Tibetan Self-Immolation Will Continue Without External Intervention
- by Naina Sethi
( Tibetology Desk salutes the author )
The same day, a Tibetan monk in his twenties set fire to himself at Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Most recently, two Tibetan teenagers were reported of also setting themselves on fire in Tibet’s Ngaba area on February 20th. So far, 104 Tibetans are known to have self-immolated since February 27, 2009, when a young monk became the first to set himself on fire in the name of Tibetan independence.
Non-violent protests against Chinese rule in Tibet have persisted in Tibet, Nepal, India and countries around the world, however, a lack of foreign government or civil society intervention has driven Tibetans living both in the province and in exile to resort to more self-destructive measures.
The act of self-immolation has become the signature tactic in recent years for Tibetans to voice their frustrations with Chinese rule. However, after over one hundred self-immolations resulting in at least 82 deaths, very little has changed. The Chinese authorities continue to severely constrain the Tibetan community and crack down on anything they perceive as dissent.
There is a high probability that these self-immolations—a desperate and haunting moral cry against Chinese oppression—will continue. The plight of Tibetans remains largely ignored by the international community, as China promotes to foreign countries the development it has brought to the Tibetan plateau, making them hesitant to intervene in support of Tibet's independence.
Furthermore, the majority of protests against the Chinese government—including self-immolation—take place within the borders of China, where media access is heavily controlled. Much of what we hear about the issue instead comes from advocacy groups based outside of the region, making it arduous for civil society to know exactly what is going on in Tibet.
A recent paper released by the Tibetan Policy Institute, “Why Tibet is Burning,” reported that many of those choosing to set themselves on fire are young teenagers and 20-somethings. They are students, aspiring clerics and farmers. In a foreword to the study, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile, Lobsang Sangay, urges Tibetans “not to resort to drastic actions, including self-immolations, because life is precious.” However, the study ultimately blames Beijing for these desperate acts:
The reason [for self-immolations] lies in China’s massive policy failure in Tibet over the course of more than 60 years of its rule. The revolution that is brewing in Tibet is driven by political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, economic marginalization and environmental destruction.
The potential for a Tibetan revolution is continuously stymied by Beijing’s crackdown. Chinese authorities have already started detaining and jailing Tibetans they claim are promoting self-immolation. Earlier this month, China detained 70 suspects in Tibetan regions. Even in India and Nepal, where the largest populations of Tibetans in exile reside, local authorities are ruthlessly suppressing protesters from ruthless measures in order to protect their nations’ relationships with China.
Despite the detentions, however, the frequency of self-immolations is only increasing. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans in exile, has always promoted nonviolent resistance, urging Tibetans not to carry out self-immolations. However, many angry Tibetans have given up on the Dalai Lama’s policies, leaving self-destruction, especially for Tibet’s heated youth, one of the few means of seeking change.
When one man overwhelmed with social and economic despair set himself on fire in Tunisia in 2010, uprisings swept across the Arab world. After 104 self-immolations, however, Tibetans continue to be ignored in their struggle for separation. How many self-immolating Tibetans will it take to make a difference? The Tibetan plight needs an uprising supported by civil society groups, akin to the Arab Spring, or else the freedom they are fighting for will remain forever out of reach.
Reach Contributor Naina Sethi here.
( Tibetology Desk salutes the author )
The same day, a Tibetan monk in his twenties set fire to himself at Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Most recently, two Tibetan teenagers were reported of also setting themselves on fire in Tibet’s Ngaba area on February 20th. So far, 104 Tibetans are known to have self-immolated since February 27, 2009, when a young monk became the first to set himself on fire in the name of Tibetan independence.
Non-violent protests against Chinese rule in Tibet have persisted in Tibet, Nepal, India and countries around the world, however, a lack of foreign government or civil society intervention has driven Tibetans living both in the province and in exile to resort to more self-destructive measures.
The act of self-immolation has become the signature tactic in recent years for Tibetans to voice their frustrations with Chinese rule. However, after over one hundred self-immolations resulting in at least 82 deaths, very little has changed. The Chinese authorities continue to severely constrain the Tibetan community and crack down on anything they perceive as dissent.
There is a high probability that these self-immolations—a desperate and haunting moral cry against Chinese oppression—will continue. The plight of Tibetans remains largely ignored by the international community, as China promotes to foreign countries the development it has brought to the Tibetan plateau, making them hesitant to intervene in support of Tibet's independence.
Furthermore, the majority of protests against the Chinese government—including self-immolation—take place within the borders of China, where media access is heavily controlled. Much of what we hear about the issue instead comes from advocacy groups based outside of the region, making it arduous for civil society to know exactly what is going on in Tibet.
A recent paper released by the Tibetan Policy Institute, “Why Tibet is Burning,” reported that many of those choosing to set themselves on fire are young teenagers and 20-somethings. They are students, aspiring clerics and farmers. In a foreword to the study, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile, Lobsang Sangay, urges Tibetans “not to resort to drastic actions, including self-immolations, because life is precious.” However, the study ultimately blames Beijing for these desperate acts:
The reason [for self-immolations] lies in China’s massive policy failure in Tibet over the course of more than 60 years of its rule. The revolution that is brewing in Tibet is driven by political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, economic marginalization and environmental destruction.
The potential for a Tibetan revolution is continuously stymied by Beijing’s crackdown. Chinese authorities have already started detaining and jailing Tibetans they claim are promoting self-immolation. Earlier this month, China detained 70 suspects in Tibetan regions. Even in India and Nepal, where the largest populations of Tibetans in exile reside, local authorities are ruthlessly suppressing protesters from ruthless measures in order to protect their nations’ relationships with China.
Despite the detentions, however, the frequency of self-immolations is only increasing. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans in exile, has always promoted nonviolent resistance, urging Tibetans not to carry out self-immolations. However, many angry Tibetans have given up on the Dalai Lama’s policies, leaving self-destruction, especially for Tibet’s heated youth, one of the few means of seeking change.
When one man overwhelmed with social and economic despair set himself on fire in Tunisia in 2010, uprisings swept across the Arab world. After 104 self-immolations, however, Tibetans continue to be ignored in their struggle for separation. How many self-immolating Tibetans will it take to make a difference? The Tibetan plight needs an uprising supported by civil society groups, akin to the Arab Spring, or else the freedom they are fighting for will remain forever out of reach.
Reach Contributor Naina Sethi here.
A Lyrical Tribute – to our Martyrs
- Tibetology's Tribute to the Tibetan Martyrs
With a sense of bereavement, loss and grief – I pray
To all the Brave hearts whose courage the world had witnessed
Whose sacrifices inspired one after another to this day – to offer their mind, body and soul
For freedom, justice and right to self-determination in one’s own motherland.
You have fought so hard despite the insurmountable challenges of a dictatorial regime
While you are on fire, you have never complained – of your physical pain and agony
Rather, you shouted for freedom and justice that rings loud everywhere today
You have just asked for what you deserve, not more, not less
But , sadly you had to pay the price called LIFE, the highest price
This wouldn’t have been the case, only if the world were a little more sensible!
Now that everybody knows – Tibet is burning, burning beyond control
The unflinching fire of rage and rebellion is engulfing the souls of the Brave
But, the lingering inaction and silence of the world is causing us so much pain
The world must realize that your sacrifices must be compensated through action
After decades of tyranny and forced subjugation, Tibetans’ spirits are not yet defeated
Rather, we are the proverbial Phoenix – that rises up from its ashes
While, this fight for justice goes on, we have carved a permanent niche in our hearts
For our brave Martyrs, whose deeds will be remembered and talked about in the decades to come !
And, for this, with a sense of jollity, pride and gaiety – I salute.
With a sense of bereavement, loss and grief – I pray
To all the Brave hearts whose courage the world had witnessed
Whose sacrifices inspired one after another to this day – to offer their mind, body and soul
For freedom, justice and right to self-determination in one’s own motherland.
You have fought so hard despite the insurmountable challenges of a dictatorial regime
While you are on fire, you have never complained – of your physical pain and agony
Rather, you shouted for freedom and justice that rings loud everywhere today
You have just asked for what you deserve, not more, not less
But , sadly you had to pay the price called LIFE, the highest price
This wouldn’t have been the case, only if the world were a little more sensible!
Now that everybody knows – Tibet is burning, burning beyond control
The unflinching fire of rage and rebellion is engulfing the souls of the Brave
But, the lingering inaction and silence of the world is causing us so much pain
The world must realize that your sacrifices must be compensated through action
After decades of tyranny and forced subjugation, Tibetans’ spirits are not yet defeated
Rather, we are the proverbial Phoenix – that rises up from its ashes
While, this fight for justice goes on, we have carved a permanent niche in our hearts
For our brave Martyrs, whose deeds will be remembered and talked about in the decades to come !
And, for this, with a sense of jollity, pride and gaiety – I salute.
BOOK Review : the dance of 17 Lives
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Special Post )
The Dance of 17 Lives is a biographical tome of 17th Karmapa by British writer Mick Brown. It captures the detailed escape journey of Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee from Tsurpu Monastery in Tibet to Dharamsala and Gyutoe in India. With an eye for every detail and nuances, Mick’s narration, both from personal experiences and those which he wrote with what he heard through the grapevine, supplies interesting story and narration about the seventeen Karmapas of Tibet. Of particular interest is the prophecy of the 16th Karmapa, written at the age of seventeen, before the Chinese occupation of Tibet, is worth recounting:
“Tomorrow, not now but around this time
I will be known where the vulture and I will go
The vulture will ascend the expanse of the sky
The cuckoo will receive an invitation in spring
Where he will go will be known in autumn
When the crops have ripened
There is nowhere to turn but to India, to the East…”
Keeping the 17th Karmapa’s story as central theme, he also pens sketchy niceties on the lives of the previous sixteen Karmapas in a chronological order. The book also serves as an eye-opener to the readers about the disparaging role of politics and greed for power within the tradition as old as Karma Kagyu.Sometimes it gives a sense that the political gambit within the spiritual family overshadows the purity and sanctity of Buddhism per se.Mick also reveals the inside story of the rival claimant to the Karmapa’s throne and brings out his views on the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje recognized and approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.
Mick lucidly chronicles the life and transfer of spiritual ‘enterprise’ and legacies of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje to the present 17th Karmapa.The prominent roles of “The Four Heart Sons” viz; Shamar, Tai Situ, Gyaltsab and Jamgon Kongtrul Rinphoches are also dealt with clear-cut narration. His personal interaction with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the validity and legitimacy on the recognition of the 17th Karmapa is also written expressively.
Th sixth chapter – Honey on the Razorblade turns out like a revelation of sorts about the destructive politics within the school of Karma Kagyu.In Signs of Wonders, he writes about the identification of tulkus, the system which is prevalent in Tibet since time immemorial. And, in the 15th chapter – The Escape, he effectively recounts the experience of Karmapa’s escape journey, the dangers and perils that lurked on the way, his plans before the escape and the routes he used to reach Dharamsala.
In his concluding chapter –Emptiness Is Fullness, he writes about granting of refugee status and lifting of ban on Karmapa’s travels by Government of India to anywhere else except Rumtek and Sherab Ling.
With books, travelogues and biographies like Richard Branson: The Inside Story, American Heartbeat: Travells from Woodstock to San Jose and Spiritual Tourist under his kitty, Mick Brown added yet another feather on his cap by proving his mettle as a writer par excellence, who not only writes to entertain, but also writes to inform and ignite the mind of his readers. Although The Dance of 17 Lives is written solely with the non-Buddhist readers in mind, it is also a highly recommended reading for the Tibetans and Buddhists whose curiosity lies in exploring the myth and mysteries surrounding Karmapa’s succession.
The transformation of young Apo Gaga into one of Tibet’s most powerful spiritual gurus is simply awe-inspiring. My personal experience of flipping through the pages proved to be quite a revelation and an eye opener, which at times raised my eye brows and at the same time deepened my spiritual commitment to Buddhism in general and Karamapa in particular.
The Dance of 17 Lives is a biographical tome of 17th Karmapa by British writer Mick Brown. It captures the detailed escape journey of Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee from Tsurpu Monastery in Tibet to Dharamsala and Gyutoe in India. With an eye for every detail and nuances, Mick’s narration, both from personal experiences and those which he wrote with what he heard through the grapevine, supplies interesting story and narration about the seventeen Karmapas of Tibet. Of particular interest is the prophecy of the 16th Karmapa, written at the age of seventeen, before the Chinese occupation of Tibet, is worth recounting:
“Tomorrow, not now but around this time
I will be known where the vulture and I will go
The vulture will ascend the expanse of the sky
The cuckoo will receive an invitation in spring
Where he will go will be known in autumn
When the crops have ripened
There is nowhere to turn but to India, to the East…”
Keeping the 17th Karmapa’s story as central theme, he also pens sketchy niceties on the lives of the previous sixteen Karmapas in a chronological order. The book also serves as an eye-opener to the readers about the disparaging role of politics and greed for power within the tradition as old as Karma Kagyu.Sometimes it gives a sense that the political gambit within the spiritual family overshadows the purity and sanctity of Buddhism per se.Mick also reveals the inside story of the rival claimant to the Karmapa’s throne and brings out his views on the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje recognized and approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.
Mick lucidly chronicles the life and transfer of spiritual ‘enterprise’ and legacies of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje to the present 17th Karmapa.The prominent roles of “The Four Heart Sons” viz; Shamar, Tai Situ, Gyaltsab and Jamgon Kongtrul Rinphoches are also dealt with clear-cut narration. His personal interaction with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the validity and legitimacy on the recognition of the 17th Karmapa is also written expressively.
Th sixth chapter – Honey on the Razorblade turns out like a revelation of sorts about the destructive politics within the school of Karma Kagyu.In Signs of Wonders, he writes about the identification of tulkus, the system which is prevalent in Tibet since time immemorial. And, in the 15th chapter – The Escape, he effectively recounts the experience of Karmapa’s escape journey, the dangers and perils that lurked on the way, his plans before the escape and the routes he used to reach Dharamsala.
In his concluding chapter –Emptiness Is Fullness, he writes about granting of refugee status and lifting of ban on Karmapa’s travels by Government of India to anywhere else except Rumtek and Sherab Ling.
With books, travelogues and biographies like Richard Branson: The Inside Story, American Heartbeat: Travells from Woodstock to San Jose and Spiritual Tourist under his kitty, Mick Brown added yet another feather on his cap by proving his mettle as a writer par excellence, who not only writes to entertain, but also writes to inform and ignite the mind of his readers. Although The Dance of 17 Lives is written solely with the non-Buddhist readers in mind, it is also a highly recommended reading for the Tibetans and Buddhists whose curiosity lies in exploring the myth and mysteries surrounding Karmapa’s succession.
The transformation of young Apo Gaga into one of Tibet’s most powerful spiritual gurus is simply awe-inspiring. My personal experience of flipping through the pages proved to be quite a revelation and an eye opener, which at times raised my eye brows and at the same time deepened my spiritual commitment to Buddhism in general and Karamapa in particular.
Tibetans deserve compassion, in action
-from the Tibetology Desk 12/ 08 / 2012
“Not to help justice in her need would be an impiety.” – Plato
It is an open-secret, at least by now, that the main cause behind the unprecedented spate of self-immolations by the Tibetans is the lack of basic freedom under the tyrannical communist regime. But, unfortunately, because of the frequency of such immolations, it appears that the world seems to have become inured by the stories of Tibetans burning themselves up and to some, it might also look like acts of madness! However, despite these continuing self-immolation by the Tibetans inside Tibet, it is pity that they are not able to garner practical international support. So far 48 Tibetans have alighted themselves to draw the world’s attention to the suffering they have been enduring for the past sixty years under the rule of the regime that has no compassion and mercy.
Since 1959 Tibet has been dying a painful death in complete seclusion with no access to international media and freedom of movement. The communist regime is so tenacious and barbaric so much so that today Tibet has become a cog in the communist machine. Any protest attempts by Tibetans is met with iron hand and given the harshest punishments. With no room for even a feeble outcry for their basic rights, Tibetans are but helpless to burn themselves in order to voice their demands – for freedom and basic rights to self-determination.
Today what we manage to read in the international media are the rare pieces of news, pictures and videos sent and smuggled out of Tibet by some brave Tibetans inside Tibet to their compatriots in the free world. One can imagine how hard it is to be Tibetan inside the Chinese-ruled Tibet. Living under fear for decades in one’s own country is nothing but the worst tragedy one can think about.
With the passing away of Choepa, the 24 year old Tibetan who set himself on fire on August 10, the numbers of self-immolation has reached a record high to 48.Tibetans are grateful to the countries who have at least raised the Tibetan issue with China. But, unfortunately for the Tibetans, this isn’t enough a support, knowing that China is a hard nut to crack. It is important to know that the issue of Tibet is not only about the Dalai Lama (as the Chinese like to think), nor winning a war with China. The issue of Tibet is about 6 million Tibetans, their race, their culture and their faith .And, to the world the issue of Tibet poses a big question on morality .
