As you would have probably knew already if you watch the news of course,there recently has been a riot by the people of Tibet against the Chinese government.The Tibetans have been living in exile for a very long time in China and apparently,they had enough of it and now,they are demanding for freedom from the government.Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet culminated Friday when Tibetans attacked ethnic Chinese and torched their shops in Lhasa,the region's capital.
Death tolls from the violence vary.Exiled Tibetan independence campaigners say at least 80 people died while Chinese authorities put the figure lower.The Chinese government have given the anti-Chinese protestors a deadline to surrender,which is over now,but there has been no confirmation from both sides yet on whether the protestors have decided to do just that.But some residents reported on Monday that Lhasa had quieted down and many people were returning to work.Chinese military police reportedly set up many checkpoints to control movement.You may ask who actually started the protest in the first place.In a news conference in Beijing on Monday,Champa Phuntsok,the head of Tibet's regional government,blamed the violence on "a small group of separatists and criminals" who take their lead from exiled followers of Tibet's spiritual leader,the Dalai Lama.The Dalai Lama of course refuse to take the blame and he have since condemned China's action in his homeland,accusing Beijing of "cultural genocide." Many locations,in Tibet's capital of Lhasa were burned by rioters,which includes banks,shops,schools,and hospitals.The Chinese police who were send there to stop the protest was actually much more violent,well that according to the Tibetan exiles.
Tibet is officially an autonomous region of China,but the Dalai Lama said that Tibetans are treated by the Chinese as second-class citizens in their own land.He said they need full autonomy to protect their cultural heritage.Many countries such as the US and Russia are calling for restraint by China.While the US wants China to find a way to talk to the Dalai Lama,Russia is calling China's relations with the Dalai Lama an internal matter and saying efforts to boycott this summer's Beijing Olympics are "unacceptable."And speaking about the upcoming Beijing Olympics,this protest have certainly done a lot of damage to China's reputation about human rights and recently there has been some reports about boycotting the Olympics but that is not going to happen,according to the International Olympic Commitee President,Jacques Rogge.Well Im glad to hear that.For now,it is difficult to get any information from Tibet as China restricts access by foreign journalists to Tibet,and officials were being kicked out in the region,making it difficult to verify information about the protests,the biggest and fiercest in almost two decades.
My view on this issue is that such incident shouldnt and wouldnt have happen if the Chinese government can have a talk with the Dalai Lama.At the moment,I cant see it happening,even after this unfortunate event.I think the Dalai Lama is willing to talk to the Chinese government at anytime but unfortunately,the same cant be said for the government.You got a group of people living in exile in one part of China,whether you like it or not,it is part of China and they deserve to be treated like all the Chinese citizens in other cities.I dont know whether the Dalai Lama's claims that the Tibetans are being treated like a 'second class citizens' is true because I dont live in Tibet,but if it is true,then its about time the Chinese government does something to improve the situation.I also dont think that the Olympics will be affected,I believe it will go as plan,I hope that will be the case.It would be sad if the biggest sporting event in the world is going to boycott.For me,sports and politics shouldnt be seen as one thing.The situation in Tibet seems like improving now,lets hope there will be no more violence from both sides of the party and instead,they should look at solving the problem and not putting the blame on each other.
*The report is taken from CNN.
No comments:
Post a Comment