressure on her and made her lose her courage for life and study".
ManuT
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

The Tibet issue

China's view vs Tibet's view

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16747814


from Tibetan view
quote 1
"It is beyond dispute at various periods of its long history that Tibet came under differing degrees of foreign influence: the Mongols, the Gurkhas of Nepal, the Manchu emperors of China and the British rulers of India all played their parts. At other periods in the plateau's history, it was Tibet which exercised power and influence over 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 at some era in its history. In Tibet's case the degree and duration of foreign influence and interference was relatively limited."

quote 2
"Traditional Tibetan society - like most of its Asian contemporaries - was backward and badly in need of reforms. However, it is completely wrong to use the word "feudal" from the perspective of medieval Europe to describe traditional Tibetan society. Tibet before the invasion, in fact, was far more egalitarian than most Asian countries of that time. Hugh Richardson, who spent a total of nine years in Tibet as Britain's last and independent India's first representative, wrote: "Even communist writers have had to admit there was no great difference between rich and poor in [pre-1949] Tibet."

quote 3
"An internal Chinese military document states that from 1952 to 1958, the People's Liberation Army crushed 996 rebellions and killed over 10,000 Tibetans in the north-eastern region of Kanlho. Golog, another Amdo area, saw its population halved from an estimated 140,000 in 1956 to about 70,000 in 1964.

Referring to this area, the late Panchen Lama [the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama] told Beijing's leaders: "If there was a film made on all the atrocities perpetrated in Qinghai Province, it would shock the viewers. In Golog area, many people were killed and their dead bodies rolled down the hill into a big ditch. The soldiers told the family members and relatives of the dead people that they should celebrate since the rebels had been wiped out. They were even forced to dance on the dead bodies."

quote 4
"The '59 uprising against Chinese rule was a people's movement to resist all the changes the Chinese Communist Party were introducing in Tibet.

In the 17 Point Agreement signed between Tibet and China in 1951, the Chinese Communist Party promised that in return for Tibet coming to the fold of motherland, China would not change Tibet's traditional social system {any lurker from HK take note} or tamper with the powers of the Dalai Lama. Both these promises were not kept, and the introduction of collectivisation and other aspects of the social system in Tibet forced the Tibetans to rise up."

end quote
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

Documentary: The Cry of the snow lion
1 hr 43 mins

The link was noted by Jagga ji on page 14 of this thread, and realise some here would have watched it then. Now it is available on YouTube.

Posting as more detail and visibility is needed, and also a call to action is needed. What is happenning is more than a sack.

(You will also get a glimpse of Robert Ford the "POW" of Foreign invasion force at 17 mins from the Tragedy of Tibet, as an old man. Some of this is repetitive but still worth a view.)


(At some point, I am hoping these would be added to the introduction page of this thread and not buried down)
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

14 March 2012

Tibetans protest after monk sets himself on fire in China

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17374855
Several hundred Tibetans have protested against Chinese rule in the western province of Qinghai after a monk there set himself alight, rights groups say.

The Tibetan monk set fire to himself outside a monastery in the town of Tongren, Free Tibet and the International Campaign for Tibet said.

He suffered burns but is thought to have survived.

In the past year more than 25 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest at what they say is religious repression.

Some were reported to have called for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Self-immolations are rarely reported from Qinghai, although several people have set themselves alight there in the past year. Most such incidents have taken place in the neighbouring province of Sichuan.

In Wednesday's protest, a monk in his 30s named as Jamyang Palden, set fire to himself in the square outside the Rongwo monastery in Tongren, Harriet Beaumont of Free Tibet told the BBC.
We understand that a large number of military trucks have seen arriving in the town," she said.

Free Tibet says about 500 monks gathered to show their solidarity for the monk and they were joined by people from the surrounding area.


The campaign group says there were also protests by hundreds of Tibetan students in three schools in the area, some calling for freedom to study in Tibetan


On Wednesday China's Premier Wen Jiabao said he was distressed by the self-immolations, describing them as "radical moves which undermine social harmony".
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ShauryaT »

Under siege, Tibetans usher in a sombre New Year
Tibetans across the world have decided to usher in Losar, better known as the Tibetan New Year, 2139, without any gaiety and fervour. The recent series of self-immolations by dozens of Tibetan youth in the western Sichuan Province of China is the primary reason behind the decision according to the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India.

While issuing a statement urging Tibetans to abstain from festivities owing to the "grim news that continues to stream out of Tibet", the Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay stated, "...observe traditional and spiritual rituals, making offerings and lighting butter lamps for all those who have sacrificed and suffered under the repressive policies of Chinese government."
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by andy B »

http://www.theage.com.au/world/beijing- ... 1wjbo.html
via. NY Times
According to family members and human rights groups, this is the first time that Chinese authorities have detained large numbers of Tibetan pilgrims returning from the January ceremony, held every year in northern India.

