As fires rage on in the streets of Lhasa, bloggers in another part of the world have been anxiously following developments in Tibet with open eyes and open ears. Over the weekend, as mainstream media [ja] in Japan presented what many criticized as toned-down coverage of ongoing events in Lhasa, the word “Tibet” climbed to number one on Japanese blog search engines with thousands of entries largely in support of the uprising. Meanwhile on the streets, groups of the Tibet Support Network Japan (TSNJ), members of the Tibetan community and other supporters hit the streets on March 8th to celebrate the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising in March, 1959, and a week later on March 16th to demonstrate at Tokyo's Yoyogi park.
As events in Tibet have escalated over the past few days, these and other groups have come together to bring out the message. The TSNJ has put together a blog where they post news updates and messages in Japanese and English. Well-known podcaster [ja], DJ and blogger Morley Robertson has brought attention to Tibet with his project Tibetronica, and over the last few days his listeners have been getting involved through a project called Rave Tibet. [ja] One of the contributions is an embeddable “Tibet Clock” [ja] which, in addition to telling the time, also streams video content about Tibet. Another listener yayoi yayoyi sent in the following map of China:
Listener 筮竹 submitted this skateboard:
Elsewhere in blogs, many were critical of politicians and the mass media for not drawing enough attention to the uprising in Tibet. Blogger yula22 writes:
日頃「人権」を叫ぶ政治家、マスコミ、各種組織・団体に言いたいです。
チベット人に対する中共の、これほどの人権弾圧を黙って見過ごしているなら、
その人たちは紛れもない『偽』人権派でしょう。
This is what I want to say to the politicians, mass media, and every kind of organization and group who cry every day for “human rights”.
These people, who shut up and let the human rights oppression against Tibetans go on, what these people are [talking about] is nothing but “imitation” human rights.
Blogger 酔夢ing Voice points the finger squarely at the Japanese media:
世界中でチベットの抗議活動と支那の弾圧が大きなニュースになっているのに、日本ではＮＨＫが早朝のニュースで申し訳程度に最低限の情報を伝えただけ。新聞はwebで報じているが、速報性が身上のテレビは惨々たるもので、テレビ報道の劣化が著しい。しかも、ＮＨＫのこのニュースは新華社が名指ししてダライ・ラマ14世を非難する謀略報道を伝える一方、ダライラマ14世が支那を警告するリリースは報道していない。一見、支那側を非難する報道に見えながら、巧みにチベット人やダライラマ側の情報を隠蔽しているのである。
(Note: The word “Shina” (支那) is a derogatory term meaning “China”. NHK is Japan's national broadcaster.)
Blogger and former journalist Hara Junjirou meanwhile considers the nature of the demonstration and questions how long the Chinese government can hold on to Tibet:
暴動の映像では中国系土産物店やホテルが襲撃の対象になっている。歴史も文化も違う国を中国の版図に組み入れること自体に無理がある。チベットは庇護すべき少数民族ではない。ウズベキスタン、カザフスタン、キルギスタン。いずれもロシアから独立した。中国政府もそろそろ気づくべき時だ。
In the way that the Chinese government is treating the demonstration, blogger warabidaniyuukoku sees similarities with the Japanese government:
今回のチベット人デモの中にも中共政府のスパイが大量に送り込まれていた。
彼らが自作自演して騒ぎ出し、待ち受けていた武装警官隊がデモ隊を虐殺したのである。日本軍の戦法を真似したのだろうか？
These guys put on a performance and made a disturbance, and the riot police were waiting to slaughter the demonstrators. Copying the tactics of the Japanese army, perhaps?
Many bloggers connected events in Tibet with the independence movement in Taiwan. Blogger para1002n wonders what the effect will be on upcoming Taiwanese elections:
今月22日に台湾総統選挙が行われる。やがてチベット暴動の話と、この選挙が結びついて表面化すると思う。台湾が独立しようとすればこんな目に遭うぞという脅しのようなものだ。チベットの自治を訴える勢力が直接台湾選挙を支援しているわけではないが、底流で結びつくように仕向けられてしまう。
Others proposed a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. Blogger shibaken2 describes the boycott:
独裁共産国家でのオリンピックに参加することを反対します。
そして中国製品を買うことも控えましょう。
奴隷のように働かされている子供・女達が作ったことを思うと購入を躊躇します。
なぜそのような国に他の国は群がるのでしょう？
Also let's not buy any goods that are manufactured in China.
I hesitate to buy things when I think that children and women were worked like slaves to make them.
Why do other countries flock around this kind of country?
Blogger romery-chan considers the idea but doesn't think it's feasible:
まじボイコットしたくなる人たちの気持ちわかります。
でもね、人間が十億人以上もいる国で、世界各国の企業がビジネスチャンス到来と胸に期待をふくらませてる以上、ボイコットは無理っすよ。台湾の人たちは、どう思ってるんだろう…？
I seriously understand people who want to boycott.
But in a country with more than a billion people, and corporations across the world inflating expectations of an influx of business opportunities, a boycott is impossible.
I wonder, what do people from Taiwan think about this…?
Blogger asu-he wonders about the Olympics as well:
今日は天気も良く暖かいです、私は元気です。
春らしいなぁと感じますね、穏やかな時間の流れはいいものです。
なのに「中国のチベット暴動」なんて新聞に出ています。
オリンピックも開催されるというのに大丈夫なんでしょうか・・・
It feels like it's spring, and it's nice to have some peaceful time.