As I conclude this piece, I hope I don’t have to read about another Tibetan self-immolation again. We must understand, at this hour, what Tibetans need from the world is not mere some comforting words, but some practical help and support .When we truly understand their pain and offer them our compassion in action, then only are they gonna stop offering their precious lives up in flames.
The chink in Barrack Obama’s armor
On why Obama administration would not wind China up so easily
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
When the American led war in Iraq first broke out, the Bush Administration said it was aimed at dismantling the non-existent WMD (Weapons of mass destruction) and later the world media churned out headlines after headlines reporting that the war was an outcome of America’s quest and greed for Iraq’s rich oil reserves and the old Bush-Saddam enmity that dates back to Senior Bush’s era .And, to authenticate and justify this war the American’s propaganda machinery kept the world obfuscated by their ambivalent pretexts and claims unto this day!
Other reasons for the invasion included Iraq's financial support for the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, Iraqi government human rights abuses and an effort to spread democracy to the country. The invasion of Iraq led to an occupation and the eventual capture of President Hussein, who was later executed by the new Iraqi government.
According to some sources, Bush decided to invade Iraq in April 2001, six months before September 11th, and the official reason was to improve Western access to Iraqi oil - "President Bush's Cabinet agreed in April 2001 that Iraq remains a destabilizing influence to the flow of oil to international markets from the Middle East and because this is an unacceptable risk to the US 'military intervention' is necessary."
Around the same time, within the Tibetan exile world some politically better informed would discuss on why Bush wouldn’t wage a similar war against China. Some would say “Only if Tibet had rich oil reserves like Iraq then only Bush would wage a similar war against China”, implying that unless there’s a national interest involved no country would willingly risk antagonizing China to make peace with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans.
Now that the Iraq’s tragic climax is gradually cooling off under the new administration, the world is still subconsciously haunted by American imperialism and their veiled-dadagiri*, which they allegedly spread in the name of war against terrorism and propagating democracy in the dictatorial world.
This leaves me believing why Obama would not infuriate China so easily, especially in the wake of the unprecedented America’s recession and economic melt-down. The recent Obama’s China visit put him on show as nothing more than ‘a chip off the same old block’. Apart from a shift of focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, there’s nothing practically new in Obama’s foreign policies. He is yet to pull his socks up and come out in the guise of ‘the knight in the shining armor’ for the world in general and for the Tibetans in particular. Hence, there’s no surprise if we do not get to see him breathing out fire against the Communist China in the near foreseeable future.
In this context let me delve on one obvious reason why Obama would not do anything that would appear ‘inappropriate’ to his Communist counterparts in Beijing. Or, to put it bluntly, Obama would not do anything for Tibet as long as China’s trading partnership remains indispensable to their recession-struck economy. Despite the prevailing global recession, China’s economy stood firm making the world all the more dependent on their trade partnership. Therefore, for the moment China is the numero uno on the global economy stage. So America of Barack Obama must also stoop for a while.
Apart from burning domestic and foreign policy issues, it is pity that Obama Presidency was greeted with the greatest challenge of global recession that the world has experienced since The Great Depression in the 30’s.This makes his political maneuvers with China all the more complicated vis-à-vis Tibet. This puts America in an awkward situation in all its dealings with China.
According to a presentation made by Albert Keidel, a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - “since its market reforms began in 1978, China’s economy has grown at close to 10 percent a year and has even accelerated since year 2000. Internationally accepted measures of China’s growth show it to be even faster than officially reported. This growth success is no flash in the pan. It will likely continue at better than decade-doubling rates until close to the middle of the century. The implications of China’s continued rapid growth include China’s overtaking the U.S. in overall GDP terms sometime around 2040”.
The point to drive home is, as long as China’s economy keep growing Obama would not willingly bite China’s butt to make them bury their bloody hatchet with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans. The inevitability of rising Chinese economy is the 'chink in President Obama’s armor'.
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
When the American led war in Iraq first broke out, the Bush Administration said it was aimed at dismantling the non-existent WMD (Weapons of mass destruction) and later the world media churned out headlines after headlines reporting that the war was an outcome of America’s quest and greed for Iraq’s rich oil reserves and the old Bush-Saddam enmity that dates back to Senior Bush’s era .And, to authenticate and justify this war the American’s propaganda machinery kept the world obfuscated by their ambivalent pretexts and claims unto this day!
Other reasons for the invasion included Iraq's financial support for the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, Iraqi government human rights abuses and an effort to spread democracy to the country. The invasion of Iraq led to an occupation and the eventual capture of President Hussein, who was later executed by the new Iraqi government.
According to some sources, Bush decided to invade Iraq in April 2001, six months before September 11th, and the official reason was to improve Western access to Iraqi oil - "President Bush's Cabinet agreed in April 2001 that Iraq remains a destabilizing influence to the flow of oil to international markets from the Middle East and because this is an unacceptable risk to the US 'military intervention' is necessary."
Around the same time, within the Tibetan exile world some politically better informed would discuss on why Bush wouldn’t wage a similar war against China. Some would say “Only if Tibet had rich oil reserves like Iraq then only Bush would wage a similar war against China”, implying that unless there’s a national interest involved no country would willingly risk antagonizing China to make peace with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans.
Now that the Iraq’s tragic climax is gradually cooling off under the new administration, the world is still subconsciously haunted by American imperialism and their veiled-dadagiri*, which they allegedly spread in the name of war against terrorism and propagating democracy in the dictatorial world.
This leaves me believing why Obama would not infuriate China so easily, especially in the wake of the unprecedented America’s recession and economic melt-down. The recent Obama’s China visit put him on show as nothing more than ‘a chip off the same old block’. Apart from a shift of focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, there’s nothing practically new in Obama’s foreign policies. He is yet to pull his socks up and come out in the guise of ‘the knight in the shining armor’ for the world in general and for the Tibetans in particular. Hence, there’s no surprise if we do not get to see him breathing out fire against the Communist China in the near foreseeable future.
In this context let me delve on one obvious reason why Obama would not do anything that would appear ‘inappropriate’ to his Communist counterparts in Beijing. Or, to put it bluntly, Obama would not do anything for Tibet as long as China’s trading partnership remains indispensable to their recession-struck economy. Despite the prevailing global recession, China’s economy stood firm making the world all the more dependent on their trade partnership. Therefore, for the moment China is the numero uno on the global economy stage. So America of Barack Obama must also stoop for a while.
Apart from burning domestic and foreign policy issues, it is pity that Obama Presidency was greeted with the greatest challenge of global recession that the world has experienced since The Great Depression in the 30’s.This makes his political maneuvers with China all the more complicated vis-à-vis Tibet. This puts America in an awkward situation in all its dealings with China.
According to a presentation made by Albert Keidel, a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - “since its market reforms began in 1978, China’s economy has grown at close to 10 percent a year and has even accelerated since year 2000. Internationally accepted measures of China’s growth show it to be even faster than officially reported. This growth success is no flash in the pan. It will likely continue at better than decade-doubling rates until close to the middle of the century. The implications of China’s continued rapid growth include China’s overtaking the U.S. in overall GDP terms sometime around 2040”.
The point to drive home is, as long as China’s economy keep growing Obama would not willingly bite China’s butt to make them bury their bloody hatchet with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans. The inevitability of rising Chinese economy is the 'chink in President Obama’s armor'.
Under the shadow of the tenacious dragon
I am the emperor of the Universe
My element is Venus
My ruling planet Earth
I am the Dragon
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
With the recent Chinese brouhaha and commotion surrounding the proposed visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the ‘so called’ disputed Indian state of Arunachal, China has once again made it clear, that, it is always aware of its rising ‘economical and military might’ to the extent that it makes no effort in whatsoever ways to respect and behave with its neighbor with the basic sense of political decency!
But, India’s firm position on ‘not stooping to the Chinese pressure’ so far has, in a way, managed to demean the ‘China Shining’ notion from the global mentality! Despite India’s records of kowtowing to communist China, India has restored its image of being one of the potential future challengers to China and a power-in-waiting on the world stage by this simple yet brave act against China’s baseless banter. However, it remains to be seen what turns out in the end vis-à-vis India’s decision not to stop the Dalai Lama from visiting to the state in question.
The latest Chinese pressure on the Bangladeshi’s government to bar a Tibet exhibition (“Into Exile –Tibet 1949-2009”) from conduction on its soils showed us the extent to which the Chinese could traverse to brag about its political influence, even to a country as aloof as Bangladesh which had remained ‘uncharted’ so far from being used as China’s barricade to stop any ‘anti-China’ activities from happening. Eventually, as expected, due to such ‘fear psychosis’ among world’s leaders today, Bangladesh also succumbed to the Chinese political caveat and did not allow the exhibition to see the light of the day on its soil.
Despite His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s repeated clarification – that his more-than-frequent visits abroad being religious in nature, China is invariably hell-bent on terming his frequent travels as ‘political ’and ‘dangerous’ to the state. Due to this fear or insecurity they never seem to rest their arse from going about warning the leaders of the host country against meeting with the spiritual guru whom they termed as ‘splittist’, ‘monk in a wolf’s robe’ and accusing him of waging war from foreign soil to ‘dismantle China’s unity’. Such vituperative and slanderous charges against the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans (Dalai clique) have become a kind of rare addiction for them, from which they can not get out so easily!
Similarly, a series of attacks have been aimed against the Dalai Lama during his current visit to Japan and as expected, the Japanese Prime Minster has ‘shied away’ from according a state welcome to the Dalai Lama in the fear of upsetting the Chinese bosses. The shadow of the Chinese influence has already reached New Zealand. As early as November, the Prime Minister of New Zealand has already announced his intention of not meeting with the Dalai Lama during His Holiness’ forthcoming visit to New Zealand in the month of December. The reason is obvious.
Beginning with Obama’s drama to the recent Bangladeshi ‘chamchagiri’ to China, the world has come to a full circle under the shadow of the communist China. The wings of the Dragon had flapped even the mighty America to death!
Tibet : up in flames, can we pour some water on ?
The tragic wave of self-immolation by Tibetans since 2009 has claimed several lives to date which clearly demonstrates that the Tibetans are no longer ready to bear the draconian Chinese rule in their homeland
- from the Tibetology Desk 24/ 06 / 2012
' Up in flames , Up in flames, We have slowly gone.We have slowly gone, Can we pour some water on ? - Coldplay
With the latest self-immolation reports pouring out from Tibet of the two young and brave Tibetan youth , both in their early 20s ,brought the number of self immolations to a whopping 42.This isn’t certainly a case to ignore. But, it is unfortunate for the Tibetans that despite their painful sacrifices, the global community and particularly, the United Nations are stepping back from coming out practically to help the Tibetan folks in trouble. This ‘insensitivity’ on the part of the United Nations and other influential countries is sad and shameful because they are cowardly keeping mum for the fear of antagonising China!
The global silence over the continuing Tibetan self-immolation tragedy stems from the fact that any interferences in the ' China's Tibet ' issue would invite the wrath from the Chinese side, that eventually would cost them their big- fat potential business deals with China. This is unfortunately a sad state of affairs for the Tibetans, especially at a time when they need the international support the most. The 'China rising' image in the business world is giving a hard time for the potential Tibet supporters with the ' to be or not to be' question in their collective minds. Therefore, apart from occasional lip services ,the global community is still not ready to question China upfront on the rights of the Tibetans. Meanwhile, Tibetans are left with no other choice but to fend for themselves, on their own!
It is pity that after decades of Chinese rule in Tibet, today Tibetans inside Tibet are still denied their basic rights to live in their own country freely and instead, they are subject to varied human right abuses like surprise raids in their homes and monasteries ; forceful closure of the Tibetan medium schools run by local Tibetans ; arbitrary arrests and imprisonment ; 24 hours surveillances ; patriotic re-education ; dislocation of nomads from their ancestral land ; rendering Tibetan youth to mass unemployment ; forcing Tibetan girls to prostitution and children to the streets to beg for livelihood and so on. This is self-explanatory in itself to refute the Chinese claim, that, by conquering Tibet, they 'liberated the atavistic, old-fashioned, superstitious Tibetans from poverty to modernisation' .
If Tibetans are happy today ,as what China claims, then why would they resort to giving up their lives by immolating themselves ? Not just one , two or three. The numbers of self immolations are continuing non-stop, without respite. And, all these brave souls have one demand in common, ' Freedom for Tibetans and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet'.Unfortunately, the Communist regime in Tibet is so tenacious and barbaric that the Tibetans are left with only one choice to make their demands heard, through self-immolating one selves. The PLA forces tolerate no other means of peaceful protest and always ready to hunt down and award deadly punishments, even for as minor as uttering words like LONG LIVE DALAI LAMA or raising the Tibetan flag.
As some people may feel, these self-immolations are just too much and are just an act of desperation , but I would contend that these are not just an act of desperation, of frustration , of helplessness, BUT acts born out of love for freedom, acts born out of sense of sacrifice for their fellow countrymen, acts born out of non-violent attitude. Instead,these are the noble acts – for freedom and dignity.
This was rightly said by the U.S. Under-secretary of State Maria Otero in a recent interview with VOA , “Clearly these self-immolations are not only desperate acts, but desperate acts born of the frustration and the despair that people feel as they see the increased violations of their human rights, and the increased restrictions imposed on Buddhist monasteries.”
The sacrifices made by 42 Tibetans so far is a clear message to the world that Tibet needs their help now as much as they needed them before. Despite the media black-out in Tibet, they try to echo their cries through these extreme yet noble acts. Leaving all the historical differences behind, Tibetans and their leaders are ready to talk for a better tomorrow with China. Tibetans are not seeking independence but freedom. Tibetans are not using guns and bombs to make their demands heard. Tibetans are understandably against their communist rulers but respect and love Chinese people. Tibetans are simple , peaceful, sympathetic, friendly and trustworthy. So, won't you help these beautiful folks when they are up in flames ? Can we pour some water on ? Otherwise, Tibet is going to burn again, and again !
- from the Tibetology Desk 24/ 06 / 2012
' Up in flames , Up in flames, We have slowly gone.We have slowly gone, Can we pour some water on ? - Coldplay
With the latest self-immolation reports pouring out from Tibet of the two young and brave Tibetan youth , both in their early 20s ,brought the number of self immolations to a whopping 42.This isn’t certainly a case to ignore. But, it is unfortunate for the Tibetans that despite their painful sacrifices, the global community and particularly, the United Nations are stepping back from coming out practically to help the Tibetan folks in trouble. This ‘insensitivity’ on the part of the United Nations and other influential countries is sad and shameful because they are cowardly keeping mum for the fear of antagonising China!
The global silence over the continuing Tibetan self-immolation tragedy stems from the fact that any interferences in the ' China's Tibet ' issue would invite the wrath from the Chinese side, that eventually would cost them their big- fat potential business deals with China. This is unfortunately a sad state of affairs for the Tibetans, especially at a time when they need the international support the most. The 'China rising' image in the business world is giving a hard time for the potential Tibet supporters with the ' to be or not to be' question in their collective minds. Therefore, apart from occasional lip services ,the global community is still not ready to question China upfront on the rights of the Tibetans. Meanwhile, Tibetans are left with no other choice but to fend for themselves, on their own!
It is pity that after decades of Chinese rule in Tibet, today Tibetans inside Tibet are still denied their basic rights to live in their own country freely and instead, they are subject to varied human right abuses like surprise raids in their homes and monasteries ; forceful closure of the Tibetan medium schools run by local Tibetans ; arbitrary arrests and imprisonment ; 24 hours surveillances ; patriotic re-education ; dislocation of nomads from their ancestral land ; rendering Tibetan youth to mass unemployment ; forcing Tibetan girls to prostitution and children to the streets to beg for livelihood and so on. This is self-explanatory in itself to refute the Chinese claim, that, by conquering Tibet, they 'liberated the atavistic, old-fashioned, superstitious Tibetans from poverty to modernisation' .
If Tibetans are happy today ,as what China claims, then why would they resort to giving up their lives by immolating themselves ? Not just one , two or three. The numbers of self immolations are continuing non-stop, without respite. And, all these brave souls have one demand in common, ' Freedom for Tibetans and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet'.Unfortunately, the Communist regime in Tibet is so tenacious and barbaric that the Tibetans are left with only one choice to make their demands heard, through self-immolating one selves. The PLA forces tolerate no other means of peaceful protest and always ready to hunt down and award deadly punishments, even for as minor as uttering words like LONG LIVE DALAI LAMA or raising the Tibetan flag.
As some people may feel, these self-immolations are just too much and are just an act of desperation , but I would contend that these are not just an act of desperation, of frustration , of helplessness, BUT acts born out of love for freedom, acts born out of sense of sacrifice for their fellow countrymen, acts born out of non-violent attitude. Instead,these are the noble acts – for freedom and dignity.
This was rightly said by the U.S. Under-secretary of State Maria Otero in a recent interview with VOA , “Clearly these self-immolations are not only desperate acts, but desperate acts born of the frustration and the despair that people feel as they see the increased violations of their human rights, and the increased restrictions imposed on Buddhist monasteries.”