Many of the pilgrims are elderly and have been detained for more than two months in central Tibet, or what China calls the Tibet Autonomous Region. The detainees are being interrogated and undergoing patriotic re-education classes, and have been ordered to denounce the Dalai Lama, who presided over the ceremony, known as the Kalachakra, say people who have researched the detentions.
Human Rights Watch said it was unclear how long the detainees were being held, and that there had been no reports of any of the 700 Han who attended the Kalachakra being detained. The Han are the dominant ethnic group in China,
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by svinayak »

“Japan is a democratic nation, it is an open society were rule of law exist. Japanese economic contribution is also great. So Japan enjoys great moral authority not only in Asia, but also in international circles. Therefore, Japan is in a very good position to play a meaningful role in promoting peaceful resolution of Tibet issue with the Chinese government,” the envoy said.

When asked about the main differences about the two parties, Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen said that the Chinese leadership keeps on saying that there is no problem in Tibet and that Tibetans are happy under Chinese rule. “This is one of main differences. If there is no problem in Tibet, why all those demonstrations in Tibet? Why the ongoing repression in Tibet?”

“Another thing is Chinese side says Dalai Lama has no right to talk about Tibet issue, he can talk about his problem; this is a major difference. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always said that issue is not about his personal well being, rather the issue is about the freedom and well being of the six million Tibetan.

“Lack of respect and understanding of the Tibetan values, cultures and its religion from the Chinese leaderships have resulted into misguided policy in Tibet. The hardliners see the distinct identity of Tibetan as a source of threat for separation, which must be suppressed brutally. But we are hopeful of Chinese public, who have began to understand the Tibetan problem and many intellectuals and lawyers are raising their voice for Tibet,” explained the envoy.

Other major media, with whom the envoy had exclusive interviews and interactions during the visit were, Sankei News paper, Kyodo Tsushin, Chinese News Week, Radio Free Asia, Japan etc.

Later in the afternoon, he met three Japanese lawmakers and their assistants representing Japanese Parliamentarians for Tibet at Parliament building in Tokyo. The Parliamentarians welcomed the Envoy in Japan and showed keen interest about the status of Sino-Tibetan dialog. Mr. Kelsang thanked the Japanese lawmakers for their interest in Tibetan issue, and briefed them about the eight rounds of official talks with the Chinese leaderships since 2002. The lawmakers jointly assured the envoy that they would do their best in keeping the issue of Tibet alive in Japanese parliament and urging the Government to talk with Chinese counterpart to resolve the Tibetan issue.

The parliamentarians expressed their full support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach; they further expressed their concern about environmental damages taking place in Tibet and about the Chinese government policy of using Tibet as nuclear waste sites. They said that this not only a Tibetan problem, but also an Asian problem, for that matter, an international issue.
http://tibet-envoy.eu/content/?p=92
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by svinayak »

http://tibet.net/en/flash/flash_archive ... sponse.pdf

Height of Darkness: Chinese Colonialism on the World's Roof

Height of Darkness: Chinese Colonialism on the World's Roof is in response to the white paper on China's claims to have modernised Tibet, issued by the State Council of the People's Republic of China on 8 November 2001. The Tibetan response is a study of the hidden agenda behind China's frantic efforts to reinforce colonialism in Tibet. After the Chinese communist occupation of Tibet, perhaps this is the biggest disaster to confront the Tibetan people. Despite the brutality of the Cultural Revolution, China was not able to wipe out Tibet's gentle civilisation whose rich spiritual tradition even now vibrates well beyond Tibet. Where brute military might and outright political repression has failed, China now is attempting to exterminate Tibet's unique way of life through renewed colonisation
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Christopher Sidor »

The Chinese appointed Panchen Lama Holds Court in Hong Kong --- Wall Street Journal Dated 27-April-2012

After having appointed a panchen lama, who has generally has no legitimacy, in Tibetans eyes, it does appear that the Chinese are now getting ready to parade him around. The Panchen Lama identified by Dalai Lama's is no where to be seen. He has been kept under wraps for too long.

Chinese interest in having a Panchen Lama of their choice, is with an eye to the succession to current Dalai Lama. The next Dalai Lama will have to be endorsed by the 11th Panchen Lama. It remains to be seen how much legitimacy will the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama have, if matters ever came to finding the 15th Dalai Lama.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by RamaY »

China unrealistic on Tibet, talks futile: Dalai Lama
LONDON (Reuters) – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday resuming talks with China on his homeland’s future was futile unless it adopted a “realistic” stance, adding it was useless trying to convince Beijing he was not seeking full independence.

In comments likely to enrage a Chinese leadership already angry over his trip to Britain, the Dalai Lama also said a shift towards democracy and better human rights in China was inevitable and the Chinese people “really want change”.

