China. Published on April 06, 2011 by Biju Sukumaran

The Story

Climbing Tibet’s Potala Palace at 3,700 m (12,100 ft), is a difficult task indeed. The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, made famous as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959, was first built by a Tibetan king in AD 637, and used primarily as a meditation retreat. Potala Palace was rebuilt in 1645 to be used as the fifth Dalai Lama's seat of government. Today, Potala Palace is situated between two major monasteries in old Lhasa, and is a museum housing thousands of shrines, statues and manuscripts within its countless rooms.

Clearing the last turn on the last set of stairs, you will be greeted by panoramic views of the city of Lhasa.The altitude affords unlimited visibility, and the azure skies, dabbed with a few delicate clouds, is an ideal backdrop for any photographer. Even point-and-shoot cameras make postcard-perfect photos.

The Potala Palace in Tibet was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, and has emerged largely unscathed from the Tibetan uprising and the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Today, thousands of tourists visit the Potala Palace in Lhasa each day, often led by tour guides spewing facts and figures while herding their charges through the narrow halls and steep ladder-like staircases. The Potala Palace’s thirteen stories and inwardly inclined walls house the White Palace: the Dalai Lama's personal living quarters; and The Red Palace, devoted to religious meditation and study. Also included are four main chapels and the ornate tomb of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, containing treasures of gold, jewels and pearls.

After being led from one incense-rich room after another, your Tibetan guide will describe statues of benevolent bodhisattvas and religious artwork. Often former monks themselves, the guides’ accented descriptions combine with the heady aroma of yak butter, and will fill your head with visions of old Tibet. After the last statue and room has been given its due, you’ll emerge out into the sunshine, and make the long decent down paths of crimson and white, lined with slowly revolving prayer wheels.

Many famous landmarks in the world are disappointing after all the appearances in literature or movies. But Tibet's Potala Palace in Lhasa dominates the physical and cultural landscape, and is filled with history and layered with tradition. You’ll be catching your breath in more ways than one.

Read more at thecircumference.org...

by Agence France-Presse.

BEIJING—The Dalai Lama said last year the world should focus on climate change in Tibet rather than politics, as environmental problems in his Himalayan homeland were more pressing, a leaked U.S. diplomatic memo says.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said the Chinese-ruled region could wait “five to 10 years” for a political solution, according to the cable released by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks and the Guardian newspaper.

The Dalai Lama, who is seen by Beijing as a “splittist” despite his repeated calls for autonomy rather than independence for Tibet, made the comments in an August 2009 meeting with the U.S. ambassador to New Delhi, the cable reveals.

“The Dalai Lama argued that the political agenda should be sidelined for five to 10 years and the international community should shift its focus to climate change on the Tibetan plateau,” the Aug. 10, 2009 cable says.

“Melting glaciers, deforestation, and increasingly polluted water from mining projects were problems that ‘cannot wait,’” the memo quoted the Buddhist monk and Nobel peace laureate as saying to ambassador Timothy Roemer. The Dalai Lama criticized China’s energy policy, saying the construction of dams in the region had displaced thousands of Tibetans and flooded religious sites. He called for compensation and vocational training for the displaced.

He suggested the United States “consider engaging China on environmental issues in Tibet”—prompting Roemer to speculate about a possible “broader shift in strategy to reframe the Tibet issue as an environmental concern.”

In the same cable, the Dalai Lama said his faith in China’s government had grown “thinner” after several rounds of failed negotiations on the future of his homeland, and said Tibetans believed China favoured “ruthless oppression.”

He warned that should China become a global superpower, it would “resemble the former Soviet Union, securing its rule using suspicion and fear,” the cable said.

The Dalai Lama is the global face for the Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule. He was forced to flee into exile following a failed 1959 uprising against Beijing’s control of the region, and now lives in India.

In March 2008, demonstrations in Tibet’s capital Lhasa marking the anniversary of that uprising descended into violence and spread to neighboring areas with significant Tibetan populations.

China says 21 people were killed by rioters during the turmoil. But exiled groups say more than 200 Tibetans died—most of them at the hands of Chinese security forces.

In a cable from the U.S. embassy in Delhi dated April 10, 2008, amid the heavy security crackdown in Tibet following the protests, U.S. diplomats reveal a desperate plea for help from the Dalai Lama. The monk asked the diplomats to “use all effective means to persuade the PRC [China] to engage in dialogue with him” and urged Washington to take action that would “make an impact” in Beijing, the cable says.

“Tibet is a dying nation. We need America’s help,” it quoted the Dalai Lama as saying.

Related Links:

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The Destination: The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, the first international luxury hotel in the capital of Tibet, is set to open for guests on November 15. Standing on the “Roof of the World,” the 32,000-square-meter St. Regis Lhasa Resort is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The hotel is also green, as it uses solar and geothermal energy to save on diesel energy consumption. Situated in the famous ancient Barkhor area, The St. Regis Lhasa Resort is quite near to the holy Potala Palace, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jokhang Temple.

Physical Address

No.22, Jiangsu Road, Lhasa, Tibet (Xizang) 850000, China

Getting there

• Lhasa Railway Station: Approximately 15.0 km/9.32 miles

• Lhasa Airport: Approximately 75.0 km/46.61 miles

Accommodation

The St. Regis Lhasa Resort has 150 rooms and villas and 12 suites including a Presidential Suite, which come equipped with state-of-the-art amenities to offer the guests the best in comfort. Accented by local artifacts and inimitable décor, the hotel rooms reflect the rich Tibetan culture and heritage. For the entertainment needs, the rooms have a 42-inch LCD TV and a DVD player.

In the bathrooms, you can find the invigorating rainforest shower, bathroom telephone, an accessible shower and/or bath. There are non-smoking rooms, rooms with lake views and rooms with garden views.

Some of the lavish room amenities include the wake-up service, 24-hour butler service, in-room safe and in-room massage treatments. For CNY 100 a day, the guests can also enjoy wireless high-speed internet access.

The luxurious room amenities and services are subject to fees.

Fine Dining

Dining at the new St. Regis Lhasa Resort promises to be an unforgettable experience, as the hotel will offer a range of epicurean tastes and experiences. The offerings include…

• Decanter by Haut-Brisson: Wine bar serving over 140 labels of wine, liquors and aged cigars.

• The Drawing Room: Baked goods and desserts.

• Yan Ting: Chinese restaurant with six private dining rooms.

• Social: Full day dining restaurant with international cuisine.

• Si Zi Kang: Tibetan and Nepalese cuisine.

Other highlights

• Iridium Spa: A 5-star spa experience combined with traditional Tibetan herbal treatments.

• St. Regis Butler service: Addressing your every request for an unforgettable stay.

• Honeymoon suite for the newlyweds.

• Tea Room: Serving vintage teas aged from 10-25 years.

• Meeting and Event Facilities.

• Business services, including secretarial Service and copy/printing service.

• Special guest services, including concierge Service and safe Deposit Boxes

Local Attractions

After the introduction of regular flights and a high-tech train service from central Qinghai province to Tibet, the number of tourists visiting Lhasa has increased dramatically in the recent years. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort offers tourists the magnificent views of the Lhasa and a range of local attractions, which include…

• Jokhang Temple: 2.0 km/1.2 miles

Along with the Potala Palace, it is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Lhasa. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace” and a spiritual center of Lhasa.

• Potala Palace: 3.0 km/1.9 miles

The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, after an invasion and failed uprising in 1959. The Potala Palace has been now converted into a museum by the Chinese government.

• Sera Monastery: 4.6 km/2.9 miles

Sera Monastery is one of the great three Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. The origin of the name “Sera” comes from the fact that the site where the monastery was built was surrounded by wild roses (se ra in Tibetan language) in bloom.

• Norbulinka: 6.4 km/4.0 miles

The Norbulinka palace and surrounding park served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until the 14th Dalai Lama’s self-exile in 1959. Norbulingka is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Drepung Monastery: 10.0 km/6.2 miles

Drepung Monastery is one of the “great three” Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. It is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse mountain.

• Yandro Yumtso Lake: 130.0 km/80.8 miles

The Yamdok Yumtso is one of the three largest lakes of Tibet, with an area of 638 square kilometers and a coastal line of 250 kilometers. Image Credit: Flickr.