The sacrifices made by 42 Tibetans so far is a clear message to the world that Tibet needs their help now as much as they needed them before. Despite the media black-out in Tibet, they try to echo their cries through these extreme yet noble acts. Leaving all the historical differences behind, Tibetans and their leaders are ready to talk for a better tomorrow with China. Tibetans are not seeking independence but freedom. Tibetans are not using guns and bombs to make their demands heard. Tibetans are understandably against their communist rulers but respect and love Chinese people. Tibetans are simple , peaceful, sympathetic, friendly and trustworthy. So, won't you help these beautiful folks when they are up in flames ? Can we pour some water on ? Otherwise, Tibet is going to burn again, and again !
Obama's theatrical show sans denouement
Obama’s maiden China trip deserves no standing ovation!
- from the Tibetology Desk (Older Post )
The President of the United States and the Nobel Peace laureate Barack Obama has just ‘successfully’ concluded his maiden Presidential tour to China, but without shaking Beijing out of its drunken stupor!
The world media is left with not much to cover about his maiden China trip on Tibet and human rights issues, that’s why the news is flooded with ugly and repulsive headlines like ‘Outrage in Washington over Obama's Japan bow’ which has strangely drawn sharp criticism from a section of American conservatives! President Barack Obama bowing to Japan's emperor has incensed critics here, who said the US leader should stand tall when representing America overseas.
What Obama did on Tibet was, he went on to endorse China’s sovereignty over Tibet and skillfully managed to raise some human rights and freedom of expression issues to quell the prevailing anticipation of the Tibetans and its supporters worldwide. His speeches made no readable headlines because China was way ahead in hogging the limelight to project its propagandist views and anti-Dalai Lama statements. Therefore, Obama proved nothing beyond a good listener to the Chinese blatant affirmation that the Dalai Lama is a “slave master, covert secessionist and general evil-doer”.
More than that, China had the cheek to draw an unimaginative analogy between old Tibet’s serfdom with the past America’s slavery history. By doing so China intended to project itself in the same frame as Lincoln who abolished slavery in the United States. Despite such tongue-in-cheek comparison with the man on whom American pride rests, Obama remained mute like a cool Chinese dude!
The world had been witness to Obama’s rehearsal feats before his maiden China visit. He had somehow managed to skip a probable meeting with the Dalai Lama when the spiritual guru was in the States last month. He was visibly stuck in a ‘diplomatic dilemma’ at that time – Dalai Lama at one side and China on the other. However, he managed to create a win-win-situation for both the sides in the end.
Obama’s Presidential slogan “change we can” inspired millions of youth around the globe, including myself. But as a Tibetan, now I am beginning to doubt in his character as a leader of the mightiest nation on earth. My initial hope for some ‘change’ and breakthroughs in Tibet-China deadlock is beginning to waver. This new leader hailed by the world until now, is proving no different from the other Chinese boot-licker leaders around the world. But, I am not giving up my hope completely as of now. Because there are still some more days and years to come by to see the real Obama – who can make the ‘change’, happen for Tibet and the world.
Meanwhile as he concludes his high-profile China trip, we are left with an open-ended question: Did Obama really talk Tibet with China? (as he claimed). Whatever may be the truth, we demand no answer for now because that would bring about an end to the Obama story. We are ready to float with the suspense for some more time to see a happy denouement. Until then the show must go on!
- from the Tibetology Desk (Older Post )
The President of the United States and the Nobel Peace laureate Barack Obama has just ‘successfully’ concluded his maiden Presidential tour to China, but without shaking Beijing out of its drunken stupor!
The world media is left with not much to cover about his maiden China trip on Tibet and human rights issues, that’s why the news is flooded with ugly and repulsive headlines like ‘Outrage in Washington over Obama's Japan bow’ which has strangely drawn sharp criticism from a section of American conservatives! President Barack Obama bowing to Japan's emperor has incensed critics here, who said the US leader should stand tall when representing America overseas.
What Obama did on Tibet was, he went on to endorse China’s sovereignty over Tibet and skillfully managed to raise some human rights and freedom of expression issues to quell the prevailing anticipation of the Tibetans and its supporters worldwide. His speeches made no readable headlines because China was way ahead in hogging the limelight to project its propagandist views and anti-Dalai Lama statements. Therefore, Obama proved nothing beyond a good listener to the Chinese blatant affirmation that the Dalai Lama is a “slave master, covert secessionist and general evil-doer”.
More than that, China had the cheek to draw an unimaginative analogy between old Tibet’s serfdom with the past America’s slavery history. By doing so China intended to project itself in the same frame as Lincoln who abolished slavery in the United States. Despite such tongue-in-cheek comparison with the man on whom American pride rests, Obama remained mute like a cool Chinese dude!
The world had been witness to Obama’s rehearsal feats before his maiden China visit. He had somehow managed to skip a probable meeting with the Dalai Lama when the spiritual guru was in the States last month. He was visibly stuck in a ‘diplomatic dilemma’ at that time – Dalai Lama at one side and China on the other. However, he managed to create a win-win-situation for both the sides in the end.
Obama’s Presidential slogan “change we can” inspired millions of youth around the globe, including myself. But as a Tibetan, now I am beginning to doubt in his character as a leader of the mightiest nation on earth. My initial hope for some ‘change’ and breakthroughs in Tibet-China deadlock is beginning to waver. This new leader hailed by the world until now, is proving no different from the other Chinese boot-licker leaders around the world. But, I am not giving up my hope completely as of now. Because there are still some more days and years to come by to see the real Obama – who can make the ‘change’, happen for Tibet and the world.
Meanwhile as he concludes his high-profile China trip, we are left with an open-ended question: Did Obama really talk Tibet with China? (as he claimed). Whatever may be the truth, we demand no answer for now because that would bring about an end to the Obama story. We are ready to float with the suspense for some more time to see a happy denouement. Until then the show must go on!
Our Political Mantra for The New Year
Let this new year mark a special epoch in our quest for Tibet
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
As we marked the end of 2009 to give way for a brand new year 2010, one can not but look back in retrospect over the past political adventures and misadventures experienced and perpetuated both by Dharamsala and Beijing. And one can not escape from feeling a tinge of remorse and hopelessness at the thought of spiteful and lingering political cross-fire that has maimed the hopes of our optimistic citizens in the past one year. It is apparent from all the news and the headlines in the international media that Beijing have spent most of its political oomph and energy in 2009 in finding ways to derail and disrupt prospective ‘dialogue’ with the Dalai Lama’s envoys instead of bridging the gap for a bilateral solution. Instead Beijing chose to work day in and out to up its ante against the wishes of the Tibetan people to the hilt!
It appears that Beijing had dedicated almost all the good part of 2009 to book, capture and incarcerate those ‘perpetrators’ of the 2008 protests in Tibet and those, that Beijing claimed were , behind the attempts to disrupt Beijing Olympics. As a result they’ve managed to put many innocent Tibetans behind the bar without access to any legal recourse, transparency and free trials. Today all those hapless political prisoners languishing in different cells in China’s Tibet cries for help but the flaws in the Chinese laws thwarts the international sympathizers from making their helping hand reach to them before they are sent to the gallows! The great shocker came in the form of the unfair and brazen imprisonment of its own citizen like Liu Xiabo, which showed to the world that even China’s own citizens are deprived from the freedom of expression and free speech to the extent that one could face imprisonment up to 11 years like Mr. Liu, if one dares to contradict and open his/ her mouth against the State and its machinery!
Back home – like its winter, Dharamsala is reeling under a cold and silent political climate – savoring some garam chai, some gossip & some moments under the sun seems to be the best part of the winter, everything else appears to have stood still like the snow-laden boughs of the Christmas trees. This simple arithmetic explains everything: Less people + less activism + less noise = more peace in Beijing! More peace at Beijing means more time for them to plot and plan for more counter-attack strategies and the cycle goes on until March when Tibetans will have celebrated Losar and also returned home from seasonal business spree. Then the reverse cycle begins: more people + more activism + more noise = less peace in Beijing! Therefore, the cycle of attacks and counter-attacks keeps going on between Dharamsala and Beijing under the cloud of looming uncertainties. This kept going on for 50 years and it’s time we put a full stop to this trend of power play & political gambit. We can not afford to waste no more time. The time is ripe to think out of the box and chalk out new strategies to break the lingering political stalemate and eventually come to a common ground through real talks and dialogues. We have already spent enough resources and time to create ‘conducive’ atmosphere for dialogue and now it’s time for making real breakthroughs rather than remaining submerged in the halo of hope and political hallucinations! The time has come to walk the talk!
The recent statement issued by the Special Envoy Lodi Gyari on Sino Tibetan Dialogue Process states - “during the most recent 8th round held in November 2008… the outright rejection of the Memorandum by the Chinese side, without even looking into many of the points raised therein, did not leave any scope for further contacts”.If Beijing persistently insists on downplaying with the compromised demands from the Tibetan side, we can not afford to keep aghast and mum anymore. The option of retaliation and retribution is always open with the Tibetans, especially with the youth. If Beijing plays truant all the time, it’s our unquestionable prerogative to set our priorities right. Rangzen or otherwise – we shall keep the ball rolling. Let’s do our best to make this year a special epoch in struggle for our rights and freedom. Let ‘tit – for –tat’ be our political mantra for 2010. After all, Tibetans know very well what the phrase nga-la-pa-pe-cham-gyap (dance according to the beat of the drum) means! Oh yes, Happy New Year!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
As we marked the end of 2009 to give way for a brand new year 2010, one can not but look back in retrospect over the past political adventures and misadventures experienced and perpetuated both by Dharamsala and Beijing. And one can not escape from feeling a tinge of remorse and hopelessness at the thought of spiteful and lingering political cross-fire that has maimed the hopes of our optimistic citizens in the past one year. It is apparent from all the news and the headlines in the international media that Beijing have spent most of its political oomph and energy in 2009 in finding ways to derail and disrupt prospective ‘dialogue’ with the Dalai Lama’s envoys instead of bridging the gap for a bilateral solution. Instead Beijing chose to work day in and out to up its ante against the wishes of the Tibetan people to the hilt!
It appears that Beijing had dedicated almost all the good part of 2009 to book, capture and incarcerate those ‘perpetrators’ of the 2008 protests in Tibet and those, that Beijing claimed were , behind the attempts to disrupt Beijing Olympics. As a result they’ve managed to put many innocent Tibetans behind the bar without access to any legal recourse, transparency and free trials. Today all those hapless political prisoners languishing in different cells in China’s Tibet cries for help but the flaws in the Chinese laws thwarts the international sympathizers from making their helping hand reach to them before they are sent to the gallows! The great shocker came in the form of the unfair and brazen imprisonment of its own citizen like Liu Xiabo, which showed to the world that even China’s own citizens are deprived from the freedom of expression and free speech to the extent that one could face imprisonment up to 11 years like Mr. Liu, if one dares to contradict and open his/ her mouth against the State and its machinery!
Back home – like its winter, Dharamsala is reeling under a cold and silent political climate – savoring some garam chai, some gossip & some moments under the sun seems to be the best part of the winter, everything else appears to have stood still like the snow-laden boughs of the Christmas trees. This simple arithmetic explains everything: Less people + less activism + less noise = more peace in Beijing! More peace at Beijing means more time for them to plot and plan for more counter-attack strategies and the cycle goes on until March when Tibetans will have celebrated Losar and also returned home from seasonal business spree. Then the reverse cycle begins: more people + more activism + more noise = less peace in Beijing! Therefore, the cycle of attacks and counter-attacks keeps going on between Dharamsala and Beijing under the cloud of looming uncertainties. This kept going on for 50 years and it’s time we put a full stop to this trend of power play & political gambit. We can not afford to waste no more time. The time is ripe to think out of the box and chalk out new strategies to break the lingering political stalemate and eventually come to a common ground through real talks and dialogues. We have already spent enough resources and time to create ‘conducive’ atmosphere for dialogue and now it’s time for making real breakthroughs rather than remaining submerged in the halo of hope and political hallucinations! The time has come to walk the talk!
The recent statement issued by the Special Envoy Lodi Gyari on Sino Tibetan Dialogue Process states - “during the most recent 8th round held in November 2008… the outright rejection of the Memorandum by the Chinese side, without even looking into many of the points raised therein, did not leave any scope for further contacts”.If Beijing persistently insists on downplaying with the compromised demands from the Tibetan side, we can not afford to keep aghast and mum anymore. The option of retaliation and retribution is always open with the Tibetans, especially with the youth. If Beijing plays truant all the time, it’s our unquestionable prerogative to set our priorities right. Rangzen or otherwise – we shall keep the ball rolling. Let’s do our best to make this year a special epoch in struggle for our rights and freedom. Let ‘tit – for –tat’ be our political mantra for 2010. After all, Tibetans know very well what the phrase nga-la-pa-pe-cham-gyap (dance according to the beat of the drum) means! Oh yes, Happy New Year!
The Chinese Cyberpunks & Their Cohorts
China’s mounting cyber terrorism and Google’s cheap trade tricks
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
Ironically or paradoxically - whatever you may call it, while the world media is inundated with the news about the war of words between Google and China over the latter’s blatant and barefaced cyber attacks through cyber-espionage, theft and hackings, I was nonchalantly, by means of Google’s search engine, trying to dig out some information on the recent Google-China fracas! I was momentarily carried away by the fact that finally Google – the world’s most popular search engine is out exposing shenanigans of the communist China with its reported decision to pull out from China after almost four years of its kowtowing to Chinese cyber pundits! But it is too early to write anything positive on these developments that have been taking place in the past one week.
The reports that have been making rounds recently said – “Google was thinking about quitting China after suffering a sophisticated cyber-attack on its network that resulted in theft of its intellectual property”. But, Tibetans knows it very well from the beginning of Google’s love affairs with China way back in 2006 when Google formally launched its services in China. So we Tibetans have reasons to believe that Google’s decision only comes when its own business interest is in stake, not that they love freedom of speech and expression!
Not long ago, Apple has also disclosed its plans of cooperating with the Chinese government to ban iPhone applications in China related to the Dalai Lama and Uighur activist Rebiya Kandeer to the world. This shows that the corporate biggies like Google and Apple have been instrumental in supporting Chinese political aspirations in order to reap fat revenues and expand its business interest.
The fact that the Gmail account of a Tibetan student based in America had been hacked because she had been an activist of Students For A Free Tibet Campaign (SFT) shows that the state-sponsored Chinese hackers keep tab on the activities happening even in a free world like America, without regarding for individual fundamental right to privacy and violating basic freedom of expression in all forms.
All these facts highlight the growing threats from China on the freedom of speech and expression not only to its own citizens, but also to the rest of the ‘free world’. It is obvious that Google would not relent easily unless the world netizens stand up united against Google and the likes and call for a censor-free internet services. Such genuine sentiments should stem from the fact that due to Google’s cooperation with Chinese government, state-trained Chinese hackers have been able to trace and book many innocent citizens in China and Tibet due to their ‘violations’ of so-called Chinese cyber rules!
It is easy for us living in a ‘censor free’ world to miss the insinuation of 24/7 surveillances over our internet freedom but those hapless citizens under the Chinese rule knows the real value of freedom as basic as gathering and disseminating information on subjects of their interest.
Last year Chinese authorities have arrested a popular young Tibetan singer, accusing him of composing subversive songs and lyrics. That was followed by arrest of Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese intellectual and literary critic who played a pivotal role in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago and who has been in and out of jail ever since for his uncompromising activism for freedom of expression in China.
According to the reports by The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN in 2008 Jamyang Kyi, a prominent Tibetan singer and a song-writer, internet writer and feminist activist, has been arrested and held without charges since 1 April 2008,
Reporters Without Borders voiced its concerns over the Tibetan TV presenter Washu Rangjong arrested by Chinese military police officers at his home in the east Tibetan district of Sertha, on 11 September last year. Rangjong is also a singer and the author of two books on Tibetan culture.
In the same year three young Tibetans from the Dara village have been held in Nagchu County since 1 October 2009. The three were arrested for allegedly posting pictures of Dalai Lama and information on Tibet on chat website qq.com. The police have not allowed the three – identified as Gyaltsen, 25, Nyima Wangchuk, 24, and Yeshe Namkha, 25 – to have any contact with their families since their arrest.
"The Internet is monitored, censored and manipulated more in Tibet than in other Chinese provinces," Reporters Without Borders said. "Despite the risks, Tibetan Internet users continue to transmit information, especially to the diaspora and human rights groups. It is deplorable that the Chinese police devote so much energy to identifying and arresting ordinary Internet users."
Several bloggers and other Internet users have been arrested in Tibet last year. They include Pasang Norbu, arrested in Lhasa on 12 August for looking at online photos of the Tibetan flag and Dalai Lama, and Gonpo Tserang, a guide sentenced to three years in prison in June on charges of inciting separatism and "communicating outside the country" for sending emails and SMS messages about the March 2008 protests in Tibet.
Kunchok Tsephel Gopey , the editor of the Tibetan website Chomei (The Lamp), was arrested in Gannan, in Gansu province, on 26 February. Relatives said the police searched his house and confiscated his computer.