The 76-year-old monk was speaking in Britain, which he is touring to spread a message of non-violence and compassion, touching upon issues including European economic woes, which he said were partly caused by “greed and ignorance”. :mrgreen:

The issue is (the people’s) basic right. In future, unless they start a realistic approach for the Tibetan problem inside Tibet, there’s not much to discuss, the Dalai Lama told Reuters in an interview at Britain’s houses of parliament.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by RoyG »



Brahma Chellaney is a speaker. Interesting event overall.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by nakul »

SFF offers tenshug to the Dalai Lama
A tenshung (long life prayer ceremony) was today offered to the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala by members of the Special Frontier Force of the Indian army.

The SFF, more popularly known in the Tibetan community as Establishment 22, is this year commemorating 50 years since it was set up by the Indian government shortly after its debacle in the 1962 border conflict with China.

Indian and Tibetan leaders, as well as members of the elite force, were present in large numbers to offer prayers to the Dalai Lama.

According to an unofficial defence website bharat-rakshak.com. the SFF was created after the “Cabinet Secretariat had ordered the raising of an elite guerrilla force composed mainly of Tibetan refugees.”

“The first Inspector General of the SFF was a retired Indian Army Major General who was known for his unconventional thinking. Soon the SFF came to be known as 'Establishment 22' due to its first Inspector General, who used to be commander of 22 Mountain Regiment during World War II,” the website says.

Over the decades, SFF was deployed in the Indo-Pakistan Military Conflict of 1971, during which it lost more than 50 of its men, the Kargil war and on the Siachen glacier.

In its 50 years of service, they have received more than 100 recognitions and gallantry awards.

In their supplication, the SFF renewed its vow to fully obey and discharge the wishes and guidance from the Dalai Lama.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by vasu raya »

We need to train technical cadre from the Tibetian refugees in the nuclear matters so at some point in the future they can quickly come to grips in handling nuclear issues, at the moment the move will be political in nature.

Same thing with the Vietnamese and they should be the first to receive our reactors when we can get to that which would be a good cover to train them.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Agnimitra »

Tibetan burnings reach new level - Parameswaran Ponnudurai
The wave of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule may have entered a new phase following a record number of burnings, as Tibetans show an unrelenting determination in their campaign to restore their rights in a land where there "are more Chinese than Tibetans, more troops than Tibetan monks and more surveillance cameras than windows".
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by member_19686 »







Tibet in 1943 before the Han invasion & occupation.
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by SSridhar »

Two more immolations reported as Tibetan protests continue
Two more self-immolation protests by Tibetan monks have been reported this week in western China, days ahead of the opening of the Chinese Parliament which is set to bring tighter security restrictions across Tibetan areas in coming days.

According to overseas groups, two monks in their early 20s set themselves on fire as worshippers gathered for prayers on the occasion of the end of the Tibetan New Year, which was, this year, marked with less than usual festivities on account of the more than 100 self-immolation protests by Tibetans in China since 2011.

The most recent protests were reported to have taken place on Sunday and Monday, in the western provinces of Qinghai and Gansu. Most of the self-immolations have taken place in the two provinces and in neighbouring Sichuan, where the spate of protests first began in 2009.

A monk named by overseas groups as Phagmo Dundrup set himself on fire at a monastery in Qinghai on Sunday, while Tsesung Kyap carried out a protest a day later in Luqu, a county in Gansu. Just last week, two Tibetan teenagers set themselves on fire in Aba, a predominantly Tibetan prefecture in Sichuan where the protests first began.

More than 105 Tibetans in China have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese policies. The moves have brought fresh security restrictions across many Tibetan areas in western China and also in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), where, however, fewer protests have been reported.

Chinese officials have accused overseas groups of a “plot” to undermine stability and have also blamed the Dalai Lama for “encouraging” the protests, a charge the exiled spiritual leader strongly denies. The Dalai Lama has called on China to examine its policies and for a fact-finding mission into the incidents.

The situation in Tibetan areas is set to figure in next week’s meeting of the National People’s Congress, or Chinese Parliament, which opens on March 5.

The week-long session is also likely to bring a tightening of security across Tibetan areas. The meeting will see the appointment of new officials across various levels of the Chinese central and provincial governments. Most notably, Communist Party of China General Secretary Xi Jinping will replace outgoing Hu Jintao as President, while second-ranked Politburo Standing Committee member Li Keqiang is expected to take the place of Premier Wen Jiabao.
svinayak
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by svinayak »

A Top secret plan is going on worlwide to topple the current geo political order in such a way that it will create dangerous situation.
Asia and Eurasia is being targetted and Asia is planned for making it less less significant geopolitically by making it unstable.


NK is major role in this plan.

