On April 14, 2010, a massive earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck the Land of Snow. Jyekundo and the region around it bore the brunt of the disaster. As of April 20, 2010, it is officially estimated that over 2,039 were killed and 12,135 injured. Many Tibetans living in the region believe that actual numbers could be 10 times higher due to the remoteness of the region and the fact that many people are still missing and unaccounted for. Gyegu, the largest town in the region, witnessed the destruction of over 85% of its buildings. For many of us this was a personal tragedy. We had family members or friends who lived or were from the region.
After our initial shock, sadness and efforts to do our small part through activities such as fundraising, expressing our condolences, and prayers naturally lead us to ask many questions. What can we do more to save lives? Could the loss have been minimized? Did the region face the same issues such as those in the Sichuan earthquake in 2008 where corrupt officials allowed shoddy buildings to be built? Were the forced settlements of nomads to physical buildings a mistake? Can we trust the Chinese government to respond promptly and appropriately? What risks do the hydro dams and mines in the region pose to the people living downstream? Who will take care of the many orphans? What steps can be taken so that the townships are planned better and houses build more resistant? Should they be a moratorium to all large mining and hydro dam projects in the Tibetan plateau? There is no simple answer to any of these.
I would like to propose five steps we can enact on a parallel basis to help answer the above questions and ensure that similar disasters in the future will be adequately prepared for.
The first step I believe we can take to answer the above questions is to prevent politicization of this natural disaster. If politics creeps up it will divert the focus on the rescue mission and reconstruction. Thankfully both the Tibetan and Chinese leadership have shown incredible sensitivity and awareness in this regard. His Holiness has publicly commended the Chinese leaders for their efforts and the Chinese on their part have recognized the valuable contribution made by the monks and nuns in the region. The media has been given relative freedom to report, and Tibetans in exile have been busy praying for victims and fundraising.
A few years back, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s made a genuine public appeal to our community discouraging the use of animal furs and skins. For many Tibetans, the wearing of such animal products was very fashionable and a sign of status, but they dutifully heeded His Holiness’ call. However, some in the media slanted it as a show of leverage by His Holiness. The Chinese government, instead of thanking His Holiness for stopping one of the largest markets for animal products, stooped even lower by encouraging the use of the animal products. For them, discrediting His Holiness even by clumsy brute force was important above anything else. This made me initially wonder whether Tibetans in exile should keep a low profile, as the Chinese government appears to be making every effort to assist the earthquake victims and we do not want a backlash.
However, I am reminded of a past conversation with a former Chinese PLA officer who had lived and worked for many years in Tibet. His experience in Tibet allowed him to sympathize with our community. This friend emphatically reminded me that we Tibetans should speak out. However, we need to recognize the good, identify mistakes and most importantly provide reasonable solutions. This is something similar we face within our own community in exile. Problems are identified without solutions or offering to be part of the solution. Most of all, we need to be mindful that the actions of Tibetans in exile may lead to severe and swift reprisal by the Chinese government upon Tibetans still living in Tibet. We must remember that while we are in positions of relative safety abroad, Tibetans inside do not have such privilege.
Second it is important that the media continue to be given free access in the region. Investigative journalists should work to find the answers to the above questions of what could have been done differently, such as housing construction or emergency procedures, and what can be done for a hopeful future.
A comparative analysis between the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 and the 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, 2010 gives strong evidence of the power of preparation. Despite the larger magnitude in Chile, the number of deaths was much fewer. In Haiti, mortality was around 200,000, whereas in Chile it was only around 800. The primary reason for the marked lower rate of mortality in Chile is credited due to Chile’s strict building codes, better emergency response and awareness by the general public on how to respond.
The role of media is especially important in the Tibetan areas. Criticism by Tibetans is easily construed as a sign of ingratitude or separatism. Just as corruption is pervasive throughout the rest of China, the reality is that corruption in the Tibetan plateau is extremely rampant because there is no media or other attention to this issue. Most governmental Tibet-specific economic policies designed to help Tibetans end up helping unscrupulous people. The earthquake has shown that Tibetans are for the most part very poor. Thus, unbiased fair media has the best chance of preventing the misuse of earthquake funds to save and reconstruct the region. It can also play an important role in recognizing real efforts and remove misunderstandings.
Thirdly I believe we need to take is to focus on our comparative advantage. It is clear that it will take all of us and more to save lives and reconstruct the region. There is no way we Tibetans, whether inside or outside China, have the experience or the resource to rebuild the area without the help of the Chinese government. It is also clear that only our Sangha and Community have the trust of the people and will be able to provide for the spiritual and mental needs of our community.