• Heavenly Lake Namtso: 250.0 km/155.4 miles

In Nov. 14, 2005, Namtso Lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region was selected as one of the five most beautiful lakes in China by Chinese National Geography magazine. The salt lake lies at an elevation of 4,718 m, and has a surface area of 1,920 square kilometers.

For shopping, hotel guests can visit the nearby Lhasa Department Store and the Bai Yi Supermarket, which are 1.5 miles away from the hotel.

Packages and Pricing

A night stay at night at The St. Regis Lhasa Resort will set you back about £200. The pricing further depends on the bed type and the room features.

For detailed information, please visit The St. Regis Lhasa Resort.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:58, August 19, 2010
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-	[[Category:Un-answered questions]]	+	* The XIV Dalia Lama went to China to seek self-governance for Tibet.
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		+	* The Chinese ''liberated'' Tibet in 1950 (meaning they took it over)
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		+	* In 1959, the agreement between the Dalai Lama and China broke down, there was a revolt against Chinese in the Tibetan Capital
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		+	* The Dalai Lama government fled to Dharamsala during 1959 Tibetan uprising, with the Central People's Government quickly taking control after suppressing the revolt.
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		+	[[Category:Tibet]][[Category:China]]
		+	[[Category:Answered questions]]

Around the World 07/07 - Day Edition2 Arirang News In 1959, around 80 thousand Tibetan followers of the Dalai Lama moved from China to India after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. ... and more »

[Tibetan monks prepare to serve sweetened rice at the 75th birthday party for the Dalai Lama in Dharmsala, India, today. He has been living in Dharmsala since 1959, when he fled Tibet after a failed uprising against China. AP] More »

Dozens of Tibetan exiles on their way to take part in a celebration for the Dalai Lama's birthday were detained by police on Tuesday in the Nepalese capital.

...

Shanghai (AFP) May 5, 2010 - The restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang have for years been thorns in the side of China's ruling Communist Party, but visitors to the World Expo in Shanghai would never know it.

The two regions -- rocked in recent years by deadly unrest -- are presented in the giant China pavilion at the just-opened Expo as culturally rich and forward-looking areas steeped in tradition, where ethnic harmony reigns.

"Have you seen the movie? It shows the tremendous changes that have happened in Tibet over the last 51 years, since the democratic reforms," says Yang La, a Tibetan hostess dressed in colourful ethnic garb.

The first five minutes of the exhibit's promotional film offer a barrage of strikingly beautiful images -- sweeping Tibetan landscapes, the red and white Potala palace in Lhasa, smiling dancers, beaming tourists.

The film also shows the world's highest railway linking Tibet to the outside world, laboratories, solar-panelled roofs and spanking-new airports -- all part of Beijing's oft-cited development plan for the region it "liberated" in 1959.

But Tibet's Buddhist monks -- who complain of cultural and religious repression -- are nowhere to be seen. Nor is the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner who lives in exile in India.

Only three monks are seen in the film -- sitting in front of a computer.

The display barely makes any reference to religion, with only one photo of a statue of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, Tibet's principal religion.

In a model of a "typical" Tibetan living room, two pictures adorn the walls: one is a collage of photos of Communist leaders Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

"These are the pictures of the three generations of our leadership," explains Yang.

The second photo frame is reserved for a smiling Chinese President Hu Jintao, standing with Tibetans before the Potala Palace -- once the seat of Tibet's Buddhist theocracy headed by the Dalai Lama.

Draped around the two frames are hadas, traditional white scarves "to thank China for its concern for the Tibetan people of all ethnic groups", Yang explains.

And a reproduction of a painting depicting the "joyous festival of Losar" -- the Tibetan New Year -- shows "how the peoples of Tibet, of various nationalities, are living a happy life", according to the caption.

When asked why there are no photos of monks or monasteries, Yang smiles and steps back. She is then called away by her boss to greet other foreign guests.

The advocacy group Free Tibet has called for a boycott of the Tibet exhibit, calling it a "crude attempt by the Chinese administration to gloss over the reality of human rights violations and marginalisation" felt by Tibetans.

"To visit this parody is to tacitly endorse China's policies in Tibet of arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances, patriotic re-education and the occupation of Tibet," the London-based group said.

The group says more than 1,000 Tibetans arrested after the anti-Chinese riots in 2008, which began as protests to mark a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule of the region and descended into violence, are still missing.

Not far from the display on "Heavenly Tibet" -- described by the Dalai Lama in March as "hell on earth" -- is a sign that proclaims: "Xinjiang, a Harmonious Land".

Last year, the far-western region was the scene of deadly ethnic unrest pitting mainly Muslim Uighurs against members of China's dominant Han majority. Nearly 200 people were killed.

Expo visitors queue up to learn about Xinjiang -- but they do not learn about recent history. Giant plastic grapevines cascade from the ceiling, dancers in colourful costumes perform, and a film vaunts ethnic harmony.

"There are many different ethnic groups in Xinjiang," the film's captions say, adding that agriculture in Xinjiang -- it is indeed a major producer of grapes -- is highly mechanised.

Following the dance performance, visitor Liu Ji Yuan -- a Han Chinese from the regional capital Urumqi, where the violence erupted in July last year -- applauds enthusiastically.

Liu says the exhibit is "a marvelous place that shows the landscapes of Xinjiang and the character of the people".

When asked about the July 2009 unrest, he responds: "What do you know about what happened in Xinjiang last year, huh?"

A security guard quickly puts his arm around the man's shoulders, whispers in his ear and escorts him from the building, putting an end to the interview with a curt "Get out" to all.

'Grandpa will be thinking of you,' Hu Jintao tells young survivor after he cuts trip short to fly into mainly Tibetan area

China's president, Hu Jintao, today flew into the western town devastated by an earthquake, pledging swift rebuilding in the predominantly Tibetan area, as the death toll climbed to 1,700.

Chinese state television showed him cradling an injured young Tibetan survivor and assuring her: "You will have a bright future. Grandpa will be thinking of you."

Hu cut short an official trip to South America because of the disaster in Yushu county, Qinghai province. State news agency Xinhua reported today that 1,706 people have died, with 256 still missing and 12,128 injured.

It also said that a 68-year-old man had been pulled alive from rubble in the town of Jiegu this morning after 100 hours.

Professor Robert Barnett, an expert on Tibetan issues at Columbia University in New York, said the government's brisk handling of the disaster was striking.

He added: "It's certainly interpreted cynically by Tibetan intellectuals and those on the internet ... on the ground it might be very different."

Although Yushu was not one of the Tibetan areas of Qinghai which saw unrest in 2008, there have been some signs of underlying tensions since Wednesday's quake.

Many blamed Chinese mining for causing the disaster, while some monks complained they had not been given sufficient credit for their rescue work.

But Barnett noted: "Yushu is almost the only area [in the Tibetan plateau] where local officials do have a pretty good relationship with their community."

He said that authorities did not appear to have encouraged non-Tibetan immigration, often a source of rancour, and had allowed Tibetan non-government organisations dealing with environment and community issues to emerge.

"People are on a leash, but it's a much longer leash and they appreciate that."

He said the mobilisation of the monks – who have played a major role in rescue and relief work – was unprecedented.

"It's not a disparate emotional response but an incredibly organised one," he said.

Despite the efforts of both officials and monks, many survivors are still struggling in the sub-zero overnight temperatures.

Zou Ming, head of disaster relief at the ministry of civil affairs, told a news conference in Beijing: "At the moment the supplies that have been sent are enough to ensure people there have shelter, food and water. Of course, there are shortages, and a lot of supplies are still in transit."

Hundreds of lorries carrying everything from earthmoving equipment and generators to plastic piping and instant noodles have been making the 560 mile journey from the provincial capital of Xining to the remote disaster zone, along with lengthy army convoys.

Aman Yee, deputy manager of Oxfam's China unit and part of a team handing out thousands of blankets in Yushu, said: "There is quite a lot of material but there are problems distributing it to the people who need it most."

One local resident, Dongzhu, told Reuters: "Our first problem is that there aren't enough tents, and too many of the ones that are arriving are going to people with influence."

