Friday, May 30, 2008
China and Tibet
China is like a man who rapes a woman, claiming it is OK, they are married because he already raped her years before. He moves into her house and invites members of his family to come stay and rape her too. He rebuilds her house his way. She says she doesn't like it. He says she is ungrateful because her life is much better than it was before.
He abuses this woman for fifty years. Now he decides to let the world see how good he is by staging a big celebration. Finally she has had enough of his hypocrisy and retaliates publicly attacking members of his family. He says 'Look at how violent she is', as he beats her into submission.
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Please note: when I refer to China I am referring to the Chinese government not the Chinese people. Chinese people are individuals who may or may not agree with their government. Whatever they think about it, the have very little say in who forms the government or in its policies.
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No doubt the Chinese government sees the Tibet issue differently from the way I do. You can read their viewpoint on the Xinhua News site (in English).
For example Xinhua reports on the publication of a book on Tibet's past and present: 'With abundant persuasive data and pictures, the book truthfully depicted the miserable lives of Tibetans under the feudal serfdom system before 1951, the publisher said.
'The reading also displayed the historic progress in the new Tibet's economy, politics, culture and social construction under the leadership of the Chinese central government, and local people's current happy life, it said.'
China depicts its attitude to Tibet as being humanitarian. If the Chinese government is so caring, why is it that they support the corrupt and abusive military government in Burma?
He abuses this woman for fifty years. Now he decides to let the world see how good he is by staging a big celebration. Finally she has had enough of his hypocrisy and retaliates publicly attacking members of his family. He says 'Look at how violent she is', as he beats her into submission.
*****
Please note: when I refer to China I am referring to the Chinese government not the Chinese people. Chinese people are individuals who may or may not agree with their government. Whatever they think about it, the have very little say in who forms the government or in its policies.
*****
No doubt the Chinese government sees the Tibet issue differently from the way I do. You can read their viewpoint on the Xinhua News site (in English).
For example Xinhua reports on the publication of a book on Tibet's past and present: 'With abundant persuasive data and pictures, the book truthfully depicted the miserable lives of Tibetans under the feudal serfdom system before 1951, the publisher said.
'The reading also displayed the historic progress in the new Tibet's economy, politics, culture and social construction under the leadership of the Chinese central government, and local people's current happy life, it said.'
China depicts its attitude to Tibet as being humanitarian. If the Chinese government is so caring, why is it that they support the corrupt and abusive military government in Burma?
Labels: Asia, Burma, China, Myanmar, news, politics, Tibet
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thai's losing freedom
A report in Thai English-language newspaper, The Nation, states that 'protesters disrupting tomorrow's Olympic-torch relay will be arrested immediately and prosecuted for public disturbance...foreigners will be expelled and banned from returning.'
It seems the current government in Thailand is more interested in sucking up to the Chinese government than allowing their own people and visitors the right to freedom of expression—to express, if they wish, their solidarity with fellow Buddhists in Tibet.
A large proportion of the Thai population has Chinese blood—more than the Tibetans. It wouldn't be a huge step for the Chinese dictators to decide that Thailand too is part of China. If they could do it in Tibet, why not here?
It seems the current government in Thailand is more interested in sucking up to the Chinese government than allowing their own people and visitors the right to freedom of expression—to express, if they wish, their solidarity with fellow Buddhists in Tibet.
A large proportion of the Thai population has Chinese blood—more than the Tibetans. It wouldn't be a huge step for the Chinese dictators to decide that Thailand too is part of China. If they could do it in Tibet, why not here?
Labels: Asia, Buddhism, China, Olympics, politics, thailand, Tibet
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Political games
In an editorial entitled 'Keep politics out of Games' the Bangkok Post makes a proposal that would allow athletes to compete in the games and at the same time send a strong message to China that their treatment of Tibetan people is not acceptable to the rest of the world. It could help to bring about a positive change to the situation in Tibet. I hope you'll read it and find out how.
Labels: Asia, China, politics, Tibet
Saturday, March 22, 2008
China, Tibet: please sign the petition
One of the things that amazes me is that in China a handful of people control the lives of about one fifth of the world's population. My observation, at least in the cities that I visited, was that generally the government was doing a good job. But people I spoke to about it were not happy that they had no say in who should govern them.
The huge empire known as China was created by a warmonger in 221 BC. Because of the acts of this brutal tyrant the present government feel they have a right to control the lives of 1.3 billion people today.
The concept of Europe is not a bad one. Each country has its own government but they get together for their collective benefit. Something similar to this would perhaps give the people of China more say in their lives. Unfortunately the present government doesn't appear to be keen to devolve power or to give their citizens the right to reject them. Indeed they are keen to take over Chinese people who are currently outside their control.
Whether any of this gives them the right to control Tibet is a moot point. Instead of killing people who are protesting against Chinese rule, they could give Tibetans the right to choose democratically whether they want to be ruled by China.
In this year of the Beijing Olympics China is promoting a slogan of 'One World, One Dream'. What a wonderful dream. But whose dream is it? What is being implied by this slogan? China is not one unified country as much as it would like to proclaim otherwise.
AVAAZ is an organization bringing a voice to people of the world. They are collecting signatures to present to the Chinese government in a petition calling for restraint in handling the Tibetan protesters and for dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Over 600,000 people have signed in four days. Please join with them.
The huge empire known as China was created by a warmonger in 221 BC. Because of the acts of this brutal tyrant the present government feel they have a right to control the lives of 1.3 billion people today.
The concept of Europe is not a bad one. Each country has its own government but they get together for their collective benefit. Something similar to this would perhaps give the people of China more say in their lives. Unfortunately the present government doesn't appear to be keen to devolve power or to give their citizens the right to reject them. Indeed they are keen to take over Chinese people who are currently outside their control.
Whether any of this gives them the right to control Tibet is a moot point. Instead of killing people who are protesting against Chinese rule, they could give Tibetans the right to choose democratically whether they want to be ruled by China.
In this year of the Beijing Olympics China is promoting a slogan of 'One World, One Dream'. What a wonderful dream. But whose dream is it? What is being implied by this slogan? China is not one unified country as much as it would like to proclaim otherwise.
AVAAZ is an organization bringing a voice to people of the world. They are collecting signatures to present to the Chinese government in a petition calling for restraint in handling the Tibetan protesters and for dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Over 600,000 people have signed in four days. Please join with them.
Labels: Asia, AVAAZ, China, politics, Tibet