But then, the newspapers are talking about the “Tibetan uprising in China”.
I wonder, will they really be able to host the Olympics?
Blogger nakahitosi goes as far as to compare the Beijing Olympics to the Berlin Olympics under Hitler:
北京オリンピックは、ヒトラー政権下でのベルリンオリンピックとは比べられないほど、多くの人の血で真っ赤に染まった、血塗られたオリンピックなのである。
Others responded to the blocking of YouTube by the Chinese government. Blogger blue_k_i comments:
「安全上の懸念」でないことは明らかです。
現地の情報が海外へ流出することを防ぐ為の措置でしょう。
そして、目の届かない所で弾圧が行われる。
It's a measure to block on-the-scene information from flowing overseas.
Then they can crackdown [on people] without being watched.
Finally, one blogger pointed the finger at Japanese peace groups, who they claim do not criticize China enough for human rights abuses:
日本の平和団体は、日本・アメリカは批判しますが中国は一切批判しません。
その証拠に、平和団体ホームページでは一切、チベット虐殺・弾圧問題には触れられていないことがわかりますね。
中国政府がチベット虐殺・弾圧問題を「人民戦争」と表現し、チベット王国・チベット亡命政府に宣戦布告してますが、知らないんでしょうか？
For proof just go to the homepage of peace groups, there is nothing about the massacres and oppression in Tibet.
The Chinese government calls the massacres and oppression the “people's war”, and they have declared war against the Tibetan kingdom and against the Tibetan exile government — do these peace groups not know this?
For more Japanese views: hienkouhou comments on Bjork [ja], negaigoto writes about their experience meeting the Dalai Lama [ja], and blogger Fukushima Kaori (福島香織) gets lots of comments on a piece about why the Olympics should not take place in Beijing [ja].
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no country will allow separation.
even Japan.
It’s easy to blame others.
I don’t know were you all lived, but think of is: if in USA Native Indain go on the street to brun the mall, kill you family and tell you get the hell out what would happen?
Japanese should shut up, it’s non of your business.
Actually…
In Canada, Quebec had referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995, and I do believe if they had voted yes we would have sadly but peacefully let them go.
i believed in american’s media before,but now ,it really disapponted me; it let me know,there is popularly bias,unfair in US’s media too.their reports also quote out of context,instigate others to hate other contries they don’t like. they can’t be fair in treating others who not with them.obviously..i have to judge more carefully when i read american media reports next time.
China,
please tibetan are as human as any other.
Stop the killings in tibet(human beings, culturals, monuments, tibetan heritage.)
Tibet was once an independent nation like any other country.
shame on CHINA.
Free Tibet.
go back chinese.
Free Tibet,
china out from TIBET.
to ric:
Unfortunately, things are not that simple in Tibet, there are a lot of Han and Hui have been living there for decades as well, why do they have to leave? It would be a huge disarster if China let these rioters get control of the Tibet, - we’ve already seen what they did on last Friday.
to Tsering:
“Tibet was once an independent..”, true, but depends on how much time you look back in history, how about back to Qin dynasty?
However, this dispute will help no one, only solution for Tibet is everybody in Tibet try living together, happily, if not possible, at least don’t try to kill each other like these rioters did last Friday.
We all know how the Chinese Olympics logo is designed now that we saw what happened in Tibet.
http://www.pimpmycountry.com/beijing2008.mp4
Japan really doesn;t have any rights to criticize others.
They can start to talk only after they admmit that they did less than human things to Asian countries and officially apologize. In addition, stop fish whales without humanity. Feel shame for yourself first.
Please stop that
tibetans are our brothers and friends, one of our family member. we may have words with each other at home sometimes but that’s none of others business. there are persons want to hurt others for their own interests in every counries, but they could not represent all the nations.
some JAPANESE are reluctant to see a stronger china, so they welcome and support any forces that could weaken the power of china. read the news and analye it. do you think what you have read from bbc and cnn is the wholesome of the facts?
some tibetans saved hans life from the hands of mobs. they are good. not all the tibetans are seperatists.we love peace and the police and army has the right to keep orders and protect citizens from riots and dangers
So, to all the chinese posters here, and there are many answer this…
Japan invades China in 1937-1945 and it must leave, appologise and China constantly screams over the death, rape, destruction that was caused.
China invades Tibet in 1950 and completely destroys Tibet in the 1960s, but thats OK?? You are actually helping tibet by destroying it?
So japan must appologise and are devils forever? But Chinese invading, destroying and killing in Tibet is OK?
Your government is telling you a complete load of lies. Your TV is completely fake. Nothing appears on your internet or TV unless your government says it can. The same government that killed thousands during Tianamen is killing again in Tibet. Are you to afraid to understand this? Or do you really know this but cant admit it and as long as you make money who cares????