He said speedy reconstruction was essential before the bitter winter arrives and added there was "absolutely no way" inhabitants could pay for it themselves. Qinghai is one of the poorest parts of China.

The Dalai Lama said he would like to visit the quake zone to offer survivors comfort. It is highly unlikely Beijing would allow the exiled spiritual leader to return to China for the first time since he fled Tibet in 1959, after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

CNN

Dalai Lama expresses desire to visit, comfort victims WEAR The exiled spiritual leader hasn't returned to China since he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. The quake that struck western ... Dalai Lama seeks visit to quake zone in ChinaCTV.ca The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet's Struggle for FreedomSeattle Times Families of Tibet quake victims ask Hu and Wen to invite the Dalai LamaPhayul Malaysia Star -AFP -Tibetan Culture & News Online all 122 news articles »

CNN International

Dalai Lama seeks visit to quake zone in China CTV.ca The spiritual leader fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has not returned since. The Dalai Lama resides in Dharamsala, ... Dalai Lama seeks China quake zone visitCNN Dalai Lama asks China to let him visit quake-hit regionAFP Dalai Lama asks China to allow him to visit quake-hit provinceDaily News & Analysis Phayul -Malaysia Star -Tibetan Culture & News Online all 116 news articles »

CNN International

Dalai Lama wants to visit China quake site eTaiwan News The Tibetan spiritual leader has not set foot in China since fleeing Tibet following a failed 1959 uprising against Beijing's rule in the Himalayan region. ... Dalai Lama wants to visit quake-hit regionChannel News Asia Dalai Lama asks China to let him visit quake-hit regionNEWS.com.au Deadly Earthquake Strikes Tibetan Plateau CityEnvironment News Service all 106 news articles »

LOS ANGELES, April 5 — Bob Dylan has cancelled several legs of an Asian tour after Beijing refused to give him permission to perform in China, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Dylan originally planned to play in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, following his multi-city tour of Japan last month, the Sunday Morning Post said.

Tour organisers, Taiwan-based Brokers Brothers Herald, announced in January that Dylan would be performing in Hong Kong on April 8, but there was little subsequent promotion, the report said.

When permission for dates in Shanghai and Beijing was not granted by the Chinese government, the company pulled the other Asian dates.

“China’s Ministry of Culture did not give us permission to stage concerts in Beijing and Shanghai, so we had no alternative but to scrap plans for a Southeast Asian tour,” Jeffrey Wu, the promoter’s chief of operations, was quoted as saying.

“The chance to play in China was the main attraction for him. When that fell through everything else was called off.”

Telephone calls to the ministry by AFP went unanswered yesterday.

Wu said the ministry had tightened control over foreign singers performing in China since Icelandic star Bjork’s pro-Tibet outburst at a Shanghai concert two years ago.

The ministry said Bjork “hurt the feelings of Chinese people” after she chanted “Tibet! Tibet!” when singing her song “Declare Independence.”

China has ruled Tibet since sending in troops in 1951 to “liberate” the region. It has grown increasingly wary of pro-Tibetan independence campaigns after protests staged two years ago in the Tibetan capital Lhasa to mark the anniversary of the March 10, 1959 uprising erupted in deadly violence.

Dylan is best known for the politically charged songs of his early career, including “The Times They Are A-Changin’” which is hailed by some critics as the archetypal protest song. His anti-war anthem “Blowin’ in the Wind” is still regularly played at peace demonstrations.—AFPrelaxnews.com

 

“The Sun Behind The Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom”

Opens March 31st, 2010 at “Film Forum”

 

 

Recently, at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, held this past January 5-18, 2010, screenings of Chinese features, “City ofLife and Death” and “Quick, Quick, Slow”, were taken out of the film festival by the state-run China Film Group in order to protest the festival’s choice to show the “The Sun Behind The Clouds”, which takes on  a unique Tibetan perspective on the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people’s oppression under the Chinese regime.

 

Tibetan filmmaker Tenzing Sonam and his partner, Ritu Sarin, took time to answer a few questions about their controversial film, “The SunBehind The Clouds”.

 

 A brief history of Tibet from 1949 to today:

 

China claims Tibet has been under its rule since at least the 13th Century, while the Tibetans believe it has always existed as an independent nation.

 

 

1949:  The Chinese Communist Government, led by Mao Zedong, asserted a new Chinese presence in Tibet and invaded Tibet.

 

1950: The People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet defeating the Tibetan army.

 

1951:  Chinese troops forced Tibetan representatives in Lhasa, to negotiate with the Chinese government: resulting in China’s sovereignty over Tibet.

 

1951-1959, traditional Tibetan society with it’s lords and manorial estates continued to function unchanged.  The Dalai Lama’s government was permitted to maintain important symbols from its independence period.

 

1959:  China took control of Tibet, and a military crackdown on rebels led to the “Lhasa Uprising”.   Fearing capture of the Dalai Lama, unarmed Tibetans surrounded his residence, and the Dalai Lama fled to Northern India. There was growing resistance against the Chinese occupation and 100,000 Tibetans followed the Dalai Lama to India.

 

1965: The area that had been under the control of the Dalai Lama’s government from the 1910’s to 1959,  was renamed the Tibet Autonomous Region, or TAR.  The role of ethnic Tibetans in the higher levels of the TAR Communist Party remains very limited.

 

1959-1961: Red Guards inflicted a campaign of organized vandalism against cultural sites, including Tibet’s Buddhist heritage. Thousands of Buddhist monks and nuns were killed, or imprisoned.

 

1989: Dalai Lama, spiritual and religious leader of the Tibetan government in exile, won the Nobel Peace Prize, for his commitment to peaceful protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

 

March, 2008: Widespread protests against Chinese rule flared up in 2008. The largest uprising since China took control in 1959. The Chinese government imposed curfews. Tibetans are unhappy under Chinese regime. Talks between representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government began with little result.  Thousands of Tibetans in exile, march thousands of kilometers from Dharmsala, India, to Tibet in order to support their countrymen.  It is also the year The Olympic Games were held in Beijing.

 

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual and temporal leader, who has lived in exile for most of his life, trying to compromise with China, and find a “Middle Way Approach”, is willing for Tibet to remain in the Chinese People’s Republic, as long as the Tibetan Culture, Religious beliefs and it’s environment are preserved.  A compromise has yet to be made, and the goal of returning to a free Tibet seems as distant as ever.

 

Question: Sharon Abella: 

 

 What is life currently like for Tibetans on a daily basis?

 

Answer:  Tenzing Sonam:

 

 “Right now the situation in Tibet is pretty bad. In the big cities like,  Lhasa,Tibet,  and most of the urban areas, there is a huge security presence. Armed guards are at every street crossing in Lhasa.  The Chinese have always had a very tough security policy.  There is a tough surveillance system looking for spies.  It is because of this, that Tibetans are very afraid to speak out, so people just go about their daily business. The Tibetans are under a lot of pressure right now.

 

 

Question: SA:

 

What would life be like for Tibetans if the Dalai Lama were to return to Tibet?

 

Answer:  Tenzing Sonam:

 

“It’s a tough question, because it would depend on what circumstances he would have been invited back to Tibet.  Of course, his presence in Tibet would spark an incredible show of devotion and support for the Dalai Lama, but who knows  how this would manifest.  It could spark a revolution."

 

 Question: SA

  

In the film, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had accused the Dalai Lama of being a liar who wants a serf system, which offers no democracy.  Where do these accusations stem from?

  

Answer:  Tenzing Sonam:

 

“Before the Chinese Invasion in 1950, Tibet was a feudal kind of a society, it was very medieval, and wasn’t developed at all.  Like all systems that were kind of backwards, it had a lot of problems, but these weren’t  problems that were any greater than what other countries have gone through, including China itself.  China, itself, had a lot of social inequalities, but what the Chinese have always done, is justify their actions. Because they invaded Tibet and illegally occupied it, they needed justification.  Their justification was that Tibet was a horrible, horrendous, backwards society, and we brought liberation to them, and that is the classic, kind of colonial justification used throughout the ages that the people you conquer some how need you.  So that’s why the Chinese keep on insisting that all of Tibet was so horrific, because they need to somehow legitimize their rule in Tibet. The truth is, Tibet, certainly, was not a paradise on Earth, it wasn’t this Buddhist paradise. It had a lot of social problems, but like every other country, it probably would have developed in it’s own time.

