Crisis in Tibet - Human rights violations by China

Galaxy

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Tibet: China's burning issue


FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2011

Aba has seen so many self-immolations that police now carry fire extinguishers. Clifford Coonan and Tashi Tsering ventured to the area to find out what provoked these desperate acts

The monk doused his robes in kerosene then set himself alight, running with flames blazing about 200 metres down the street outside the Kirti monastery in Aba in China's Sichuan province, shouting in Tibetan. Armed police and soldiers ran towards him, one eyewitness said, but made no effort to extinguish the flames. "A stallholder brought a bucket of water to put out the fire. Then he was taken away by police – two days later he was dead," the witness said.

The desperate final act of the young man was one of a wave of self-immolations this year by Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns, who are protesting against Chinese rule and calling for their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to be allowed to return home. Since March, 11 Tibetans have tried to kill themselves by setting themselves on fire. Six of those 11 have died.

The 540-year-old Kirti monastery in Aba town is at the centre of this wave of death. It has seen nine self-immolations this year, with five deaths. Such is the frequency of the acts that some riot police now carry fire extinguishers. Hundreds of monks from Kirti were taken away after the earliest immolation.

Overlooked by snow-capped peaks, Aba town is 3,200 metres above sea level, and Kirti monastery has become the focal point of Tibetan anger at what they see as efforts by China's ethnic Han majority to swamp Tibetan culture. Although Sichuan is not part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, it has a sizeable Tibetan population, focused on two prefectures, Aba, which the Tibetans call Ngawa, and Ganzi, called Kardze in Tibetan. Around one million Tibetans live in these areas.

Since the immolations began, fear has come to Kirti, alongside a heavy police presence. A large bus for riot police is parked just outside the monastery and security personnel mill around. Inside the monastery, monks mingle with pilgrims, but are careful about talking to visitors, even though, one monk confides: "We have a lot to say."

"We have had no freedom for eight months, since nine monks burnt themselves," he said, asking not to be identified for his own safety. "Why did they do this? We want freedom. We are forced to say the Communist Party is great, we are not allowed to gather together to pray, and they have eyes and ears everywhere."

Another Tibetan, who is not a monk but sympathises with their cause, said: "Why do the monks burn themselves? We want to see the Dalai Lama." Most others were afraid to answer questions, worried about who might hear.

Beijing blames the Dalai Lama for encouraging the monks and nuns, and has punished those they say assisted the immolations. A court sentenced Tsering Tenzin to 13 years and Tenchum – who has one name only – to 10 years imprisonment for assisting in the death of a 16-year-old colleague, Rigzin Phuntsog, who set himself on fire in March. They were convicted of hiding Mr Phuntsog after he lit himself on fire and depriving him of medical attention for 11 hours. Altogether six monks have been convicted of involvement in the immolations.

The protests in Aba come amid a larger simmering unrest, which has often boiled over into violence. Areas with Tibetan populations see sporadic demonstrations calling for greater independence, and there was rioting in March 2008 focused on the Tibetan city of Lhasa. It spread to many other areas, including Aba, and was brutally suppressed. Overseas Tibetan groups say up to 30 people were shot dead in Aba alone. For the Han Chinese the demonstrations were a time of fear, with much of the rioting focused on Han Chinese-owned businesses.

Tibet's relationship with Beijing is extremely complex. Tibet has been under Beijing's command since the People's Liberation Army marched into the region in 1950 and Beijing claims it freed the Tibetan serfs from what was effectively a theocracy until the god-king Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959. The Chinese government says Tibetans enjoy religious freedom and accuses the Dalai Lama of being a dangerous separatist, who is using the immolations for political ends. For China, Tibet is, was and always will be Chinese, but the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala in northern India claims to represent the Tibetan people, and wants more autonomy for the regions.

An independent Tibet is also a very difficult political entity to conceive of. The Tibetan area stretches far beyond that known as the Tibetan Autonomous Region to include chunks of provinces such as Sichuan and Gansu, and many other areas across the vast highlands in the west of China. These regions also have large populations of Han Chinese, the dominant ethnic group in China, as well as people from other ethnic groups. China would not tolerate giving up such a vast swathe of land.

The Dalai Lama says that he does not want independence, but more autonomy for Tibetans within China. While the Chinese government says it does not believe him, much of its focus has been on improving the living standards of Tibetans in the belief that many of the political issues will fall by the wayside if people have enough food in their bellies.