Another Tibetan website, Tibet Culture (www.tibetcul.com), has been not been operational since 5 March 2009. A message posted on the home page says the closure is to due to “technical reasons” and thanks Internet users for their “support.” Meanwhile, it has proved impossible to send SMS messages in the Tibetan parts of Sichuan province for the last few days. SMS messages were used to organize demonstrations in March 2008 uprising.
In another reports, during the trials held on 27 October and 7 November 2008, a Lhasa intermediate court convicted a total of seven Tibetans for participating in demonstrations and illegally sending information outside China. They were given jail sentences ranging from eight years to life.
Wangdue , a former political prisoner who had helped campaign against HIV in Tibet, was given a life sentence for endangering state security. He had been held incommunicado from 14 March to 7 November by the Lhasa Public Security Bureau. Migmar Dhondup, was given 14 years in prison on the same charge of “endangering state security.” Phuntsok Dorjee was sentenced to nine years in prison followed by five years of loss of political rights on a “treason” charge for “illegally giving information” to people outside China. Tsewang Dorjee got eight year in jail on the same charge. Similarly, Sonam Dakpa and Sonam Tseten got 10 years and Yeshi Choedon got 15 years.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, an intermediate court in Kardze had sentenced Ludrub Phuntsok , a 23-year-old monk and editor from Ngaba (Sichuan), to 13 years in prison on 23 October on a charge of “endangering state security.” A brilliant student at Amchok monastery and editor of the magazine Maseng Shedra (Flowers of Expression), he was arrested for taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Tibet on 16 March 2008.
Logyam , a Tibetan writer from Ngaba who wrote articles for Maseng Shedra, is serving a six-year prison sentence in Maowar prison in Sichuan for compiling and disseminating articles and speeches by the Dalai Lama. Aged 36, he has been held since 2005 and has reportedly been beaten repeatedly by prison guards for refusing to criticize the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The reinforced security forces in Tibet have arrested dozens of Tibetans in the run-up to the 10 March anniversary in 2008. Most of them are held in a former military base at Denggongtang, east of Lhasa, or have been forcibly sent back to their region of origin.
And not to forget, Tibet’s most famous woman writer and blogger Woeser was accused and arrested by police after she returned home briefly to Lhasa, the capital. After the March riots, hackers hijacked her blog, removed its content and left an animation of China’s five-star national flag fluttering below the message: “Long Live the People’s Republic of China! Down will [with] all Tibetan independence elements!”
Today China tops the list among the nations notorious for violating cyber ethics and principles of free expression. From hackings, censorships and cyber-espionage to theft of intellectual property rights, China is virtually becoming the biggest threat in the virtual world. Unless Google and other corporate biggies decide to pull out from China before it is too late, the world will be mute spectators to the tricks of the Chinese cyberpunks in the new Cyber Age!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
Ironically or paradoxically - whatever you may call it, while the world media is inundated with the news about the war of words between Google and China over the latter’s blatant and barefaced cyber attacks through cyber-espionage, theft and hackings, I was nonchalantly, by means of Google’s search engine, trying to dig out some information on the recent Google-China fracas! I was momentarily carried away by the fact that finally Google – the world’s most popular search engine is out exposing shenanigans of the communist China with its reported decision to pull out from China after almost four years of its kowtowing to Chinese cyber pundits! But it is too early to write anything positive on these developments that have been taking place in the past one week.
The reports that have been making rounds recently said – “Google was thinking about quitting China after suffering a sophisticated cyber-attack on its network that resulted in theft of its intellectual property”. But, Tibetans knows it very well from the beginning of Google’s love affairs with China way back in 2006 when Google formally launched its services in China. So we Tibetans have reasons to believe that Google’s decision only comes when its own business interest is in stake, not that they love freedom of speech and expression!
Not long ago, Apple has also disclosed its plans of cooperating with the Chinese government to ban iPhone applications in China related to the Dalai Lama and Uighur activist Rebiya Kandeer to the world. This shows that the corporate biggies like Google and Apple have been instrumental in supporting Chinese political aspirations in order to reap fat revenues and expand its business interest.
The fact that the Gmail account of a Tibetan student based in America had been hacked because she had been an activist of Students For A Free Tibet Campaign (SFT) shows that the state-sponsored Chinese hackers keep tab on the activities happening even in a free world like America, without regarding for individual fundamental right to privacy and violating basic freedom of expression in all forms.
All these facts highlight the growing threats from China on the freedom of speech and expression not only to its own citizens, but also to the rest of the ‘free world’. It is obvious that Google would not relent easily unless the world netizens stand up united against Google and the likes and call for a censor-free internet services. Such genuine sentiments should stem from the fact that due to Google’s cooperation with Chinese government, state-trained Chinese hackers have been able to trace and book many innocent citizens in China and Tibet due to their ‘violations’ of so-called Chinese cyber rules!
It is easy for us living in a ‘censor free’ world to miss the insinuation of 24/7 surveillances over our internet freedom but those hapless citizens under the Chinese rule knows the real value of freedom as basic as gathering and disseminating information on subjects of their interest.
Last year Chinese authorities have arrested a popular young Tibetan singer, accusing him of composing subversive songs and lyrics. That was followed by arrest of Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese intellectual and literary critic who played a pivotal role in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago and who has been in and out of jail ever since for his uncompromising activism for freedom of expression in China.
According to the reports by The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN in 2008 Jamyang Kyi, a prominent Tibetan singer and a song-writer, internet writer and feminist activist, has been arrested and held without charges since 1 April 2008,
Reporters Without Borders voiced its concerns over the Tibetan TV presenter Washu Rangjong arrested by Chinese military police officers at his home in the east Tibetan district of Sertha, on 11 September last year. Rangjong is also a singer and the author of two books on Tibetan culture.
In the same year three young Tibetans from the Dara village have been held in Nagchu County since 1 October 2009. The three were arrested for allegedly posting pictures of Dalai Lama and information on Tibet on chat website qq.com. The police have not allowed the three – identified as Gyaltsen, 25, Nyima Wangchuk, 24, and Yeshe Namkha, 25 – to have any contact with their families since their arrest.
"The Internet is monitored, censored and manipulated more in Tibet than in other Chinese provinces," Reporters Without Borders said. "Despite the risks, Tibetan Internet users continue to transmit information, especially to the diaspora and human rights groups. It is deplorable that the Chinese police devote so much energy to identifying and arresting ordinary Internet users."
Several bloggers and other Internet users have been arrested in Tibet last year. They include Pasang Norbu, arrested in Lhasa on 12 August for looking at online photos of the Tibetan flag and Dalai Lama, and Gonpo Tserang, a guide sentenced to three years in prison in June on charges of inciting separatism and "communicating outside the country" for sending emails and SMS messages about the March 2008 protests in Tibet.
Kunchok Tsephel Gopey , the editor of the Tibetan website Chomei (The Lamp), was arrested in Gannan, in Gansu province, on 26 February. Relatives said the police searched his house and confiscated his computer.
Another Tibetan website, Tibet Culture (www.tibetcul.com), has been not been operational since 5 March 2009. A message posted on the home page says the closure is to due to “technical reasons” and thanks Internet users for their “support.” Meanwhile, it has proved impossible to send SMS messages in the Tibetan parts of Sichuan province for the last few days. SMS messages were used to organize demonstrations in March 2008 uprising.
In another reports, during the trials held on 27 October and 7 November 2008, a Lhasa intermediate court convicted a total of seven Tibetans for participating in demonstrations and illegally sending information outside China. They were given jail sentences ranging from eight years to life.
Wangdue , a former political prisoner who had helped campaign against HIV in Tibet, was given a life sentence for endangering state security. He had been held incommunicado from 14 March to 7 November by the Lhasa Public Security Bureau. Migmar Dhondup, was given 14 years in prison on the same charge of “endangering state security.” Phuntsok Dorjee was sentenced to nine years in prison followed by five years of loss of political rights on a “treason” charge for “illegally giving information” to people outside China. Tsewang Dorjee got eight year in jail on the same charge. Similarly, Sonam Dakpa and Sonam Tseten got 10 years and Yeshi Choedon got 15 years.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, an intermediate court in Kardze had sentenced Ludrub Phuntsok , a 23-year-old monk and editor from Ngaba (Sichuan), to 13 years in prison on 23 October on a charge of “endangering state security.” A brilliant student at Amchok monastery and editor of the magazine Maseng Shedra (Flowers of Expression), he was arrested for taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Tibet on 16 March 2008.
Logyam , a Tibetan writer from Ngaba who wrote articles for Maseng Shedra, is serving a six-year prison sentence in Maowar prison in Sichuan for compiling and disseminating articles and speeches by the Dalai Lama. Aged 36, he has been held since 2005 and has reportedly been beaten repeatedly by prison guards for refusing to criticize the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The reinforced security forces in Tibet have arrested dozens of Tibetans in the run-up to the 10 March anniversary in 2008. Most of them are held in a former military base at Denggongtang, east of Lhasa, or have been forcibly sent back to their region of origin.
And not to forget, Tibet’s most famous woman writer and blogger Woeser was accused and arrested by police after she returned home briefly to Lhasa, the capital. After the March riots, hackers hijacked her blog, removed its content and left an animation of China’s five-star national flag fluttering below the message: “Long Live the People’s Republic of China! Down will [with] all Tibetan independence elements!”
Today China tops the list among the nations notorious for violating cyber ethics and principles of free expression. From hackings, censorships and cyber-espionage to theft of intellectual property rights, China is virtually becoming the biggest threat in the virtual world. Unless Google and other corporate biggies decide to pull out from China before it is too late, the world will be mute spectators to the tricks of the Chinese cyberpunks in the new Cyber Age!
A Case of Karmic Disconnection ?
It’s now more than a decade since the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s epic escape journey across the Himalayas, but little has changed. He had escaped imprisonment in Tibet into a hall of mirrors in exile, but India failed to provide him a sanctuary of hope. Unfortunately, he has never found a 'home away from home' in India, after more than a decade of his escape to the land of his masters!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
The prevailing gloom over the interrogation and lawsuits against the Karmapa and his officials for the ‘unaccounted’ cash stash reportedly seized by the Indian police has been a feast of sorts to the Indian media. Under the garb of ‘breaking news’, the sensational journalism surfaced overnight everywhere, in both TV and print and the ‘speculative reportages’ based on superficial researches sent shock waves across India and abroad. Followers of the Karmapa were left fuming as well as helpless with the way Indian media carried out headlines after headlines with hypothesis that the spiritual guru, revered by millions, is a ‘Chinese spy’ and an agent of communist government with the reported links with Beijing!
While the law takes its own course, the depressing episode has opened up a Pandora’s Box of allegations against the young - from a Chinese spy to a political pawn to a money launderer! Without digging into the heart of the matter, the manner in which the press wallahs broke the news to the public did nothing more than adding insult to the injury. Among other things, it has clearly put on show the ‘unadventurous attitude’ of the Indian media and its government towards Karmapa, in particular and the Tibetan exiles, in general. Regrettably, this episode and the gossips doing rounds have brought unnecessary discomfiture in the century old guru-chela relationship between the Indian and the Tibetan communities, at least psychologically!
The ambivalent attitude of the Indian government on Karmapa has also been revealed clearly this time, again. This leaves us thinking whether Karmapa is an ‘uninvited guest’ or a ‘refugee’ in India, Or, if he is looked upon as a potential Chinese spy then why did India grant him stay permit in the first place when he escaped more than a decade ago to seek a safe haven here. Are the Indian sleuths, known for their investigative acumen, so weak and gullible that after more than a decade of his presence on the Indian soil they are still not sure about his genuine aspirations of seeking asylum in India? These are the few questions that naturally cross our mind if one is to buy the India’s unenthusiastic stance on Karmapa.
Tibetans have always regarded India as a land of arya bhumi and for this reason alone, Tibetan leaders chose India as an ideal sanctuary for its exiles. Tibetans are well aware of the plaguing population and the poverty of the country that they would never have wished to burden it more with their presence here, if it weren’t the religious ties that Tibet had with India! If I may point this out, despite the parsimonious hospitality extended to the Tibetan ‘refugees’ in India, Tibetans have always been over-generous in expressing their gratitude to the Indian people and its government for providing them a safe haven in times of hardship.
While Tibetan refugees always regard Indian brothers and their government with highest of respect, they have reasons to feel the heat of the tightening grip on them by the government with the introduction of new measures to curtail their freedom in exile. This is clear from the recent proposal made by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to New Delhi for establishment of special monitoring units in its Central Bureau of Investigation in Shimla and Dharamsala - to keep tabs on ‘illegal activities’ of the Tibetans. This development clearly indicates the emergent intolerance of the ‘undesired presence’ of the Tibetan refugees in the state.
Even after more than a decade since Karmapa arrived here, the Indian government has still made no pronouncement on the Karmapa's status. Subject to India’s Foreigners’ Act, neither citizen nor officially a refugee, he remains a stateless like all the Tibetans here. He is still forbidden from traveling to his seat in Rumtek, although the Indian government has given no official explanation why! Despite having been questioned on several occasions by Indian intelligence officials about his escape, despite the pleas and reassurance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and despite the pleas from the State Government of Sikkim, the Indian government still harbors suspicion about the Karmapa’s escape and his motives!
In a personal letter to the then Indian Prime Minister, A.B Vajpayee, Karmapa had attempted to assuage the fears of the Indian government, reiterating that he had escaped from Tibet ‘by his own choice’, and stating that ‘he wished to go to Sikkim to fulfill the wishes of his followers’.
It maybe noteworthy to learn that in the course of his journey across the Himalayas, Karmapa had composed a poem, ‘A Joyful Aspiration’, which was published shortly after his arrival in India, and which had included a moving stanza praising His Holiness the Dalai Lama:
Inspiring festivals of merit in the Land of Snow
You are the Supreme One holding a pure lotus
With the beauty of all good qualities,
A treasure for eyes to behold,
May your life be long, steadfast as a diamond vajra
Whatever the rumors, Karmapa himself had made clear his devotion to the Dalai Lama, and his commitment to the cause of Tibet. He had made it clear that his escape was partly prompted by his desire to be close to the Dalai Lama. Sadly, the manner in which the recent issue was brought to limelight by the Indian media, Tibetan exiles have all the more to worry about the fate of their future on the Indian soil.
While the Indian law comes out with its own findings on the unaccounted cash seizure, it is unfortunate that despite all the refutations, facts, pleas and proofs about the real motive behind his escape to India, there has never been a superior rapport between the Indian government and the Karmapa. There has always been this curious case of ‘karmic disconnection’ between the two!
Recently Tibetans and the Buddhist community are outraged at a California-based company Icon Shoes for promoting a range of shoes with the Lord Buddha’s images. This is a second time ,after another American shoe manufacturing company Keds, that has enraged the followers of Buddhism throughout the world.The following complaint was written to Keds from the Tibetology Desk.
Keds & Zazzle's Gift to The Buddhist World
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
Keds’ new-fangled line of sneakers called ‘Tibetan Buddhist Shoes’ bearing images of the Dalai Lama, the Buddha, holy mantras, Tibetan national flag and other sacred images is a gross denigration of the faith which has millions of followers around the globe!
The disparaging act of Keds’ consumerist attitude has hurt the sentiments of millions of Buddhists around the globe with its new line of “Colorful and Beautiful” canvas shoes .Keds’ blatant attempt to capitalize on the growing ‘fad’ for Buddhism & reverence for the Dalai Lama in the West failed to gauge the consequences of its myopic vision, which was the result of its profit-centric, market driven strategy and greed for easy and quick bucks! It has nauseatingly overlooked the importance of respecting the values and ideals of the faith which has a growing follower’s world over during this time of crises of all sorts in the history of mankind! This is how Keds’ chose to reward the Holy Man who tirelessly travels across the globe to preach global peace and universal harmony!
As rightly pointed out by one of my fellow Buddhist brothers – Bhuchung D. Sonam – “ We live in a 24×7 interconnected world where information is available at finger’s click. Thus people at Keds cannot feign ignorance about these sacred images and their importance in Buddhist culture and their roles in the practice of the dharma. Hence Keds’ Buddhist shoes are affront to Tibetans and a total disregard to their cultural values”. In the Buddhist context, Keds has committed an unpardonable sin by taking the sacred images of Buddha, the Dalai Lama and the holy Buddhist scripts out from their rightful places to the grubby American feet and neon-lit streets. With this single act of sacrilege and blasphemy, Keds has invited the wrath of the irate deities and would inescapably earn bad karmas for the future of its much treasured company.
Instances like this is not uncommon to the common men. In the recent past, the famed Indian painter M.F.Hussain had to face the wrath of the Indian Hindus for his paintings that allegedly denigrated the Hindu gods and goddesses. The irate and the devout Hindus charged against him as “in the name of artistic freedom Hussain had painted Hindu gods and goddesses in a manner, which deeply hurt the sentiments and sensibilities of patriotic Indians”. Apart from a complete ban on his paintings in India, Hussain had to flee home to Qatar on a self-imposed exile for the fear of his life. This clearly, like Keds’, is the consequence of the myopic vision Hussain was cursed with when he used his “creative freedom” at the cost of others!
