Difference between revisions of "Tibet: Dalai Lama wins international award, while protests against China grow"
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Isabel Hilton, The Guardian, March 29, 2012 | Isabel Hilton, The Guardian, March 29, 2012 | ||
| − | Self-immolations have raised the level of tension, protest and distress in Tibet to new heights. Earlier this month, 4,000 students in Tibetan schools in Qinghai protested against the proposed imposition of Chinese as the medium of instruction in their schools. Security forces have raided monasteries, searching for signs of allegiance to the Dalai Lama. | + | Self-immolations have raised the level of tension, protest and {{Wiki|distress}} in [[Tibet]] to new heights. Earlier this month, 4,000 students in [[Tibetan]] schools in [[Qinghai]] protested against the proposed imposition of {{Wiki|Chinese}} as the {{Wiki|medium}} of instruction in their schools. {{Wiki|Security}} forces have raided [[monasteries]], searching for [[signs]] of allegiance to the [[Dalai Lama]]. |
Original Article | Original Article | ||
| − | Yesterday, Jamphel Yeshi, a 27-year-old Tibetan in exile in India, died in hospital. Two days earlier, in a desperate and harrowing protest against the visit to India of the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, he had set himself alight in a Delhi street. He suffered 97% burns. In a letter discovered after his self-immolation, he wrote: "We (Tibetans) demand freedom to practice our religion and culture. We demand freedom to use our language. We demand the same right as other people living elsewhere in the world …" | + | Yesterday, Jamphel [[Yeshi]], a 27-year-old [[Tibetan]] in exile in [[India]], [[died]] in hospital. Two days earlier, in a desperate and harrowing protest against the visit to [[India]] of the {{Wiki|Chinese}} premier Wen Jiabao, he had set himself alight in a {{Wiki|Delhi}} street. He [[suffered]] 97% burns. In a [[letter]] discovered after his self-immolation, he wrote: "We ([[Tibetans]]) demand freedom to practice our [[religion]] and {{Wiki|culture}}. We demand freedom to use our [[language]]. We demand the same right as other [[people]] living elsewhere in the [[world]] …" |
| − | Today, the Dalai Lama was awarded the prestigious Templeton prize, a million-dollar prize awarded each year to an outstanding spiritual leader. In other circumstances, the Templeton prize would have been the occasion for unrestrained celebration for Tibetans, for whom any international recognition of their leader stands as a gesture of moral support for a people whose future looks increasingly bleak. But this award is overshadowed by the mounting toll of sacrifice of young Tibetan lives: in the past year, some 30 Tibetans, men and women, religious figures and lay people, have set themselves on fire. | + | Today, the [[Dalai Lama]] was awarded the prestigious Templeton prize, a million-dollar prize awarded each year to an outstanding [[spiritual]] leader. In other circumstances, the Templeton prize would have been the occasion for unrestrained celebration for [[Tibetans]], for whom any international {{Wiki|recognition}} of their leader stands as a gesture of [[moral]] support for a [[people]] whose {{Wiki|future}} looks increasingly bleak. But this award is overshadowed by the mounting toll of [[Wikipedia:sacrifice|sacrifice]] of young [[Tibetan]] [[lives]]: in the {{Wiki|past}} year, some 30 [[Tibetans]], men and women, [[religious]] figures and [[lay people]], have set themselves on [[fire]]. |
| − | Their protests are a measure of the despair that has been growing across Tibet since the uprising in 2008 was crushed with an unrepentant brutality. Since then, scores of Tibetans, including writers and public intellectuals, monks and farmers, have been imprisoned and Tibet's monasteries, seen by the Chinese government as the focus of dissent, have been subject to intensified controls and political pressure. | + | Their protests are a measure of the {{Wiki|despair}} that has been growing across [[Tibet]] since the uprising in 2008 was crushed with an unrepentant brutality. Since then, scores of [[Tibetans]], [[including]] writers and public intellectuals, [[monks]] and {{Wiki|farmers}}, have been imprisoned and [[Tibet's]] [[monasteries]], seen by the [[Chinese government]] as the focus of dissent, have been [[subject]] to intensified controls and {{Wiki|political}} pressure. |