 

Question: SA

 

Quote from the film: “Tibet is enormously important due to its strategic location. China wants to exploit Tibet for it’s natural resources.”

 

Is this the main reason why China won’t give up Tibet?

 

Answer: Tenzing Sonam:

 

Absolutely. It is one of the huge reasons why China will not willingly give up Tibet.

 

Answer: Ritu Sarin:

 

Also, they have a sense that Tibet is part of their empire.  So, apart from just the resources, they have a sense that Tibet belongs to them.  They really, really believe in this, and it’s hard for them to give that up.

 

 

SA:  The film mentions that they are building railway transportation from mainland China to Tibet.

 

Answer: Ritu Sarin:

 

“You can not miss the Chinese presence in Tibet.  Anyone who goes to Tibet, when they leave it, they realize they are suddenly leaving a place that has so much fear and oppression.  Anyone who is slightly aware of it.”

 

Answer: Tenzing Sonam:

 

“But because right now if you went to Tibet as a tourist you would go on a controlled tour, so you would not have the freedom to meet whoever you wanted to meet, speak to whomever you wanted to speak to.  The Chinese Government would make sure you would see what they wanted you to see.

 

SA:  Talk about Woeser.

 

Woeser is a female poet/writer in the film, who was dismissed from her position as an editor of a literary journal because she wrote sympathetic writings about the Dalai Lama. She now lives in Beijing, and despite intimidation, continues to expose the reality of the situation in Tibet. Woeser is a the most famous Tibetan intellectual voice writing out of China.  She blogs relentlessly and critically on China’s rule in Tibet and the situation there. Tibetans everywhere take inspiration from her courage and writings and she is widely recognized as one of the most influential Tibetan voices today.

 

Answer: Tening Sonam:

 

Woeser has already had run-in’s with the authorities, she can’t go to Lhasa, so she has been exiled to Beijing, yet she has consistently writing blogs criticizing the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet, and for whatever reason, the Chinese haven’t been able to shut her down. For Tibetans all over the world she is a real symbol of resistance and courage and we take alot of inspiration from her.

 

The English translation for her blogs are on: www.highpeakspureearth.com

 

Answer: Ritu Sarin

The interesting thing about her also is that Woeser is part Chinese, and so when she was growing up in Chengdu

(Chengdu: located in southwestPeople’s Republic of China, is the capital of Sichuan province and asub-provincial city, Chengdu is also one of the most important economic centers, transportation and communication hubs in Western China.)

 So when Woeser was growing up in Chengdu, she didn’t realizethat she was Tibetan. Well, she knew she was Tibetan, but she was cut off fromher Tibetan roots.

She had no idea until she had read a book that was translated from English to Chinese, and then when she read the book, which talked about how China had invaded Tibet and what had happened to the people, that’s when she had asked her family if it was true, and she slowly began to rediscover her identity.  It is a very interesting story.

 

 

SA:  How do you think the world would be if the Dalai Lama’s wish were granted and the world lived as one nation?  The Dalai Lama stated, “Almost no single nation can be completely self sufficient, we need to work together”.  The Dalai Lama looks at economics with a spiritual and rational sense.

 

 

Answer:  Ritu Sarin

 

It could be a wonderful thing.  We’re idealistic people.  We believe in a utopian society. I think it would be wonderful if the world could do that, if we stopped all of our wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan and all of the problems. But, yet the reality is that it is so hard to imagine, even in America, it’s hard to imagine stopping the war. The reality is at this point in time, the Tibetans are dealing with a nation that is a big bully.  

For example at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Chinese aren’t even bullying people in their own country, they are actually going to organizations in America, in particular, the Palm Springs International Film Festival and trying to bully them.

Luckily, Palm Springs Film Festival stood strong and stood by their ideals and kept our film in competition, and was voted “Best of the Fest”,  but we fear that other filmfestivals won’t touch the film if they have a lot of Chinese films being displayed in the festival also. Does this Chinese behavior work to their advantage, or does it backfire against them?

Tenzing Sonam:

 

Basically what the Chinese did at “The Palm Springs International Film Festival” in January 2010, was pull out their two films, to protest our movie.  Luckily the festival refused to take our movie out. The way the Chinese Film Group put it was that the directors of these two movies,  “City of Life and Death”, and “Quick, Quick Slow”, had voluntarily pulled their film out in protest.  Later when the directors were interviewed, they actually had no idea that this was going on.  It was obvious that they were forced to remove their films from The Palm Springs International Film Festival.They had no choice."

 

Ritu Sarin:

 

"One of the movies that was pulled out of “The Palm Springs International Film Festival”, “City of Life and Death”, was the same movie that was supposed to play here at “The Film Forum”for a two week run, and at the last minute, their distributor,  “National Geographic” couldn’t guarantee them the print. Film Forum was suddenly left without a film.  We had sent our film to them, they loved it, and they will put our film in it’s place.  So now we are able to show our film at “The Film Forum”.

 

Tenzing Sonam:

 

The Chinese Film Group are trying to send a message to filmfestivals all around the world, that if you show films that we don’t like, than you will not get to play our films.

 

SA: How is that helping them?

 

Tenzing Sonam:

 

It is helping them in the sense that if Festivals do buckle under that kind of pressure, than they are getting their way.

 

Ritu Sarin:

 

They want it so that films about Tibet won’t get shown.

 

Tenzing Sonam:

Chinese films are so amazing,  so many good Chinese films being made. 

 

Ritu Sarin: 

 

People who have been in the business a long time have told us that it could happen, that some film festivals may reject our film because the film festivals don’t want controversy. But we don’t have any proof. No one is ever going to say the real reason.

 

 

SA: Discuss the lack of Western support for Tibet.  At one point in the film the Chinese got upset because they saw the Dalai Lama talking with Prince Charles and thought he was plotting with Westerners to aide in freeing Tibet.

 

Tenzing Sonam:

 

There are a lot of American supporters for the Tibetan cause at the grassroots level, but it doesn’t translate into government pressure.  Finally, it’s because China is so powerful, economically, everyone is doing deals with them. Nobody wants to upset them too much. That’s the big problem.  We are faced with a very powerful nation.

 

SA: The Dalai Lama said he doesn’t mind if Tibet stays partof the “People’s Republic of China”, as long as they preserve the Tibetan culture, the Buddhist beliefs and the environment.

 

Tenzing Sonam:

 

It is definitely happening.   The Chinese Government is controlling the practice of Buddhism,  Normally, you are allowed to go to temple and worship, but you can not have a picture of the Dalai Lama, you would be arrested if you had a picture of the Dalai Lama.  They have these things called Patriotic Education Campaigns,  were monks are forced to sign these letters stating that they denounce the Dalai Lama.

 

Entry into the monasteries are strictly controlled, they have to pass Chinese regulations. They try to make sure that not too many people join the monasteries, because they see the monasteries as a big threat to them.   So in very subtle ways, and actually not so subtle ways, they really controlling the practice of Buddhism."

 

 

Ritu Sarin:

 

“The Sun Behind The Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle For Freedom”, is a film coming from the perspective of the Tibetan people.   How is “The Sun Behind TheClouds” different from any other Tibetan film?   It is because we understand, we are moved by the Tibetan people.  We sympathize with the Tibetan people.  In fact when we won the Vaclav Havel award, (President of Czechoslovakia), that’s what President Havel said, he knew about the present situation and the Dalai Lama, but that this was the first time he felt the heart of the Tibetan people.

 

SA: Touch on the March in 2008 from Dharmsala, India to Tibet, the same year that the Beijing Olympics were being held, trying to send a message to the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama asked the marchers to stop thinking it was too dangerous for them.

 

Tenzing Sonam:

 

"At the end of the March in 2008, there were about 300 people.  They would walk about 20-25 kilometers a day and they would camp out at night for four months.  They had a food truck that would follow them.  A lot of the time it was very hot.  By the time the march ended, the media attention had turned to other things, and they were pretty much forgotten. There was hardly any media coverage at the end.  Everyone covered the beginning of the march, and as the months went by, the media started to cover other things.  For the Tibetans it was heartbreaking when they stopped."