In a time when China is wrestling with its conscience over the spiritual gap in the country's ethical code left by years of rampant materialism, there is admiration among the Han Chinese for the Tibetans' religious beliefs. "Many Chinese have lost their traditional values. But the Tibetans believe in the next life, so they are not afraid to die. The monks pray for those who burn themselves. But the government view is different. They don't want trouble. They need to keep the society stable for economic development," said one local in Aba.

And although there has been a dip in the number of self-immolations in Aba in recent months, the practice has spread to monks in other areas of the region. The sixth Tibetan Buddhist to die was a 35-year-old nun called Palden Choetso, from the Ganden Jangchub Choeling nunnery in Dawu County, which is part of the Ganzi prefecture. She reportedly shouted for the Dalai Lama to return home as she was engulfed in flames earlier this month. Another immolation took place in Kathmandu in Nepal, which borders Tibet, where a man wrapped in a Tibetan flag set himself on fire as he shouted "Long live Tibet."

Self-immolation has long been used as a dramatic political protest. In one of the most famous cases captured on camera in 1963, Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk, sits immobile and cross-legged as his robes go up in flames, in a fatal protest against the treatment of Buddhists in Vietnam.

Although not a course of action recommended in Tibetan Buddhism, as life is revered, the self-immolations have not been expressly condemned by the Dalai Lama, although he has called them "desperate acts". One of the most senior Tibetan Buddhist leaders, the Karmapa Lama, has called on nuns and monks not to set themselves on fire, praising their bravery but asking them to adopt more constructive ways to further their cause.

"In Buddhist teaching, life is precious. To achieve anything worthwhile we need to preserve our lives. We Tibetans are few in number, so every Tibetan life is of value to the cause of Tibet," said the Karmapa Lama, who lives in exile along with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.


Tashi Tsering is a pseudonym of a local reporter whose identity needs to be protected

Tibet: China's burning issue - Asia - World - The Independent
 

Ray

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This is a tricky issue for China.

There is no doubt that China would not allow anyone or any country to encourage internal dissent wherein the territorial integrity of China is threatened.

Economic protests or human rights protest elsewhere in China can be handled since the population is classified as Han and Han population is not indigenous to other countries, even though many Han people have settled beyond the confines of Mainland China.

Han protests within Mainland China can be termed as and localised anger, and at best, can be termed by the international community as 'human rights violations' and nothing more.

But the protests in Tibet and Xinjiang are a different kettle of fish.

They are protests by large non Han communities which have maintained their original ethnicity and have not been assimilated to be classified as Hans.

In the case of Xinjiang, they have ethnic affiliation and even roots beyond the boundaries of China and have not been assimilated as Hans, as also they follow a religion which is has no common cause or similarity with the religion of China. This religion of the Uighurs has external backers since the ummah is a strong and sentimental cry, and even a distant dream, amongst the Muslims.

The saving grace for China is that the Islamic support to the Uighurs is muted since a large majority of the Muslim countries are dependent on China for for export and more for imports, and confined to Muslim fundamentalist organisation which these Muslim countries claim have no support from them. That, of course, is debatable since officially there maybe no support, but unofficially nothing is done to curb these fundamentalist organisation and soldiers of Islam.

Tibetans, on the other hand, are a danger to China. They have a large community living beyond the boundaries of China having escaped and have organised themselves well so as to be an entity with the trapping of a Govt in exile. Exposure to the international scenario and the awareness of the world have made the second generation exiles more aggressive and aware of their singularity and their rights, leading to worry about their intent and capabilities to stir up trouble for China.

The most important aspect that is worrisome to China is the Dalai Lama. The unique Tibetan custom of reincarnation of the Lamas, has put China in a fix. The selection of the Dalai Lama is an unique procedure that can only be sanctified by the customary rituals of the Court of the Dalai Lama and any sponsoring of the selection or even the suggestion of sponsoring by an authority that does not have the confidence of the Dalai Lama would not cut ice with the Tibetans, who consider the Dalai Lama as their God reincarnate.

This is the nub of Chinese worry.

Therefore, the immolations by the Tibetan lamas and nuns, take a different avatar in the unity of China and hence it is not a situation that China can accept or condone and hence dangerous!
 

