Tibet Watch February 2009
The UK Free Tibet campaign has released photos of a military buildup in Labrang (Xiahe) in Gansu Province. The military activity is related to fears by the Chinese authorities of Tibetans protesting in response to the fiftieth anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising on 10 march and the one year anniversary of the March 2008 protests where some 200 people are believed to have died.According to an AFP report, "Four government-run travel agencies in China and other industry people in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, told AFP that Tibet had been closed to foreign tourists." The report also notes a Chinese government official denying this.
An article from NPR says that authorities in Tibet are cracking down on the sale of music and even the downloading of ringtones. This article was based on an initial report (中文) by Beijing-based Tibetan blogger, Woeser. An English translation of the article is available.
Tibetans, both in Tibet and around the world, are foregoing their usual celebrations of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, this year. Instead they are remembering those who lost their lives in last year's protests. His Holiness the Dalai Lama released a statement on the New Year. He wrote:
... in the snow land of Tibet, we have the tradition to observe the New Year in the first lunar month with elaborate celebrations incorporating both spiritual and temporal elements. However, last year in Tibet we witnessed hundreds of Tibetans losing their lives, and several thousands facing detention and torture, in response to the widespread display by Tibetans all over Tibet of their discontentment with the Chinese authorities' policies.Here in Taipei the Tibetan community and Tibet supporters marked the New Year with a candlelight vigil. I have reported on it at my Taiwan blog and you can also see photos at flickr.
Therefore, since they faced immense difficulties and sufferings, the occasion of this New Year is certainly not a period when we can have the usual celebrations and gaiety. I admire the determined move by Tibetans, inside and outside of Tibet, not to indulge in celebratory activities during this New Year.
Writing in TIME, Simon Elegant notes that the Dalai Lama's middle way policy has failed. He suggests the only way for the Dalai Lama to break the deadlock is a bold move.
Now it is time for one final, bold stroke: an announcement that the Dalai Lama is willing to return without any preconditions. Though Beijing has said it would accept him back on those terms, it is possible that the Chinese leadership--mindful of the return of exiles like the Ayatullah Khomeini to Iran--will try to block his path or refuse to live up to its promise to allow the Dalai Lama to go back to Tibet. But such a result would only broaden support and sympathy for the Tibetan cause.
Labels: Tibet
posted by David @ 7:33 PM
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