Time to wake up China. If you want to be an important country you have to act in a decent way, to your own people and the rest of the world.
no matter what, chinese cannot hold and supress the truth no longer, no matter how hard they try, even if u barr the world medias from entering in to tibet, the truths gonna surface, and u will see it with ur own eyes.. u cannot fool the world any longer.. it time for u bring changes in ur system against violation of human rights in tibet.. Tibet/;s gonna be free FREE TIBET,, CHINESE GET THE HELL OUT OF TIBET.!!
to ross
we know what you think about on these topics. that’s what you are taught about. but i couldnt agree with you even i read all these story and news on your media.(r u sure the data you learn is true and fair? ) if your tv say the truth all the time, then there were no 911 or iraqi war any more.
tibet is one part of china, legally. the most important thing is that we now live a peaceful life in this country and we try to protect the peace and what’s more, to live a better life.
to some foreigners, it’s easy for you to stay aside and say something without using your brain.but to us, our people were beaten and dead,our store burnt down,our normal life changed,land and history heritage destroyed.do you care about? how much do you know about china ?
we respect tibetan friends and their religion, it’s 21st century.the world is changeing all the time.
that japan invade china and other asian countries has nothing to compare with the tibet issue. their invasion have never been legalized and what they’ve done couldnt be discribed as humanbeings. but now that japan is a friend and servant of america. so history is allowed to be forgotten on the book and media and guity be forgive by western country.
How come you dare to compare China’ s entering Tibet in 1950s to Japan’s invading China? Have you learned about history? Tibet was part of China at that time, and what Chinese government did is to maintain its own land. Did you mean China was supposed to be part of Japan at 1930s and that was why japan invaded China? That’s totally nonsense.The same government killed thousands in 1989? Did you find any evidence to prove that? Our government and TV is fake？ have you ever been to our country ? have you ever been to Tibet? If the answer is no, please shut up.
oh,pls,pls note that tibet has been right there on the map on republic of china(taiwan) for like more than 80 yrs since it set up.tibet has been part of china since 18th century,and the qing dynasty had also got its military in tibet!!!
take your time and have a visit to tibet to have a vision of your own.
I’ll tell ross that Tibet be a part of China for hundreds years and there no invading in 1950.Do not speak if you are responsible.Pepole who never learn from the history will take the same mistake. I used to thougnt Japanese would avoid militarism. It is fantasy.
On Taiwan, and it’s connection to Tibet:
It’s not really applicable to Taiwan independence. Unlike Tibet, Taiwan has a formidable military and has full control of it’s own territory. Also unlike Tibet, it is modernized, mobile phones and high speed internet are ubiquitous.
Whether one agrees with China’s irredentist views or Taiwan’s independent leanings, any attempt at pacification by the PLA in an invasion causing event (laid out by the ‘05 Secession Law) will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. China would more likely destroy most of Taiwan’s infrastructure, permanently ostracize local Taiwan residents, or quite possibly both.
Chinese leaders (communists) are Fraud, FAKE.
why not america get out off Haweii? New mexico?,and North America! how many indians you’ve killed!and invade their land!
that’s not history?? and for JP, shouldnt you get out off LiuQiu island?+
PLEASE do not make too many comments when you do not witness personally, Tibet is part of China, no question about it, Taiwan, as well.
China wanted Dalai Lama to renounce the violence and give up all demands for independence. The Dalai Lama made it very clear that he accepts China’s positions; no independence and he also asked Tibetans to stop the violence. Can China be trusted to fulfill its end of the bargain? China, give Tibet the genuine cultural autonomy it seeks and you can still claim Tibet as part of China. The Dalai Lama has already said that Tibet is part of China. Start negotiations so that both sides can begin healing.
I think the Tibetans can clearly benefit from the modern modern Chinese roads, buildings, and industry. But China needs to learn how to grow, without polluting or it will never last. 2 out of 3 Chinese don’t have clean drinking water, for example.
Also, Tibet can help China by reminding China of its rich spiritual and cultural history. The highest forms of Buddhism that flourished in China and India flowed into Tibet in the 9th century and became one of civilizations great creations. So this discussion is about humanity, not just China and Tibet.
Chinese are angry because of what’s happening in the present moment. Can we open our minds and hearts to see this conflict in a larger picture?
Ruoxi has a point I think in mentioning that many commenters have never been in Tibet so it makes the situation difficult to judge, but several of the native Chinese posters have never been there either, we can only rely on the validity of the reports that we read- none of which likely carries the entire truth.
I doubt that anyone reading this website feels glad that there was chaotic violence in the streets during this incident. The loss of property and life on both sides of the conflict has been extremely regrettable, and probably does not serve the purpose of either those that feel Tibet should be free or those who see Tibet as a sovereign part of China. The lives of Chinese soldiers and Tibetan protestors are still at risk, and I for one would like to wish all the people involved on both sides good health and a safe return to their families.
The history of Tibet represents a larger problem. On the one hand we have the western media presenting throughout the years personal stories, historical accounts, and interviews from Tibetan natives. These discuss a murderous invasion, forced cultural suppression, and despite economic and educational gains, continuing mistreatment of native Tibetan people. The Chinese state media is portrayed as never reporting anything bad about what is happening in the region, and often even willing to lie and cover up the truth to trick their own people and hide the plight of the Tibetans from the world, just as with the 1989 Tianamin Square massacre. There are movies about the problems in Tibet from America
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373389/plotsummary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years_in_Tibet_(1997_film)
and reports from visitors all over the internet about unseemly things witnessed while in the region. Many westerners I speak with are not concerned with this issue out of a hatred or jealousy of China, but out of worry for the people who may be the victims of Human Rights Violations, as anyone would be reading of groups being hurt in different countries abroad.
