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Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Women’s NGOs & UNCSW Set To Again Ignore China’s Forced Sterilizations

13 Jan
Women’s NGOs Convene At UN-New York

Image:archivenet

The United Nations Commuission on the Status Of Women (UNCSW) is readying itself for its 56th Session which opens on February 27, an event that attracts women activists and NGOs worldwide, who descend upon New York to celebrate sisterhood and rights for women. An important and just cause. Unfortunately behind the rhetoric and solidarity this gathering conceals a current of ideologies and political agenda that effectively censor any prospect of a major human rights issue from ever featuring on thre CSW program. We refer to China’s forced sterilizations, yet the UNCSW and its Non-Governmental colleagues have maintained a wall of silence on the subject and repeatedly declined to debate or examine this disturbing subject.

Throughout what will be some two weeks of  debate, lobbying, presentations and keynote speeches by honoured governmental representatives, this major violation of women’s human rights will be be entirely absent! It would appear that Women’s NGO’s and the CSW are callously indifferent toChina’s coercive population control policies and the plight of their sisters in China (or those in occupied Tibet and East Turkestan who are also subjected to the horrors of forced sterilizations). Which have resulted in countless numbers of women being forcibly sterilized. This issue is consistently ignored by those who claim to the champions of women’s human rights and once again will not feature, at either the UNCSW Sessions itself, or parallel events. Details of which, curiously, are not being posted thus far here  

A worrying indication of the apathy towards violations generated by China’s coercive population program is illusttrated by an action conducted by the folks at @tibettruth who since October 20, 2010 regularly posted a tweet on the silence of women’s NGOs to a report by Al Jazeera that documented forced abortions in China.

This featured the  case of a young woman forcibly aborted 8 months in her pregnancy! See Video Here In the 482 days (and counting) that followed not one message of condemnation was received from women’s organizations, many of who whom will be in attendance in New York for the forthcoming UNCSW.

Feminism's Flag Of Choice On China

We shall be monitoring this event very closely and some of our volunteers will be reporting from the UNCSW and associated NGO events so do follow @tibettruth for updates, lobbying actions and information

 
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Posted by on January 13, 2012 in Appeasing China, Miscellaneous, News Item

 

Taking Tibet Downtown

02 Jan

 
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Posted by on January 2, 2012 in Miscellaneous, News Item

 

Tibet The Talk Of The Street

02 Jan

 
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Posted by on January 2, 2012 in Miscellaneous, News Item

 

2012 The Year For Tibet Action

31 Dec

 
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Posted by on December 31, 2011 in Demonstrations, Miscellaneous

 

Song For Tibet’s Rangzen (Independence)

19 Dec

Rangzen Ghi Bhoe-da by Penpa Lhamo, dedicated to all my fellow Tibetan brothers and sisters especially those who self-immolated for the sake of our country.

 
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Posted by on December 19, 2011 in Demonstrations, Miscellaneous, Tibet

 

Tibet: An Independent Nation Under An Illegal & Vicious Occupation

10 Dec
 
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Posted by on December 10, 2011 in Miscellaneous

 

Aid To Tibet: A Safe Operation or Collaboration?

07 Dec

Our friends running @tibettruth have been requesting an organization called Operation Safe, to remove from its reports on Tibet, a disconcerting gloss of China’s propaganda. The organization no doubt does laudable work in offering comfort to children suffering trauma from incidents such as natural disasters, most notably in Japan. They also  appear to have had a limited presence in the Tibetan region of Kham, which was struck by a devestating earthquake in 2010. The discussion on this matter has raised a number of interesting and controversial issues, generating fascinating exchanges on Twitter.

Central to such discussion has been a concern, that in promoting the work of such agencies, there exists a danger of creating an image and narrative that misrepresents Tibetans as being unable to extend comfort, support and love for children traumatized by the quake. Critics point to a Operation Safe Report where it seems there is no mention, or recognition, of the inspiring effort of local Tibetans in Jeykundo, who were at the forefront of rescuing, supporting and comforting their compatriots, and providing loving care to Tibetan children.

A further concern regarding such well-meaning aid projects, is that the presence and cooperation of such agencies legitimizes China’s occupation, compromises those who are actively involved, and obscures and distracts from the true picture of the situation inside Tibet. While no analogy is ever perfect the following illustrates the point. Imagine a cruel and authoritarian prison-governor allowing a charity to enter a one or two cells to improve conditions for those inmates by re-decorating. While those privileged prisoners may look-up at their freshly painted walls and think, of that is an improvement, all around them, the vast majority of fellow inmates continue to live in terrible conditions with abuse, suppression and violence. Meanwhile, the charity involved is so concerned with doing, what it deems good-work, that it won’t say too much about the situation, for fear of not being allowed back in the prison. So the truth is damaged and obscured.

This process of compromise, collaboration and censorship happens to with those seeking to engage in aid-work within occupied Tibet, such projects invest a worrying legitimacy in China’s occupation of Tibet, while compromising those actively involved, and obscuring the more odious realities of China’s vicious rule. Meanwhile, the widespread oppression, injustice and atrocities continue, as the agency announces on the internet its marvellous actions helping Tibetans. Yet, as in many such cases, real progress can only take place if people are allowed to take control of their political, social and more importantly economic destinies, a freedom violently denied to Tibetans under totalitarian occupation. While there may be a self-gratifying reward for those involved such individuals cannot absolve themselves from such realities, nor an ethical responsibilty for their actions. Would such organizations have happily collaborated with the the Khymer Rouge in Cambodia, cognisant that beyond their isolated and politically manipulated aid efforts, Cambodians were suffering a range of atrocities?

