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The Chinese Propagandas and the barrage of allegations against Dalai Lama only demean their leaders’ credibility and image at the international stage

Date: 31 March 2008

By: Tharchin Y Gonpo

The brutal crackdown of peaceful and unarmed Tibetan protesters by the repressive Communist regime in Tibet has sent shivers across the international community and alarmed the peace and truth loving people across the world. The Chinese policy of suppression and repression in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region and other parts of erstwhile independent Tibet during its five decades of rule hasn’t seen much change; rather the situation in Tibet has been deteriorating since its annexation.

The recent brutal crackdown of peaceful Tibetan protesters in Tibet has proved how brutal and repressive the Chinese policy is. In fact, it has neither surprised me nor the ardent Tibet supporters who have been closely monitoring the Chinese policy of repression and expansion during the last few decades.

The motive of the Communist China is clear right from the time of annexation of Tibet , it is to destroy and dissimilate the very existence of Tibetan identity and the centuries old Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Its infamous policy of Han Chinese population transfer into Tibet has been designed to diminish Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their own land. Its consequence has been proving horrendous. In fact, Tibet has been facing the worst cultural genocide in the history of mankind. Thus, the time has come for the giant nations to wake up and save the dying Tibetan tradition and culture which has maintained the centuries old Buddhist tradition and lineage in tact.

The centuries old authentic Tibetan Buddhist scriptures were burnt to ashes, the sacred idols of Gods and Goddesses were plundered and melted in factories, more than six thousand Buddhist learning centres throughout Tibet were destroyed and hurting the very sentiments of Tibetan people’s faith and conscience.

For all these years, Tibetans have been silently suffering the systematic cultural genocide. Tibetan people’s request for UNO intervention into the crisis in Tibet has proved futile even after fifty years of struggle in exile for justice and freedom in Tibet . But ironically, the popular international community’s opinion on Tibet issue has often been driven and influenced by the infamous Chinese propagandas and big brother’s dictation and thus making hard to hear the Tibetan people’s voice for justice and human rights.

In fact, it is emotionally and mentally tormenting for the Tibetans to see the international community being so silent and their governments being driven by their own selfish national interests. But the Dalai Lama and the six million Tibetans and their supporters still haven’t their faith in non-violence struggle for truth and justice.

The ongoing Tibetan people’s uprising in Tibet is the result of the accumulation of deep resentment against the China ’s unjust and repressive policy during its fifty years of rule in Tibet . Tibetans in Tibet are denied of basic fundamental rights and are discriminated in all spheres of life. The failed China ’s Tibet policy has thus been breeding hatred against the Chinese regime. The life of common Tibetans in Tibet has been under constant vigilance where Tibetans are compelled to live in perennial fear and uncertainty under the Chinese rule.

During the fifty years of Chinese government’s iron fist rule in Tibet, the Chinese leaders have been launching series of propagandas through various state run media portraying Tibetans being happy and prospering under their rule, yet the recent uprising by Tibetans in Tibet reveals the reality which has been hidden from the eyes of the international community for all these years. The reality is completely different from what the Chinese leaders have been telling the world. It is the clear indication that Tibetans are not happy with the foreign ruler in their own land. Above all, it sends a strong message to the world that Tibetans aspire for freedom, liberty and justice.

One of the Chinese lady participating in the panel discussion on ‘Does China regret of hosting Beijing 2008 Olympics’ in BBC news channel tried all her wits and brains to whitewash the Chinese government’s handling of recent uprising in Tibet and blamed Tibetans for resorting to violent uprising. She even mentioned about the economic liberalism and developments that the Chinese government has brought in Tibet . Yet, the reality was that Tibetans were very much self reliant. The economy of erstwhile independent Tibet was more stable although it was largely an agricultural economy. Besides, the famines and starvations were unheard during those days in Tibet . In fact, the incidents of famine and starvation occurred in many parts of Tibet only after the Chinese occupation. So do you still consider the coming of few tall commercial buildings in Lhasa as the rise of economic development in Tibet in general? The life of common Tibetans is still poor and hard. They are devoid of basic health amenities and necessities.

In other words, the Chinese lady had tried to deviate the focus towards the economic development from the actual focus, the violation of human rights and the repressive Chinese policy in Tibet . The recent uprising in Tibet is the result of deep resentment against the unjust Chinese policy and its consequent repression of basic human rights in Tibet for over five decades.

Therefore, it is important for the international community to not to loose its focus on the crisis in Tibet . His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetans fled their home only after loosing their political freedom to communist China . Tibetans flee their homeland not because of the starvations happening in Tibet but because of a political repression and the denial and the violation of human rights happening in Tibet .

The recent barrage of Chinese criticism and accusation on Dalai Lama, labeling him for plotting “terror” in Tibet and colluding with Islamic Uighurs separatists has not only hurt the feelings of Tibetans but also the international community who loves truth and non-violence. All these baseless allegations and accusations against Dalai Lama actually demean their own prestige and credibility in the world. Despite, all these allegations Dalai Lama has still not lost his hope and faith with the Chinese leaders.

