Not with muscle power

By K.N. Pandita

Tibet is in news. India has the compulsion to closely watch the developments in the controversial region. This is because India has given asylum to thousands of Tibetan refugees and the Dalai Lama has established his headquarter in exile in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.

Beijing official spokesperson says that about ten Tibetan demonstrators were killed in the riots. Private sources place the casualties at a much higher number. Dalai Lama himself said that the number of the killed is above one hundred.

Beijing has imposed a ban on the flow of news from Tibet. Foreign press is unable to send in reports. This is China’s traditional policy to keep the outside world uninformed and thereby force its views on one and all.

Chinese Premier Wen has accused Dalai Lama of trying to disrupt the Beijing Olympic Games slated for August. Olympic Games, for which Beijing has made great preparations, is of far – reaching importance to China. She wants to raise her profile in the international community by arranging state of art demonstration of giving the great even its real grandeur.
However, no sensible observer will accept Beijing accusing Dalai Lama for fomenting trouble in Tibet.

Tibetan nationalism is not dead despite the fact that the religious pontiff is not on the Tibetan soil at the moment. Nevertheless, Dalai Lama has more than once cleared his position on the ticklish Tibetan issue. He has never pleaded for secession of Tibet from China but he has strongly support the demand for the autonomy of Tibet.

Autonomy, larger or smaller, does not necessarily men separation from the mainland. It is one of the aspects of democratic process of governing. We have the similar case in Jammu and Kashmir. The difference is that there is an externally sponsored separatist and secessionist movement in J&K State whereas this is not the situation in Tibet.

Tibetan dissidents are not provided the patent “moral, diplomatic and spiritual support” of Pakistan to Kashmir militants. Secondly, in Kashmir the separatists are fighting for separation from Indian Union and accession to the neighbouring state of Pakistan. This is not the case with Tibet. That is one of the reasons why the Tibetan issue has received international attention.

That Beijing has resorted to repressive measure to quell the nationalist uprising in Tibet is the ground situation. Instead of bringing accusations against Dalai Lama, the Chinese premier should have listed the demands of the restive Tibetan population in Lhasa so that the world would know whether their demands are justifiable or not. The world would also know Beijing has done to meet the genuine demands. This has not been done.

International press, not necessarily hostile or too friendly to Chinese regime in Beijing, has, very often said that a large scale change in demographic complexion of Tibet has been effected and non-ethnic Chinese and Uighurs have been brought from adjoining regions and settled in Tibet to reduce the number of ethnic Tibetans. Beijing has never countered this allegation with convincing proofs and data. This is one of the root causes of discontent in Tibet. It sounds ridicules to bring onus to the doorsteps of Dalai Lama.

It will be observed that Dalai Lama has asked for an enquiry into the tragedy by an impartial international agency. This is fair enough. No person presumed to be the instigator of violence would make this suggestion.

Furthermore, even when the tragedy is at its peak and sentiments are surcharged, Dalai Lama has given sufficient proof of statesmanship and forbearance by declaring that Tibet does not want separation but only full autonomy. He has boldly and wisely conceded that ethnic groups in China have to live in harmony with one another. No such word has come from Beijing’s official circles. One can mark the difference.

Dalai Lama is very realistic. Tibet’s geographical location is such that it has to remain part of China. But there should be no difficulty in allowing her autonomy. Any attempt at forging change in demographic complexion will remain an irritant in the mutual relations.

China must frankly concede that ethnic trouble is not over in the country. The Uighurs of Xinjiang are up in arms. Because of excessive control of Beijing on media, true stories of unrest among the Uighurs are not trickling down the press. But in today’s world there is no foolproof blockade of media.

Beijing has to reconsider its policy towards ethnic minorities. It has to concede their rights of self determination and it has to put an end to discrimination. In heterogeneous societies, the rights and interests of all ethnic and other groups have to be kept in mind.

Beijing would do good to give up the path of confrontation and seek a meaningful dialogue with the Tibetan dissidents including Dalai Lama. Nobody will accept the gross accusations brought against Dalai Lama.

The problem of dissent in a given society cannot be solved by muscle power. It is resolved by honest and well-intended dialogue.

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