It pains me to see our monks work so hard on earthquake relief in Jyekundo. This is not what they were trained for. They took a vow to focus on the spiritual path and a life of contemplation. There is no doubt many of them will become sick and become victims themselves. It also deeply moved me to see the Chinese leadership and rescuers who live in the plain visit the earthquake area without delay, as I have traveled in the region and have experienced the challenging terrain. One also cannot underestimate altitude sickness; I have experienced it myself and know the difficulty of moving quickly until one becomes acclimated.
On April 19, 2010 Xinhua news indicated that Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China member Mr. Jia Qinglin said that “Chinese embassies abroad should warmly receive all overseas Tibetans who requested to donate to the quake-hit areas or come back to China for funeral affairs, and offer them necessary assistance.” After the earthquake Tibetans in exile automatically responded to help. This official invitation gives a unique opportunity for those who have never traveled or worked in the Tibetan plateau to take on this opportunity and perhaps work hand in hand with the Chinese officials. This openness also gives us an opportunity especially to encourage our friends, students, teachers and relatives who have some expertise to contribute such as medical, business, architecture and education.
Fourth, we should not be afraid of thinking big and dreaming with the people for a brighter future. A town similar to Gyegu that suffered a massive earthquake is the Peruvian town of Huaraz. The town of Huaraz, like Gyegu, is also inhabited by indigenous people, and located at an altitude of 3,052 meters (average altitude of Jyekundo is about 4000 meters). On May 31, 1970, the 7.8 earthquake killed half of Huaraz’s inhabitants, partly due to the narrow streets. Today the town of Huaraz has wider, more modern streets, but its buildings are considered not very attractive in their rush to rebuild.
We should cooperate with the people of the Jyekundo to plan a modern town, and villages with modern houses combining the best of modern technology and local traditional architecture. Towns and villages could become an attraction unto themselves to generate revenue that would pay for the cost. Here in particular I believe earthquake prone regions of the world such as Japan and Taiwan could provide valuable support and expertise under the supervision of the national Chinese and local governments. If we have friends in these regions with expertise this will be a great opportunity to invite them in this effort.
Fifth, I believe we need to learn to respect our differences and focus on solving problems as equal partners. There is no doubt that much time will pass before mutual distrust is completely removed. We all know that when the PLA first came to Tibet it was with promises and hope. However, we also know that China too suffered terribly and was fooled by Mao Zedong. This is no justification on the horror that was committed on Tibet but probably no country lost their culture more than the Chinese people. I believe the key path is more dialogue, as encouraged by His Holiness. Engagement will allows us to reduce misunderstanding and pool our strengths.
Joint efforts by Tibetan and Chinese people to assist the earthquake victims could give us an opportunity to work on other larger issues of common interest, such as the environment. A young Chinese environmental lawyer friend of mind told me if there is one thing we need to know about China’s environment, it is that it is worse than we think. She further mentioned that the large sandstorms in Beijing, drying rivers and pollution threaten China more than we can imagine. Slowly I believe, with such collaborative efforts, we will be able to tackle more emotional and challenging political issues. Prior to resolving our political difference a certain level of calmness, understanding and respect must be built.
In 1950, a massive earthquake measuring 8.6 on the Richter scale struck Tibet with an epicenter in the Kongpo area. My father, now 90 years old, mentioned that Tibetans believed that this was a bad omen. After the Chinese Communist occupation of Tibet, many of our parents or grandparents fled to India. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our elders focused on giving us young Tibetans a modern education. Any success we have achieved today is largely due to their hard work and the kindness of our supporters. However, today we have to view this earthquake not as a bad omen, but as a learning opportunity and a call for action.
In conclusion, the reality is there are many faces of China and Tibet. There is a China that is accused of being corrupt, racist, insensitive government policies, overly materialistic and lacks basic human rights. However, there is another facet of China that is respected for lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, entrepreneurial and hardworking people, stable government and created a promising youth population. Similarly there is a Tibet that is accused of being ungrateful, complains a lot, lacks human resources, has a risk adverse attitude hampered by traditition and is not innovative. But there is another face of Tibet that is respected by the world for his rich and deep culture, a leader that is recognized as a global leader for peace, a region rich in natural resources and beauty and a compassionate persistent people. I believe through recognizing and complementing our respective strengths, we can create a future that is much brighter. At the same time we need to have the humility to leverage not only modern technology, but the tested wisdom of our ancestors to sustain our continued success. If we do so, in 50 years our future generation will view the sad Jyekundo earthquake as the time that lead the Tibetan and Chinese people towards happiness.
The author is an MBA graduate from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA from Dickinson College. He currently works in the banking field with a focus on the energy sector. Tsewang is one of the Founding Board of Directors of Students for a Free Tibet, the first Tibetan to officially enlist in the United States Military and served as the Executive Director of the Tibetan Community Center Project (NY) from 2007-2008. He can be reached at densang123@yahoo.com.
[OPINION-DISCLAIMER]