 

SA: Touch on how you were able to work so closely along sideof the Dalai Lama.

 

We were asked to film the Dalai Lama on his 1986 trip to Europe. When he won theNobel Peace Prize in 1989, we were documenting that trip and his visit to Washington. We have spent a lot of time traveling with him.

 

Quotes: 

 

“Dalai Lama is a symbol of Tibet. Compassion, hopes, aspirations, of all Tibetans  rest on him.  The Tibetans want independence, they want human rights. Buddha’s teaching can not flourish. China is trying to control Buddhist practice.”

 

“By confronting the injustice, you can awaken the people and expose Chinese brutality”.

 

“If his holiness, could leave Tibet with a legacy ofindependence.”  

 

“Tibetans want human rights. They want the Dalai Lama back. We stand and are pushed back down.”

 

Dalai Lama: “China is powerful, but lacks self confidence.Tibet is very small, but has self confidence."

 

 

 

 

 

“The Sun Behind The Cloud: Tibet’s Struggle For Freedom”

 

Opens March 31st at “The Film Forum”  209 West Houston Street

 

www.thesunbehindtheclouds.com     www.whitecranefilms.com

 

 

 

 

 

Tibetans living in-exile in India staged a protest demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy here on Friday to mark the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan Women's Uprising Day which came two days after an uprising led by the Dalai Lama against Chinese rule in 1959.

LINK TO ORIGINAL

The exhibition coincides with Tibetans marking the anniversary of the March 12, 1959 uprising against China, and amid continuing tensions between China and Tibetan independence activists

US Vice-President Joe Biden is meeting Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah on Wednesday in a visit aimed at reviving lapsed Israeli-Palestinian talks. The initiative comes a day after Biden condemned Israel's announcement of 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in east Jerusalem.

The Israeli interior ministry's announcement of the new housing units drew sharp criticism from Biden and came only hours after he had personally met with and congratulated President Benjamin Netanyahu for 'taking risks for peace.' Biden had stressed the close relationship that binds Israel and the US, stressing Washington's commitment to Israel's security in an attempt to allay fears surrounding Iran's nuclear programme.

After learning of the housing announcement later on Tuesday however, Biden condemned the ill-timed move to expand the east Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo, adding that it undermined the trust needed to restart negotiations in the region. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is expected to visit Israel and the occupied territories later this month, echoed Biden's sentiments and reiterated that settlements are illegal under international law.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed Biden's strongly worded rebuke and said that Israeli actions undermined confidence in the prospects of a lasting political settlement. Mahmoud Abbas has refused to enter into direct negotiations with Israel until it puts a stop to settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem. On Wednesday, Israel apologised for the timing of the announcement but not for its substance, insisting that the government's ten month moratorium announced in November last year on the construction of housing units in the West Bank does not apply to Jerusalem.  Leaders from Arab states are scheduled to meet in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss a response to the Israeli decision to build homes in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood.

The openSecurity verdict: The timing of Israel’s announcement to continue with settlement expansion in east Jerusalem is highly damaging and embarrassing for the Obama administration. Israeli officials maintain that discussions surrounding the authorisation of new housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo have been underway for three years. The Israeli interior minister, Eli Yishai, insists that the timing of the announcement was not politically motivated and that he would have postponed the relevant district committee's authorisation to avoid ‘provoking anyone.’ But according to the BBC’s middle east editor, Jeremy Bowen, Biden's rebuke suggests that the US government has not accepted Israel’s defence of the announcement as part of a normal bureaucratic process that bears no connection with Biden’s visit.

Palestinians meanwhile will see the expansion of Ramat Shlomo as further evidence of Israel’s refusal to put an end to the relentless growth of illegal settlements. The recent announcement by Israel will only add to the cycle of mistrust and exacerbate frustrations among members of the PLO, who will have to compromise their demands for a complete freeze in construction if they wish to sit down at the negotiating table. On Monday for instance, Israel announced the construction of 112 new homes in the ultra-orthodox settlement of Beitar Illit. Israel insists that these housing units were approved before the one year moratorium on new builds was announced in November last year.

The rapid expansion of settlements continues to infuriate Palestinians, who see it as an attempt to squeeze them out of their homeland and undermine the existence of the Palestinian state. Repeated disturbances at the al-Aqsa mosque threaten to spark a wider uprising if fruitless negotiations discredit the PLO. Biden's visit to the Ramallah on Wednesday could not come at a better time for the Palestinians who will no doubt stress that the Netanyahu government is not serious when it says it wants peace. In the game of one-upmanship, in which both the Israelis and Palestinians are keen to disprove and undermine the others intentions about wanting peace, the decision to expand the settlement of Ramat Shlomo has played into the hands of Palestinians eager to win over a comparably sympathetic US administration.

Israel has been repeatedly criticised for only engaging in token measures that give the appearance of harsh restrictions but turn a blind eye to illegal settler activity and construction. So far, the Israeli government has approved thousands of housing units and public buildings beyond the green line that divides east and west Jerusalem. Some point to similarities between settler development and expansion in Jerusalem and Hebron, a city where combative settlers operate with near-impunity.

Acknowledging the 'Hebronisation' underway in Jerusalem, last month Chatham House published a report in which it stated that the 'cost of failure in Jerusalem is very high' and that 'current Israeli policies of segregation and exclusivity are leading to the 'warehousing' of Palestinian residents of the city and the abandonment of neighbourhoods.' It pointed to the insecurity and mistrust fostered as a result of Israel favouring divisive groups and the inability of Palestinians to obtain building permits from Israeli authorities. What happens in Jerusalem is key to the peace process in the middle east sincea successfully negotiated agreement between Israelis and Palestinians will be contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem and Israeli access to Jewish holy sites. This latest row has created unwelcome difficulties for the Obama administration, for whom a general Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement would mark a significant achievement.

Tibet marks anniversary of 1959 uprising

China has tightened security in Tibet ahead of Wednesday's anniversary marking a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959 and bloody riots in 2008. The Times reports that hundreds of Tibetans have been held in a pre-emptive crackdown by the authorities. Armed paramilitaries are reportedly patrolling the streets in a bid to avoid a repeat of the anti-Chinese riots that broke out two years ago. A moratorium is in place on the issue of travel permits required by all non-Chinese wanting to visit the area.

In a speech marking the anniversary, the Dalai Lama accused China of trying to 'annihilate Buddhism', adding that 'whether the Chinese government acknowledges it or not, there is a serious problem in Tibet.' In addition, the Dalai Lama expressed his solidarity with the Uighurs, an ethnic minority in China's troubled Xinjiang province. He referred to the Xinjiang province as 'East Turkestan', a name given to it by pro-independence allies, no doubt further antagonising Beijing. China has accused Dalai Lama of fomenting separatist sentiment and unrest in the Tibetan region.

Ahmadinejad in Afghanistan for talks

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived for talks with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, on Wednesday as US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates departed following a three-day visit to the country. Early on Wednesday, Gates accused Iran of playing a 'double game' in Afghanistan whereby it professes support for Karzai's government but tries to undermine the US-led military involvement. Speaking to reporters shortly before his departure, Gates said that Washington wanted Kabul to have 'good relations with all its neighbours' but that these neighbours needed to 'play an up front game' when dealing with Karzai's government.

At a joint press conference later on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad accused the US of playing a ‘double game’, adding that foreign military presence was not a recipe for peace in Afghanistan. He voiced criticism of the US military build-up in the country, saying ‘your country is located on the other side of the world, so what are you doing here?’ Later on Wednesday, Hamid Karzai is expected to visit Pakistan to meet the leadership of another crucial stakeholder in the region.

Governor of Plateau State blames Nigerian army for killings

Plateau State Governor Jonah John Jang has blamed the Nigerian army for last Sunday's killings near the city of Jos which left nearly 500 people dead. Jang claims that the military failed to take action on the intelligence he provided about suspicious people with weapons hours before the violence began. The army's response to the violence has also been criticised after it was revealed that they took two hours to react after receiving a distress call. The army has so far not responded to the criticisms. Yesterday Plateu’s state government announced the arrest of 100 suspects in connection with Sunday’s attacks.