Also, not so long time ago, we were all inundated and fed by the headlines and controversy surrounding the controversial Danish cartoon on Prophet Muhammad. At that time the news piece that most of us read and re- read went something like this – Much ink and, unfortunately, some blood has already been spilled over the Danish cartoon controversy. The controversy burst ‘out of proportion’ to the extent that it had claimed some precious lives in the crossfire that ensued. The Danish editors should have known—in fact did know—that the drawings would provoke an outcry in the Muslim world. However, again like Keds’, the editor saab somehow overlooked the consequence and eventually ended up paying a heavy price!
There are instances in the past as well about Christians suing art gallery over ‘blasphemous’ statutes of Jesus Christ. To share with you one instance, the sculpture of Christ with an erection by a Chinese artist Terence Koh was charged with denigrating Christ and outraging public decency. Emily Mapfuwa, a 40-year-old Christian who was offended by the artwork, launched a private prosecution against the gallery for outraging public decency and causing harassment, alarm and distress to the public. Mapfuwa argued that the Baltic would not have dared depict the prophet Muhammad in such a way. But the Christian Legal Centre – an organization that aims to “promote and protect the biblical freedoms of Christian believers in the United Kingdom” – agreed to pay her legal costs!
Unlike people from other respectable creed, Buddhists may be inherently grounded in the philosophy of Ahimsa and non-violence, but that doesn’t mean we are less human beings and thus less sentimental. The dishonorable precedent set by Keds would not only provoke Buddhist brothers and sisters, but it will also stir the sentiments of every sane religious practitioner of all the faiths in the world .As a self-effacing and a humble Buddhist myself, I forewarn Keds not to tread on the dirty path lest it should face a similar consequence meted out to the culprits as cited in the above instances. While I beseech and implore to the brand vultures at the Keds not to hurt the sentiments of the millions of Buddhist the world over, I urge my fellow Buddhist and Tibetans, especially in America, to call it quits for all that Keds has to offer for you to cover up your ‘unholy’ feet with their ‘holy canvas shoes’!
Response from Keds
……………………………………
Dear Mr. Tenzin,
Thank you for your email that we received this morning. However, we wanted to let you know that a week ago after receiving a similar email from Heidi Minx, , who was representing the India-based Buddhist Community, we took the following action.
Upon receiving that email on Monday, we informed Zazzle.com of the issue and requested that they immediately remove these shoes from their ecommerce site. I am pleased to report that the Zazzle.com team responded quickly and complied fully with our request — and a total of about 145 designs were eliminated from the Zazzle.com site on Monday and are no longer available for purchase. Can you please advise which shoes you are referring to?
It’s important for you and the international Buddhist community to understand that Keds did not design the styles in question nor were the shoes available for sale on any of our company’s websites: keds.com or the Keds Collective (also at keds.com).
The PRO-Keds and Keds shoes — with their blank canvas uppers — are at the center of a new trend in sneaker customization. The styles in question were designed by other individuals using an independent third-party sneaker customization website called Zazzle.com. Zazzle.com is a separate ecommerce forum that utilizes PRO-Keds and Keds product to offer its sneaker customization capability, allowing individuals to create their own unique designs on sneaker products.
While Keds and PRO-Keds shoes are available on Zazzle.com, the sale and design content of the shoes is directly managed and controlled by Zazzle.com, who is responsible for screening all designs submitted through Zazzle.com for inappropriate content. However, as the product bears our mark, we do take responsibility for ensuring that our brand is represented in a way consistent with our brand values.
In addition to ensuring these shoes have been removed from the Zazzle.com site, we are currently renegotiating our contract with Zazzle.com to incorporate additional measures to preclude any similar type of content from being placed on Keds or PRO-Keds branded shoes. While our partnership with Zazzle.com presents a unique opportunity to build our brand and to reflect individual style and creativity, Zazzle.com and Keds are ever mindful of the potential for some individuals to step beyond the bounds of appropriate creative expression. We are confident that the steps being taken will address this going forward.
We sincerely apologize for any discomfort this situation may have caused to the international Buddhist community. Please help spread the word among the Buddhist community that the Keds brand team acted quickly in this matter — as did the Zazzle.com team — and these shoes are no longer for sale at Zazzle.com.
Sincerely,
Kristin Kohler Burrows
President
Keds
The disparaging act of Keds’ consumerist attitude has hurt the sentiments of millions of Buddhists around the globe with its new line of “Colorful and Beautiful” canvas shoes .Keds’ blatant attempt to capitalize on the growing ‘fad’ for Buddhism & reverence for the Dalai Lama in the West failed to gauge the consequences of its myopic vision, which was the result of its profit-centric, market driven strategy and greed for easy and quick bucks! It has nauseatingly overlooked the importance of respecting the values and ideals of the faith which has a growing follower’s world over during this time of crises of all sorts in the history of mankind! This is how Keds’ chose to reward the Holy Man who tirelessly travels across the globe to preach global peace and universal harmony!
As rightly pointed out by one of my fellow Buddhist brothers – Bhuchung D. Sonam – “ We live in a 24×7 interconnected world where information is available at finger’s click. Thus people at Keds cannot feign ignorance about these sacred images and their importance in Buddhist culture and their roles in the practice of the dharma. Hence Keds’ Buddhist shoes are affront to Tibetans and a total disregard to their cultural values”. In the Buddhist context, Keds has committed an unpardonable sin by taking the sacred images of Buddha, the Dalai Lama and the holy Buddhist scripts out from their rightful places to the grubby American feet and neon-lit streets. With this single act of sacrilege and blasphemy, Keds has invited the wrath of the irate deities and would inescapably earn bad karmas for the future of its much treasured company.
Instances like this is not uncommon to the common men. In the recent past, the famed Indian painter M.F.Hussain had to face the wrath of the Indian Hindus for his paintings that allegedly denigrated the Hindu gods and goddesses. The irate and the devout Hindus charged against him as “in the name of artistic freedom Hussain had painted Hindu gods and goddesses in a manner, which deeply hurt the sentiments and sensibilities of patriotic Indians”. Apart from a complete ban on his paintings in India, Hussain had to flee home to Qatar on a self-imposed exile for the fear of his life. This clearly, like Keds’, is the consequence of the myopic vision Hussain was cursed with when he used his “creative freedom” at the cost of others!
Also, not so long time ago, we were all inundated and fed by the headlines and controversy surrounding the controversial Danish cartoon on Prophet Muhammad. At that time the news piece that most of us read and re- read went something like this – Much ink and, unfortunately, some blood has already been spilled over the Danish cartoon controversy. The controversy burst ‘out of proportion’ to the extent that it had claimed some precious lives in the crossfire that ensued. The Danish editors should have known—in fact did know—that the drawings would provoke an outcry in the Muslim world. However, again like Keds’, the editor saab somehow overlooked the consequence and eventually ended up paying a heavy price!
There are instances in the past as well about Christians suing art gallery over ‘blasphemous’ statutes of Jesus Christ. To share with you one instance, the sculpture of Christ with an erection by a Chinese artist Terence Koh was charged with denigrating Christ and outraging public decency. Emily Mapfuwa, a 40-year-old Christian who was offended by the artwork, launched a private prosecution against the gallery for outraging public decency and causing harassment, alarm and distress to the public. Mapfuwa argued that the Baltic would not have dared depict the prophet Muhammad in such a way. But the Christian Legal Centre – an organization that aims to “promote and protect the biblical freedoms of Christian believers in the United Kingdom” – agreed to pay her legal costs!
Unlike people from other respectable creed, Buddhists may be inherently grounded in the philosophy of Ahimsa and non-violence, but that doesn’t mean we are less human beings and thus less sentimental. The dishonorable precedent set by Keds would not only provoke Buddhist brothers and sisters, but it will also stir the sentiments of every sane religious practitioner of all the faiths in the world .As a self-effacing and a humble Buddhist myself, I forewarn Keds not to tread on the dirty path lest it should face a similar consequence meted out to the culprits as cited in the above instances. While I beseech and implore to the brand vultures at the Keds not to hurt the sentiments of the millions of Buddhist the world over, I urge my fellow Buddhist and Tibetans, especially in America, to call it quits for all that Keds has to offer for you to cover up your ‘unholy’ feet with their ‘holy canvas shoes’!
Response from Keds
……………………………………
Dear Mr. Tenzin,
Thank you for your email that we received this morning. However, we wanted to let you know that a week ago after receiving a similar email from Heidi Minx, , who was representing the India-based Buddhist Community, we took the following action.
Upon receiving that email on Monday, we informed Zazzle.com of the issue and requested that they immediately remove these shoes from their ecommerce site. I am pleased to report that the Zazzle.com team responded quickly and complied fully with our request — and a total of about 145 designs were eliminated from the Zazzle.com site on Monday and are no longer available for purchase. Can you please advise which shoes you are referring to?
It’s important for you and the international Buddhist community to understand that Keds did not design the styles in question nor were the shoes available for sale on any of our company’s websites: keds.com or the Keds Collective (also at keds.com).
The PRO-Keds and Keds shoes — with their blank canvas uppers — are at the center of a new trend in sneaker customization. The styles in question were designed by other individuals using an independent third-party sneaker customization website called Zazzle.com. Zazzle.com is a separate ecommerce forum that utilizes PRO-Keds and Keds product to offer its sneaker customization capability, allowing individuals to create their own unique designs on sneaker products.
While Keds and PRO-Keds shoes are available on Zazzle.com, the sale and design content of the shoes is directly managed and controlled by Zazzle.com, who is responsible for screening all designs submitted through Zazzle.com for inappropriate content. However, as the product bears our mark, we do take responsibility for ensuring that our brand is represented in a way consistent with our brand values.
In addition to ensuring these shoes have been removed from the Zazzle.com site, we are currently renegotiating our contract with Zazzle.com to incorporate additional measures to preclude any similar type of content from being placed on Keds or PRO-Keds branded shoes. While our partnership with Zazzle.com presents a unique opportunity to build our brand and to reflect individual style and creativity, Zazzle.com and Keds are ever mindful of the potential for some individuals to step beyond the bounds of appropriate creative expression. We are confident that the steps being taken will address this going forward.
We sincerely apologize for any discomfort this situation may have caused to the international Buddhist community. Please help spread the word among the Buddhist community that the Keds brand team acted quickly in this matter — as did the Zazzle.com team — and these shoes are no longer for sale at Zazzle.com.
Sincerely,
Kristin Kohler Burrows
President
Keds
Miss Tibet beauty pageant: Beauty , Brain & ' Boldness '
Besides the requisite oomph factor, the beauty pageant contestant should be bright as the sun, bold as brass, and beautiful as roses, to delight the aesthetic senses of the jury and the multitude alike!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
“Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears” — Edgar Allen Poe
In the face of the hullabaloo and controversy surrounding the Miss Tibet contests, the ninth edition of Lobsang Wangyal Productions’ Miss Tibet 2010 has just concluded successfully amidst fanfare and fun! The four beautiful contestants sashayed and strutted the ramp with elegance and charisma, winning the hearts of all those present at the gala evening. The tickets reportedly sold like hot cakes, and Dharamshala’s crowd thronged to the venue and shouted at the tops of their voices when the jury announced the winner and the runners-up!
The past eight Miss Tibet contests had witnessed erratic turnouts in the number of participants, and at two occasions the pageant had to go on with only one contestant! However, the Tibetan beauty contest went on against all odds without fail every year. The man behind the Miss Tibet — Lobsang Wangyal — was instrumental in bringing this beautiful concept to life in the exile world, and therefore he rightfully deserves the Show Man title for his versatility and talents! I personally believe that the Miss Tibet contest has contributed in disseminating information on and about Tibet to the outside world in its own capacity and scope. If fared well, the contestants are even given opportunity to take part in beauty pageants like Miss Earth and rub shoulders with the international beauties on the global stage, which would eventually enable them to represent Tibet and share the plight and misadventures of Tibetans’ quest to regain their homeland.
As I learned from a bit of research done on the subject, a beauty pageant is essentially a competition based mainly, but not entirely, on the physical beauty of its contestants. Most beauty contests for men and women are separate events. The men’s competitions are not referred to as beauty contests but rather as displays of strength and physicality. Women winning a beauty contest are given the title of a beauty queen, and runners-up are regarded as princesses or equivalent, while contests for men are judged as body-building competitions. Till about 15 years ago, the main focus of contests for men was on the unnatural muscle mass of the contestants and their physical attributes, but now the judges look towards other attributes such as emotional and intellectual responses, as well as awareness of current issues. Some of these competitions include Mr Universe, Mr International, and Mr America for men, while Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, and Mrs World are some famous beauty pageants for women.
Regardless of the method of competition, breakdown of scores, or frequency of selection, all are defined as “entertainment in the form of a beauty pageant.” It is up to the individual to determine which is best suited for competition or of particular entertainment interest.
Back when beauty pageants first started, they were viewed as trivial events whose interpretation required no scholarly effort. Miss America, the first pageant of its kind, has made an effort to ensure that it does not appear as a “stereotypical” pageant. The competition emphasizes the different aspects of women and highlights their personal successes. They strive to give these women the opportunity to rise to the top. Pageant participants return to their hometowns and promote community involvement. Another goal of pageants is promoting the self-esteem of the contestants. Girls who compete feel a sense of belonging with the other contestants, and with the larger pageant community. The pageant offers not just a place, but a particular way and stringently limited terms with which to negotiate a sense of self.
While lauding the courage and determination of our Miss Tibets, there is a visible lack of self-confidence and stamina which is required to exhibit and flaunt their beauty and talents. Our girls need to be more courageous, more informed and more prepared to face the world confidently. Besides the beauty and figure, they should also focus on the overall personality, including language and cultural knowledge. They should also spruce up their knowledge on current issues challenging Tibet as a nation, Tibetan women, and the world at large. Apart from just looking beautiful, they should have the brains and the boldness to represent Tibetan women and be able to carry the weight of the Miss Tibet title on their shoulder.
There’s no denying the fact that the skills learned in pageants have been said to last for a lifetime. Contestants gain the ability to speak in public, and a sense of confidence in themselves. Winners of these pageants have said that feel they have a sense of accomplishment. Having said all this, we are yet to see a fierce battle in the Miss Tibet contest so far. A minimum of ten contestants would be required to add zest and passion to the contest. To our young and beautiful ladies — If you have the package of beauty, brains, and boldness, you should pull up your socks from now on to make a roaring appearance at the next Miss Tibet contest. Until then I must say — All the best to all our beautiful ladies out there. I bet you’d agree: The show must go on!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
“Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears” — Edgar Allen Poe
In the face of the hullabaloo and controversy surrounding the Miss Tibet contests, the ninth edition of Lobsang Wangyal Productions’ Miss Tibet 2010 has just concluded successfully amidst fanfare and fun! The four beautiful contestants sashayed and strutted the ramp with elegance and charisma, winning the hearts of all those present at the gala evening. The tickets reportedly sold like hot cakes, and Dharamshala’s crowd thronged to the venue and shouted at the tops of their voices when the jury announced the winner and the runners-up!
The past eight Miss Tibet contests had witnessed erratic turnouts in the number of participants, and at two occasions the pageant had to go on with only one contestant! However, the Tibetan beauty contest went on against all odds without fail every year. The man behind the Miss Tibet — Lobsang Wangyal — was instrumental in bringing this beautiful concept to life in the exile world, and therefore he rightfully deserves the Show Man title for his versatility and talents! I personally believe that the Miss Tibet contest has contributed in disseminating information on and about Tibet to the outside world in its own capacity and scope. If fared well, the contestants are even given opportunity to take part in beauty pageants like Miss Earth and rub shoulders with the international beauties on the global stage, which would eventually enable them to represent Tibet and share the plight and misadventures of Tibetans’ quest to regain their homeland.
As I learned from a bit of research done on the subject, a beauty pageant is essentially a competition based mainly, but not entirely, on the physical beauty of its contestants. Most beauty contests for men and women are separate events. The men’s competitions are not referred to as beauty contests but rather as displays of strength and physicality. Women winning a beauty contest are given the title of a beauty queen, and runners-up are regarded as princesses or equivalent, while contests for men are judged as body-building competitions. Till about 15 years ago, the main focus of contests for men was on the unnatural muscle mass of the contestants and their physical attributes, but now the judges look towards other attributes such as emotional and intellectual responses, as well as awareness of current issues. Some of these competitions include Mr Universe, Mr International, and Mr America for men, while Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, and Mrs World are some famous beauty pageants for women.
Regardless of the method of competition, breakdown of scores, or frequency of selection, all are defined as “entertainment in the form of a beauty pageant.” It is up to the individual to determine which is best suited for competition or of particular entertainment interest.