| − | One self-immolation in Tunisia shocked the world and triggered the Arab spring. Thirty self-immolations in Tibet have received little international attention. It took a 30-day hunger strike outside the United Nations in New York by three Tibetans, one of them a senior religious figure, to wring anassurance that UN special rapporteurs would investigate the situation in Tibet. Their hunger strike ended a few days ago. | + | One self-immolation in Tunisia shocked the [[world]] and triggered the Arab spring. Thirty self-immolations in [[Tibet]] have received little international [[attention]]. It took a 30-day hunger strike outside the United Nations in [[New York]] by three [[Tibetans]], one of them a senior [[religious]] figure, to wring anassurance that UN special rapporteurs would investigate the situation in [[Tibet]]. Their hunger strike ended a few days ago. |
| − | But if international attention has been scant, the self-immolations have raised the level of tension, protest and distress in Tibet to new heights. Earlier this month, 4,000 students in Tibetan schools in Qinghai protested against the proposed imposition of Chinese as the medium of instruction in their schools. Security forces have raided monasteries, searching for signs of allegiance to the Dalai Lama. Demonstrations, vigils and expressions of moral support for men and women seen as martyrs by the wider population, have been met with ever tighter security lockdown. Fresh reports of incidents arrive almost daily. | + | But if international [[attention]] has been scant, the self-immolations have raised the level of tension, protest and {{Wiki|distress}} in [[Tibet]] to new heights. Earlier this month, 4,000 students in [[Tibetan]] schools in [[Qinghai]] protested against the proposed imposition of {{Wiki|Chinese}} as the {{Wiki|medium}} of instruction in their schools. {{Wiki|Security}} forces have raided [[monasteries]], searching for [[signs]] of allegiance to the [[Dalai Lama]]. Demonstrations, vigils and {{Wiki|expressions}} of [[moral]] support for men and women seen as martyrs by the wider population, have been met with ever tighter {{Wiki|security}} lockdown. Fresh reports of incidents arrive almost daily. |
| − | For the Chinese government, this is all the Dalai Lama's fault: a spiritual leader, in exile for more than 50 years, they say, is the sole instigator of these tragedies. Beijing seems blind to the fact that Chinese policies over the past half-century in Tibet have been the most important driver of what is a growing call for independence, even in areas where the Dalai Lama traditionally held little sway. Beijing's policies are generating exactly what they were supposed to prevent. | + | For the [[Chinese government]], this is all the [[Dalai Lama's]] fault: a [[spiritual]] leader, in exile for more than 50 years, they say, is the sole instigator of these tragedies. {{Wiki|Beijing}} seems [[blind]] to the fact that {{Wiki|Chinese}} policies over the {{Wiki|past}} half-century in [[Tibet]] have been the most important driver of what is a growing call for {{Wiki|independence}}, even in areas where the [[Dalai Lama]] [[traditionally]] held little sway. [[Beijing's]] policies are generating exactly what they were supposed to prevent. |
| − | The Templeton award, with its million-dollar prize, in unlikely to change this terrible cycle of events. But it does stand as a rebuke to a regime that has refused to recognise that the Dalai Lama is the best hope for a resolution of a crisis that is costing so much in human suffering and that stands as an implacable moral reproach to Beijing's rule. The Chinese government describes the Dalai Lama as a wolf in monk's robes. In awarding him the prize, the Templeton judges have affirmed the value of peace over violence, and ethical, moral and spiritual values over the power of the state. It could not have been more timely. | + | The Templeton award, with its million-dollar prize, in unlikely to change this terrible cycle of events. But it does stand as a rebuke to a regime that has refused to recognise that the [[Dalai Lama]] is the best {{Wiki|hope}} for a resolution of a crisis that is costing so much in [[human]] [[suffering]] and that stands as an implacable [[moral]] reproach to [[Beijing's]] {{Wiki|rule}}. The [[Chinese government]] describes the [[Dalai Lama]] as a {{Wiki|wolf}} in [[monk's]] [[robes]]. In awarding him the prize, the Templeton judges have [[affirmed]] the value of [[peace]] over [[violence]], and [[ethical]], [[moral]] and [[spiritual]] values over the power of the [[state]]. It could not have been more timely. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Latest revision as of 17:23, 25 January 2016
Isabel Hilton, The Guardian, March 29, 2012
Self-immolations have raised the level of tension, protest and distress in Tibet to new heights. Earlier this month, 4,000 students in Tibetan schools in Qinghai protested against the proposed imposition of Chinese as the medium of instruction in their schools. Security forces have raided monasteries, searching for signs of allegiance to the Dalai Lama.