Elsewhere, hundreds of Nigerians protested in Abuja on Wednesday to demand the appearance of Umar Yar'Adua, the country's ailing leader. Yar'Adua returned from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago after undergoing three months of treatment in Jeddah for a heart condition. The 58-year-old leader however has not been seen in public since, adding to fresh concerns and doubt over his capacity to lead his troubled nation.

Aung San Suu Kyi barred from polls

A new election law announced by the Burmese government has barred Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's detained opposition leader, from standing in elections expected later this year. Under the terms of the Political Parties Registration Law, announced on Wednesday, anyone convicted of a crime cannot join a political party and therefore contest elections. The move will include Suu Kyi who has spent 15 years in detention and is now serving 18 months in house detention for breaching security laws.

The new law will mean that up to 2,000 political prisoners, many of whom are members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), will be excluded and barred from standing in elections. Reuter’s reports that most opposition parties refuse to recognise the new constitution, claiming it is part of a broader effort to cement the military's grip on power.  Whilst an election is expected later this year, there has been no announcement of the official date. The NLD has not said that it will run in the elections.

Aid workers killed in Pakistan

Unidentified gunmen attacked the offices of the American Christian charity World Vision in Pakistan on Wednesday, killing six people and wounding several others.  The attack took place in the town of Ogi, a district situated in the North West Frontier Province which has been a recipient of long-term relief following the October 2005 Kashmir earthquake, which left more than 70,000 people dead. World Vision has announced that it is suspending all its operations in Pakistan, adding that those who targeted humanitarian workers were killing 'people seeking to improve the lives of victims of poverty and injustice.' The Taliban, who have in the past issued statements saying such organisations are working against Islam, are widely suspected of being behind the attack.

oD-wide classification

Country: 

Israel

Afghanistan

Iran

Tibet

China

Nigeria

Myanmar

Pakistan

United States

City: 

Jerusalem

Topics: 

Conflict

Democracy and government

International politics

Hundreds of Tibetans, including Buddhist monks and nuns, Wednesday remembered their forefathers' uprising against the Chinese annexation of their land in 1959 and chanted slogans for a free Tibet in Kathmandu despite a massive police crackdown and arrests.

LINK TO ORIGINAL

Exile Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama paid homage and offered prayers to Tibetan martyrs here Wednesday as Tibetan exiles and their supporters around the world marked the 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising in 1959 and the second anniversary of the March 2008 anti-China unrest

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising in 1959 against Communist China's repression in Tibet, as well as the second anniversary of the peaceful protests that erupted across Tibet in March 2008. On this occasion, I pay homage to those heroic Tibetan men and women, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet, and pray for an early end to the sufferings of those still oppressed in Tibet.

Green MP Keith Locke joins the Friends of Tibet protest outside the Chinese Embassy, Wellington NZ This morning I joined the Friends of Tibet protest outside the Chinese Embassy on the 51st anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan people’s uprising against Chinese rule. Of course there was another ‘uprising’ in March 2008, with demonstrations throughout Tibet. Unfortunately, those [...]

Boston Globe

Conflicting accounts of history complicate understanding of Dalai Lama's ... Northern Iowan Some Chinese students and faculty members raised objections to the portrayal of the relationship between Tibet and China in an article in ... China should allow international agencies to see Panchen Lama: Tibetan parliamentOneindia Dalai Lama to deliver address on 1959 uprising anniversarySify China says only socialism can "save" TibetReuters Times Online -The Associated Press -People's Daily Online all 284 news articles »

A top representative of the Dalai Lama was detained by the Nepal Police and security beefed up in the capital to prevent anti-Beijing protests, ahead of the anniversary of the failed uprising against communist rule by the Tibetans in 1959.

DigitalJournal.com

In Commemoration of 51 years of Tibetan Resistance to Chinese Rule Macalester College The Mac Weekly March 10, 2010 will mark the 51st anniversary of Tibet's occupation by the People's Republic of China. On this same date in 1959, Tibetans held their final ... TIBET 1950-2010: 60 years of occupationTibetan Culture & News Online Cleansing the social environment - China 'strikes hard' in TibetDigitalJournal.com Nepal flexes muscle on Tibetans ahead of sensitive uprising dayPhayul Republica all 6 news articles »

The Tibetan government-in-exile held special prayers on Tuesday (March 2) to mark the anniversary of the Tibetan people’s uprising against the repression and occupation of Tibet by Chinese forces, and the exile of the Tibetan government and its people to India in 1959. This was the first programme organised after the Dalai Lama’s return from United [...]

Reuters

Tibetans Mark Anniversary of Failed Uprising NTDTV The Tibetan government-in-exile is marking the anniversary of an uprising, protesting the Chinese regime's occupation of Tibet. Back in 1959 the Tibetan ... Tibet official hails Panchen Lama's new positionChina Daily Tibetans hold prayers to mark 1959 uprising against Chinese forcesSify China Names Its Own Lama to Top Body of AdvisersNew York Times Phayul -Wall Street Journal -Tibetan Culture & News Online all 222 news articles »

Dharamshala, Mar. 2 (ANI): The Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala held special prayers to mark the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese occupation, and their subsequent exile to India in 1959.

LINK TO ORIGINAL

BBC News

Tibet official hails Panchen Lama's new position China Daily LHASA - A high-ranking official of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday applauded the new position of the 11th Panchen Lama in the top ... Tibetans hold prayers to mark 1959 uprising against Chinese forcesSify China Names Its Own Lama to Top Body of AdvisersNew York Times Panchen Lama's new roleWall Street Journal Phayul -Tibetan Culture & News Online -EurActiv all 219 news articles »

Reuters

Tibetans hold prayers to mark 1959 uprising against Chinese forces Sify China has controlled Tibet since troops of the People's Liberation Army took over the region in 1950. Nearly a decade later, Tibetan spiritual leader, ... China Names Its Own Lama to Top Body of AdvisersNew York Times Panchen Lama's new roleWall Street Journal Tibetan government offers long-life puja for His HolinessPhayul Tibetan Culture & News Online -EurActiv -Independent all 213 news articles »

"The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, said the United States and other countries could help his campaign for a free Tibet by promoting an open society in China."Censorship ... is the source of the problem," the Dalai Lama said Saturday in Beverly Hills. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. He now lives in exile in India and advocates "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet within China."The Chinese people have no opportunity to know our issue," said the Buddhist monk, who Beijing has branded as a dangerous separatist for demanding Tibetan self-determination...."

LA Times: The exiled Tibetan leader speaks to an audience of thousands in what some might consider an incongruous setting. But his message is unchanged: The path to happiness is not paved with stuff. In his first major public appearance in Los Angeles in more than three years, the Dalai Lama spoke to a crowd of several thousand people Sunday about his hopes for Tibet, the need for dialogue in resolving conflicts and the importance of spurning the material world to cultivate compassion. People today are "too much concerned with exterior material values and not our inner values," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said. Happiness, he said, touching his heart, "ultimately depends on here." The event was a benefit for Whole Child International, an L.A. nonprofit that trains caregivers in orphanages. It took place at Universal Studios, in the same amphitheater where the Teen Choice Awards are held, and singer Sheryl Crow performed. Kristen Deem, sitting on a bench outside the theater practicing meditation breathing techniques before the talk began, said she found the juxtaposition strange. "This place is like Vegas, and here is this spiritual entity," said Deem, 45, who lives in North Hollywood. She gestured to the crowd of people streaming into the auditorium, some clutching sodas and buckets of popcorn. "A lot of these people don't go to meditation centers," Deem said. "They're Hollywood yuppies." But Lamu Stadler, a Los Alamitos resident who was born in India to parents who were Tibetan exiles, said she didn't find the setting incongruous. The theme park, she said, "is a beautiful, happy-feeling place where families have fun together." The Dalai Lama's message, Stadler said, was similarly upbeat. "Whenever we are under the same roof, I can feel something very good," said Stadler, 53, who was wearing traditional Tibetan attire. Tibetans like Stadler consider the Dalai Lama both their spiritual and their political leader. "His Holiness," as they call him, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. In recent years, the Dalai Lama has scaled back his demands for Tibetan independence and now calls for "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet within China. Sunday was his first public appearance since a private meeting with President Obama last week that provoked objections from Chinese officials, who accuse the Dalai Lama of trying to orchestrate a rebellion. Sitting cross-legged in a chair onstage, the Dalai Lama did not discuss that meeting. In a meandering and at times humorous hourlong talk, he spoke about Tibet and his belief that all social change must begin on the individual level. "External disarmament" first requires "internal disarmament," he said. "At the fundamental level, we are the same human being," he said. "Mentally, emotionally, physically -- same." Later, as attendees streamed toward the parking lot, Redondo Beach resident Ralph Cooper walked to his car with a smile. "Right now, I feel like I'm reconnected to my purpose," Cooper said. His goal, he said, was to live like the Dalai Lama and to "positively affect as many people as possible." He put his hand on his heart. "You've got to start right here at the root." Related posts:

1. Dalai Lama lands in US ahead of talks with Barack Obama BBC: The Dalai Lama has arrived in the US ahead...
2. Obama administration in talks with Dalai Lama The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama today confirmed...
3. Dalai Lama agrees with Tiger (whoever he is) The Independent: The world's most famous golfer should not feel...

Yuan Hongbing, the author of Taiwan Disaster, a new book arguing that China wants to annex Taiwan by 2012, now making a big splash on this side of the Strait, spoke in Toronto the author day and Canadian Taiwan expert Michael Stainton took a few notes, which he graciously allowed me to post here. These are just notes in English of a Chinese talk, so the portrayal is rough and caution should be used in interpreting.

First, some background. Epoch Times had an article on Yuan today. It describes the book's contents, and opens:

The Chinese communist regime is determined to “unify” with Taiwan by 2012, according to exiled Chinese law professor Yuan Hongbing. He discloses confidential findings in his new book, Taiwan Disaster, which was released on Nov. 17 in Taipei.

In his presentation at National Taiwan University on November 17, Yuan said that a lot of documents quoted in the book were provided by regime insiders—insiders who risked their own lives to reveal the truth.

The article is long and detailed. A sample:

The book also maintains that the regime is fomenting social conflict and inspiring hatred toward the DPP. Yuan explains how economic means are to be used to control the sponsors of the DPP and disintegrate its standing in society.

For example, the CCP perceives that the "New Tide" faction of the DPP has more advanced organizing power, therefore, it is listed as one of the most important reunification targets.

The CCP’s plan would be to invite the sponsors of the "New Tide" faction to invest in the mainland, rewarding them with all kinds of incentives with the goal of attracting more and even larger investments, gradually persuading them to end their sponsorship of the DPP, and eventually bringing about a change in their political stance.

The tactics used to disintegrate the DPP's social status also include buying fruit in large increments from Southern Taiwan to make Taiwan heavily dependent on mainland purchases, while at the same time serving to imply that Taiwan’s political stance toward the regime had changed. According to the book, this strategy was contrived by Hu Jintao, the General Secretary of the CCP.

On to Dr. Stainton's presentation.....


Notes on Talk by Chinese writer Yuan Hongbing (袁紅冰)
Toronto February 6, 2010
Michael Stainton

Yuan referred to a 2008 internal CPC (Communist Party of China) document stating plans to control Taiwan by 2012. Independence vs. Unification is not the issue for them. They are concerned with power and control, not the unity of China. For this reason it is necessary to get rid of the treat posed by Taiwan’s freedom and democracy.

The CPC is a foreign ruler (外來政權 ) forbidding authentic Chinese culture. In 1949 it was not the Chinese people who stood up but the CPC – denying the Chinese people the right to ne masters of their own destiny.

We reject the myth that economic change will lead to CPC liberalization or democratization. This is a false theory. In fact economic growth has strengthened the privileges (特權) of the CPC elite China lacks the basic conditions of a true free market – which is a system of law that treats all equally. In China there is a system of law protecting privilege. There continues to be a growing disparity of power between the elite and the majority of the country, especially increased exploitation of China’s 300 million peasants. There is destructive, non sustainable development.

The CPC intends to use this wealth-power to extend the hegemony of their system to the rest of the world, and Taiwan is the first stop. To achieve this, the CCP is not afraid to kill millions of people in a major war if it ends up expanding its power. But they are afraid of the threat of a political and spiritual awakening of the Chinese people. Chinese people look at Taiwan and ask “why can’t we be like Taiwan?”. In Taiwan they see that the officials are afraid of the people (and media), but in china the CCP needs to keep the people afraid of the officials. Therefore it is imperative to them to et rid of Taiwan’s freedom and democracy in order to show the Chinese people that you have no choice, that you will always be our slaves.

In Taiwan now the old KMT elite, represented by Lien Zhan and Song Chu-yu, are hoping for support from the CCP to restore their political fortunes. They are not pro- unification (統 派) but a CCP dependent (投共派) .

The CCP plan is for a gradual incorporation (一體化) moving from economic incorporation to cultural incorporation to political incorporation. This is not “one Country Two Systems”. The CCP will not allow a different system to exist alongside them. The example of Tibet shows this. After the agreement on peaceful incorporation of Tibet in 1950 the CP extended its control on the ground. Once they were ready they threw away the agreement and began a “social transformation” (改造社會) movement to destroy the spiritual, cultural and political heart of the Tibetan people – the temples. tThis provoked the 1959 uprising and the situation that exists today. So for the CPC there is no such thing as “one Country two Systems.”

Taiwan is already seriously incorporated in the media and education system. Faculty are already treated to Chinese hospitality and taking “research money” from the CCP. In reality there is no “mutual influence” (互相影響) happening. The CCP denies the legality of the ROC but ROC President Ma does not dare to deny the legality of the PRC. This is the real essence of “one China two interpretations” (一國二表)

ECFA (the China Taiwan free trade agreement) will make China the min source of raw materials for Taiwan, and cut off Taiwan’s development of market diversity for its products. It is really unthinkable that a small democracy could imagine having a free trade agreement with a giant dictatorship. And the CPC won’t allow Taiwan to sign free trade agreements with other countries, because the purpose of ECFA is to put Taiwan inside an economic Berlin Wall. Once Taiwan’s economy is controlled by China how will Taiwan preserve its political freedom?

In conclusion, I hope everyone will care about safeguarding Taiwan’s freedom – and this includes all the Chinese people here. On a personal note, all my books are banned in China but published in Taiwan. If Taiwan loses its freedom how will I get published?

To the Taiwanese here I want to say – “Cast off your illusions and prepare to make the necessary sacrifices to preserve your freedom and democracy”.

___________
Daily Links:

• Barking Deer with announcements on their Yushan treks.
• Craig with upcoming photowalks.
• David on the cool new Wanhua gangster flick, Monga.
• The Foreigner finds a beautiful rip of Tom Friedman.
• US Taiwan Defense Command finds a video of a news report from 1962 on a pilot who defected from China with his aircraft. With bonus paean to the awesome leadership of Kim Chong-il Chiang Kai-shek.
• Danshui History blog on the Spanish period, part 2.
  

Way cool: DARPA says it is only months from production of jet fuel from algae.
Way bad: Ocean acidification, an inevitable outcome of pumping carbon into the atmosphere, proceeding at mass extinction rates. And NASA study says Greenland glacier melt much faster than thought because ocean is eating away at it.
_______________________
[Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!

BEIJING — China urged the United States on Friday to immediately cancel plans for President Barack Obama to meet with the Dalai Lama next week, warning the move could further hurt ties.

The meeting is likely to enflame tensions between China and the United States, already strained over disputes over trade issues and U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu issued the remarks hours after Washington announced Obama would meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader at the White House on Feb. 18.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence, which the Dalai Lama denies, and believes that shunning the exiled Tibetan monk should be a basic principle of international relations. Obama has been under intense pressure to meet with the Dalai Lama after putting off a meeting in October.

"We urge the U.S. side to fully understand the high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, honor its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and opposing 'Tibet independence,'" Ma said.