On the other hand we have the eastern media describing the great progress in the region in the last 50 years and the considerable sacrifice made by the Chinese people to help bring Tibet into the modern world, despite the efforts of several stubborn fanatical religious groups who abused the people more than the current critics are claiming that China is.
For the east the western media seems very hypocritical. Does Xinghua discuss the fading culture and religious assimilation of Northern Ireland into the U.K.? Do they discuss how America took over the nation of Hawaii and the disrespect paid to some of its important historical sites and religious leaders? No. Since the takeovers each of these regions, with Tibet, has changed in population demographics and strategic importance to their respective countries over time, while being protected by agreed upon tenants of international law- the ONLY system of laws that prevents the world from plunging once more into a total war. If one is going to judge China for its actions one should also judge the historical and present actions of other states, and not be drawn into xenophobic generalizations.
The western media seems to have a history of focusing on international issues to distract attention away from domestic problems that powerful players in the west do not want their publics to pay attention to. Many easterners I speak with are not concerned with this issue in Tibet out of a hatred or fear of the west or the Tibetans, but out of worry for the defamation of their beloved homeland, as anyone would be reading of people saying bad things about ones country when there are so many working to make people’s lives better.
Whichever way readers feel about Tibet and what is going on there, I hope that thinkers can continue to make an effort to understand one another during the conflict and continue to communicate to reach an eventual compromise acceptable to everyone.
I appreciate ThinkAfricas call for a balanced perspective.
I think we do need to look at all colonizations and occupations over history, past and present, and realize that unless you balance it with the needs of the people being occupied or colonized, it’s always ethically wrong. The minority has a voice, and unless it’s listened to, the majority can never be truly happy, for they will live in tension and be creating seeds of anger.
If you bring history into it. Then you all belonged to Mongolia once. All your Dynasty didnt exist then.
Every family has its issue, similary every country has its issue too. Outsiders may come to help, some may come to add bigger fire. This is common everywhere in the world.
Where are all the Buddha teaching go to???
It is sad that how a Buddhist holy place want to toying the ideal of “independence”??? There is no real or truth independence in this world.
It is sad to see Buddhist monks involve in politics and join in the protect, is this the new trend???
It is sad to hear people talk about human rigths but no animal rights and no animal killing???
Where are all the Buddha teaching gone to???
What do you know about the issue? Janpanese?If not, please shut up! You know what, they killed ,robbed and is this so-called protest? Our government have been doing a great deal for the development of Tibet and protect their culture. It is obviously a trick of politician. Blindly following is fool and useless. What they are doing now is abosonutely illegal.
This guy looks like a clown…
Georgey Porgey,
Pudding and pie,
Turned his back on the Tibetans and let them die…
And that goes for wet noodle Brussesl, beer sucking London and passed-out-drunk Oz as well.
Perhaps the first real sign of the The End of Times is that all of mankind’s institutions built to promote and protect the preciousness of human life have simultaneously failed. The UN, the IOC, DC, Brussels, the US media as a whole, etc
Dear people, the conflict will never end unless we stop hating one another. Both sides share the same dislike for this conflict. Both want peace. By discussing it with a loving heart we can resolve it. By telling each other to shut up, we never will end it. By trying to “win” an argument by going back farther and farther in history is pointless, because at one point you end up with cavemen. With this type of argument, China and Tibet can go on another hundred years of unresolved conflict, like the Arabs and Israel. Does either side want this?
The first step is to openly communicate, share what you are upset about. Then common goals can be made and agreed upon.
I think there is a truth in what everyone is saying. Our emotions seem real, especially when we’re angry and hurt. But underneath that, there is a place that has more space, that is softer and allows compassion.
ANy human being, if shut down long enough and living in poverty, will eventually become angry. It goes beyond race. It’s a human reaction, and has been shown from every poor, minority culture throughout history.
Please try to forgive the Tibetans.
If the situation were reversed, and Chinese were the minority, they would end up reacting the same way. There’s no justifying violence by the Tibetans. But there can be understanding as to why they act that way. What’s the root human cause.
I agree with Alex.PLZ close your “ass”,JP,if u donot kwnow any thing about the fact of TIBET RIOTING.
Don’t know where to find a true coverage. Both media, eastern & western, are biased against other part of the world. An interview with the local Tibetan & Han, not those exiles out of that land for decades of years, will be muuuch more convincing.
However the reaction in Japan is a little bit interesting and, as to me, kind of gloating over the tragedy in China, considering the relationship between two countries. As far as I know, most people in China, and some other Asian countries who suffered the invasion & abuse from Japanese in the war, express their strong hatred and despise of Japanese, owing to Japanese government’s denial of their crime& ignorance of the distorted understanding of the history.
They do believe fascism never dies in Japan.
i think those who blame to china on the tibet issue should learn more history. following is an essay written by some westners on tibet.
http://www.bullogger.com/blogs/siyi/archives/124693.aspx
When someone resorts by force to occupy a territory, it is because he is forcing a situation in opposition to the inhabitants of this territory. Do you think that if in the year 1950 they had asked all the tibetanos their opinion about a possible Chinese invasion of Tibet, the majority would have agreed?. Nobody in his healthy judgment will think that they should answer affirmatively.
The occupation of a territory based on the use of the force and in opposition to their inhabitants it can never have either the reason or the justice of his part.