Pak and AF Pak has a major role in this is create a wars across Eurasia and keep it down when the Western countries recover from their self created downturn.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/ ... T620130227
Russia's Putin tells army to shape up for foreign threat


By Alexei Anishchuk
MOSCOW | Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:14pm EST
(Reuters) - Vladimir Putin ordered military leaders on Wednesday to make urgent improvements to the armed forces during his new presidential term, saying Russia must thwart attempts by the West to tip the strategic balance of power.

Putin's remarks, to rows of uniformed officers and defense officials, reflected increasing hawkishness since he returned to the Kremlin for a six-year term last May, and a growing readiness to cite foreign threats and use anti-Western rhetoric to rally support.

"Attempts are being made to tip the strategic balance," said Putin, who as president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, told his audience at the General Staff academy on Moscow's outskirts. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, sat in the front row.

"Geopolitical dynamics call for a quick and considered response ... Russia's armed forces must move on to a new level of capabilities in the next three to five years," said Putin, who has not ruled out seeking another term in 2018.

The former KGB spy said moves that threatened Russia's geopolitical position included the eastward expansion of Russia's former Cold War foe NATO and U.S. deployment of an anti-missile shield in Europe.

He said drills must be sharpened up and held with less advance warning, to keep soldiers on their toes.

"Combat training must not be laid-back, so that soldiers know about emergency exercises six months in advance, but must be as similar as possible to the real conditions of modern combat and warfare," he said.

Following a decade of military spending cuts after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Putin has been the driving force behind plans to spend 23 trillion roubles ($750 billion) through 2020 to upgrade Russia's ageing armaments.
Agnimitra
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Agnimitra »

X-post from Shivabhumi sangharsh thread:

Lots of propaganda out there. This is criminal if true.
May 9, 2013:
China destroys the ancient Buddhist symbols of Lhasa City in Tibet
Ignoring both religious freedom and the outcry of the Tibetan people, the Chinese authorities have begun demolishing the ancient capital of Lhasa, including one of the most important Buddhist sites of the city, Tibet's holiest Jokhang Temple.

Chinese authorities are planning to destroy the ancient Buddhist capital of Lhasa, and replace it with a tourist city similar to Lijiang. "Shangri-La" in Yunnan Province. Several large-scale construction projects are underway for a number of shopping malls around the Buddhist holy temple as well as underground parking at Barkhor Street.

"Traditional Tibetan buildings in this ancient city are once again facing the destruction crisis under Chinese modernization", well-known Tibetan writer Woeser told the RFA Mandarin section. She is also appealing to the global institutions, including UNESCO and Tibetans around the world to 'save Lhasa.'

Woeser, who is currently living in Beijing, has published an article on her blog-page (Sunday, May 5) with pictures of the ongoing construction in the ancient city of Lhasa. She has called for a global intervention in the serious situation in the city, where thousand year-old traditional buildings are being destroying by the Chinese in the name of modernization and social stability.

'The construction project in the areas of Barkor streets of the Jokhang temple covers an area of 150,000 square meters to use as new shopping malls and 1,117 square meters for the underground parking spaces", said the sources.

Woeser said many recent visitors already raised strong concerns over the constructions as well as the fate of Lhasa. She expressed her concern over the Chinese authorities' activities and condemned them for demolishing the ancient symbols of Tibetan civilization.

She alludes to photos of the ongoing constructions that she has received, "The photos reflect the situation in the old town of Lhasa, it is a serious matter of concern."

Woeser claims that this is an unlawful act, aiming directly at multiple targets. There is an old Tibetan saying: 'One stone for two birds', which springs to mind.

She said its not only just for economic development, there are other targets. If we look carefully at the photos of the shopping mall project, there are several requirements for alterations of the Tibetan old city, including one called 'evacuation'. This means clearing vendors from the Barkhor streets, perhaps better named 'destruction.'

The Tibetan writer said China was criticized after converting the two ancient Chinese cities; Lijiang in Yunnan and Hunan city into modern tourist cities, with both projects now widely seen as poor decisions.

In fact, such reconstruction has already occurred in Tibet. China now wants the Tibetan Autonomous Region to become like the Zhongdian City (Tibetan: Gyalthang county of eastern Tibet). After the reconstruction, Lijiang was changed to "Shangri-La", mainly to attract tourists. She said this kind of destruction has caused great damage and should be considered 'tourist colonialism'.

Previous experiences from the so-called economic development of Gyalthang County, which caused the disappearance of many Tibetan cultural symbols, including the disappearance of the customs and cultural heritage of the Tibetan people is the "most worrying matter of concern."

The Chinese government is also set to expand various so-called 'interests', including governmental and economic measures, regardless of the consequences. The regime is seeking to further "maintenance in social stability", meaning the authorities have significantly increased surveillance and monitoring in the region, particularly in Lhasa city, prompting an escalation of security measures.