The U.S. should cancel the meeting "so as not to cause further damage to Sino-U.S. relations," Ma said in a statement. Ma did not specify what consequences would arise from such a meeting. Chinese President Hu Jintao may possibly visit Washington in April.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama looked forward to an "engaging and constructive dialogue" with the Dalai Lama.

Gibbs said the United States and China had a mature relationship that could withstand differences on some issues.

"We know that two countries on this planet are not always going to agree on everything and we'll have those disagreements," Gibbs said.

China-U.S. relations have been strained in recent weeks over several issues: Washington announcing a $6.4 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the self-governing island Beijing claims as its own; U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urging Beijing to investigate hacking attacks that led to Google's threat to pull out of China; and Obama vowing to get tough with China on a currency dispute.

At the same time, U.S. officials welcomed Beijing's approval of a visit by the USS Nimitz carrier to Hong Kong.

"We think it's important – an important part of our ... not only outreach and engagement with the Chinese people but an important dimension of our military-to-military relationship," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said.

Hong Kong media have reported that the visit could take place next week.

Tibet and Taiwan are China's most sensitive issues. China has already threatened to punish U.S. companies involved in any arms sales to Taiwan and has suspended military exchanges with Washington.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against China, leads a government-in-exile in India. Beijing often lodges protests against his travel abroad and meetings with heads of state.

Every U.S. president for the last two decades has met with the Dalai Lama, who enjoys widespread support in the United States, and those visits are considered powerful signs of the American commitment to human rights. Obama told China's leaders last year that he would meet with the monk.

More on China

Iran dismissed the operational effectiveness of US plans to bolster missile defence systems in Arab gulf states, claiming the move will only undermine stability in the region. Last weekend, news broke out that the US is accelerating the deployment of interceptor systems in at least four countries on the Persian Gulf.

It took until Tuesday for foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparas to respond to US plans, saying that Iran considers the deployments “inefficient”. He added that Iran sees “these kinds of moves by overseas countries in the region as unworkable”, and predicted that they will end in “failure”.

Ali Larijani, the Iranian parliamentary speaker blamed the Americans for not noticing “that the problem in the region is your (US) presence and the more you deploy artillery, the more host countries will be concerned”, the state broadcaster IRIB reported.

The US is to sell eight Patriot ground-to-air missile batteries, designed to knock-out short- and medium-ranged missiles, to Arab countries in the region. According to US military officials, two batteries each will go to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait. In addition, the US is deploying two Aegis cruisers, which can also provide a missile defence capacity, in the Persian Gulf.

The openSecurity verdict: The US shield is designed to reassure its allies in the region, particularly the Arab Gulf states who resent Iran’s aggressive international posture. Strengthened missile defences may help to constrain a regional arms race, as the Iranian nuclear programme is may prompt other powers who have the capacity to develop nuclear weapons, principally Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to respond in kind. The missile defence announcements are part of a bigger effort: Saudi Arabia and the UAE have bought more than $25 billion in American arms these past two years, including missile defence systems. The US plans also aim to calm the Israelis, fearful of the possibility of a nuclear armed Iran, a country whose president has proclaimed that Israel “should be wiped off the map”. Assurances of missile defence could provide US policymakers more time to pursue diplomacy and sanctions on Iran.

A year after having promised engagement with Iran, Obama is increasingly vulnerable to claims that his dovish approach has brought few benefits. Iran has refused a deal to ship part of its enriched uranium out of the country, and has continued with to develop its nuclear capacity. Obama may hope the US deployments demonstrate that he is not afraid to take tough measures, particularly if they stem pressures from Iran's regional rivals to go further. The threat of military engagement was reiterated throughout January; the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said “the Pentagon must have military options ready to counter Iran, should Obama call for them”. Another US military official remarked that the announcement of the US plans by General Petraeus were “a pointed reminder to Iranians of American resolve”.

Iran's response to the US's increasingly confrontational policies is difficult to gauge. At first, no important figures in the Iranian security establishment appeared willing to react, probably due to the sensitive nature of this security issue. Behind closed doors however, an anonymous Iranian analyst told the Guardian that “the Iranian reaction will be serious”.

Iran's public response has been to dismiss the operational ineffectiveness of missile defence systems and playing down their strategic influence. Missile defence systems are deeply flawed and the patriot system is no silver bullet against any kind of missile attack. It was only able to intercept 40% of the scud missiles Saddam Hussein launched against Israel in 1991, and although the US has significantly improved the system since, a recent US test to simulate intercepting an ‘Iranian or North Korean’ missile resulted in failure.

Secondly, Iran seeks to portray the US as a warmonger, claiming that the new missile defence deployments will foster instability in Persian Gulf region. This is in line with Iran’s standard practice of accusing the US (the “Great Satan”) of imperialist ambitions in the Muslim world, while Iran presents itself as the leader of Islamic resistance. In this way it seeks to undermine the authority of other powers in the region that collaborate more closely with the US, such as Saudi Arabia.

Regardless of such rhetoric, it is important to remember that missile defence systems need not be used solely for defensive purposes. If they can effectively guarentee a state and its allies from retaliation, they may encourage a premptive strike from a position of invulnerability. The instability this brings was reason for their regulation during the Cold War period under the now lapsed ABS treaty.

All this has consequences for Iran’s domestic politics; increased US pressure runs the risk of hardening internal repression by the theocratic regime. It provides hardliners in the government with an external threat, giving them an excuse to clamp down even more brutally on the domestic opposition, like the green movement of Hossein Mousavi, a reformist candidate during last summer’s presidential elections. Hence, if the US wants to pursue a successful foreign policy in the region, its policymakers should be wary about the effect its policies have on the popular sentiment in Iran. The US needs to monitor these developments closely, in order to walk a fine line between supporting the Iranian opposition and not letting American support discredit the revolutionary movements in Iran.

China warns Obama over meeting with Dalai Lama

China has threatened US President Obama not to meet the Dalai Lama, saying any meeting could further deteriorate already-strained relations between the two countries. The warning came in the midst of a dispute over US arms sales to Taiwan.

Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the Communist Party, said a meeting “will certainly threaten trust and co-operation between China and the United States”. He warned that the American refusal to recognize that Tibet is a part of China would “seriously undermine the political foundation of Sino-US relations."

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit the US later this month but no meeting with Obama has yet been announced. China views the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist, who is bent on making trouble and inciting world hatred of China. Chinese leaders claim that Tibet has been part of its territory for several centuries; Tibetans counter that their region has been functionally independent for much of its history. The Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet after a failed uprising against China in 1959.

Somali Al Shabab unite with Al Qaeda’s jihad.

Al Shabab, an Islamist rebel group in Somalia, has made an official declaration that it is joining the “international jihad of Al Qaeda”. In a statement on Monday, the militant group said its leaders had agreed “to connect the horn of Africa jihad to the one led by Al Qaeda and its leader Sheikh Osama Bin Laden."

The Al Shabab rebels represent the most potent militant force challenging Somali’s weak transitional government. The rebels control large swathes of the south and centre of the country, where they are attempting to establish an Islamic state under the Sharia law. The group has been divided between hardliners seeking to emulate Al Qaeda's transnational aims and others focusing on achieving political power in Somalia. Yesterday’s decision appears to indicate that the extremist elements have won out in the struggle for the leadership of Al Shabab.

Female suicide bomber kills 54 Iraqi pilgrims

A woman detonated an explosives belt among a group of Shia Muslims yesterday in Baghdad. At least 54 people were killed and 109 wounded, sowing carnage among pilgrims who were making the journey to the city of Karbala in honour of a Shia holy day.

The suicide bomber’s explosives were hidden under her abaya – a long, black cloak covering a woman from top to toe. Witnesses described seeing a massive fireball at a hospitality tent in the neighbourhood of Bal al-Shams, in the northeast of the capital. The attack raises fears of escalating sectarian violence in Iraq in the run-up to national elections in March.

oD-wide classification

Country: 

Iran

United States

Qatar

United Arab Emirates

Bahrain

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

Egypt

Turkey

China

Somalia

Iraq

City: 

Washington

Baghdad

Topics: 

Conflict

International politics