The Snow Lion Cries and China Fights Back
By scott.poniewaz | April 27, 2008
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A celebration of competition, sportsmanship, peace and friendship aims to bring the world together in Beijing this year, however speed bumps have already made their way into a road the Chinese believed would be smooth and carefree. The idea that they would somehow make it through unscathed is no longer in the cards for China. Even before March 10, the day the annual Tibetan Uprising Day is celebrated by Tibetans and their supporters, China was drawing unwanted attention. Massive recalls on toys by western markets instigated questions into the quality of product China’s low-cost manufacturing industry was churning out. China has never been considered to be the world’s model country for human rights, however with a growing economy that the world was becoming dependent on, this wasn’t something that was running at a high priority for the Communist government to fix, nor was it something the world was going to put China on stage for. They all relied on China too much.
A Tibetan friend of mine said the other day that practically everything they buy has a ‘Made in China’ tag attached, and then joked, “Maybe they just produce a lot of tags.” It is a difficult reality for many of the Tibetans that try to boycott goods produced by China.
Following the turn of events that were kicked off with Tibetan Uprising Day, China has since been put directly in the spotlight, and they aren’t going down without kicking and screaming. Anti-Tibetan freedom protests in China have started to make their way into the news, then also places like Seattle, where the Dalai Lama recently visited, and a Duke student by the name of Wang Qianyuan has also become a target of threats by her fellow Chinese after stepping in to the middle of conflicting protests outside of a campus dining hall. She, as well as her family’s safety have been threatened and Qianyuan has been told that she shouldn’t try to come back to China. (Link to NY Times article here: NY Times-April 17, 2008, “Chinese Student in U.S. Is Caught in Confrontation”)
The Chinese government has begun pointing fingers at the Dalai Lama for inciting the riots that ensued on the streets of Lhasa in mid-March, the first major events since 1988 and also smaller protests in 1993. The protests and riots spread across Tibet after the Tibetan people realized the world was starting to take notice again and thought this may be one of their best chances for change. Here in India, interesting stories and editorials have been making their way into the media, some supporting the 100,000 plus Tibetans that reside here and others telling their fellow citizens to be weary of interfering in India’s budding ties with China. As two of the world’s emerging superpowers, India knows that if China prevails in this battle, the last thing they want is to be on their bad side. At the same time, many of its athletes and popular figures stepped away from carrying the torch in solidarity with the Tibetans that have been welcomed into their country.
A recent story in “The Week,” a weekly Indian news magazine, spoke out about how the events occurring outside of Tibet were creating more harm for the Tibetans still living in Tibet. The article said that the freedoms of the people that remained were being further reduced and that life was becoming more difficult.
Other editorials criticize the Dalai Lama’s nonchalant leadership in the fight for freedom and feel he should be looking to adjust his political strategy for the Tibetan struggle in a way that is more direct and action oriented. The Dalai Lama does not necessarily consider himself the a politician, another side to the criticisms. However, in recent days, without the Dalai Lama’s envoy having knowledge, discussions were to be entered in the coming weeks regarding Tibet. It has been a roller coaster of news between China, India, and the Tibetan communities over the last few weeks, and while there is a lot of talk, little seems to be coming into fruition for either side.
With each day, the torch route is beginning to draw parallels between China and the Nazis in the news coverage and editorials printed here. An item introduced for the 1936 German Olympics, the torch has now been collecting attention in similar ways to the games of that year, along with countries debating whether they should be boycotting the games. The 1936 route maybe got through with a few less extinguishing attempts, but the countries both had their unwanted time fighting the world in the media ring.
Meanwhile, my current time spent living among the Tibetan people in the hill town of Dharamsala has been filled with stories of hope. People here dream about their return to their homes and even if they don’t know where their families are. The recent events have rekindled dreams that they may reunite with long lost family members. The daily news reported by agencies like the BBC, CNN, or local Indian stations give them heightened aspirations with each day that the security is increased on the Olympic Torch route. They see each restricted viewing as a step closer to a free Tibet, despite His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s consistent voice in support of China hosting a successful Olympic games in Beijing this summer. The feeling here remains peaceful with each night’s candle light vigils, the hunger strikes continuing outside of His Holiness’ Namgyal Monastery, and the men, women and children that have shaved their heads in solidarity with the monks killed during the protests and riots in Tibet in mid-March. Posters of the wounds and people killed by Chinese soldiers are pasted on walls and store fronts throughout the town of McLeod Ganj next to the most recent newspaper articles from around the world.
While China prepares for the international Olympics, Tibetans are attempting to maintain their own identity. Last October the 2007 Miss Tibet pageant was successfully completed, last summer during my last trip I was able to witness the Tibetan Music Awards, and Lobsang Wangyal, the eccentric and sometimes controversial promoter and creator of each of these events, is getting ready to kick off the 2008 Tibetan Olympics next month. His Miss Tibet pageant has slowly become accepted over the course of the five years it has been in existence after being initially scrutinized as being against Tibetan Buddhist values. The first year it had only one participant, but she was welcomed into the Miss Universe competition and drew international media attention on Tibet. The Chinese raised a stir and successfully pressured the Miss Universe organizers in 2005 to keep her from participating in the world pageant on the basis that she was representing a nonexistent country. This year drew international media to the event again and despite early criticism, Tibetans are beginning to support Wangyal’s attempts at increasing international awareness and celebration of Tibet’s independent culture and customs with events such as these. Due to the nature of Tibetan women, they are still slow to participate, just five joined the competition this year, however what began as a laughing stock, drew over a thousand spectators for the 2007 event according to local reports.
Despite the consistent fluctuation of support for Tibet over the years, the people living here in exile still remain hopeful and are maintaining a peaceful, middle-ground approach that is following in line with the Dalai Lama’s ongoing push for a peaceful panacea in this ongoing struggle. He highlighted this during his March 10 speech in McLeod Ganj by saying, “On 6 March 2008, President Hu Jintao stated: ‘the stability in Tibet concerns the stability of the country, and the safety in Tibet concerns the safety of the country.’ He added that the Chinese leadership must ensure the well-being of Tibetans, improve the work related to religions and ethnic groups, and maintain social harmony and stability. President Hu’s statement conforms to reality and we look forward to its implementation.”
Nancy Pelosi, the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, was the first world political figure to meet with the Dalai Lama within days after the uprising began and the situation in Tibet unfurled. Her visit was previously planned, though coincided with a gripping period in their fight for freedom. The international support inspired the American flag to be hung beside Tibetan and Indian flags lining the small mountain town’s streets. Pelosi’s face on newsprint was also plastered around town almost as quickly as the papers were off the press.
Since that time, the Tibetan people here remain with the same dream of seeing a free Tibet, and being able to return home, yet the Chinese people have increased their support of the Chinese government and turned the tables on the international support for Tibet. Boycotts of foreign products, primarily French brands, have created more news stories on those that are against the ‘Free Tibet’ movement and these rivals both seem to be gaining momentum in various population centers around the world.
The cards have been dealt, the hands are being methodically played, and in due time, the game’s outcome will be determined. Meanwhile, a torch will struggle to keep its flame glowing, a few gold medals will be at the center of international ballyhoo, economies will falter, and many borders will continue to be disputed around the world. For those involved, the Olympics have become more than just a game.
Topics: Travel, General, Immigration, India, Tibet, United States, Washington, China |
One Response to “The Snow Lion Cries and China Fights Back”
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4:38 am on April 29th, 2008
[…] After yesterday’s post on Tibet and China dispute (click here to read), I had to post this little follow-up after reading a story by the BBC today. I may be one of the few to think that not just China, but also Tibet got caught with its pants down here. […]