The Potala Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. In 2000 and 2001, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka were added to the list as extensions to the sites. Rapid modernization has been a concern for UNESCO, however, which expressed concern over the building of modern structures immediately around the palace, which threaten the palace's unique atmosphere.

The Chinese government responded by enacting a rule barring the building of any structure taller than 21 meters in the area. However, sources stated that there are new modern buildings higher than 21 meters to be found in the vicinity. Woeser further stated that Jokhang Temple in Lhasa City should be granted protected status under UNESCO's cultural heritage regulations.

UNESCO was also concerned over the materials used during the restoration of the palace, which commenced in 2002 at a cost in millions of dollars, although the Chinese authorities have promised that only traditional materials and craftsmanship were used.
Agnimitra
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by Agnimitra »

China 'crushing’ Tibetan dissident groups in Nepal
Wary of dissident Tibetan groups making Nepal a hub for their anti-China activities, Beijing appears to have taken to squeezing the Himalayan nation on the issue by using its developmental initiatives there as a counter-pressure tactic. China, which already boasts of a wide involvement in Nepal that covers all critical areas including defence, infrastructure development and cultural activities, is now focusing on taking up development initiatives across Nepalese villages adjoining Tibet, besides liaisoning with Nepalese border authorities and security officials to enhance border security and upgrade police stations at points used by Tibetans to cross into Nepal.

Recent intelligence assessments by the Indian security agencies have drawn the government's attention to attempts by China to "crush" Tibetan activities in Nepal. Nepal is a major shelter destination for Tibetans who cross over in large numbers before proceeding to India or elsewhere. Over the years, many Tibetans have settled in Nepal, leaving Beijing worried that the dissident elements among them may be working against China's interests.

In a bid to thwart such designs, China has proposed to develop some village development committees (VDCs) contiguous to Tibet, jointly with the Nepalese ministry of physical planning. As per the proposal sent recently to the Nepalese government, China would support basic infrastructure building in some of these VDCs. The project, Indian intelligence agencies' warn, would enable a sizeable Chinese presence in these border VDCs and also let Beijing to exercise control over the crucial border link used by Tibetans to cross into Nepal.

Under the proposed "nationwide assistance programme" awaiting clearance of Nepalese authorities, the Chinese would also provide basic supplies to VDCs in at least 15 border districts.

Incidentally, the Chinese have gone beyond development initiatives to counter the alleged Tibetan dissident activities in Nepal. Chinese Embassy officials based in Kathmandu have been regularly visiting border areas, including remote north-western districts like Humla and Mustang to check the security situation and use their interaction with the Nepalese border authorities to push for tighter monitoring of the Sino-Nepal border. The Chinese officials seek to know the equipment and support mechanism needed for better border security and convey these requirements to Beijing so that they can be factored in future agreements with Nepal.

Another key initiative aimed at greater control over areas bordering Tibet, is China's offer to upgrade police stations along the Sino-Nepal border. Chinese embassy officials, intelligence reports say, had lately visited police stations along the border and made a proposal to renovate them, which is now under consideration in Kathmandu. If accepted, the Chinese side would get a significant say in policing in sensitive border areas. However, what may be more worrisome for India is if China's focus shifts to modernizing police stations along other borders as well.

New Chinese ambassador Wu Chuntai's security background may only help to step up vigilance and counter-efforts against the Tibetan population in Nepal, feel Indian intelligence experts. Chinese security officials have been apprising the Nepalese authorities to be on the lookout for Tibetan groups from India visiting Nepal to "influence" Tibetans settled there.
member_19686
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by member_19686 »

Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet and Chinese in the land of China?

China Tibet Online has just reported about a "Tablet witnessing Han-Tibetan friendship shown to the public".
Interesting news.
The Peace Treaty signed in 821 between Tibet and China is carved in Tibetan and Chinese on one side of a stone pillar in front of the Jokhang Cathedral in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.
According to the historian Hugh Richardson (and first Indian Consul in Lhasa in 1947): "On another side is a historical introduction in Tibetan only; and on the other two sides are bilingual lists of the names of the ministers who witnessed it."
A Xinhua report explains: "As a key part of the maintenance project of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, an ancient tablet witnessing the Han-Tibetan friendship is shown to the public after its protective bounding wall is pulled down."
When I visited Lhasa some 20 years ago, I looked for the stone pillar; it took me a long time to find it; it could hardy be seen, as it was surrounded by a high wall.
Now, the China Tibet online says: "According to historical data, the Tang Dynasty (618-917 A.D.) and Tubo Kingdom, or ancient Tibet kingdom, sent their envoys for a meeting to form alliance in 821. In 823, a tablet [pillar] was built in front of the Jokhang Temple in downtown Lhasa, engraved in both Mandarin and Tibetan with the close relationship between the two sides and the marriage of Princess Wencheng and Princess Jincheng to Tibetan kings.
The Chinese publication adds: "For a long time, the tablet has been protected by bounding wall. After the wall is pulled down, the tablet will be cleaned and protected with fence and glass cover to make it convenient for tourists' sightseeing."
The Communist authorities have however forgotten to give the translation of the 'friendship' pillar: "Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet, and Chinese in the land of China."

