The Chinese government's military crackdown on demonstrators in Tibet and in neighboring Chinese provinces has been intense, though foreign media have been unable to confirm reports of mounting death tolls. In Sichuan province, there are allegations of 23 killed by security forces in one incident, including a 16-year-old. Reports of mounting fear among civilians in Tibet and Sichuan have become common in recent days.
Despite early official reports from Chinese state-run media claiming that protests were limited to radicals in the capital, they have in fact spread across Tibet and well into China. According to the Sunday Times:
[T]he violence reached right into the centre of Chengdu, a city of 11m, where nerves were on edge last week. In scenes not witnessed in a Chinese city since 1989, troops in battledress joined black-uniformed special police in clamping a cordon around the Tibetan quarter.
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has condemned the military assault on civilians, calling the situation "a challenge to the conscience of the world". She also said "If freedom loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China's oppression in China and Tibet, we have lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world".
While Tibet's independence struggle is political and cultural, linked to the Chinese invasion 60 years ago (political in resisting occupation, cultural in resisting what Tibetan Buddhists believe is Beijing's intention to eliminate its religious traditions), the planned mass migration of ethnic Han Chinese into the agrarian mountain region has caused an escalation in interethnic tensions, and resentment among Tibetans who say economic growth and educational opportunities have been concentrated in Han Chinese communities.
Now, some observers believe, China is facing what appears to be the failure of its post-Tiananmen plan to use economic development as a lure to long-term peace and integration. Chinese in Tibet and in neighboring provinces have reportedly been expressing feelings of despair over the Tibet situation, saying they don't see how Tibet could win its independence, or how China will win Tibetans' hearts.
The conflict could continue to deepen if China depends more heavily on impunity, masking the use of force by way of censored and structured media reports, than on dialogue and working toward a political solution. Some Tibetans are alleging Beijing's plan is to eradicate Tibetan opposition by way of a kind of "economic ethnic cleansing", forcing Tibetans from their homes or even into Chinese cities in search of work.
Today, 29 prominent Chinese intellectuals published an open letter calling on their government to "stop the violent suppression", and suggesting 12 ways to better deal with the worsening but long-lived tensions. The letter went as far as to urge that "As the Chinese government is committed to integrating into the international community, we maintain that it should display a style of governing that conforms to the standards of modern civilization".
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An Appeal to Dalai Lama from a Buddhist
My dearest Dalai Lama,
I respect that you bring the spirit of Buddhism into the western world. As a Buddhist, according to the doctrine of Buddhism, I shall say no bad words to you, a monk; however, when all the violence breaks my inner peace, tears force me to make a voice.
Dearest Dalai Lama, can you tell me, are you a Buddhist or a politician?
If you are a politician, I have nothing more to say than just beg you to take off your religious mask, for the honor of Buddhism should not be shamed and covered by blood. The peaceful Buddhism should not be an excuse of violence.
If you are a Buddhist, I am so confused.
Shakyamuni Buddha taught us that everything in our lives is dream, bubble and dew, which should be given up in the process of seeking the Nibbana. But why do you insist on requiring for the so-called high-leveled autonomy of Tibet? It is none of a Buddhist’s business, isn’t it? Remember? Shakyamuni Buddha himself preferred to be a renunciant practitioner than to be a prince.
You said you are the speak-man for the freedom and justice of Tibet. You may think you are struggling against the so-called genocide, cultural extinction and religious limits.
Nevertheless,
Is there genocide in Tibet? You claimed that the Chinese government killed 1.2 million Tibetan people because what happened in 1959, yet, there was only 1.8 million Tibetan people at that time! In 2005, people living in Tibet are over 2.4 million, 92.2% of which are Tibetans (http://www.gov.cn/test/2005-08/10/content_21528.htm). From 1990 to 2000, the Tibetan population in the whole nation increased from about 4.59million to about 5.41million, by 17.92%. (http://www.mzb.com.cn/onews.asp?id=5783); while at the same time, the Han population in the whole nation increased from 1,039,190,000 (http://tjsj.baidu.com/pages/jxyd/0/1/fff631c88e4452b197fb3cc9ddc92ed4_0.html ) to1,137,386,112 (http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/renkoupucha/2000pucha/pucha.htm), by only 9.45%. The life expectancy in Tibet is 67 years now while it was 35.5 in 1951 ( http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/2008-04/10/content_759507.htm). My dearest Dalai Lama, can you explain these changes with the word of “genocide”?
Is there cultural extinction in Tibet? In my opinion, before you claim to protect Tibetan Culture, you’d better explain to us what kind of Tibetan culture should be protected. The native language? It is taught in schools in Tibet and in universities and colleges for nationalities. If you think the study of other languages is a cultural shock to Tibetan culture, then how did you allow yourself and those Tibetans in exile to learn English? The native poems? As far as I know, some of these poems have been arranged and published. Khadaks(hadas), Nyima Piles, Wind-horse flags or the colorful sutra streamers, sky burials, Tibetan opera…? All these representatives of Tibetan culture are just the same as before, even the tradition of Polygamy, that is several brothers marry a woman, remains in some places although Han Chinese must be in Antithesis marriages. Tibetan artists can be famous in the whole nation. Then, what culture needs to be protected by a so-called high- leveled autonomy? The Slavery with the center of Dalai Lama? Maybe, because you used to be the largest slave-owners in Tibet! You speak for the freedom and justice of Tibet for all Tibetans? But Dalai Lama, when you were the largest slave-owner and the ruler in Tibet before 1959, why you never gave freedom and justice to your slaves?!
