By Shivraj Parshad
Ever since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, the issue has been rankling between India and China.
In 2003, India explicitly declared Tibet a part of China more explicitly. Ahead of President Hu Jintao’s visit there has been more trouble at the borders, when a group of Tibetans were shot at last month while trying to cross over.
Many are asking what happens to the issue of greater freedom for the people still fleeing to India?
“We had been walking all night and at daybreak we were trying to flee when they shot at us. I saw one person fall after the Chinese soldiers fired, all of us started running,” said Wangmo, Tibetan Escapee.
They also denied having attacked the Chinese.
“That is a complete lie. They saw us from a distance and we tried to escape and at that point they started shooting,” she added.
In fact, they were shot in the back, saw two being killed and 30 captured by armed Chinese soldiers
Haunting memories
A month later, those memories still haunt Wangmo and many like her. A steady traffic of 3000 stowaways arrives at Dharamshala from Tibet every year, scarred by the journey to safety.
They worry about repurcussions for their families back home who have sent them to pay homage to the Dalai Lama and escape the Chinese.
“There we have to go through the Chinese system of education you do not have an opportunity to learn about our own religion or culture it’s all controlled by the communist system,” said Tenzin, Tibetan Escapee.
“If you want to open up your own businesses then you need a whole regime of licenses and permissions. Even for running a small restaurant or small shop you need to get permission from the Chinese authorities. You get stuck in that system. The Chinese though who come there, have a better chance,” added Wangmo, a Tibetan escapee.
Security concerns
The Nangpa La Pass shooting, many believe, is a sign that Hu Jintao’s military is getting desperate, and that is worrying the Dalai Lama’s administration.
Six rounds of talks with Beijing on autonomy over the last four years have yielded little.
“You should not make human rights as a commodity. You know, make your deal with the other country as a commodity to just trade off. The human rights are fundamental to everyone in the world,” said Thubten Samphel, Secretary, Tibetan administration.
Ahead of President Hu Jintao’s visit, the Indian administration is getting nervous.
Tenzin Tsundue, a free Tibet activist, has policemen watching him. He’s been told that if he ventures beyond city limits, he will be deported.
“This is a letter to the PM of India where I am asking for an appointment with President Hu Jintao to talk to him directly, and if this appointment does not come through, then I will have to come out and protest. We only ask this because we have no access to talk to them,” said Tenzin Tsundue, Friends of Tibet.
The Nangpa Pass incident has caused considerable international outrage.
But what is rankling is that New Delhi is willing to roll out the red carpet for Chinese President Hu Jintao and the fact that stories of many fleeing their own homeland are conveniently being forgotten.
