By Pema Tsewang Shastri
Military power and aggressive force have conquered, defeated, occupied and colonized many countries in the name of liberation, unity, democracy etc. But in the whole of human history one does not find any instances where the hearts and minds of a people were won only through brute force. True loyalty, allegiance and dependability can only spring from people’s hearts and minds, and in order to win the hearts and minds of a people one must create a conducive environment within which these sentiments can take root, blossom and flourish. One can kill and maim human beings physically, imprison them, and starve them to death. But one cannot kill the human spirit which is indomitable even in the face of annihilation. Psychologically speaking, the more a person is oppressed through brute force the stronger and more hardened his spirit becomes.
If the recent developments in Tibet are any indication then the People’s Republic of China, even in the 21st century, still believes in Mao’s maxim that “power grows from the barrel of guns” and that loyalty of the people can be won through brute force. When China was unable to win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people even after more than half a century of its suppressive rule, indoctrination and propaganda campaign, how can she expect to win them now through the so called “patriotic education” and “anti-separatist” campaigns, including the groundless vitriolic vilification of His Holiness the Dalai Lama?
The spontaneous non-violent Tibetan public protest and defiance that swept all three provinces of Tibet since March 10th this year is a clear manifestation of Tibetan people’s deep-seeded and cumulative resentment against the destructive policies of the Communist Chinese regime. Ever since the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet in 1950s, Tibetans, in Tibet, have been politically, economically and socially marginalized. In the name of liberation, development and modernization some kind of “cultural genocide,” including demographic aggression, and environmental destruction, is taking place in Tibet. The development of infrastructures like the railways, airports, skyscrapers, supermarkets, highway networks and cell phones, do not bring happiness and contentment to the people unless they enjoy the basic civil liberties and fundamental human rights. Even if we assume that Tibetans have benefited economically from Chinese rule, what is the use of living in a palatial house, with all the modern amenities, if you always have to live under constant fear, persecution and uncertainty? Therefore, for a sane person, it is very clear to conclude that the recent Tibetan protests are the results of China’s mistaken Tibet policies rather than incited and orchestrated by the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in Exile.
The current violent crackdown, including ruthless killing, arbitrary arrest, detention and imprisonment of Tibetan peaceful demonstrators by the Chinese armed forces, and security police, is planting more seeds of resentment and pushing the Tibetans to the limit. Besides implementing a very suppressive measure upon the Tibetans to silence them, Chinese Communist Party is constantly attempting to vilify and denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is the very spirit and symbol of Tibet. Except for a handful of sycophants, the overwhelming majority of Tibetans and the Buddhists all over the world see the Dalai Lama as their beacon of hope and indisputable leader, if not the object of their refuge. In this regard Wang Lixiong, a prominent Chinese intellectual said, “Virtually all Tibetans have the Dalai Lama in their hearts.” So in a way the CCP is hitting the Tibetans where it hurts most. But when a dog is cornered relentlessly it is bound to bite. It is also an irrefutable truth that human minds can only be tamed through genuine love, kindness, and compassion, and not through brute force and domination.
For those of Tibetans who are born and brought up in India, it is without doubt that they owe their second allegiance and loyalty to India. Because India has not only given them free education, but also provided them the complete freedom to practice, preserve and promote their faith and culture besides giving them and their leader a safe haven. Many young Tibetans voluntarily fought for India and willingly gave their lives during the Bangladesh war. This clearly indicates the dependability and gratefulness of Tibetans when they are treated with dignity.
Some Chinese talked about the ungratefulness of the Tibetans following the recent protests in Tibet claiming that China has pumped millions of dollars into Tibet. Tibetans do not deny the fact there is a relative economic development in Tibet. But the question is, who the real beneficiaries of this largesse are. In fact it is the Chinese migrants who benefits from this and not the Tibetans. The irony is that the Chinese only see how much money is pumped into Tibet, but they deliberately ignore how many train-loads and truck-loads of Tibetan natural and mineral resources are transported to China from Tibet. If we assess the monetary value of these natural resources, including the precious Tibetan arts & artifacts shipped to China during the so called Cultural Revolution, what Tibetans receive in return is only a small fraction of what China is taking away from Tibet.
Surprisingly, except for some knowledgeable persons like Wang Lixiong, Yang Jianli, Hu Jia, Bao Tong, Tang Danhong and Grace Wang to name a few, many Chinese seem to be quite ignorant of Tibet. April 28, BBC report about Tibetan national flags being manufactured in a factory in Guangdong, China, clearly demonstrates the level of their knowledge about Tibet, its culture and civilization.
If the Chinese authorities are really serious about the realization of what President Hu Jintao calls a “harmonious society” and “peaceful rising” of China, then they need to usher in real democracy and make necessary changes in ruling over all the minority nationalities of PRC. 2008 Olympic Games will become a rare opportunity and a litmus test for the Chinese leadership to show their political will, courage and wisdom. On the other hand, if the Chinese Communist Party continues with its on-going heavy handedness, then it is high time for Tibetans, Uighurs, Mongolians, Manchurians, Buddhists, Christians, Chinese dissidents, democratic advocates, Falun Gong practitioners, Human Rights activists, Labor Unions, Environmentalists, Journalists, Lawyers, Mothers of June 4, and the peace loving international community to come together and use our collective efforts to permanently remove the dictatorial yoke of CCP from the shoulders of long suppressed people. The time is ripe now that the spotlight of the whole world is focused on Beijing. We must strike when the iron is hot.