As Buddhists, we all know that two of the five basic Buddhism disciplines are never to lie and never to kill creatures. I don’t want to accuse you of “lying”, which is a serious crime in our religion; however, as a Buddhist and a “great” monk in your believers’ eyes, isn’t it your responsibility to make sure all messages are right before you send them to westerners?
Are there religious limits in Tibet? I am not quite sure of that for I have never been to Tibet. However, when I visit temples in other Chinese provinces, I can enjoy all the peace and happiness belonging to Buddhism. Nobody has ever asked or ordered me to do or not to do anything. What is more, we have never heard any Chinese Christians and most Chinese Muslims complain about their religious freedom. Why there are only religious limits in Tibet, if there are any? According to Chinese laws, religions are not allowed to be used as a tool to break up China. I don’t know what happened before, but I actually saw by my eyes that Lamas dressed in red sacerdotal robes, the robe belonging to your school, raised the so-called national flag of Tibet and cried “Free Tibet”! The duty of these left-home people is to study the Buddha's teaching in their temples and then use what they have learned to save people from suffering. But these people have political requirements and they ask for independence, which means to break up China. Should any government give these monks freedom to realize their political aims? These actions must be limited, because we all know the power of a religion when it is involved in political business. In fact, except that your believers can not take actions that relative to you, religious activities can be done freely. Tibetan Tripitaka has been arranged and published; we can even read collections of Tsongkhapa in Han characters. Rinpoches can visit other provinces to preach while believers can visit temples in Tibet. In fact, as more and more people become converts of Tibetan Buddhism, more and more arguments over Esoteric Buddhism and Exoteric Buddhism break out among Buddhists. And if you would like to pay a visit to the website of www.taobao.com, you will find most Buddhism utensils sold there are utensils of Tibetan Buddhism.
Why actions relative to you are limited? Because you seek for and support “Freeing Tibet ”, no matter in a way of independence or of high-leveled autonomy.
Free Tibet? Tibet has already been freed from slavery, in which 5% population ruled 95% population; in which slaves were deprived of their hands, arms, legs, eyes, and even skins for small faults; and in which 3 generations in a family could not pay off a loan of 14 kg cereals!
Free Tibet? I think you must know that Tibet became a part of China almost 800 years ago and yourself finished your Enthronement with the help of and was invested with rank by the government of the Republic of China when you firstly became the Dalai Lama. A Buddhist will not lie, Dalai Lama, has ever Tibet been a country acknowledged by the world in almost 800 years?
Free Tibet? Do you think yourself is a representative of all Tibetans? The freedom or the so-called high-leveled autonomy of Tibet is really all Tibetan’s dream?
It is said many Tibetans crossed snow mountains to come to you, crying under your feet. Do you really think these people cried for the “freedom” and “brightness”? I can understand their feelings, I think. Every time when I visit a temple, I will feel as if I came back to home; every time when I see Buddha imagines, I can not hold back my tears. It is a feeling of religion but not of politics. Your believers’ tears run for Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva but not for the man once named as Lhamo Thondup, nor for “freedom” and “brightness”.
Have you heard what Lamas in Gannan said before foreign reporters? They said they want you to come back. They want you to come back, Dalai Lama, that is why some people involved in the riots or the “peaceful protests” in your words! Then why you cannot come back? Because you require Tibet’s independent at first and so-called high-leveled autonomy at present. That is a political requirement, my living Buddha, but you are a Buddhist, you are a monk, and you are Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva! According to the Buddhism disciplines, such business in the secular world should have nothing to do with you! It is true that Dalai Lama is traditionally a political leader as well as a religious leader, but is it right and necessary for us to hold on every tradition? Nowadays when theocracy becomes obsolete, don’t you think it is time for you to come back to the world that belongs to a simple monk who strives to live his daily life according to Buddhist precepts?
Do you really feel that the blood in Tibet has nothing to do with you? You are called a great virtue or something like that and you must know much more clearly than me that a Buddhist is forbidden to kill and “to kill” not only means not to kill by oneself but also means not to allow or make other people to kill for oneself. When you pray for those who suffered or even lost their lives in all these riots, please think it carefully, with your heart of a Buddhist but not with that of a politician, with great compassion heart of the Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva, and with Buddhist precepts, why Tibet, the holy land of Buddhism, covered with ashes, tears and blood? Fire was lit for you, tears fell for you and blood streamed for you! Your believers fought because they want to bring pressure on the government to allow you back. Do not pretend that all the violence is none of your business, my living Buddha, in Buddhism, when your believers killed creatures for you, you killed them by yourself!
Your believers want you to come back, the living Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva, and the way to come home is not far. It lies in a flash of thought. Give up your role of a politician and your dream of rule the Tibet again, just be a religion leader please, my living Buddha, you are the moral support of your believers. Are there differences between Tibetan Chinese and Han Chinese in Buddhists’ eyes? Those who are Tibetan Chinese this life may be Han Chinese in their pre-lives and those who are Han Chinese may be Tibetan Chinese in their after-lives. Only use your rich knowledge of the Buddha's teaching to save all living being from suffering, please, my living Buddha, that is the only duty of a great monk and of Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva. Cut off all the causes and effects to come back please, Dalai Lama, that is what most of your believers are expecting for.
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