Scholars blast China's 'serious mistakes' towards Tibet

Asia-Pacific Features

Mar 24, 2008, 19:05 GMT

Beijing- Despite all the propaganda, more and more people in China are raising their voices to warn of nationalist fervour in the aftermath of the unrest in Tibet. While not excusing the violence shown by rioting Tibetans towards Chinese, some intellectuals have begun calling the cause of the violence by name. They say it was an inability on the part of Chinese to understand Tibetans deep religious devotion or simply arrogance and it was down to China's aspirations to power and injustices resulting from foreign rule of the country. Speaking of the communist goal of a 'harmonious society', Chinese poet and filmmaker Tang Danhong wrote in an internet blog: 'Other than guns and money, and cultural destruction and spiritual rape, we do not know other ways to achieve 'harmony'.' More criticism came from a group of 29 Chinese writers and scholars including authors, professors, lawyers and journalists who have issued a 12-point 'open letter' on the situation in Tibet where they charged that China had made 'serious mistakes' and called for a fundamental change of policy towards its other 'nationalities.' They wrote: 'We condemn any violent act against innocent people, strongly urge the Chinese government to stop the violent suppression and appeal to the Tibetan people likewise not to engage in violent activities.' The personal attacks on the Dalai Lama, who had been described as a 'jackal in Buddhist monk's robes and an evil spirit with a human face and heart of a beast' by the Chinese Communist Party Leadership in Tibet, rekindled the language used in the Cultural Revolution and did not help ease tensions. Instead it was damaging the image of the Chinese government, the 12-point open letter said. While such voices have not been heard in state media, they are easily spread via the internet. Among them are many, self-critical Chinese intellectuals who are not susceptible to propaganda, but who are also convinced that Tibet, like Taiwan, belongs to China. But voicing criticism of China's Tibet policy amidst the present, aggressive nationalist mood takes great courage. Tibetan author Tsering Woeser and her Chinese husband, writer Wang Lixiong, who signed the letter, are both already under house arrest in Beijing. Every step they take outside the door has to be approved and they are constantly followed by state security agents. In the open letter containing 'Twelve Suggestions for Dealing with the Tibetan Situation,' the group called for an independent investigation into the unrest and the number of victims. 'In our view, the current news blockade cannot gain credit with the Chinese people or the international community and is harmful to the credibility of the Chinese government.' They called for an end to the animosities and national reconciliation as 'a country that wishes to avoid the partition of its territory must first avoid divisions among its nationalities.' The group urged the government in Beijing to hold direct talks with the Dalai Lama. Danghong, 43, asked in her internet blog: 'Why can't we sit down with the Dalai Lama who has abandoned calls for 'independence' and now advocates a 'middle way' and negotiate with him with sincerity to achieve 'stability' and 'unity' through him?' Every Tibetan revered and worshipped the Dalai Lama, wrote Danghong, who lives in Chengdu in Sichuan province and who made several documentaries about Tibet during the 1990s. Anyone who had ever been to Tibet gained a sense of their profound religiousness to the horror of many Chinese, she wrote. Tibetan values contrasted to those of contemporary Chinese who have no religion, she said. True Tibetan voices had been silenced, but their echoes can still be heard. Adressing her fellow Chinese, Danghong asked: 'Why can't you understand that people have different values? While you believe in brainwashing, the power of a gun and of money, there is a spiritual belief that has been in their (Tibetan) minds for thousands of years and cannot be washed away.'

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This is the last time.......................Mar 25th, 2008 - 06:19:46

I will visit Monster and Critics website due to its reporting of LIES, LIES and more LIES!

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tonny from belgiumMar 25th, 2008 - 08:05:29

To previouds poster:any evedence...evidence...evidence...from your part to back up your claim the new consists of ...lies ?I didn't think so .YLet me guess...you are chinese ?

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Blog for EternityMar 25th, 2008 - 11:07:11

Tang Danhong wrote in an internet blog: 'Other than guns and money, and cultural destruction and spiritual rape, we do not know other ways to achieve 'harmony'.'

This poet and filmmaker deserves to be seated at the peace table with the Dalai Lama.

How many more good Chinese will be stifled, jailed, and persecuted for having the insight and courage to stand up to a government that practices such harsh repression?

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GooseMar 26th, 2008 - 05:34:54

China is a rapist.

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ÀÂíÀÂíMar 26th, 2008 - 08:51:46

Ã«Ôô£¬ ¹²·Ë£¡ÇëÀë¿ªÎ÷²Ø£¡

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Mr. ChenMar 26th, 2008 - 09:36:05

I wonder who fantasized this article.

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6.4Mar 26th, 2008 - 11:38:12

GooseMar 26th, 2008 - 05:34:54

China´s govertment is a rapist.

still remembered TIANMEN 6.4 _¿?

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Things seems turned upside-down hereMar 26th, 2008 - 14:47:24

Surely there are evidence for the teorrisem in Tibet! Search the internet, you'll get pictures,diaries or videos! If you guys don't understand Chinese, i'll try to translate some for you when i'm free.
PS, i don't like terorrism no matter any reason!

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TomMar 29th, 2008 - 20:04:15

Hey, people.

We, the U.S. should stand up for the Tibetan people and show the leadership. We at the very least should re-open the CIA military training camp for the Dalai Lama's resistance fighters at Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado.

We should ask Japanese to financially support the Free Tibet operation. Dalai Lama loves Japanese people. He endorsed a Japanese spiritual movement, Aum Shinrikyo, in 1980's-1990's.

We should ask Germany for some substantial support from Europe. Germans had deep connections with Tibet in 1930's and 1940's. Dalai Lama's tutor in 1940's was Heinrich Harrer, a member of the Schutzstaffel. These people are closely linked together. We can form a huge coalition force for sure to change Tibet back to Shangri-La.

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His Hollowness Dalai Hama Congraduate 29Mar 30th, 2008 - 20:35:04

Dalai Hama:

' I sincerely congraduate the 29 chinese intel lectrolls for their support. They shall be called judas among their countrymen, but they shall reincarnated in the paradise with 72+1 virgins.'

Sign his holyness Dalai Hama

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Scholars blast China's 'serious mistakes' towards Tibet

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