BBC World announced today that the Dalai Lama has virtually given up in developing dialogue with Beijing despite many overtures. Somewhat the realist, HHDL knows that Tibetan independence is an impossibility under the Chinese regime, and has already conceded sovereignty and the right for China to conduct foreign affairs. His Holiness is requesting local autonomy and religious freedom.
The cultural genocide of the Tibetan people continues apace. Han Chinese are given land rights, interest free loans and tax exemption for moving into Tibet. The recent construction of a direct rail connection from Beijing to Lhasa is now completed to accelerate this process and Tibetans are now a minority in their own capital city.
Tibet is not the only country under Chinese oppression. The Uygers, Muslims living in Xianjing, face similar oppression. Continued growing unrest has resulted in many deaths of police and government officials.
Beijing were awarded the Olympic Games in the belief that their human rights record would improve. Indeed watching the opening ceremony the Chinese “minorities” were paraded as a prize trophy. Yet all the participants were Han Chinese. A similar charade can be witnessed at the daily “cultural” show in Kunming. Yet China continues to oppress.
The Dalai Lama is generally conciliatory, taking the Middle Path. However, he has alienated more militant Tibetans who would like to take a more direct and aggressive stance against China. Whilst not directly opposing the Dalai Lama one such movement is Students for a Free Tibet - www.studentsforafreetibet.org
I believe Tibetan culture will outlive the current Chinese regime, but at what cost?
There has been no official announcement on the Dalai Lama´s homepage http://www.dalailama.com
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