I have been two times in Tibet and know first hand the treatment that the Chinese authorities give to the Tibetans. Really they are citizens of the second category. All the business are directed by Chinese, except very little exceptions. The tourists have prohibited to move for free and - theoretically - to relate to Tibetans, out of the perimeter of Lhasa and few populations more. Why?.
Under the international law there is no way of justifying the Chinese invasion of 1950. Only the apathy of the big powers after the second world war and the self-isolation of Tibet, allowed that China should occupy and remaining in Tibet in 1950.
But it can never it nor will be able to justify the above mentioned invasion and the current permanency of the Chinese in Tibet. The current protests show clearly that the Tibetans have never accepted the above mentioned situation.
Why Chinese authorities have expelled all the foreign journalists of Tibet?, Why prevent the tibetans the access to Internet or to speaking for telephone?, what do they want to avoid with it?. It is clear, they want to prevent at any expense the rest of the world from finding out about the real situation that exists just now there. And why want to prevent the rest of the world from knowing of the real situation in Tibet?, so because we all would find out about the treatment that they are giving to the demonstrators and of the real number of dead men that have exist in Tibet. There is the well-read one someone the book ” Buda’s mountains ” of Javier Moro. I recommend it to all those who want to know that it happened in Tibet in 1989 and since they were treating the arrested.
Can Arabs be going to Spain to claim all his territory because they were from the year 710 until the year 1492 there?. Might they occupy it pacifically today?.
who told you the tibetans are prevented to the access to Internet or to speaking for telephone?
tibet has become territory of china since qing dynasty but have enjoyed a high autonomy on politics since then. in schools all around china, tibetan students and students of other minority enjoy subsidies from the gorvernment.they can entered into a university with a score much lower than that to a han student. they are not second class citizens as you think about.
tony,
BBC reporters living in China have reported that when the CNN news comes on, videos of the riots are blacked out. Then normal CNN news report comes back on. The Chinese news only shows Chinese being beaten by Tibetans. Also, reporters within China say Google searching and YouTube are not working. What is the Chinese government wanting to hide and cover up?
It is true that many Tibetans have benefited from the Chinese in Tibet. But not all. If everyone was happy with the way things are, why would there be such strong resentment and rioting? The solution: open up dialogs and talk with each other.
Both Taiwan and Tibet belong to China.I don’t know you foreigners rubbish say something about our national policies.
China above all!
Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang belong to China.
Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, ALL THE WORLD BELONGS TO CHINA!
I guess I made all Chinese people happy now.
I lived in China for a couple of years. I once met a nice Chinese lady, and what she said was very funny: [translated from Chinese]
“If China was the ruler of the world, China would stand for cultural diversity, peace and harmony”.
Sure, China _would_, but as it is not [yet] the world ruler it gives a shit about diversity/peace/harmony and kills its own population. Chinese people in China now maybe think that Tibetans are “aggressive” etc, but in fact, Tibetans are not the only ones being shot on the streets in China. Even Han-Chinese are shot when demonstrating. Videos pop up frequently of demonstrators in China being shot by the police, just to make them shut up. The were not even violent or aggressive. As the media in China (obviously) doesn’t broadcast such material as it’s censored, Chinese people will never know about it - it’s not their fault.
About the Olympics: more effective than boycotting the Olympics would be to boycott Made-in-China products. We definately don’t help suppressed people by pumping money to China. But as already 75+% of the products available in Europe and other parts of the world are made in China, we’ll have a hard time avoiding such.
I am just wondering why all those companies who opened branches & factories in China didn’t go to India in the first place? A faaaar better place in terms of human rights & democracy.
Oh, one more thing. As China’s budget for armament is increasing every year, we should have known that at some point they want to make use of their shiny new equipment ;)
i want to say to the cnn and us goverment together with his little brother janan , i used to visited cnn new on line ,however ,there really exist bias on their reporting ,expecially on china .why ? it is unfair , i hv to admit there are lots of problem faced by china ,but it is chinese own thing , all the 1.3billion chinese people can handle it well ,pls dont do like a bitch .u all do nothing to china ,but tragedy !!!
two points
1.china its not right place to talk about democracy just yet, sadly i agree with that.
2. now nobody know exactly what happen in tibet, except china officials. some of u ppl should shut ur mouth, cus anything u said it could be wrong.
lastly “shame on china”, whoever said that i dont think u know what ur talking about. find any books in ur liberary that can tell you what definition of china. you will realize how stupid ur for saying stupid things like that.
mike,
to say that the problems in China “are it’s own thing” is wrong. Chinese pollution (and other countries ,too, of course) affects all the world, reaching across the oceans.
To make The Dalai Lama a villain is not only China’s “own thing” since he won the Nobel Peace Prize, the US Congressional Medal of honor, and has written dozens of books highly regarded in the world. Tibetan Buddhism is studied and loved by millions and can be a profound spiritual practice. Please remember, China had a strong influence on the development of Tibetan Buddhism.
The west has been greatly helped by the old wisdom cultures of China: taoism, ch’an Buddhism (Zen is huge), acupuncture, chi gong.
We are very grateful to the Chinese for these because they have become part of our lives. Thank you.
to ross:
You said:”China invades Tibet in 1950 ….”