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Tibetans protest in Delhi, demand freedom from China


Hundreds of protesters carrying Tibetan flags marched through the national capital on Wednesday demanding independence for the Tibet province from China.

The protesters urged the people to lend support to their cause and called on China to deal justly with the Tibetans.

The demonstration was the first in a series of weekly protests that the Tibetans plan to hold every Wednesday.

At least 11 people have immolated themselves in China since March this year protesting the Chinese rule.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has blamed China's ruthless policy for the self-immolations. China on the other hand has accused the Dalai Lama for stirring up trouble in the region.


Tibetans protest in Delhi, demand freedom from China : North News - India Today
 

thecurryguy

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india is always the trouble maker, like in Kashmir.
Tibetans protest in Delhi, demand freedom from China


Hundreds of protesters carrying Tibetan flags marched through the national capital on Wednesday demanding independence for the Tibet province from China.

The protesters urged the people to lend support to their cause and called on China to deal justly with the Tibetans.

The demonstration was the first in a series of weekly protests that the Tibetans plan to hold every Wednesday.

At least 11 people have immolated themselves in China since March this year protesting the Chinese rule.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has blamed China's ruthless policy for the self-immolations. China on the other hand has accused the Dalai Lama for stirring up trouble in the region.


Tibetans protest in Delhi, demand freedom from China : North News - India Today
 

SPIEZ

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india is always the trouble maker, like in Kashmir.
And the Chinese are peace mongers is it ? Let's see, territorial claims and military might over Tibet, Republic Of China. Border dispute with Russia, problems with Japan. How nice.
 
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thecurryguy

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And the Chinese are peace mongers is it ? Let's see, territorial claims and military might over Tibet, Republic Of China. Border dispute with Russia, problems with Japan. How nice.


What you said is rubbish, since When Tibet is recognized as a sovereign country by the UN? Is it still in China? If yes, are you trying to comment on a country's internal affairs? And what are you? An UN police officer? One word man, Mind your own Maoist riots in your own Country!!
 

SPIEZ

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What you said is rubbish, since When Tibet is recognized as a sovereign country by the UN? Is it still in China? If yes, are you trying to comment on a country's internal affairs? And what are you? An UN police officer? One word man, Mind your own Maoist riots in your own Country!!
1) I m simply pointing facts to you my friend.( just like when you made a reference to the internal issues of my country)
2) UN can't say much considering, China in one of the permanent members, a la veto power.
3) Since when did Tibetans call themselves Chinese. Isn't a Tibetan burning himself to death ever so often in your country of vast human rights.
4) If we were like Chinese ( military rule, shyt for human rights) the Maoists wouldn't have existed by now.
5) When you kill people for no aparent reason, you don't deserve pity (meant for terrorists mongering in India)
 

Ray

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Curryguy,

Curries are being served in China?

Great!

Shows that India has arrived!
 

Ray

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What you said is rubbish, since When Tibet is recognized as a sovereign country by the UN? Is it still in China? If yes, are you trying to comment on a country's internal affairs? And what are you? An UN police officer? One word man, Mind your own Maoist riots in your own Country!!
The way things are going, the time for Tibet to be a sovereign nation along with Xinjiang as another is not too far!
 

SPIEZ

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Curryguy,

Curries are being served in China?

Great!

Shows that India has arrived!
They might end up calling it a Chinese discovery :lol:
But nice to know that they have heard about Human Rights.
 

thecurryguy

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1) I m simply pointing facts to you my friend.( just like when you made a reference to the internal issues of my country)
2) UN can't say much considering, China in one of the permanent members, a la veto power.
3) Since when did Tibetans call themselves Chinese. Isn't a Tibetan burning himself to death ever so often in your country of vast human rights.
4) If we were like Chinese ( military rule, shyt for human rights) the Maoists wouldn't have existed by now.
5) When you kill people for no aparent reason, you don't deserve pity (meant for terrorists mongering in India)

What you said is portraying us as a killer, this is accusation without evidence. Now come to Maoist, and you said they were terrorists, well in China if you are trying to separate your country by extreme methods, what you could call them? Burning 7 teenage sales girls in a supermarket and attacking the bank, what do you consider them as? peaceful protest? It come to religion is a different thing, I don't want to comment too much on Indian Religion, but there is always conflict, I don't have to bring much about the cases in your own country, I think Bollywood Movies have explained well for us. Do not comment on another country unless you are a witness, that's mutual respect, jumping into a propaganda bandwagon is a foolish act. I believe in the future when you grow older enough, and you could understand its meaning. Take good care of yourself, and make something beneficial towards your family.
 