Back when beauty pageants first started, they were viewed as trivial events whose interpretation required no scholarly effort. Miss America, the first pageant of its kind, has made an effort to ensure that it does not appear as a “stereotypical” pageant. The competition emphasizes the different aspects of women and highlights their personal successes. They strive to give these women the opportunity to rise to the top. Pageant participants return to their hometowns and promote community involvement. Another goal of pageants is promoting the self-esteem of the contestants. Girls who compete feel a sense of belonging with the other contestants, and with the larger pageant community. The pageant offers not just a place, but a particular way and stringently limited terms with which to negotiate a sense of self.
While lauding the courage and determination of our Miss Tibets, there is a visible lack of self-confidence and stamina which is required to exhibit and flaunt their beauty and talents. Our girls need to be more courageous, more informed and more prepared to face the world confidently. Besides the beauty and figure, they should also focus on the overall personality, including language and cultural knowledge. They should also spruce up their knowledge on current issues challenging Tibet as a nation, Tibetan women, and the world at large. Apart from just looking beautiful, they should have the brains and the boldness to represent Tibetan women and be able to carry the weight of the Miss Tibet title on their shoulder.
There’s no denying the fact that the skills learned in pageants have been said to last for a lifetime. Contestants gain the ability to speak in public, and a sense of confidence in themselves. Winners of these pageants have said that feel they have a sense of accomplishment. Having said all this, we are yet to see a fierce battle in the Miss Tibet contest so far. A minimum of ten contestants would be required to add zest and passion to the contest. To our young and beautiful ladies — If you have the package of beauty, brains, and boldness, you should pull up your socks from now on to make a roaring appearance at the next Miss Tibet contest. Until then I must say — All the best to all our beautiful ladies out there. I bet you’d agree: The show must go on!
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
The widening gap between Dharamsala and Beijing’s political gambit!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
China has once again managed to stall a meeting between two Nobel laureates recently – a meeting between His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet and the new Nobel laureate-in-waiting Barrack Obama of America. This had drawn severe flak on Obama’s intentions as a result Obama had to purposefully sent his delegates to Dharamsala to meet with the Dalai Lama to make his intentions clear once and for all. However, amidst such growing Chinese political browbeatings against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile government, Dharamsala always play it safe in matters relating to so called diplomatic negotiations with Beijing .While Beijing always intentionally engage in covering up Tibet’s issue whenever there’s a remote prospect of a good political climate, Dharamsala invariably limits itself to just letting out a feeble cry of objection which always tend to fall flat on the deaf ears in Beijing.
Today it’s an open secret that Dharamsala is caught between the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea. Despite ceaseless blatant attacks by Beijing, Dharamsala is always gung-ho and obsessed about creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and hoping for a divine intervention in solving Tibet’s issue.
So far we have had eight rounds of 'inconclusive talks' and still we look forward with a hope for a breakthrough in our future envoy’s visit to Beijing notwithstanding the fact that Beijing has no intention of breaking our political deadlock.
We have spent our 50 years in exile just kow-towing and dancing to the tunes of Beijing while there’s not even a remote sign and good will gesture from the other side. Instead, what Beijing always seems to be interested is in flexing its political muscle and sweeping Tibet’s issue under the carpet. In a way it looks like we have indirectly contributed in making Beijing proficient in playing this nasty political game due to our defeatist psychology.
If you have the guts you will have no qualms in admitting that Beijing will never tire from articulating its pseudo concerns and claims of modernization in Tibet despite its terrible records of human rights abuses. Apart from issuing mild political sanctions against Beijing, the international giants like the U.S and Britain remain sucked in its business ties with Beijing’s rising economy.
To stoop too low amidst such political climate we are doing nothing more than flogging the dead horse to life. We had remained just mute spectators to the communist splendors that have recently been displayed by Beijing on the occasion of 60 years of communism in China. Instead of the desirous downfall of communism they have shown to the world that communism in China is very much alive. This comes as a huge blow, particularly to the Tibetans as we have always hoped for an advent of democracy in China, which would eventually ease in solving Tibet’s issue. Instead a death-knell in true sense of the word has been sounded!
Going by our experience dealing with China in our 50 years of exile have taught us one thing loud and clear – that Beijing always regard our cry for freedom or autonomy not more than just a pinprick of a mosquito bite. To them we are just like those dancing clowns in circus shows.
What China fears most today is the power of the simple Buddhist monk whose non-violence propagation is received like a dagger at their heart. Because of this fear Beijing always makes sure to warn any country from welcoming the Dalai Lama on their soil. For them, with the passing away of the Dalai Lama Tibet will also disappear into thin oblivion and Tibetans will be reduced to mere unknown citizens of the world. Despite our repeated refutation of this Chinese notion, Beijing still clings to the erroneous belief!
We had already observed and thanked our host country on completing 50 years in exile, Tibetan Youth Congress has also observed its 40th founding anniversary just recently, China has also celebrated 60 years of communism and we will have observed and celebrated many founding anniversaries of our NGOs, institutes, and governmental organizations in the years to come. But sadly all these year counts remind us that the issue of Tibet has not made any breakthroughs in all these years.
Our exile community is weakly polarized in our varied political views and stands. We have to accept this fact that we are always confused on how to go about making our views heard. While we unanimously endorse ‘middle path’ endorsed by His Holiness, we also get ourselves caught in the call for freedom during our political rallies. If we are for ‘middle path’, should we also resort to demanding complete independence? Or the other way round? Or there’s also benefit of doubt without swearing allegiance to neither of our stands?
Like the fickle minded communist brothers, our Tibetan brains are also on the verge of becoming invalid and one day it would stop functioning altogether! Beijing traditionally suffers from its suspicious nature while we keep hoping for some sort of miracle that would bring about a sudden change in our quest for Tibet. (Bhoed rewai phoong, Gya Dhokpai phoong) This is due to our short-sightedness and weak heart that delays us from seeing the greener side of the shore.
Our fifty years of political struggle for Tibet has reached nowhere today. Despite our discounts and compromises, Beijing is still dead solid in its mission to erase Tibet from the collective memory of the world. It works day in and out to churn out propagandist campaigns against the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile. Despite our repeated proposals for a solution to the Tibet’s issue through dialogue Beijing is not ready to move even an inch. The atrocities being meted out to Tibetans inside Tibet has become a ritual and no bloody world powers have the guts and willingness to push Beijing to the negotiation table. In this political melee Tibetan exiles remain confused in the middle of all this political gambit between Dharmsala and Beijing.
All these grim realities stand testimony to the fact that there is an urgent need of an overhaul in our political attitude and stance against Beijing’s cunning ploys. Be it our government or the mass, we need to wake up before the cloud of uncertainties loom over our heads. A ‘tit-for-tat’ approach is not a bad idea. It’s time that we danced according to the beats of Beijing’s drum. Otherwise we will be caught in this vicious circle of political Catch 22 forever and after!
- from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
China has once again managed to stall a meeting between two Nobel laureates recently – a meeting between His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet and the new Nobel laureate-in-waiting Barrack Obama of America. This had drawn severe flak on Obama’s intentions as a result Obama had to purposefully sent his delegates to Dharamsala to meet with the Dalai Lama to make his intentions clear once and for all. However, amidst such growing Chinese political browbeatings against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile government, Dharamsala always play it safe in matters relating to so called diplomatic negotiations with Beijing .While Beijing always intentionally engage in covering up Tibet’s issue whenever there’s a remote prospect of a good political climate, Dharamsala invariably limits itself to just letting out a feeble cry of objection which always tend to fall flat on the deaf ears in Beijing.
Today it’s an open secret that Dharamsala is caught between the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea. Despite ceaseless blatant attacks by Beijing, Dharamsala is always gung-ho and obsessed about creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and hoping for a divine intervention in solving Tibet’s issue.
So far we have had eight rounds of 'inconclusive talks' and still we look forward with a hope for a breakthrough in our future envoy’s visit to Beijing notwithstanding the fact that Beijing has no intention of breaking our political deadlock.
We have spent our 50 years in exile just kow-towing and dancing to the tunes of Beijing while there’s not even a remote sign and good will gesture from the other side. Instead, what Beijing always seems to be interested is in flexing its political muscle and sweeping Tibet’s issue under the carpet. In a way it looks like we have indirectly contributed in making Beijing proficient in playing this nasty political game due to our defeatist psychology.
If you have the guts you will have no qualms in admitting that Beijing will never tire from articulating its pseudo concerns and claims of modernization in Tibet despite its terrible records of human rights abuses. Apart from issuing mild political sanctions against Beijing, the international giants like the U.S and Britain remain sucked in its business ties with Beijing’s rising economy.
To stoop too low amidst such political climate we are doing nothing more than flogging the dead horse to life. We had remained just mute spectators to the communist splendors that have recently been displayed by Beijing on the occasion of 60 years of communism in China. Instead of the desirous downfall of communism they have shown to the world that communism in China is very much alive. This comes as a huge blow, particularly to the Tibetans as we have always hoped for an advent of democracy in China, which would eventually ease in solving Tibet’s issue. Instead a death-knell in true sense of the word has been sounded!
Going by our experience dealing with China in our 50 years of exile have taught us one thing loud and clear – that Beijing always regard our cry for freedom or autonomy not more than just a pinprick of a mosquito bite. To them we are just like those dancing clowns in circus shows.
What China fears most today is the power of the simple Buddhist monk whose non-violence propagation is received like a dagger at their heart. Because of this fear Beijing always makes sure to warn any country from welcoming the Dalai Lama on their soil. For them, with the passing away of the Dalai Lama Tibet will also disappear into thin oblivion and Tibetans will be reduced to mere unknown citizens of the world. Despite our repeated refutation of this Chinese notion, Beijing still clings to the erroneous belief!
We had already observed and thanked our host country on completing 50 years in exile, Tibetan Youth Congress has also observed its 40th founding anniversary just recently, China has also celebrated 60 years of communism and we will have observed and celebrated many founding anniversaries of our NGOs, institutes, and governmental organizations in the years to come. But sadly all these year counts remind us that the issue of Tibet has not made any breakthroughs in all these years.
Our exile community is weakly polarized in our varied political views and stands. We have to accept this fact that we are always confused on how to go about making our views heard. While we unanimously endorse ‘middle path’ endorsed by His Holiness, we also get ourselves caught in the call for freedom during our political rallies. If we are for ‘middle path’, should we also resort to demanding complete independence? Or the other way round? Or there’s also benefit of doubt without swearing allegiance to neither of our stands?
Like the fickle minded communist brothers, our Tibetan brains are also on the verge of becoming invalid and one day it would stop functioning altogether! Beijing traditionally suffers from its suspicious nature while we keep hoping for some sort of miracle that would bring about a sudden change in our quest for Tibet. (Bhoed rewai phoong, Gya Dhokpai phoong) This is due to our short-sightedness and weak heart that delays us from seeing the greener side of the shore.
Our fifty years of political struggle for Tibet has reached nowhere today. Despite our discounts and compromises, Beijing is still dead solid in its mission to erase Tibet from the collective memory of the world. It works day in and out to churn out propagandist campaigns against the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile. Despite our repeated proposals for a solution to the Tibet’s issue through dialogue Beijing is not ready to move even an inch. The atrocities being meted out to Tibetans inside Tibet has become a ritual and no bloody world powers have the guts and willingness to push Beijing to the negotiation table. In this political melee Tibetan exiles remain confused in the middle of all this political gambit between Dharmsala and Beijing.
All these grim realities stand testimony to the fact that there is an urgent need of an overhaul in our political attitude and stance against Beijing’s cunning ploys. Be it our government or the mass, we need to wake up before the cloud of uncertainties loom over our heads. A ‘tit-for-tat’ approach is not a bad idea. It’s time that we danced according to the beats of Beijing’s drum. Otherwise we will be caught in this vicious circle of political Catch 22 forever and after!
Time for realpolitiking !
ARE WE POLITICALLY IMPASSIVE AT OUR OWN COST?
-from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
Jamyang Norbu’s recent opinion piece "waiting for mangtso" served as, among other things, a timely reminder to our (or at least to me) collective political insensitiveness and indifference that has become the norm of our exile community. Apart from mechanically going about our daily life as business-as-usual, most of us do not have the time and enthusiasm to do a reality check on the politics of our cause and affairs. As a result, we deem ‘political affairs’ a kind of societal pariah and let it manage by a handful of politicians of our own making (through our ‘unmindful’ ballot vote)!
Today, what we see is a small coterie of Tibetans (both youngsters and elderly included) who are at least ‘hot and bothered’ about what is going on within ‘our’ political world. These are the select men and women who have the guts and patriotism to cry boo, break their head, burn their leg, risk incarceration, shout slogan and raise their brows whenever some untoward political twists and turns appear on the surface. These are the few bunch of ‘nationalist’ or ‘patriots’ who spearhead and organize numerous unto-death-hunger-strikes, peace marches, candle-light vigils, embassy wall-scaling, boycotts, special prayers, petitions to the U.N.O, hair-tonsuring, day-in and day-out programmes at Jantar Mantar and at other ‘strategic’ places. The rest of us, if we in a mood or find time or if we happen to be at the places of such political gatherings, we join them with a short-lived and charged-up nationalism. But, the moment such flock disperses, we go chuckling all the way to our homes! This shows nothing less than our indifference and insensitiveness for our national cause, which is inescapably seeped in our political mission.
To connect the context with something new and fresh, the eight session of the fourteenth parliament have just concluded amidst intermittent exchange of niceties, boisterous hoo-ha, halla-gulla, finger pointing games and walk-out dramas! And in Dharamsala it somehow managed to replace popular ‘saas-bahu’ soap series with the cable telecast of the ongoing parliament-in-session (much to the chagrin of our sentimental and serial-addicted aunties and grannies). Whereas in the settlements, a bunch of devoted grand-papas and uncles wait religiously for the bi-weekly VOA telecast of the Tibetan news to lend their ears and eyes and be the witness to the parliamentary proceedings, while a bunch of younger lots spend their time reveling in illusion of the three B’s – Bikes, Babes and Booze! The remaining ‘in between’ mimaangs are either obsessed with making their ends meet or busy tending their rose gardens! This is the testimony to the fact that a real ‘political verve’ is still yet to invade our private world and our democratic administration is, though comparatively new, still slogging at snail’s pace. This becomes clear from the fact that ‘politics’ finds best place to talk about only at tea-shops, bus-stops, sumdos (3 crossroads), lunch-breaks and other everyday gossip renzedvous. It has never been able to capture our attention in a more serious atmosphere and climate. Instead, what we mostly tend to chat about is petty ‘politicking’ and the real politics. This may be reasoned out as one can not always spot the wafer-thin difference in meaning between ‘politicking’ and ‘politics’!
To make it clear once and for all, ‘politics’ in its truest sense, is not as bad as what we’ve come to understand! Politics is nothing but an art or science of running a government. Therefore, if understood and taken in the right spirit, it has the potential to bring about a practical solution to our ailing democracy. On the other hand, ‘politicking’ is widespread in every sphere of our social lives. So we can’t help!
There’s no denying the fact that the best thing about a democratic government is the fundamental nature of the ‘universal suffrage’, where every adult citizen have a say in choosing their leaders and likewise elect only those who are bona fide candidates. His Holiness has seen and realized this as raison d’être and one of the corner stone of good governance. Since then Tibetans in exile have been gifted with a privilege (untested and untried before) to vote their representatives in the parliament-in-exile for the first time in the Tibetan political history. It’s been a while, but not so long, since we have been endowed with this gift in the form of ‘democratic governance’, but it is sometimes dispiriting to see pathetic voter turnouts, lack of ‘real’ understanding about the potential candidates and apathy of the general electorate during such important election times! This is not only an abuse of our democratic rights, but also an insult to the tenets of our constitution. This endorses the view that “bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.”
If you will trust the wisdom of our age-old gurus, it is never too late when you realize it is too late! If we have the intelligence to learn from our past political blunders, we are still not ‘behind the schedule’ to reverse our political psychology and bring about a new political spin-off before the formation of the fifteenth parliament-in-exile and 2011 Kalon Tripa in the offing. Unlike other established democracies such as India and America, we do not have enough human and material resources to put up a flamboyant campaign and go canvassing around. But, the least practical thing we can do is to use the ‘available’ resource to educate and encourage the community for a fierce political participation, which will consequently help in pulling more practical talents from the exile crowd. This would eventually give a face-lift to our paralyzed public voting quotient. A silver lining of sorts, amidst such cloud of political indifference, it is endearing to see unique initiative by individuals like Mr. Thupten Samdup, now the representative of His Holiness in London. He has created a specific website to encourage public participation in choosing our next Kalon Tripa (i.e. 2011). With an open heart, I expect some more initiatives like this from our Tibetan media (both print and electronic). Such initiatives may be just the tip of the iceberg. But any change, for that matter, must begin from the grass-root level. Therefore, our journey towards a ‘politically sane’ society must begin with the first step. And, let us bring and time this ‘change’ with the next Kalon Tripa election in the year 2011.Before I conclude, let me SHOUT – POLITICS IS NOT BAD, AT LEAST FOR US! Full Stop.