Please go to anyone library in the world and find a world map published by your coutry before 1950 , open your eyes to look at : Tibet belong to china even before time USA was found
It is very sad to find that Western media always refer only Han people as Chinese. But leave that aside, anyway, I am a Buddhist, and Buddha never told us to speak before the fact is all clear. Instead, Buddha taught us to treat all sentient beings equal. I am not comfortable with Japanese’s forgettery or American’s bias, but still, at the first place, they are people as we are. I am not telling anybody to shut up, I am reminding myself to be tolerant and merciful.
Sorry to see monks in the conflict. I will do mine to pray for the dead, and try to emit all our compassion and goodwill to cure the hearts. May tragedy never happen again.
What I see all these is, humans are made to fight each other on never ending differences that will ultimately lead to extinction.
to Joe
you said Tibet was always a part of china even bofore USA was found i think it is the most funniest history i have ever heard…..i am a Tibetan and know about Tibet’s history Joe let me tell you Tibet enjoyed centuries of freedom……….tibet was an independent country till china invaded in 1950.Tibet had its rulers first ruled by series of Tibetan Kings till 11th century..after that when tibetan daynasy disintegrated monastry took control of tibet where in 17th century 5th dalai lama became the ruler of entire Tibetan region with the help of Mongol till china took control of tibet…….ok anyways you can look on the website
5000 YEARS HISTORY IS MEANNINGLESS
HEY ! LOSER ! CALM DOWN AND LOOK AROUND.
YOU CAN RUN AWAY FROM W-COOKED COUNTRY
WITH OUT MSG. ANYONE TAKE OVER YOURS…
LET’S SEE AFTER 5000YEARS : REAL TIME
I’VE LEARNED LOT FROM CHINA
Imagine there’s no CHINA
It’s easy if you ARE MAN
No RED below us
Above BEIJING only GRAY SKY
Imagine all the people
Living in CHINA today…
Imagine there’s no OLYMPIC
It is GOOD FOR THE WORLD
Nothing to EAT TAKE-OUT FOOD
99CENT 1OOYEN THINGS
Imagine all the people
Living life in CHINA…
You may OUT SAME DAY
But STILL I LIKE LOT MSG?
I hope someday RED’ll join us
And the world BACK TO 5000 YEARS
Imagine CHINA NEED ANOTHER 5000 YEARS
I wonder if you FORGET CHINA
No need for PAIN FOR EVERYONE
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing WITH BEIJING CHINA
You may say I’m a CRAZY
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday FREE CHINA
And the world will live as TIBET
to Michael:
Before pointing finger to other you should thoroughly know him first as other four fingers are pointing you…
So what i wanna say is that as you say “u ppl should shut ur mouth” don’t used such harsh word since they have right to speak and also you say “now nobody know exactly what happen in Tibet, except china officials”
Do you know exactly about these Chinese officials??Have you ever read about Tienanmen Square (1989)??
its same Govt that killed thousand of Chinese student you know officially how much they have reported????
this is assignment for you!!!!
Japanese, it’s none of your business! Please shut up!!
The cnn blind u all……
It’s OUR OWN business! Tibetans are non-Han people living closely to Han. Japanese are, too. How can we disregard how such a big, great country is treating the non-Han in its neibourhood? Please understand why we have been getting fearful and angry and fearful for a few weeks. We live in the periphery of China like Tibetan. Look at the world map and see where we are.
I would like to warn you. If you will keep telling us to shut up, be aware of your creating a very big tragedy for you and the rest of world, like we have done in China and somewereelse years ago.
I warned you, because tell somebody to shut up reminds me of Japanese militalists and their followers. They, I was told, had always forced silence to others when preparing for and committing killings and destructions, which eventually led to the defeat in 1945 with the atominc bombings Please Chinese do not take the same course. If you wish living a peaceful, happy life, Freely speaking whatever you think and feel, called Free Speech, MUST BE GUARANTEED. Lost of free speech signs impeding coming of a tragedy. For that sole reason, we just say Free Tibet!
who ever read CNN now days? Anyway, think of this way if more country boycott Olympics more golds for the China. To be honest as a Chinese, chinese government has come a long way since tianmen incident, if the world turn their back now it would just turn back the clock another 20 years. Let’s hope the rest of world has enough common sense of chinese history not to do that.
To Ypokuda:
There are fifty-six nationalities living in China, and Tibetan is one among it. So please never mention that Japanese are the same with Tibetan people.
Chinese never invaded any other nation in the world all through the history, you can search for that. Please you Japanese don not say that you are afraid of Chinese. It is Japanese that brought disaster to China and many other Asian countries. Those days all Asia trembled under your violence. And again it is Japanese that keeps denying the history of invasion in your textbooks. When the older generation pass away, there will be nobody in Japan knowing what the history really is! And today Japanese merchants are making great profit in China, and bringing in all that out-of fashioned junk. Are you really afraid of China? Nobody is in the shadow of another people. Everybody is equal. Every nation is equal. China’s vastness is not the reason for you to attack it. Well, I am not anti-Japanese, although many of my peers are. There are people with reason, please don not say that they are purely influenced by propaganda. Think about what you have done in China in recent years! Maybe you have lost speech and media freedom to some extent!
And to all of you, please try to find out how history is like and then speak. Chinese government did many wrong things indeed, like the “Culture Reformation”, which hurt not only minority people but also Han people. But it is improving, and we can see the progress. That is a very diffcult thing if you know something about Chinese traditional culture. And after all it is already a miracle for 56 races living generally harmoniously in one nation. Please take the population, land, history, culture etc. all into consideration. If there are only 200 million people in China, things can be very different and all that progress can be gained more swiftly.