In spite of the Dalai Lama’s consistent effort and appeal to the Chinese leaders, the Chinese leaders on the other hand are showing least interest and utter reluctance in having dialogue with him. The recent allegations against Dalai Lama reveal the real face of Chinese leadership who is not at all sincere with the ongoing dialogue process with the Tibetan representatives from the exile government. The lack of seriousness and sincerity among the Chinese leaders is clear.

Thus, the President Hu Jintao’s recent statement to media, mentioning his willingness to negotiate with Dalai Lama only if he abandons his quest for Tibetan independence is just a lip service and doesn’t bear the slightest of commitment and sincerity on his part. In fact, it is ironical to see Hu Jintao repeating his same statement although Dalai Lama has time and again expressed his quest for genuine autonomy and not independence publicly for so long.

These ill motivated comments and irresponsible accusations on Dalai Lama disrupt the friendly environment for a meaningful dialogue to resolve Tibet issue. The international community and the leaders know all these allegations and accusations against Dalai Lama are unjustified and unfair. Thus, the Chinese leaders should realize that they are actually committing the worst PR mistakes.

In addition, Dalai Lama during his recent interview to media repeatedly emphasized the importance and the need to build the spirit of genuine friendship between Tibetans and Chinese people. Besides, he refuted the Chinese government’s claim of all Tibetans being anti-Chinese. Thus, Dalai Lama on his part has been putting his sincere effort to build genuine friendship with the Chinese leaders to resolve Tibetan issue beneficial to both the communities, yet he alone can’t have negotiation.

So it is impossible to have a meaningful dialogue on Tibetan issue when Dalai Lama doesn’t receive sincere response from the Chinese leaders. Therefore, it is the moral duty and responsibility of all leaders of the respective independent nations and the international organizations to put pressure on President Hu Jintao to have a meaningful dialogue with Dalai Lama without any preconditions.

With the international pressure mounting on Chinese leaders, the wind of change and hope which has already been lingering over Tibet issue has given a reason for the Tibetans and Tibet supporters worldwide to expect for a possible dialogue between Hu Jintao and Dalai Lama prior to Beijing Olympics 2008.

The issue of Tibet has reached a critical state and it isn’t wise for the Chinese leaders to procrastinate the negotiation. In fact, the issue of Tibet needs to resolve during the life time of Dalai Lama. Whether the Chinese leaders agree or not, the fact is that Dalai Lama is the only and the undisputed leader of six million Tibetans inside and outside Tibet . So the Chinese leaders should realize the significant role that the Dalai Lama is capable to play on the issue of Tibet .

The Dalai Lama on his part has made the maximum concessions to reach a mutually understandable and acceptable solution on the status of Tibet . In fact, he has been waiting for the Chinese leaders to come to the negotiating table to resolve the Tibet issue for many decades. Yet the Chinese leaders on the other hand are showing least interest and no motivation at all to resolve Tibet issue which is apparently recognizable by their irresponsible allegations against Dalai Lama. On the whole, the Chinese leaders are actually complicating the Tibetan issue which will become more difficult to deal in future.

However, Tibetan issue will never disappear and die with Dalai Lama which the Chinese leaders wrongly believe. The struggle for Tibetan freedom and sovereignty will remain till the Tibetan nationality gets extinct from this world.

The press censorship in Tibet including serious ban on internet and telecommunication has isolated Tibet from rest of the world. Beijing ’s brutal suppression of peaceful Tibetan protestors has consumed over hundred and forty lives in Tibet . The number might triple if an independent search team investigates the actual situation in Tibet . The cases of missing people have been increasing each day in various parts of Tibet .

Besides, it is shocking to learn the Chinese leaders indulging in some of the worst crimes in the history of world by distorting the facts and fooling the international community by distributing false information and wrongly accusing innocent Tibetans for rioting.

Some of the recent video footages about the uprising in Tibet which were shot and distributed by Chinese armies contain a disguised Chinese army in Tibetan dress holding long sword, standing in the middle of the street in Lhasa and scores of Chinese armies in laymen’s dress and in monk robes resorting to violence and looting shops are all Chinese propagandas.

Such propaganda images and video footages telecasted in some of the international Media in recent days has undermined the Tibetan people’s non-violent freedom struggle and tarnished the image of Dalai Lama as the embodiment of peace and compassion and thus served the interest of the Chinese plot.

So it is essential for all the international media to cross check the hidden motives of all such video footages and images outsourced from the Chinese armies and government officials since Chinese government has been indulging in all sorts of propagandas.

After all it is ridiculous and astonishing to find Chinese officials distributing video footages and still images to international media when they actually banned international media covering the uprising in Tibet .

On the whole, it is for the international community to judge who is more violent either Tibetans equipped with stones, sticks and sword or the Chinese armies armoured with tanks, machines guns, hand guns, tear gas, electric rods and so on.