Beijing – China issued a government report Thursday praising its rule over Tibet and accusing the Dalai Lama of wanting to restore a backward feudal system in the Himalayan region.
The white paper, published six months after riots and protests rocked Tibet, said the government had spent vast sums of money and manpower to protect Tibetan culture.
But the 30-page paper issued by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, also accused Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader of spreading false rumors about cultural genocide in the region and said any moves to split it from China would fail.
“The 14th Dalai Lama and his clique’s clamor for ‘cultural autonomy of Tibet’ is essentially a political conspiracy to restore theocratic rule over the culture of Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabitated regions, and thus realize the ‘independence of Greater Tibet,’” it said.
The paper was issued about a month before an expected third round of talks aimed at easing tensions between the sides.
The talks were started after monk-led protests against Chinese rule turned violent in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in March. Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama and his supporters of fomenting the unrest.
Despite the two earlier meetings with the Dalai Lama’s representatives, the government has stepped up its campaign to vilify the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
“The 14th Dalai Lama and his clique and the anti-Chinese forces in the West conspire to force the Tibetan ethnic group and its culture to stagnate and remain in a state similar to the Middle Ages,” the paper said.
The Dalai Lama has denied China’s claims that he wants independence for Tibet, saying he only seeks greater autonomy for the Himalayan region to protect its Buddhist culture.
His self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharmsala, India, rejected Beijing’s latest claims.
“If the situation was excellent in Tibet, then the Chinese government did not need to issue a white paper. If the Chinese government feels that they have done enough to protect the Tibetan language and culture, they should allow free access to the international media,” spokesman Thupten Samphel said Thursday.
The March demonstrations were the most significant challenge to Chinese rule in nearly two decades. Beijing has said 22 people died in the violence, but Tibetan supporters say many times that number were killed in the protests and subsequent military crackdown. China’s harsh response garnered worldwide criticism.
Associated Press
Associated Press reporter Ashwini Bhatia contributed to this report from Dharmsala, India.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted September 25, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Off topic but nobody seems to have anything to say about this. From AP:
“FBI agents and Arizona police on Thursday arrested evangelist Tony Alamo at a resort near Flagstaff, alleging he transported minors across state lines for sexual purposes.”
You can get more on this from Google news or your favorite halfway decent news source.
posted September 25, 2008 at 10:33 pm
So what else is new with China and Tibet? In order to convince themselves they’re good, they issued a paper telling themselves just how good they have handled things in Tibet! Like anyone outside of China believe it.
Thanks, nnmns, for the info about Tony Alamo. He really needs some more prison time….maybe forever?!
posted September 25, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Okay, the Chinese aren’t even making sense here. They can’t say they’re protecting Tibet’s culture and keeping the Dalai Lama from turning it into a medieval theocracy. It’s culture IS that of a medieval theocracy. That’s like overthrowing the pope and claiming to protect the Catholic Church. Either claim you’re protecting the culture or say you’re making it better, but don’t do both.
God bless.
posted September 26, 2008 at 5:11 pm
The Chinese Government has issued this report while Tibet’s monasteries remain under lockdown. Just today a story broke the Chinese Authorities beat monks at Kirti Monastery with spades and meat cleavers. Many of the monasteries in Tibet are surrounded by armed military police. The brave monks at Kirti Monastery responeded to the police violence by lying on the gound and opening their robes to show they were unarmed. They were subsequently beaten.
Story here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4832971.ece
posted September 26, 2008 at 6:09 pm
This has all the scent of last week’s mu shu gai pan. I guess “the Chinese” (though I doubt all javillion of them would agree) think they can convince the world at some point the the D.L. is a bad guy. Fat Chance. They need to learn a lesson from the martial arts and use their opponents energy to their advantage. Instead they keep trying to butt against him, and they only manage to look more bruised and humiliated in the international scene.
posted September 26, 2008 at 6:13 pm
B’net is a little slow – but I do not blame them. Tis section has about a 24 to 48 hour lag time – so we can add all o our collective wisdom and insight to the articles.
My guess is Mr Alamo (someone I sure most people would rather forget) will meet his B’net skewer early next week. To the roasting pit!
posted September 26, 2008 at 6:32 pm
For Immediate Release
September 26, 2008
Contact: Amy Head 917-860-6470
The Tibet Connection announces Fall 2008 Review program to air this Sunday September 28th at 9am on KFPK radio*
The Tibet Connection is the only English-language radio journal on Tibet.
The Tibet Connection is a unique English-language radio journal about the world of Tibet. The monthly program features engaging and informative stories and voices on Tibetan culture, philosophy, news and politics, providing for a growing global interest in the Tibetan story and its relevance to today’s world.
Without freedom of expression Tibetans inside Tibet rely on the outside world to report the stories of what is happening in there. The Tibet Connection provides a voice for Tibetans and a way for the West to better understand the Tibetan experience and the values and way of life they are struggling to preserve and defend.
FALL 2008 REVIEW FEATURES:
News Round-Up: The death of the Dalai Lama’s elder brother, Spain’s High Court hears testimony against top Chinese officials, a US resolution urges China to dialogue on Tibet, mass beatings of monks in Eastern Tibet and more…
From the News Desk: Tibet Connection speaks with writer and researcher Mikel Dunham about the recent deportation order from the Nepal government and what it means for the 20,000 Tibetans in Nepal.
Someone Worth Finding: The story of a homeless addict who turned his life around to become a respected high school teacher, and then took ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist monk.
Can Buddhism Survive Modernity?: Author and scholar B. Alan Wallace speaks about the connection between science and Buddhism and the need for Buddhism to keep pace with scientific knowledge.
Women from a homeless shelter in Washington DC describe their visit from the Dalai Lama and what it meant to them.
The Tibet Connection features issues related to the Tibetan’s non-violent struggle for justice and freedom presented in a universal context through high-quality journalism. The Tibet Connection’s India correspondents have broken a number of stories in recent months that shed light on the developing situation.
The Tibet Connection’s web broadcasts transcend the boundaries of a monthly news program by providing visitors around the world access to both past and present programs, news round ups, and background information on show topics and guests.
All programs and segments are archived for easy listening at thetibetconnection.org. Programs are available for non-commercial rebroadcast free of charge via http://www.audioport.org and http://www.prx.org and http://www.thetibetconnection.org
*KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara & streaming live at kpfk.org
###
posted September 26, 2008 at 6:53 pm
OOps. So sorry. Not sure how that got through the system. It was a mistaken cut and paste. Apologies.
I wanted to mention that the Chinese Authorities attacked monks at the Kirti Monastery in Tibet with spades and cleavers. The monastery has been surrounded by Military Police and fencing for weeks now. See the latest story here http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-35669020080926 or at or http://www.freetibet.org/newsmedia/250908
Again sorry for the other accidental post
posted September 29, 2008 at 10:36 am
Lots of information, elisabeth. Thanks.
posted September 29, 2008 at 10:37 am
Lots of information, elisabeth. Thanks.