One more thing: I am Chinese, I am of Han nationality, I am well educated, and I am a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, and I hold respect towards HH Dalai Lama personally. If Western media says that Han people look down upon Tibetan people, then why nobody I know have ever did so?
To those young Tibetan people who even never saw Tibet, had you a chance, please come back and find out the truth. No one single advocacy is convincing and real enough, that is why I am here. I love Tibetan people, at least those I met, like my brothers and sisters. I hold supreme respect for my Lama. And they love me, too.
Anyway, some western media DO distort the truth intentionnally. Please find out what the mobs did in Lhasa, if that is not slaughter, then what is! I asked Tibetan monks personally about their idea, and they all said that those monks who participated in the turmoil were wrong and killing was wrong and seperation was unpractical. 9 out 10 yuan of Tibetan Autonomy Region’s finance comes from the central government. You may never heard about this.
Our government is facing many difficulties this year. We as people hope that all the things can be settled down peacefully and fairly. But if people are blind enough to boycott the Olympics, they will regret that in the future, when the fact reveals itself.
Thank you for the patience to read this.
to Phoebe:
Do not misunderstand me. I do not fear China. I fear forcing silence to people. It does not matter at all whether China never invaded and occupied any other countries.
My fear comes from the fact that whenever freedom of speech is suppressed, that a very bad thing will happen.
This is shown by the history of Japan. Free speech was in reality to some extent in our country till the militalists or nationalists gained the power. But when they did, free speech was annihilated. They did not tolerate any different ideas from theirs but told other people to shut up. This is the beginning of all the tragedies that follow. If free speech could have been maintained somehow at the time, I’m convinced, we would never, for instance, invade China and other Asian countries. If people could freely express their ideas and opinions, the nationalists or militalists could not lead Japan that way.
There is no other reason, but this, why free speech must be guaranteed.
We should know that free speech will easily perish, because every human being is totally self-centered and tends to think he or she is always 100% correct. We always long to hush up others who think and express different opinions. This longing at the bottom of our heart is strong enough to blind us into the error that we may be safely justified by making others quiet and disappear. We have to check. Free speech is something we endeavor to save. We have the same selfishness all in common as human beings. It’s why free speech must not be alienated from Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, Korean, Burman, Uyghur, American and whoever living in this globe.
What initially made me put on my comment here is because several people in this website told us to shut up saying the Tibetan issue is none of our business. I, as a Japanese, wanted to say to the contray. I want to again say it’s just OUR business. I saw and heard Tibetan monks in an AP video footing “unofficially” reiterating out to the reporters visiting their Jokhang Temple this Thursday that Tibet was not free. I can appreciate they are the very people who were told to shut up. Do not tell anybody to shut up.
to Phoebe:
A few comments about yours:
I heard China had invested a tremendous amount of fund in Tibet. However big money was dropped there, I would say, how China spent it is far critical. I hope China uses the fund wisely for welfare and happiness of the people living there.
You said Chinese government was facing many difficulties. I hope that your government should be able to get them over by guaranteeing the freedom of speech to any people under its control. You hope all the things can be settled down peacefullly and farily. If you so hope, let your government not deprive the Tibetans and other peoples of their unalienatable freedom of speech.
I am not poking my nose into your country under the pretext of free speech. Believe or not, all the issues turn around the free speech. Everyone must be able to express his or her own opinions, and nobody must not hush up others. Don’t believe we can be happy without free speech. I believe I fully understand the Tibetan monks telling the AP reporters in that temple that they want a free and happy life.
To Ypokuda,
Happy to see your comments. Love talking with a person with rational thoughts. Actually we younger generation in China appreciate the speech freedom very much, so that you may hear comments for this specific event that sounds like: The government is silly enough again to block the Youtube and other news resources(for a few days), because we as people can understand the position and priorities of the government, even if we know all the truth, or rather, base on all the truth.
Well anyway, no matter you understand it or not, stablity and solidarity is the biggest priority here in China. But that does not mean that speech freedom is not important. We know that, and we believe that the new generation of leaders know that too. Hopefully there will be no more blocks any more.
Besides, you are really different, from the “usual” Japanese we are familiar with.
The Olympic torch arrived in Beijing today. Cheers!
FYR, you can refer to http://www.anti-cnn.com/ ,which is a website maintained by volunteers to show you how western media modified and translated the news as they wish! If that is freedom of speech, then what is not!
FYR, see http://www.anti-cnn.com/ which is a website maintained by volunteers to show how western media modified and translated the news as they wish! If that is so called “freedom of speech”, then what is not!
To Phoebe:
I have not been asserting that free speech is important, but it is the most important. Free speech is yieldable to nothing. It’s indispensable for our free and peaceful life like those Tibetan monks uttered in the AP video footing. In case you did not see it yet, here is the URL: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHINA_TIBET_EXCERPTS?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
You should know this. All the human being will take anything possible, whatever, for an excuse for alienating freedom of speech from others. Stability and solidarity of a country are a good example for this. The Japanese militarists and nationalists you hate asserted those same stability and solidarity for hushing up all the Japanese and leading our country to the wrong direction. Do not be surprised. When free speech is annihilated, everything will be deployed, not only physical and mental forces, but also plausible excuses to this end.
