I would like to join the chorus of voices condemning the Chinese government in their recent acts of violence against protesters in Tibet. The number of people left dead has no justification, in addition these people have legitimate grievances and deserve to be heard.
In recent years the Chinese government appears to have adopted a policy of not constructively engaging His Holiness The Dalai Lama, preferring instead to let him die of old age and expect the issue of Tibet will vanish at the same time. Not only is the Chinese government short sighted in this respect, by not taking advantage of the Dalai Lama’s help in peacefully and justly settling the issue, but the world won’t forget Tibet and the resolve of it’s people.
For more information on the campaign to save Tibet, see here.
Terrible the way the Chinese government has treated this issue. Why do the nations of the world, including Australia, not put pressure on China about this and other issues? Money. Every western country is making a fortune exporting, in Australia’s case, raw materials (minerals, natural gas, steel and food etc)to China and using China’s cheap labour to set up their manufacturing industries. Only the people of the world care about the wonderful Dalai Lama, and it is almost impossible for people to force change without governments.(That doesn’t mean we should give up, however) Our past Prime Minister wouldn’t agree even to meet the Dalai Lam when he recently came to Australia but his talks were booked out and people traveled thousands of kilometres to see him.
I agree.
I agree with you regarding Tibet, and let us not forget that this has been going on for over 50 years.
China took over Tibet in the 1950s, and shortly after destroyed over 6000 monastaries, some with as many as 15,000 monks in them. You read correctly. Over a milion Tibetans were murdered, the idea being to wipe out the culture and replace it with Chinese education and hence culture. The last few years have seen millions of Chinese move to Tibet encouraged by the Chinese government, again to make it more Chinese.
I could go on, but this is not the place to rant.
And yes I am ashamed and embarrassed by my government!
Nick Altieri
Central California
U.S.A.
I join the protest.
It lasts 60 years already – the occupation of Tibet. Does it look like the world is doing something?