15 of 27

Write now Article Tools

The occupation of Tibet by the Chinese has been a tragedy for Tibetans and an unmitigated catastrophe for Tibetan culture. The Chinese have sought not only to capture their land and its wealth but also to stifle and ultimately destroy their age-old and spiritually very rich cultural tradition. By imposing various restrictions on native Tibetans and encouraging large scale migration of ethnic Chinese into Tibet they are perpetrating cultural genocide, a crime no less serious than ethnic cleansing. The loss of Tibetan Buddhism and tradition will be a grievous loss to the world at a time when the spiritual solace it affords will be a boon for millions of people. Unfortunately even the once gentle and reclusive Tibetan monks are now being forced to mount political demonstrations in defense of their culture and be heartlessly beaten and even killed by Chinese militia.

The Chinese are paranoid about losing control over their territory. They are worried that Tibet will follow the path of Taiwan and escape Chinese control. Despite the repeated assurances of the Dalai Lama that he is only seeking meaningful autonomy for Tibetans and not independence, the Chinese refuse to even talk to him. They claim that the saintly and world-renowned Dalai Lama is a "wolf in saint's clothing"! Such propaganda serves only to emphasize the hypocrisy and the aggressively domineering attitude of the Chinese government towards the hapless Tibetans. Dalai Lama has been a leading light not only to Tibetans but also to millions around the world and this obviously worries the Chinese administration very much. Their communist ideology cannot stomach the spiritual brilliance of Tibetan mysticism and spirituality. So they seek to destroy it by every means at their disposal; failing to realize that history will judge then very harshly for their actions.

The latest uprising has refocused the world's attention on the festering sore of Chinese aggression in Tibet. The Beijing Olympics has put additional pressure on the Chinese administration trying to paint over their abominable record in human rights with repeated public displays of prosperity and sportsmanship. They fool no one. Their claim of having the interests of Tibet at the heart of their 'reforms' is as hollow as the whaling the Japanese want to call 'research'! What is more, their approach will only serve to harden the attitude of Tibetans who may be persuaded to change their demands from autonomy (as directed by the Dalai Lama) to

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Tibet vs China: Quest for freedom?
We want to hear your view. Write now!