Let us hope that 12 millions expected Chinese tourists this year, will ask for a modern Mandarin translation of the Treaty.
During the next two days, Shivashankar Menon, the Indian National Security Advisor will meet his Chinese counterpart. The Mandarin-speaking Menon should give State Councilor Yang Jiechi a copy of the text of the Treaty and point out to him that at that time, it was decided that "even the frontier guards shall have no anxiety, nor fear and shall enjoy land and bed at their ease." Of course, it was about the Sino-Tibetan border, but the Spirit of 821 could be extended to the Sino-Indian border.

Treaty between Tibet and China AD. 821-822
(Translation from the Tibetan text)

The Great King of Tibet, the Miraculous Divine Lord, and the Great King of China, the Chinese Ruler Huangdi, being in the relationship of nephew and uncle, have conferred together for the alliance of their kingdoms. They have made and ratified a great agreement.
Gods and men all know it and bear witness so that it may never he changed; and an account of the agreement has been engraved on this stone pillar to inform future ages and generations. The Miraculous Divine Lord Thri-tsug Detsen and the Chinese King Wen Wu Hsiao-te Wang-ti, nephew and uncle, seeking in their far-reaching wisdom to prevent all causes of harm to the welfare of their countries now or in the future, have extended their benevolence impartially over all. With the single desire of acting for the peace and benefit of all their subjects they have agreed on the high purpose of ensuring lasting good; and they have made this great treaty in order to fulfill their decision to restore the former ancient friendship and mutual regard and the old relationship of friendly neighbourliness.
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. If any person incurs suspicion he shall be arrested; his business shall be inquired into and he shall he escorted back.
Now that the two kingdoms have been allied by this great treaty it is necessary that messengers should once again be sent by the old route to maintain communications and carry the exchange of friendly messages regarding the harmonious relations between the Nephew and Uncle. According to the old custom, horses shall be changed at the foot of the Chiang Chun pass, the frontier between Tibet and China.
At the Suiyung barrier the Chinese shall meet Tibetan envoys and provide them with all facilities from there onwards. At Ch’ing-shui the Tibetans shall meet Chinese envoys and provide all facilities. On both sides they shall be treated with customary honour and respect in conformity with the friendly relations between Nephew and Uncle.
Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet, and Chinese in the land of China. Even the frontier guards shall have no anxiety, nor fear and shall enjoy land and bed at their ease. All shall live in peace and share the blessing of happiness for ten thousand years. The fame of this shall extend to all places reached by the sun and the moon. This solemn agreement has established a great epoch when Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet, and Chinese in the land of China. So that it may never be changed, the Three Precious Jewels of Religion, the Assembly of Saints, the Sun and Moon, Planets and Stars have been invoked as witnesses. An oath has been taken with solemn words and with the sacrifice of animals; and tile agreement has been ratified.
If the parties do not act in accordance with this agreement or if they Violate it, whichever it be, Tibet or China, nothing that the other party may do by way of retaliation shall he considered a breach of the treaty on their part. The Kings and Ministers of Tibet and China have taken the prescribed oats to this effect and the agreement has been written in detail. The two Kings have affixed their seals. The Ministers specially empowered to execute the agreement have inscribed their signatures and copies have been deposited in the royal records of each party.

[Richardson's comments]:
The translation of the Tibetan text of the treaty proper is a revision of the somewhat clumsy, literal rendering given in the above-mentioned publication.
The King of Tibet named in the treaty is better known as Ralpachen (815-841); and the Chinese Emperor is Mu Zong of the Tang dynasty (821-821). The frontier appears to have been not far to the west of the Kansu-Shensi border.
Two translations of the Chinese text of the treaty can be seen in G. Timkowsky's Travels of the Russia, Mission through China, etc. London 1827 and one by S.W. Bushell in JRAS 1880.

http://claudearpi.blogspot.ca/2013/06/t ... nd-of.html
ManuT
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by ManuT »

Robert Ford, a British radio operator in free Tibet, died on September 20th, aged 90

http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/ ... obert-ford
chaanakya
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by chaanakya »

China inaugurates new rail link in Tibet, close to Indian border in Sikkim
BEIJING: China on Friday inaugurated its second railway line in Tibet, built at a cost of $2.16 billion, close to Indian border in Sikkim, enhancing mobility of its military in the remote and strategic Himalayan region.

