Tibet: A challenge to the world’s conscience
The protests against China’s Olympic torch ceremonies, that have taken place in many countries, have served to focus international attention once again on the Tibet problem.
While Tibet arouses the conscience of people across the world, it was unfortunate to observe that no governments joined their citizens in registering protest against the Chinese government’s treatment of Tibetans, and in some cases actually apologized to China for their citizens’ behaviour.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
The Peoples Republic of China is now too powerful for anyone to do anything about. Only Chinese people themselves can perhaps improve the lot of the Tibetans.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Woah that’s a really nice picture of Tibet - makes me wish I was there - only I don’t, knowing what’s goin on there an that.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Manish if everyone thought like you then there never would have been any victory against any oppresion. All it takes for the bad to win is for the good to do nothing.
I’m not saying that the world should fight a war against China - but there is a lot that can be done more than waiting for an internal change in China that may take 100 years.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Before the British mapping of the Himalayas, Tibet was referred to as Trivistip in the Vedas. It was also mentioned as part of Shiva’s homeland, from Trivistip to Kashmir. This is why one finds hundreds of Shiva temples in the Himalayas. The British ever since with their imperial and religious fanaticism have created some many problems in the world we are still suffering from them in places like Tibet, Kashmir, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Nagaland, Assam, Kerala, Shri Lanka, etc.
Hindus should rhetorically challenge the so called British do-gooders wandering around in India. When the British missionaries were applying for Visas to visit north east region of India under the pretext of observing wild life Nehru in the Parliament referred to them as ‘bird watchers’. And today, I am told Hindus cannot get jobs in the Governments of the region.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:06 am
While I agree that our disagreement is with Chinese government, not Chinese people (there should be many good people in China, as everywhere else), I don’t think we can separate the government from the people, because the first one feeds on the later, and usually, represents the majority of them. But what is appalling was the indifference/inaction of the powers of the time (and the international community) when China invaded and annexed Tibet–and ever since, in spite of the horrific things the Chinese perpetrated on the Tibetans. Was this indifference due to the fact that Tibetans didn’t bend to any side in international politics? — I wonder.
Now, China has grown enormously in power–thanks to help from the West, and it’s more difficult to exert any influence on it. But that doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. China’s growth and prestige depends largely on the rest of the world. Only, it takes honesty and high moral principles (and strong adherence to them) in the governments of the world to do what’s needed. China being part of the United Nations should be required to behave according to higher standards. First, it should return Tibet to the Tibetans (the whole of Tibet, including the territories it took from Tibet and incorporated into Chinese provinces), then indemnify (compensate) them for all the suffering and the loss of lives, the looting of Tibetan minerals and other natural resources, the damages to the environment and the destruction of thousands of monasteries and cultural treasures. In the meanwhile, the case of Tibet is a shame on the international community of nations.
June 8th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Rob I entirely agree with you. At the bottom of it all you will find is the ‘double standards’ of America and European countries. If Tibetans were Christians the sanctimonious Billy Graham, Archbishops and Pope would have asked their Christian governments to militarily intervene and ordered to help. Best examples are Vietnam, South Korea, East Timor, Taiwan, and Beirut. Who cares and don’t bother about others if they die or starve. Look at Tamils in Shri Lanka; they are being annihilated by their Government by using the armaments supplied by the British. Look at Burma. US seventh fleet would have been in Bay of Bengal long time ago if the Burmese were Christians. It is the dirty politics being played by the Abrahamic religions in the name of their Gods. Funnily as Richard Dawknis has found out they do not know who the God is and they believe he is in the sky.