-from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
Jamyang Norbu’s recent opinion piece "waiting for mangtso" served as, among other things, a timely reminder to our (or at least to me) collective political insensitiveness and indifference that has become the norm of our exile community. Apart from mechanically going about our daily life as business-as-usual, most of us do not have the time and enthusiasm to do a reality check on the politics of our cause and affairs. As a result, we deem ‘political affairs’ a kind of societal pariah and let it manage by a handful of politicians of our own making (through our ‘unmindful’ ballot vote)!
Today, what we see is a small coterie of Tibetans (both youngsters and elderly included) who are at least ‘hot and bothered’ about what is going on within ‘our’ political world. These are the select men and women who have the guts and patriotism to cry boo, break their head, burn their leg, risk incarceration, shout slogan and raise their brows whenever some untoward political twists and turns appear on the surface. These are the few bunch of ‘nationalist’ or ‘patriots’ who spearhead and organize numerous unto-death-hunger-strikes, peace marches, candle-light vigils, embassy wall-scaling, boycotts, special prayers, petitions to the U.N.O, hair-tonsuring, day-in and day-out programmes at Jantar Mantar and at other ‘strategic’ places. The rest of us, if we in a mood or find time or if we happen to be at the places of such political gatherings, we join them with a short-lived and charged-up nationalism. But, the moment such flock disperses, we go chuckling all the way to our homes! This shows nothing less than our indifference and insensitiveness for our national cause, which is inescapably seeped in our political mission.
To connect the context with something new and fresh, the eight session of the fourteenth parliament have just concluded amidst intermittent exchange of niceties, boisterous hoo-ha, halla-gulla, finger pointing games and walk-out dramas! And in Dharamsala it somehow managed to replace popular ‘saas-bahu’ soap series with the cable telecast of the ongoing parliament-in-session (much to the chagrin of our sentimental and serial-addicted aunties and grannies). Whereas in the settlements, a bunch of devoted grand-papas and uncles wait religiously for the bi-weekly VOA telecast of the Tibetan news to lend their ears and eyes and be the witness to the parliamentary proceedings, while a bunch of younger lots spend their time reveling in illusion of the three B’s – Bikes, Babes and Booze! The remaining ‘in between’ mimaangs are either obsessed with making their ends meet or busy tending their rose gardens! This is the testimony to the fact that a real ‘political verve’ is still yet to invade our private world and our democratic administration is, though comparatively new, still slogging at snail’s pace. This becomes clear from the fact that ‘politics’ finds best place to talk about only at tea-shops, bus-stops, sumdos (3 crossroads), lunch-breaks and other everyday gossip renzedvous. It has never been able to capture our attention in a more serious atmosphere and climate. Instead, what we mostly tend to chat about is petty ‘politicking’ and the real politics. This may be reasoned out as one can not always spot the wafer-thin difference in meaning between ‘politicking’ and ‘politics’!
To make it clear once and for all, ‘politics’ in its truest sense, is not as bad as what we’ve come to understand! Politics is nothing but an art or science of running a government. Therefore, if understood and taken in the right spirit, it has the potential to bring about a practical solution to our ailing democracy. On the other hand, ‘politicking’ is widespread in every sphere of our social lives. So we can’t help!
There’s no denying the fact that the best thing about a democratic government is the fundamental nature of the ‘universal suffrage’, where every adult citizen have a say in choosing their leaders and likewise elect only those who are bona fide candidates. His Holiness has seen and realized this as raison d’être and one of the corner stone of good governance. Since then Tibetans in exile have been gifted with a privilege (untested and untried before) to vote their representatives in the parliament-in-exile for the first time in the Tibetan political history. It’s been a while, but not so long, since we have been endowed with this gift in the form of ‘democratic governance’, but it is sometimes dispiriting to see pathetic voter turnouts, lack of ‘real’ understanding about the potential candidates and apathy of the general electorate during such important election times! This is not only an abuse of our democratic rights, but also an insult to the tenets of our constitution. This endorses the view that “bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.”
If you will trust the wisdom of our age-old gurus, it is never too late when you realize it is too late! If we have the intelligence to learn from our past political blunders, we are still not ‘behind the schedule’ to reverse our political psychology and bring about a new political spin-off before the formation of the fifteenth parliament-in-exile and 2011 Kalon Tripa in the offing. Unlike other established democracies such as India and America, we do not have enough human and material resources to put up a flamboyant campaign and go canvassing around. But, the least practical thing we can do is to use the ‘available’ resource to educate and encourage the community for a fierce political participation, which will consequently help in pulling more practical talents from the exile crowd. This would eventually give a face-lift to our paralyzed public voting quotient. A silver lining of sorts, amidst such cloud of political indifference, it is endearing to see unique initiative by individuals like Mr. Thupten Samdup, now the representative of His Holiness in London. He has created a specific website to encourage public participation in choosing our next Kalon Tripa (i.e. 2011). With an open heart, I expect some more initiatives like this from our Tibetan media (both print and electronic). Such initiatives may be just the tip of the iceberg. But any change, for that matter, must begin from the grass-root level. Therefore, our journey towards a ‘politically sane’ society must begin with the first step. And, let us bring and time this ‘change’ with the next Kalon Tripa election in the year 2011.Before I conclude, let me SHOUT – POLITICS IS NOT BAD, AT LEAST FOR US! Full Stop.
Next Tibetan Prime Minister in exile: Old wine in a new bottle?
-from the Tibetology Desk ( Older Post )
I am not much of a wine enthusiast, but I am familiar with the underlying meaning of the oft-repeated expression “old wine in a new bottle”! Oddly enough, I never had the opportunity to use the expression usefully until this day. It is beginning to make more sense as the discussion on choosing our next Kalon Tripa [the prime minister] is reaching a level of activity it never has before.
This is obviously a precursor for a good move ahead in 2011. In contrast to past indifference and unawareness, the Tibetan exile populace are at least keeping their eyes and ears open to know more about the credible candidates, and are seriously discussing whom to choose and whom not to. From casual chit-chats to solemn debates, their ponderings seem to be invariably revolving around choosing our next top elected leader. The good news is — everybody wishes to elect the “best leader”, who would be capable of manoeuvring their collective aspirations to the desired destination with adequate buoyancy and optimism. The bad news: Very few seem to be quite sure on what to expect from their next Kalon Tripa! There is a detectable confusion between choosing brand new leaders versus experienced leaders (I call them old wine).
Taking a cue, from the roles and responsibilities of the Prime Minister of the country where the Tibetan Government-in-exile is based, would surely help:
a) The Prime Minister of India leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the Government of India. He or she is invited by the President as leader of the majority party in the Parliament of India to form a government at the federal level (known as Central Government in India) and exercise its powers.
b) In practice, the prime minister nominates the members of the Council of Ministers to the President, and also decides on a core group of Ministers (known as the Cabinet) as in-charge of the important functions and ministries of the Government of India.
c) As the head of the government, the prime minister is responsible for distribution of work of the government to the various ministries. While generally the entire work of the government in divided into these ministries, the prime minister may retain certain portfolios with himself or herself.
d) The prime minister, in consultation with the cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the houses of parliament, and is required to answer the questions from the members of parliament as the in-charge of the portfolios he holds or in his or her capacity as the prime minister of India.
e) The prime minister is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, and appoints the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, who is responsible for the functioning of the Commission and reports to the prime minister.
f) The prime minister represents the country in various delegations, high-level meetings, and international organisations that require the attendance of the highest government office, and also addresses to the nation on various issues of national or other importance.
g) Also in the exclusive jurisdiction of the prime minister is the disposal of two national funds: the PM’s National Relief Fund and the PM’s National Defence Fund, as appropriate to their objectives.
Interestingly, adding to the new wave of political attentiveness, mushrooming new age groups are involved in spreading political awareness, such as the new Tibetan Political Review. According to the TPR team: “Serving in the highest-elected office of the Tibetan nation requires more than academic qualities divorced from the big picture and on-the-ground realities. It also requires political adeptness, principled idealism, and political vision. The next Kalon Tripa will need all of these qualities to lead the Tibetan people.” Whereas a different school of thought believes in sending young guns to the top echelon of leadership who could not only strengthen, but also revolutionise the way we characterise our leadership.
The major difference in opinion among our electorate is the weight they give to the “experienced” and the “inexperienced”. So, going by the conventional wisdom, the old and the experienced have the advantage of gaining more support and eventually pocketing more vote counts! The history of our leadership says in ample measure that we are always after the “experience factor” more than anything else, and as a result we leave the up-and-coming leaders in the lurch.
Talking specifically about the next Kalon Tripa, first of all we would need to have a clear picture of the powers and everyday duties of the role. Two broad areas where our next Ka-tri would be tried and tested are in “Nangsi and Chisi,” or internal and external affairs. Since we do not have an external affairs minister and a home minister, should our Ka-tri be adept in both the areas?
Some would say our next leader should be a headstrong youth who could churn our political goal depending on the situation, and not always or necessarily U-Mey Lam (middle way approach), regardless of how the Chinese side reacts.
Others prefer to see the new leadership in the light of internal or home affairs. This would mean, among other things, maintaining unity and orderliness among the scattered expatriates in the West and the exile community based in India, Nepal and Bhutan; strengthening and expanding the livelihood of the Tibetans in the refugee settlements and their welfare; bringing out innovative ways to preserve our cultural identity; and improving the educational standards of the Tibetan schools in exile. However, to do this the leader will always have the backup of his Kashag or cabinet ministers, whose responsibilities include supervising each department under their influence.
So what should be the main focus of the Ka-tri — issues pertaining to politics or non-politics or home affairs or external affairs or all together? Or should experience be the only criterion in selecting our next leader? Or is it better to give room for the young go-getters to “learn and lead” us into the next five unforeseen years?
I am not implying anything to daunt and dampen the prevailing spirit of inquiry and discussions that have been taking place everywhere, but in my best hope I am just trying to figure out an answer to that one pesky question, and find ways to piece together two divergent political judgments. I am as much as confused as many of you are, but that does not stop me from wondering aloud who should get my vote, and who should not. Despite the nagging confusion, I am very much looking forward to cast my “precious” vote and make my contribution in bringing out the best leader from the best of the best of the candidates!
So instead of choosing skilled and experienced people, I would rather go for a candidate with new ideas and new promises for change. I feel it’s time that we gave a chance to the new faces so that we can train them for our future leadership bank as well. We have enjoyed enough “secure political period” over the past couple of decades by voting in only the experienced old hands. Despite the discernible shortage of leaders in our community, we have never given enough opportunities to the younger lot to prove their mettle in leading the masses in the right direction. While respecting the experienced and older generation of our leadership, we must also widen our view concurrent with the changes of modern times. So, the experience factor only should not get in the way of choosing our next leader(s).
Having said all that, I have to also say, I do not have any reservation against those who prefer old wine in a new bottle either! So I would only say — be wise in deciding, wiser in electing! After all, we need a leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
I am not much of a wine enthusiast, but I am familiar with the underlying meaning of the oft-repeated expression “old wine in a new bottle”! Oddly enough, I never had the opportunity to use the expression usefully until this day. It is beginning to make more sense as the discussion on choosing our next Kalon Tripa [the prime minister] is reaching a level of activity it never has before.
This is obviously a precursor for a good move ahead in 2011. In contrast to past indifference and unawareness, the Tibetan exile populace are at least keeping their eyes and ears open to know more about the credible candidates, and are seriously discussing whom to choose and whom not to. From casual chit-chats to solemn debates, their ponderings seem to be invariably revolving around choosing our next top elected leader. The good news is — everybody wishes to elect the “best leader”, who would be capable of manoeuvring their collective aspirations to the desired destination with adequate buoyancy and optimism. The bad news: Very few seem to be quite sure on what to expect from their next Kalon Tripa! There is a detectable confusion between choosing brand new leaders versus experienced leaders (I call them old wine).
Taking a cue, from the roles and responsibilities of the Prime Minister of the country where the Tibetan Government-in-exile is based, would surely help:
a) The Prime Minister of India leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the Government of India. He or she is invited by the President as leader of the majority party in the Parliament of India to form a government at the federal level (known as Central Government in India) and exercise its powers.
b) In practice, the prime minister nominates the members of the Council of Ministers to the President, and also decides on a core group of Ministers (known as the Cabinet) as in-charge of the important functions and ministries of the Government of India.
c) As the head of the government, the prime minister is responsible for distribution of work of the government to the various ministries. While generally the entire work of the government in divided into these ministries, the prime minister may retain certain portfolios with himself or herself.
d) The prime minister, in consultation with the cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the houses of parliament, and is required to answer the questions from the members of parliament as the in-charge of the portfolios he holds or in his or her capacity as the prime minister of India.
e) The prime minister is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, and appoints the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, who is responsible for the functioning of the Commission and reports to the prime minister.
f) The prime minister represents the country in various delegations, high-level meetings, and international organisations that require the attendance of the highest government office, and also addresses to the nation on various issues of national or other importance.
g) Also in the exclusive jurisdiction of the prime minister is the disposal of two national funds: the PM’s National Relief Fund and the PM’s National Defence Fund, as appropriate to their objectives.
Interestingly, adding to the new wave of political attentiveness, mushrooming new age groups are involved in spreading political awareness, such as the new Tibetan Political Review. According to the TPR team: “Serving in the highest-elected office of the Tibetan nation requires more than academic qualities divorced from the big picture and on-the-ground realities. It also requires political adeptness, principled idealism, and political vision. The next Kalon Tripa will need all of these qualities to lead the Tibetan people.” Whereas a different school of thought believes in sending young guns to the top echelon of leadership who could not only strengthen, but also revolutionise the way we characterise our leadership.
The major difference in opinion among our electorate is the weight they give to the “experienced” and the “inexperienced”. So, going by the conventional wisdom, the old and the experienced have the advantage of gaining more support and eventually pocketing more vote counts! The history of our leadership says in ample measure that we are always after the “experience factor” more than anything else, and as a result we leave the up-and-coming leaders in the lurch.
Talking specifically about the next Kalon Tripa, first of all we would need to have a clear picture of the powers and everyday duties of the role. Two broad areas where our next Ka-tri would be tried and tested are in “Nangsi and Chisi,” or internal and external affairs. Since we do not have an external affairs minister and a home minister, should our Ka-tri be adept in both the areas?
Some would say our next leader should be a headstrong youth who could churn our political goal depending on the situation, and not always or necessarily U-Mey Lam (middle way approach), regardless of how the Chinese side reacts.
Others prefer to see the new leadership in the light of internal or home affairs. This would mean, among other things, maintaining unity and orderliness among the scattered expatriates in the West and the exile community based in India, Nepal and Bhutan; strengthening and expanding the livelihood of the Tibetans in the refugee settlements and their welfare; bringing out innovative ways to preserve our cultural identity; and improving the educational standards of the Tibetan schools in exile. However, to do this the leader will always have the backup of his Kashag or cabinet ministers, whose responsibilities include supervising each department under their influence.
So what should be the main focus of the Ka-tri — issues pertaining to politics or non-politics or home affairs or external affairs or all together? Or should experience be the only criterion in selecting our next leader? Or is it better to give room for the young go-getters to “learn and lead” us into the next five unforeseen years?
I am not implying anything to daunt and dampen the prevailing spirit of inquiry and discussions that have been taking place everywhere, but in my best hope I am just trying to figure out an answer to that one pesky question, and find ways to piece together two divergent political judgments. I am as much as confused as many of you are, but that does not stop me from wondering aloud who should get my vote, and who should not. Despite the nagging confusion, I am very much looking forward to cast my “precious” vote and make my contribution in bringing out the best leader from the best of the best of the candidates!
So instead of choosing skilled and experienced people, I would rather go for a candidate with new ideas and new promises for change. I feel it’s time that we gave a chance to the new faces so that we can train them for our future leadership bank as well. We have enjoyed enough “secure political period” over the past couple of decades by voting in only the experienced old hands. Despite the discernible shortage of leaders in our community, we have never given enough opportunities to the younger lot to prove their mettle in leading the masses in the right direction. While respecting the experienced and older generation of our leadership, we must also widen our view concurrent with the changes of modern times. So, the experience factor only should not get in the way of choosing our next leader(s).
Having said all that, I have to also say, I do not have any reservation against those who prefer old wine in a new bottle either! So I would only say — be wise in deciding, wiser in electing! After all, we need a leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
THE RAPE OF MY COUNTRY
-from the Tibetology Desk 28/ 06 / 2012
The flowers bloomed, but withered away,
The pebbles stood, but motionless on the bay,
when the savage seduced and ravished my country,
Leaving behind a worst tale of misery.
Trot, trot, trot - the bloodthirsty PLA troops marched in,
like drunkards throwing their weight around in Shanghai inn,
They behaved with my countrymen in the most obnoxious way,
Even the serene lotus that once bloomed hath turned away.
Oh - will the United Nations please heed our cries?
We are the victims of this worst rape on earth.
The flowers bloomed, but withered away,
The pebbles stood, but motionless on the bay,
when the savage seduced and ravished my country,
Leaving behind a worst tale of misery.