The 253-km railway line links Tibet's provincial capital Lhasa with Xigaze, the second-largest city in Tibet and also the traditional seat of the pro-Beijing Panchen Lama — stated to be second important Monk in Tibetan hierarchy
It reduces the travel time between Lhasa and Xigaze from the current four hours by highway to around two hours, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It is the second railway line in Tibet and an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the world's highest rail link connecting China's mainland with Tibet.

Construction of the railway line started in 2010 with an investment of 13.28 billion yuan ($2.16 billion).

In addition to this, China last month unveiled plans to construct a new crucial railway line in Tibet close to Arunachal Pradesh, which Chinese analysts say could act as a "bargaining chip" during the border talks with India.
The construction of another railway line linking Lhasa to Nyingchi in the east is also expected to start soon, recent official media report said.

Nyingchi is located right close to Arunachal, the nearest area to the border. China claims Arunachal as part of Tibet.

The railway expansion will connect, Nepal, Bhutan and India by 2020, the report said.
The construction of a railway connecting Xigaze with Gyirong county, close to Nepal, will be constructed under the five year plan ending 2020, an official recently said.

Gyirong county has a checkpoint connecting Nepal and Yatung county, close to Indian border near Sikkim and Bhutan, a trade centre bordering India and Bhutan.
svinayak
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by svinayak »

Image

Do not be fooled by China's propaganda on Tibet and Tibetans
Monday, 18 August 2014

In a crackdown in December 2011, Tibetans are forced to bow down and taken away by heavily armed Chinese military forces.

As Tibetans and peace loving people, we realize that there is a Chinese propaganda waged to capture the hearts and minds of Tibetans. It is now waged using not only their modern weapons, but also their state-run television, radio and other types of media. While we fight using the method of freedom, non-violence, human rights and democracy, China will use any tools to try and win.

Threaded into used by the communist regime, there is, of course, the tool of "propaganda." While people can engage in propaganda either knowingly or unknowingly, it is important that we are able to identify it, so that we will not be deceived. Propaganda is mostly used by communist leaders, politicians, dictators and totalitarians. It can be found almost everywhere in Tibet and China.

As the military crackdowns on the Tibetan people in many parts of Tibet continued.The whole world knows that China has made several totally false claims about the current situation in the region. At the end of a two-day conference organised by China's Communist Party that concluded on 13 August, the so called "Lhasa Consensus" was issued which was reportedly extremely critical of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan people. Without a fair confirmation, China immediately claimed it had the backing of all 100 delegates from China and 33 countries which comprised some "scholars, politicians and journalists."

China's false claims on Tibet will soon fade, because we learned just one day after the meeting that what the world was told by China that this was untrue. Elsewhere, China 's government has a bad reputation about the propaganda used by the Communist Party of China to sway public and international opinion in favour of its policies.

The recent propaganda statements are nothing but just another well-prepared attack on Tibetans and peace and freedom loving media. These include, "The Dalai clique's statements on Tibet are distorted and incorrect. Many Western media reports are biased, and "Tibet enjoys sound economic growth, social harmony, deep-rooted Tibetan culture and beautiful natural scenery, and the people enjoy a happy life".

The communist regime falsely says that selected delegates are shameless liars about Tibet when claiming that Tibetans enjoy a happy life. "We are not surprised to see the claims because it is something that is so far from reality." The former mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand, Sir Bob Parker, told BBC from Lhasa that he was not happy to be associated with the document that China is calling the 'Lhasa Consensus.' He said that he was "aware" that the statement was made but he "certainly hasn't signed up to it."

He said, "I think a number of people who were there were a little surprised to hear about that statement. Certainly the conference that I've been attending has been focused on sustainable development and there were no real political themes running through it at all."

One part of the agreement stated: "Participants unanimously agree that what they have actually seen in Tibet differs radically from what the 14th Dalai and the Dalai clique have said. Propaganda is the only tool they use. Proper investigative journalism is severely lacking and international reporting on China and Tibet is also banned. Tibetans inside Tibet have been warned by Chinese officials that they would be severely punished for talking to foreign journalists. Accurate Chinese media representation of Tibet issues is crucial. Any and all media reports are censored or biased.

Foreign journalists are rarely allowed entry into Tibet, and when they are, they are closely chaperoned by Chinese officials. "Tibet is a special case," the government tells reporters, when asked why access is tightly restricted. What Chinese government propaganda claimed as 'Development of Tibet' shows only a self-created picture of beautiful life for Tibetan people in Tibet.

A new propaganda technique they use now is; if they can't win the argument spread by government propaganda, they directly attack the person. According to the New York Times, a London-based advocacy group, Free Tibet has identified nearly 100 fake Twitter accounts, which are being used to spread the Chinese government's propaganda on Tibet on the microblogging site. The accounts reportedly portrayed the Chinese regions of Tibet and Eastern Turkestan in a flattering light, despite decades of unrest in the regions.