If somebody has and expresses his and her opinion that speech freedom must be put before stability and solidarity, let him or her freely speak it out. You said Chinese young generation will do, and expect China will change to accept free speech. But unfortunately, what is happening in Tibet and the neighboring areas suggests China slides back.
If there are a people who pressure him and her to silence, they are to be policed in Japan today. That is what Japanese police is all about (Please do not think I claim Japanese police were perfect). This is because we all agree in Japan all the people must has freedom of speech. That is the principle working in this country. I believe everyone on this globe needs free speech as a solid principle for permitting the people to live a free and happy life.
As regards the web you raised, they claimed CNN had intentionally hid the scene showing Tibetan attacked the armored military vehicles. The curtailed video portion shows nothing like that. A group of people are standing by the military vehicles, some throwing stones at the vehicles. Throwing stones at military vehicles! This is not attacking, but a desparate action. The Chinese military can shoot guns at the Tibetans, whereas they can only throw stones! I don’t understand the point of that web, except it aims to undermine the credibility of CNN. It seems that this indicates no one can block the Internet media in China.
This type of expression of one’s opinion may occasionally be made in Japan and the United States. But almost all the people take such expression of opinions nasty and not seriously. Sometimes, it causes a defamation lawsuit.
I’m not exceptional as a Japanese. Luckily, our globe is big enough to let me live in. We would like you to take time to read each comment uploaded in this website. You will see a good variety of opinions and remarks. This is the most important.
To Mr. Salzberg: I would appreciate it if you would update Japan: Support for Tibet, so that everybody in China may hear more free speech.
To Ypokuda:
I have visited the website you listed and read the report. Some of the facts are already broadcasted.
To keep it simple, I suppose the aim for speech freedom is to let us know the truth and different views. And if media base everything on their own prejudice or even fear, they would never produce a fair report. Chinese government may conventionally do something to beautify its image, but everybody in China knows that. While foreign media like CNN (which always boasts its news priciples) cheat on the issue as anti-cnn.com reveals. Foreign people base their freedom of speech all on what their hear and see from the media, and without knowing it is fake, so that kind of comments can be valueless at times of cheating. I repeat I fully appreciate the speech freedom, but I never meant to see such a crowd criticizing China for hearsay, without really knowing anything about China today.
I am a Buddhist, and follow the priciple of karma. Everybody cheated can never avoid his responsibility, that is for sure. So actually I am trying to persuade people not talk too randomly before knowing the real truth. There can be something wrong in Chinese advocacy, and so in western media. After all, after 1 billion years, this debate can be forgotten, Chinese and Americans can be nowhere to find, what is the aim of what people do today and what is left till then should be carefully reconsidered.
Alas for the monks.
Further to Phoebe:
Your foreign people think that their media write and issue their reports exclusively based on their own consciousness and responsibility, not on Governmental authority. This is the principle laid down. As a matter of law, if their reports were influenced by the Government, they would be blameworthy and useless. I don’t mean that the foreign media may be sometime influenced by Governments and enterprises. When they turned out to be so, however, people can, officially, not unofficially, raise that as suppressing on the free speech.
When I say free speech must be guaranteed, it is a matter of law. Even if the fact is that nobody seems to tell a truth, everybody must be able to tell everything he or she believes is true. That is free speech which we cannot alienated from everybody, even a lier. Nobody can 100% correctly say who is a lier. According to the free speech, only a lier himself or herself can legitimately stop lying, when he or she gets aware of lying and/or so decides. Nobody else must not hush him or her up. Of course, nobody trusts what a lier says.
Further to Phoebe: (I have removed typo. Sorry, this is a replacement)
Your foreign people think that their media write and issue their reports exclusively based on their own consciousness and responsibility, not on Governmental authority. This is the principle laid down. As a matter of law, if their reports were influenced by the Government, they would be blameworthy and useless. I don’t mean that the foreign media may not be sometime influenced by Governments and enterprises. When they turned out to be so, however, people can, officially, not unofficially, raise that as suppressing on the free speech.
When I say free speech must be guaranteed, it is a matter of law. Even if the fact is that nobody seems to tell a truth, everybody must be able to tell everything he or she believes is true. That is free speech which we cannot alienated from everybody, even a lier. Nobody can 100% correctly say who is a lier. According to the free speech, only a lier himself or herself can legitimately stop lying, when he or she gets aware of lying and/or so decides. Nobody else must not hush him or her up. Of course, nobody trusts what a lier says.
Further to Phoebe: This is a replacement. Hope it’s free of typo.
Your foreign people think that their media write and issue their reports exclusively based on their own consciousness and responsibility, not on Governmental authority. This is the principle laid down. As a matter of law, if their reports were influenced by the Government, they would be blameworthy and useless. I don’t mean that the foreign media may not be influenced by Governments and enterprises. When they turned out to be so, however, people can, officially, not unofficially, raise that as suppressing on the free speech.
When I say free speech must be guaranteed, it is a matter of law. Even if the fact is that nobody seems to tell a truth, everybody must be able to tell everything he or she believes is true. That is free speech which we cannot alienated from everybody, even a lier. Nobody can 100% correctly say who is a lier. According to the free speech, only a lier himself or herself can legitimately stop lying, when he or she gets aware of lying and/or so decides. Nobody else must not hush him or her up. Of course, nobody trusts what a lier says.