Written by Marco Antonio Karam
NEWSWEEK (in Spanish)
Empty original: There's turbulence on the roof of the world
Tibetan national identity and the deep devotion that its people feel for their temporal and spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, They have not only lasted but have become stronger despite the fact that more than 60 years since the illegal invasion of their territory by the People's Liberation Army in 1950. To date, The Chinese Communist Party has done everything to exterminate the identity of Tibetan culture: The overexploitation of its natural resources, an active policy of assimilation, consisting of the massive transfer of Han Chinese settlers to Tibet, as well as the prohibition of teaching the Tibetan language as a first language in the local educational system, torture dissidents, permanent military presence, and intense campaigns of Marxist ideological indoctrination (at least in terms of politics and religion, since obviously, the economic aspect is closer to rampant capitalism than to communism).
Under the premise of the defense of sovereignty, China systematically rejects any international opinion that leans towards respect for the human rights of Tibetans.. For the Communist Party, The matter is of vital interest and for this reason they allege that the points of view of foreigners are improper interference in internal affairs.
China has sought to stop Nepal being the obligatory stop for refugees on their way to India, as well as imposing strict controls on the Tibetan communities established there.
The Sino-Tibetan dialogue is now virtually non-existent and the intermittent and increasingly less frequent meetings with the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party have technically come to an end.. The situation has deteriorated to such a level, that in June 2012, Dalai Lama's emissaries resign from office.
The great demonstrations of 2008 from Lhasa to eastern Tibet, regions in which there had been no uprisings before and are now the center of a series of self-immolations, mainly from Buddhist monks, and also civilians, are signs of unprecedented discontent. This has shown us that the strengthening of China's repressive policies, far from crushing the spirit of the Tibetan people, have promoted their resistance.
According to figures from the International Campaign for Tibet, between February 2009 and September 2012 more than 52 of self-immolations, to which the Chinese government responded by strengthening security, with arrests of hundreds of Tibetans and prohibition of entry to foreigners. China has even denied permission to visits by independent journalists as well as representatives of various governmental and non-governmental organizations that seek to cover or investigate what is really happening in Tibet..
We can deduce that the Chinese leaders are waiting for the death of the Dalai Lama to try to select who will take that position and thus, ensure control of the Tibetan population. ¿How else can it be explained that a materialistic and atheistic government has a program called “Management Measures for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism?”?
One of the most important references of this strategy of political manipulation was created in 1995 when Chinese security agents kidnapped a six-year-old boy formally recognized as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama (second most important character in the spiritual structure of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism) and then exchange him for an impostor at the service of the internal security apparatus of the People's Republic of China. Now that this child has grown up, begins to appear publicly, With which we can observe how it is beginning to be used as a tool in the pursuit of its political agenda..
Given these events, S.S. The Dalai Lama has expressed his rejection of the fact that Chinese leaders are the ones who identify his successor and has even gone so far as to assert that his rebirth will not occur within Tibet..
The Dalai Lama has even stepped aside from his political role by retiring and resigning from his lifetime position as head of the Tibetan Administration in Exile., leaving Dr.. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected prime minister of the Tibetan community in exile, the full responsibility of the executive authority of the Central Tibetan Administration. Although this has been a democratic transition, The Chinese government denounces the government in exile as a separatist political agent that betrays its homeland and lacks any type of legitimacy.
The international position on the conflict has varied. The isolation in which Tibet lived until 1940 influences the way events have unfolded. for a while, Tibet was a piece in Russia's geopolitical chess game, English India and China. However, at the end of the imperial era, The Indian government sought to establish deals with China to make a kind of front against imperialism. Thereafter,, The US government considered that China would be a good ally in the Korean War. So, due to the increase in the power that the People's Republic has in the global geopolitical game, the interest in defending the Tibetan cause or at least recognizing its validity, weakens in government speeches. unless, Of course, that directly affects them or could benefit them in some way.
Besides, an important factor that influences the position of governments on the issue, is the growing interest and pressure exerted by international movements that support the Tibetan cause and the Dalai Lama. Regardless of the political issue, as a religious leader, The Dalai Lama must have his moral authority recognized and his freedom of belief must be respected. However, This is something that also greatly bothers the Chinese government..
This conflict tells us about how a dictatorship can refuse to practice a policy of tolerance for diversity within its regime.. The Chinese government has shown a rather closed attitude when it comes to respecting perspectives critical of its mandate.. Lawyers specializing in human rights who have defended Tibetans accused of a crime have had their practice licenses withdrawn..
The fortunate part is that even in the interior of China, regardless of the merciless and incessant anti-Tibetan propaganda campaign, the prejudice of the Chinese inhabitants has been weakening. Although it is also true that the government increases its heavy hand against everything that could destabilize its regime..
We will have to see if it is possible to build a world in which people and their suffering, as well as genuine democracy and freedom, are worth more than geostrategic terms. The fight for Tibet is not against China, but in favor of equal respect for the well-being and freedom of individuals.
Karam is president of Casa Tibet México www.casatibet.org.mx