Turn the spotlight on. Now the time has come for Chinese to ask themselves, Where do they go to get their reputation back? According to an online survey conducted in China in 2006, 65 percent of respondents said that if they were reincarnated, they hope not to be Chinese, a revelation that inspired the book "I Don't Want to Be Chinese Again" by Hong Kong writer Joe Chung.

As a result of the ongoing Chinese government's hardline policies, Tibetans feel culturally devastated, disempowered, disenfranchised, and marginalized on various fronts. China still says that it is in Tibet's interest to build long term stability and social harmony. But that can only be achieved through a peaceful dialogue.

The world was shocked by China's attempt to deny the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People presented in 2008. It is not only by the stunt of lying to others, but also of breaking their promises. The "17-Point Agreement" promised to leave Tibet, language and political institutions intact in exchange for accepting China's sovereignty.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 once said that "Except for independence, all other issues can be settled through discussions." The statement has drawn widespread castigation in Tibet, where it is now seen as a huge insult to the rights of six million Tibetans of Tibet. They never kept these promises. It reflects China's totalitarian nature and ignorance of democracy and freedom.

Last Month, Beijing published a white paper on its "one country, two systems" policy over Hong Kong, stressing that the Chinese authorities in Beijing has "comprehensive jurisdiction" over Hong Kong. Beijing made it explicit that "the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong is subject to the regime's authorisation" and that the principle of "two systems" is subordinate to the idea of "one country."

The white paper tried to clear a breach of promise by Deng Xiaoping that "Hong Kong will remain unchanged for 50 years" after the end of British colonial rule in 1997.

Hong Kong's example clearly holds a greater Chinese identity, because its bad reputation encouraged a greater Chinese identity which sparked strong backlashes in Tibet, Inner-Mongolia and Eastern Turkestan. Other reasons for the Chinese not to grant meaningful autonomy to Tibet include identity; the fact that the Tibetans are not Chinese, and Tibet is not Macau or Hong Kong.

Chinese communist totalitarians led by Xi Jinping in Beijing still seek to restore the former dictator Mao Tse-tung's old Chinese political system commonly well-known as the "Cultural Revolution".

Should the current Chinese administration in the year 2014 be able to continue the ethnic cleansing and genocide driven disaster that started in the Cultural Revolution?
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Re: Tibet watch

Post by svinayak »

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/map/tibet/

Image
China’s controversial railway line reaches Tibet’s second city
AUGUST 17, 2014

The first passenger train from Lhasa to Shigatse arrives in Shigatse Railway Station.

China inaugurated on Aug 15 a second railway line in Tibet Autonomous Region without much fanfare apparently keeping in view the geopolitical sensitivities in neighbouring India over the highly strategic project’s completion. The Lhasa-Shigatse Railway line is an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway which China inaugurated with high-profile ceremonies at both the ends in Jul 2006. The new line began its passenger and freight services the next day.

Earlier, CNN.com Aug 4 cited Suolang Deji, an officer with Shigatse’s tourism department, as saying the initial privilege of travelling on the new railway line will be given only to Chinese from mainland China, with the first batch being a tourist group from Shandong Province. While Tibet is fully open for visitors from China, it remains tightly controlled for other foreigners as well as even Tibetans whose movements are tightly restricted to their local areas due to political reasons. It was not clear when the Lhasa-Shigatse railway line will open for other travellers.

With an investment of 13.2 billion yuan (US$2.1 billion), the 251-kilometer high-elevation railway will cut travel time between Lhasa, the regional capital, and Shigatse, the second-largest city in the region, from five hours (by bus) to about two hours, reported China’s official China’s Daily newspaper Aug 16. The single-track alignment is designed for a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

Tibetans, who continue to oppose the Chinese occupation rule, fear that the new railway line will spur an influx of long-term Chinese migrants, whose overwhelming surge threaten the region’s cultural and ethnic identity, and the ongoing reckless plundering of Tibet’s rich natural resources. Neighbouring India also views the project as a threat as it will facilitate rapid movement of Chinese troops and military assets in times of hostility. China insists, however, that the project is meant to facilitate economic development and improve people’s livelihood by providing modern transport and promoting tourism.

At a cost of 50,000 yuan per meter (ft), the railway lines is the most expensive ever built in China, because of the harsh terrain it traverses, making it necessary to build numerous bridges and tunnels, Reuters Aug 15 cited China’s official Xinhua news agency as saying. The 29 tunnels and 116 bridges total around half of the railway line’s length, according to railwaygazette.com Aug 15. It also passes through the 60-km Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon.

China plans further extensions of the railway line, to Nyingtri over 433 km and Yatung by the year 2020. The latter is located just across the borders of Bhutan and the Indian state of Sikkim while the former is close to the state of Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by China as southern Tibet. China also plans to connect Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, with Lhasa by another railway line in the near future
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