Trot, trot, trot - the bloodthirsty PLA troops marched in,
like drunkards throwing their weight around in Shanghai inn,
They behaved with my countrymen in the most obnoxious way,
Even the serene lotus that once bloomed hath turned away.
Oh - will the United Nations please heed our cries?
We are the victims of this worst rape on earth.
KEYGUDU TRAGEDY IS TEST TIME FOR BEIJING?
- from the Tibetology Desk
As I begin to write this piece, the death toll from the Kyigudo earthquake has crossed above one thousand and the body count is still on the rise; the survival prospect of victims trapped under the rubble becomes difficult as days elapse by. Pictures of hundreds of dead bodies scattered around, what looks like a make-shift morgue, appear before my eyes and the sight of the corpses piled up on top of one another keeps me haunted and disturbed day in and day out. It is difficult to imagine how such tragic moments are being faced by our brothers and sisters in Kyigudo. For now, praying for the return of normalcy and peace to the region is the only option for many of us who have been distanced and exiled from our homeland due to political reasons.
The tragedy that struck Tibet last week left the Tibetans and its sympathizers throughout the world with one common and nagging question: How will foreign aid from outside Tibet (or China for that matter) make it to the victims, considering the security restrictions put up by the communist government of China and the PLAthat are forced throughout Tibet. Unlike other Han-Tibetan mixed neighborhood, Kyigudo is an area exclusively populated by Tibetan farmers, herdsmen, monks and tradesmen, where the ruling government sees the potential of mass uprising as an upshot from the March 2008 riot in Lhasa. The tragic quake suddenly brought the Tibetans back to the limelight despite strict media restrictions and bans due to its political sensitiveness.
Beijing had managed to make a good impression during the Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, showing the world how efficient the Chinese government and the People’s Liberation Army could be. But that, in contrast to the present tragedy, can be seen from a different political light because Sichuan is not exclusively a Tibetan inhabited area. It is natural to receive the unconditional support and sympathy from mainland China because most of the lives and properties lost in that tragedy were of ethnic Han Chinese origin.
Going by the recent development taking place at Kyigudo, it looks good for some of us to learn that President Hu visited Kyigudo, cutting short an official trip to South America, to deal with the disaster and met with the victims and their families. Whether it was a ‘scripted trip’ or otherwise, this would definitely help rebuilding the image of Beijing. At this hour of tragedy it is in the best interest of Beijing to act swiftly leaving aside all the political issues. It is the most opportune time for Beijing to act and engage in relief works for the maimed, injured and the families of the dead. This is how the world will weigh Beijing’s response to the tragedy and it would be nice for them to see Beijing in a kind of a role-reversal avatar.
Against all odds and hope, Tibetans in Kyigudo have reportedly appealed to the President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao to allow the Dalai Lama to visit the area and pray for the victims in a letter written by the Tibetans of Kyigudo. They would be most fortunate if a visit by His Holiness becomes a reality! Unfortunately, this is most unlikely because Beijing reviles His Holiness as ‘separatist’. This would also mean exposing China’s lies to the outside world!
Therefore, right now, keeping all the political differences at the back-burner, Beijing should focus completely on providing necessary life support to the families of the dead and those who were injured and rendered homeless. They should allow freedom of media and accept all the international aid coming to the region without any restrictions. By doing so, Beijing would have easily had the balls in their court. If they keep pressing the panic button and remain hyper conscious of their image at this hour, they will surely have to face the censures from the global communities and human rights watch dogs. Therefore, it is in the best interest of Beijing to show the better side of its politics and engage in rescue work without any strings of conditionality attached. This tragedy could be Beijing’s test to the rest of the world. With this I leave with prayers for the victims and bereaved families of Kyigudo.
Om mani padme hung .
As I begin to write this piece, the death toll from the Kyigudo earthquake has crossed above one thousand and the body count is still on the rise; the survival prospect of victims trapped under the rubble becomes difficult as days elapse by. Pictures of hundreds of dead bodies scattered around, what looks like a make-shift morgue, appear before my eyes and the sight of the corpses piled up on top of one another keeps me haunted and disturbed day in and day out. It is difficult to imagine how such tragic moments are being faced by our brothers and sisters in Kyigudo. For now, praying for the return of normalcy and peace to the region is the only option for many of us who have been distanced and exiled from our homeland due to political reasons.
The tragedy that struck Tibet last week left the Tibetans and its sympathizers throughout the world with one common and nagging question: How will foreign aid from outside Tibet (or China for that matter) make it to the victims, considering the security restrictions put up by the communist government of China and the PLAthat are forced throughout Tibet. Unlike other Han-Tibetan mixed neighborhood, Kyigudo is an area exclusively populated by Tibetan farmers, herdsmen, monks and tradesmen, where the ruling government sees the potential of mass uprising as an upshot from the March 2008 riot in Lhasa. The tragic quake suddenly brought the Tibetans back to the limelight despite strict media restrictions and bans due to its political sensitiveness.
Beijing had managed to make a good impression during the Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, showing the world how efficient the Chinese government and the People’s Liberation Army could be. But that, in contrast to the present tragedy, can be seen from a different political light because Sichuan is not exclusively a Tibetan inhabited area. It is natural to receive the unconditional support and sympathy from mainland China because most of the lives and properties lost in that tragedy were of ethnic Han Chinese origin.
Going by the recent development taking place at Kyigudo, it looks good for some of us to learn that President Hu visited Kyigudo, cutting short an official trip to South America, to deal with the disaster and met with the victims and their families. Whether it was a ‘scripted trip’ or otherwise, this would definitely help rebuilding the image of Beijing. At this hour of tragedy it is in the best interest of Beijing to act swiftly leaving aside all the political issues. It is the most opportune time for Beijing to act and engage in relief works for the maimed, injured and the families of the dead. This is how the world will weigh Beijing’s response to the tragedy and it would be nice for them to see Beijing in a kind of a role-reversal avatar.
Against all odds and hope, Tibetans in Kyigudo have reportedly appealed to the President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao to allow the Dalai Lama to visit the area and pray for the victims in a letter written by the Tibetans of Kyigudo. They would be most fortunate if a visit by His Holiness becomes a reality! Unfortunately, this is most unlikely because Beijing reviles His Holiness as ‘separatist’. This would also mean exposing China’s lies to the outside world!
Therefore, right now, keeping all the political differences at the back-burner, Beijing should focus completely on providing necessary life support to the families of the dead and those who were injured and rendered homeless. They should allow freedom of media and accept all the international aid coming to the region without any restrictions. By doing so, Beijing would have easily had the balls in their court. If they keep pressing the panic button and remain hyper conscious of their image at this hour, they will surely have to face the censures from the global communities and human rights watch dogs. Therefore, it is in the best interest of Beijing to show the better side of its politics and engage in rescue work without any strings of conditionality attached. This tragedy could be Beijing’s test to the rest of the world. With this I leave with prayers for the victims and bereaved families of Kyigudo.
Om mani padme hung .
FORCED TO SPEAK THROUGH DEVIL'S TONGUE
The escalating influences of sinicisation and globalization are challenging the Tibetan linguistic identity, both inside and outside Tibet today
- from the Tibetology Desk
My newfound concern for the language gave way to the discovery that today the Tibetan language is dying a forced as well as natural death.It began to dawn on me how important it is to know Tibetan to be Tibetan, not only as an individual, but also as a community, as a whole unit — to preserve our rich cultural heritage and identity through the use of our own mother tongue.
For the linguist Edward Sapir , language is not only a vehicle for the expression of thoughts, perceptions, sentiments, and values characteristic of a community; it also represents a fundamental expression of social identity. Sapir said: “The mere fact of a common speech serves as a peculiar potent symbol of the social solidarity of those who speak the language.” In short, language retention helps maintain feelings of cultural kinship. So, it is indeed a worrying state for the Tibetan language, as it is threatened with assimilation due to the widespread use of Chinese language all over Tibet, even in the so-called “Tibetan Autonomous Region.” If this dangerous trend continues for long, the very identity of Tibetans will eventually be lost, and the victory of evil over good will be complete.
While Tibetans in Tibet are forced to speak the tongue of the “devil”, Tibetans in the free world are compelled to speak in other tongues in order to “move with the changing times” — to meet the growing demands of globalisation for getting jobs and communicating with the world. But in the process, the importance of using our own mother tongue is severely affected. Therefore, the time has come for Tibetans to give serious thought to the state of Tibetan language today, both inside and outside Tibet, and to work towards safeguarding it before our rich linguistic tradition is lost forever.
The latest bare-all critique by Woeser, If Tibetans took to the streets for the Tibetan language , freshly confirms our fear of the prevailing threat to the Tibetan language under Communist China with appalling details and real-life accounts. It is obvious that China is making every attempt to replace Tibetan with Chinese, in the name of “unifying the country under one language.” The article rightly points out why China is pressing so hard to wipe out Tibetan language: They believe “the higher the level of the Tibetan language, the stronger the religious consciousness and as a result the stronger reactionary behavior.”
China’s White Paper of 25 September 2008 claims that the Tibetan language is part of the Chinese language. However, despite what the Chinese claim, in the annals of Tibetan literary history it is indisputably recorded that the Tibetan language is spoken in numerous regional dialects which, although sometimes mutually intelligible, generally can be understood by the speakers of the different oral forms of Tibetan. It is employed throughout the Tibetan plateau and Bhutan , and is also spoken in parts of Nepal and northern India , such as Sikkim . In general, the dialects of central Tibet (including Lhasa), Kham , Amdo , and some smaller nearby areas, are considered Tibetan dialects. Other forms, particularly Dzongkha , Sikkimese , Sherpa , and Ladakhi , are considered by their speakers, largely for political reasons, to be separate languages. However, if the latter group of Tibetan-type languages is included in the calculation, then “greater Tibetan” is spoken by approximately 6 million people across the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan is also spoken by approximately 150,000 exile speakers who have fled from Tibet to India and other countries.
Although spoken Tibetan varies according to the region, the written language, based on Classical Tibetan , is consistent throughout. This is probably due to the long-standing influence of the Tibetan empire, whose rule embraced (and extended at times far beyond) the present Tibetan linguistic area, which runs from northern Pakistan in the west to Yunnan and Sichuan in the east, and from north of Qinghai Lake south as far as Bhutan. The Tibetan language has its own script which it shares with Ladakhi and Dzongkha , and which is derived from the ancient Indian Brāhmī script.
Commenting on why the Tibetan language has suffered greatly after the Chinese invasion of Tibet, a Tibetan scholar from the Translation Bureau of the Tsolho [Ch: Huangnan] “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”, Kalsang Lodoe, writes: “In the Tibetan autonomous areas, Tibetans are supposed to be the nationality that exercises autonomy and Tibetan language the commonly-used language. Since the ‘liberation’ of Tibet, however, the principal leaders and heads, as well as those performing secretarial jobs, in all the offices of the administration and specialised/professional departments, as well as the business or commercial enterprises, have all been sent from China. And if there are knowledgeable Tibetans who desire to serve politically, they are not utilized by calling them reactionaries …”
As a teacher of Chatsang Primary School in Sabgang Township of Kangkar (Ch. Kangma) County, Samdrup Chungdhing, writes: “although Tibetan is purportedly
taught in the so-called ‘Tibetan Classes’, these exist in form only, and the standard of these schools is pathetically poor. Some students do not know how to write their own names in Tibetan without making spelling mistakes, while others do not understand [the basic Tibetan grammar of] where to put mgo-rtags and dogs-rtags. With such a low level of Tibetan linguistic knowledge, they are bound to face problems even in their own works, let alone in maintaining or upholding the culture of Tibet .”
With this stark reality challenging our century-old linguistic tradition and our identity as Tibetans today, there is an urgent need to realise the importance of preserving our language for the common good of the Tibetan race, before it is wiped out from the surface of earth. While there is little choice for the Tibetans inside Tibet, Tibetans living in a free society could make a difference by promoting the language within their family, friends, neighborhood, schools, community and society at large. Unless we realise this and take the responsibility of safeguarding our language with a sense of urgency, there is no other way to challenge the advocates of the devil in our dialects.
- from the Tibetology Desk
My newfound concern for the language gave way to the discovery that today the Tibetan language is dying a forced as well as natural death.It began to dawn on me how important it is to know Tibetan to be Tibetan, not only as an individual, but also as a community, as a whole unit — to preserve our rich cultural heritage and identity through the use of our own mother tongue.
For the linguist Edward Sapir , language is not only a vehicle for the expression of thoughts, perceptions, sentiments, and values characteristic of a community; it also represents a fundamental expression of social identity. Sapir said: “The mere fact of a common speech serves as a peculiar potent symbol of the social solidarity of those who speak the language.” In short, language retention helps maintain feelings of cultural kinship. So, it is indeed a worrying state for the Tibetan language, as it is threatened with assimilation due to the widespread use of Chinese language all over Tibet, even in the so-called “Tibetan Autonomous Region.” If this dangerous trend continues for long, the very identity of Tibetans will eventually be lost, and the victory of evil over good will be complete.
While Tibetans in Tibet are forced to speak the tongue of the “devil”, Tibetans in the free world are compelled to speak in other tongues in order to “move with the changing times” — to meet the growing demands of globalisation for getting jobs and communicating with the world. But in the process, the importance of using our own mother tongue is severely affected. Therefore, the time has come for Tibetans to give serious thought to the state of Tibetan language today, both inside and outside Tibet, and to work towards safeguarding it before our rich linguistic tradition is lost forever.
The latest bare-all critique by Woeser, If Tibetans took to the streets for the Tibetan language , freshly confirms our fear of the prevailing threat to the Tibetan language under Communist China with appalling details and real-life accounts. It is obvious that China is making every attempt to replace Tibetan with Chinese, in the name of “unifying the country under one language.” The article rightly points out why China is pressing so hard to wipe out Tibetan language: They believe “the higher the level of the Tibetan language, the stronger the religious consciousness and as a result the stronger reactionary behavior.”
China’s White Paper of 25 September 2008 claims that the Tibetan language is part of the Chinese language. However, despite what the Chinese claim, in the annals of Tibetan literary history it is indisputably recorded that the Tibetan language is spoken in numerous regional dialects which, although sometimes mutually intelligible, generally can be understood by the speakers of the different oral forms of Tibetan. It is employed throughout the Tibetan plateau and Bhutan , and is also spoken in parts of Nepal and northern India , such as Sikkim . In general, the dialects of central Tibet (including Lhasa), Kham , Amdo , and some smaller nearby areas, are considered Tibetan dialects. Other forms, particularly Dzongkha , Sikkimese , Sherpa , and Ladakhi , are considered by their speakers, largely for political reasons, to be separate languages. However, if the latter group of Tibetan-type languages is included in the calculation, then “greater Tibetan” is spoken by approximately 6 million people across the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan is also spoken by approximately 150,000 exile speakers who have fled from Tibet to India and other countries.
Although spoken Tibetan varies according to the region, the written language, based on Classical Tibetan , is consistent throughout. This is probably due to the long-standing influence of the Tibetan empire, whose rule embraced (and extended at times far beyond) the present Tibetan linguistic area, which runs from northern Pakistan in the west to Yunnan and Sichuan in the east, and from north of Qinghai Lake south as far as Bhutan. The Tibetan language has its own script which it shares with Ladakhi and Dzongkha , and which is derived from the ancient Indian Brāhmī script.
Commenting on why the Tibetan language has suffered greatly after the Chinese invasion of Tibet, a Tibetan scholar from the Translation Bureau of the Tsolho [Ch: Huangnan] “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”, Kalsang Lodoe, writes: “In the Tibetan autonomous areas, Tibetans are supposed to be the nationality that exercises autonomy and Tibetan language the commonly-used language. Since the ‘liberation’ of Tibet, however, the principal leaders and heads, as well as those performing secretarial jobs, in all the offices of the administration and specialised/professional departments, as well as the business or commercial enterprises, have all been sent from China. And if there are knowledgeable Tibetans who desire to serve politically, they are not utilized by calling them reactionaries …”
As a teacher of Chatsang Primary School in Sabgang Township of Kangkar (Ch. Kangma) County, Samdrup Chungdhing, writes: “although Tibetan is purportedly
taught in the so-called ‘Tibetan Classes’, these exist in form only, and the standard of these schools is pathetically poor. Some students do not know how to write their own names in Tibetan without making spelling mistakes, while others do not understand [the basic Tibetan grammar of] where to put mgo-rtags and dogs-rtags. With such a low level of Tibetan linguistic knowledge, they are bound to face problems even in their own works, let alone in maintaining or upholding the culture of Tibet .”
With this stark reality challenging our century-old linguistic tradition and our identity as Tibetans today, there is an urgent need to realise the importance of preserving our language for the common good of the Tibetan race, before it is wiped out from the surface of earth. While there is little choice for the Tibetans inside Tibet, Tibetans living in a free society could make a difference by promoting the language within their family, friends, neighborhood, schools, community and society at large. Unless we realise this and take the responsibility of safeguarding our language with a sense of urgency, there is no other way to challenge the advocates of the devil in our dialects.