The following Letter to the editor dated July 13 was published in the Swedish daily, Dagens Nyheter.
CRITICISM OF CHINA SHOULD BE MORE BALANCED
Recently we have been able to read one article after another about Chinese violations of human rights in their own country and in occupied Tibet.
It’s my wish that the criticism of China should be more balanced. The Chinese population has a big heart, and as for the occupation of Tibet, the young generation of Chinese does not know that Tibet is occupied, but believe that it is the “Tibet of China”. The Chinese occupation power still insists that they have taken Tibet out of her “slavery” and created economical growth, instead of playing with open cards explaining the geographically strategic position of Tibet, her mineral resources including uranium, as well as water and timber.
Neither should we forget that the responsibility for the violations of dissidents, censorship, executions and “hit hard” campaigns against crime, all lies on the regime.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama advocates peace and reconciliation, and this, of course, is the formula which is valid not only in Tibet and China, but also for us consumers, manufacturers, and the international community. Otherwise we run the risk of contracting mountain sickness just like the passengers on the first railway trip from Golmud to Lhasa, when we let ourselves be hypnotized by the concept of economic growth, and disregard the need to economize on the earth’s resources, the respect for humanity, and the spiritual integrity.
By Mr. Li Hongzhing, Stockholm