Ray

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Chinese are as peacemongerers as a snake.

Peaceful Rise!!!!!

and then claim everything in the world as yours!
 

thecurryguy

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The way things are going, the time for Tibet to be a sovereign nation along with Xinjiang as another is not too far!

Foolish talk, I would say Eastern and Western India is a great idea though.
 

Ray

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What you said is portraying us as a killer, this is accusation without evidence. Now come to Maoist, and you said they were terrorists, well in China if you are trying to separate your country by extreme methods, what you could call them? Burning 7 teenage sales girls in a supermarket and attacking the bank, what do you consider them as? peaceful protest? It come to religion is a different thing, I don't want to comment too much on Indian Religion, but there is always conflict, I don't have to bring much about the cases in your own country, I think Bollywood Movies have explained well for us. Do not comment on another country unless you are a witness, that's mutual respect, jumping into a propaganda bandwagon is a foolish act. I believe in the future when you grow older enough, and you could understand its meaning. Take good care of yourself, and make something beneficial towards your family.
You may not heard of Paresh Barua since your media is controlled, but then find time Wen and ask Hu!

Vietnam, Philippines and now the US are surrounding you to include roping in Australia!

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are always there for the US!
 

SPIEZ

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What you said is portraying us as a killer, this is accusation without evidence. Now come to Maoist, and you said they were terrorists, well in China if you are trying to separate your country by extreme methods, what you could call them? Burning 7 teenage sales girls in a supermarket and attacking the bank, what do you consider them as? peaceful protest?
Your government controls state media, doesn't it ? They how could you have unfair news ?

It come to religion is a different thing, I don't want to comment too much on Indian Religion, but there is always conflict, I don't have to bring much about the cases in your own country
I never spoke about religion, there are members from different religions in India, some of them are even mods, if you have any doubts you can ask them.
BTW,Protests are part of a democracy.
Unlike in China where heard it's abolished. Good to know.

I think Bollywood Movies have explained well for us. Do not comment on another country unless you are a witness, that's mutual respect, jumping into a propaganda bandwagon is a foolish act.
Please practise what you preach my friend( for reference check your earlier posts).

I believe in the future when you grow older enough, and you could understand its meaning. Take good care of yourself, and make something beneficial towards your family.
Yes, there are lots of things I would like to understand, China isn't in one of those though. Thanks for the mention of my family. Hope you lead a good family life too.
 

thecurryguy

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You may not heard of Paresh Barua since your media is controlled, but then find time Wen and ask Hu!

Vietnam, Philippines and now the US are surrounding you to include roping in Australia!

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are always there for the US!
LoL, so what they gonna do with us? Bombing us and then lost all the their invests in the last 30 years. Childish. India is nothing more than a barking dog released by the US.
 

Ray

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LoL, so what they gonna do with us? Bombing us and then lost all the their invests in the last 30 years. Childish. India is nothing more than a barking dog released by the US.
Why should anyone bomb you?

It is better that you bomb yourself and one encourage that.

Rural - Urban divide.

Have and the Have nots.

Hans vs Tibetans and Uighurs.

Independence of Inner Mongolia.

Drive more capitalism and greed!

When you are screwing yourself, why should we interfere and get a bad name.

Enjoy yourself in your confused state where you are half way home from extreme socialism and total capitalism and floundering and confused!

Sweetheart civil tongue is essential.

It is good that you feel that India is a 'barking dog' of the US.

It is apparent that you are seized with cold fear. Aim achieved!

Only those who are weak in English, imagination and totally frustrated and have no valid debating points use words like 'barking dog'.

You are but a 'running dog' of the Communists (and running dog as in Chinese and legal to use since it is used by your Govt and not as an epithet either!).

Do be careful with your language!

You Chinese love this LOL.

Please understand that while we are good at dentistry, it does not mean people who have bad teeth have to display them to us for sympathy and free treatment since such bad teeth does affect our eye sight!

Now go back to your nosebag that has curry!
 
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