Original Article
Yesterday, Jamphel Yeshi, a 27-year-old Tibetan in exile in India, died in hospital. Two days earlier, in a desperate and harrowing protest against the visit to India of the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, he had set himself alight in a Delhi street. He suffered 97% burns. In a letter discovered after his self-immolation, he wrote: "We (Tibetans) demand freedom to practice our religion and culture. We demand freedom to use our language. We demand the same right as other people living elsewhere in the world …"
Today, the Dalai Lama was awarded the prestigious Templeton prize, a million-dollar prize awarded each year to an outstanding spiritual leader. In other circumstances, the Templeton prize would have been the occasion for unrestrained celebration for Tibetans, for whom any international recognition of their leader stands as a gesture of moral support for a people whose future looks increasingly bleak. But this award is overshadowed by the mounting toll of sacrifice of young Tibetan lives: in the past year, some 30 Tibetans, men and women, religious figures and lay people, have set themselves on fire.
Their protests are a measure of the despair that has been growing across Tibet since the uprising in 2008 was crushed with an unrepentant brutality. Since then, scores of Tibetans, including writers and public intellectuals, monks and farmers, have been imprisoned and Tibet's monasteries, seen by the Chinese government as the focus of dissent, have been subject to intensified controls and political pressure.
One self-immolation in Tunisia shocked the world and triggered the Arab spring. Thirty self-immolations in Tibet have received little international attention. It took a 30-day hunger strike outside the United Nations in New York by three Tibetans, one of them a senior religious figure, to wring anassurance that UN special rapporteurs would investigate the situation in Tibet. Their hunger strike ended a few days ago.
But if international attention has been scant, the self-immolations have raised the level of tension, protest and distress in Tibet to new heights. Earlier this month, 4,000 students in Tibetan schools in Qinghai protested against the proposed imposition of Chinese as the medium of instruction in their schools. Security forces have raided monasteries, searching for signs of allegiance to the Dalai Lama. Demonstrations, vigils and expressions of moral support for men and women seen as martyrs by the wider population, have been met with ever tighter security lockdown. Fresh reports of incidents arrive almost daily.
For the Chinese government, this is all the Dalai Lama's fault: a spiritual leader, in exile for more than 50 years, they say, is the sole instigator of these tragedies. Beijing seems blind to the fact that Chinese policies over the past half-century in Tibet have been the most important driver of what is a growing call for independence, even in areas where the Dalai Lama traditionally held little sway. Beijing's policies are generating exactly what they were supposed to prevent.
The Templeton award, with its million-dollar prize, in unlikely to change this terrible cycle of events. But it does stand as a rebuke to a regime that has refused to recognise that the Dalai Lama is the best hope for a resolution of a crisis that is costing so much in human suffering and that stands as an implacable moral reproach to Beijing's rule. The Chinese government describes the Dalai Lama as a wolf in monk's robes. In awarding him the prize, the Templeton judges have affirmed the value of peace over violence, and ethical, moral and spiritual values over the power of the state. It could not have been more timely.