Images:Str/AFP/Getty

 
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Posted by on December 7, 2011 in Miscellaneous

 

Selective Outrage Ignores China’s Killing Of Muslim Uyghurs

06 Dec

As the Arab League agonizes over events inside Syria, and the United States tightens the screws on Iran, while shouting on human rights and freedom, in Central Asia a Muslim people, known as Uyghurs are suffering a particularly vicious tyranny, that is being ignored by both Washington and the capital cities of Arab states. Disappointing that the brotherhood of Islam has failed to unite and offer a single word of condemnation against this cultural genocide waged against fellow Muslims. Equally depressing that the outraged voices which clamour against atrocities perpetrated by the United States towards the people of Iraq or Afghanistan seem paralyzed on the subject of East Turkestan, known more widely as Xinjiang, due to China’s description of that land which it so cruelly occupies and exploits. Nor have the terrorized Uyghurs received moral or political support from those who rush to the barricades at the oppression of Palestinians. Yet one would have reasonably thought that champions of Palestine, rightly troubled by Israel’s brutal  denial of freedom and rights for Palestinians, would have a natural and willing capacity to empathize with the Uyghurs of East Turkestan who suffer a range of abuses and cultural genocide, courtesy of China’s regime.

In all good conscience how can anyone valuing  justice, freedom and human rights exercise a selective outrage and ignore the suffering of East Turkestan, all abuses and tyranny must be challenged, be it within the United States;  as it tries and thankfully fails to suppress the Occupy movement, the open prison of Gaza; which daily suffers Israel’s military aggression, or the traumatized peoples of Tibet and East Turkestan, who endure China’s tyrannical occupation.

 
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Posted by on December 6, 2011 in Miscellaneous, News Item, Tibet

 

Avaaz: An Appeal For Accuracy On Tibet

08 Nov

Open Statement To Avaaz.org

We are contacting you in the sincere hope you may kindly reconsider the current wording featured upon your very welcome and important ‘Save Tibet’ petition. As a network (founded originally in 1989) our volunteers and subscribers have been actively researching, lobbying, campaigning, and publishing in support of Tibet’s people, and their struggle for independence, while exposing the harrowing range of human rights violations suffered by Tibetans.

One of the areas of action we are involved with is to ensure that the political actions and objectives of Tibetans in occupied Tibet is heard by people around the world, to work towards enabling Tibet’s true cause, and demands of the selfless actions of Tibetans, reaches as many as possible.

As you may be aware the central demand of Tibetan protests has been, and remains two-fold: Tibet’s independence and the return of the Dalai Lama, there is a wealth of documented information, eyewitness accounts and testimony confirming that these are the objectives of Tibetans. Perhaps you recall the national uprising of 2008 which erupted across Tibet, during which time-after-time Tibetans demanded their nation’s independence and raised their banned national flag, itself a cherished symbol of Tibet’s national identity.

More recently, and this brings us to your important supportive action, a number of Tibetans have chosen to self-immolate, an action which has understandably gripped the attention of people worldwide and caused shock and sadness to many. It is of course an entirely understandable to read of such acts from afar and conclude that these were the actions of a desperate people, driven by the grim excesses of China’s oppression to take their own lives, in a tragic bid to end what your site describes as a “crackdown”.

However, if you look carefully at the reported details of these individual events you soon recognize that they share common objectives, not to end a current regime of repression at a particular monastery or within a specified area, but to demand Tibet’s freedom, independence and call for the return of the Dalai Lama. Moreover, far from the image of crazed desperation, with its association of failure and hopelessness, the sacrifices made by these Tibetans, if anything, was about determination, courage and a singular decision to protest to the world what Tibetans are seeking.

We are concerned that these remarkable actions and their political objectives are being somewhat misunderstood and not reported accurately by statements featured on your ‘Save Tibet’ page. The impression given is that Tibetans are acting in desperation and that what they seek is an end to a crackdown of course the implied conclusion to that is, should China’s current repression against religious practice cease, Tibetans would somehow be content and not protest.  This misses entirely the very nature of Tibetan resistance in Tibet, which as revealed by countless examples is a cause for national liberation, not simply a desperate sporadic reaction to the repression of Buddhism.

This where we feel that the incredible bravery, spirit and cause of Tibetans is being unwittingly misrepresented by the wording featured upon your site, since it creates a flawed impression, one, due to the global membership of your organization, that’s being repeated on sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Reinforcing the erroneous portrait of desperation and failing to mention what Tibetan’s are actually fighting for. We hope you will wish to correct that misconception, which we gather those who sign your petition, automatically trigger a tweet;  Tibet threads on Twitter are effectively being flooded/spammed with this distorted understanding.

Like many we have great respect for the tremendous work Avaaz does and admire the values you represent, given the international standing you have you carry much responsibility and are a force of important communication, please, in helping Tibet we appeal that you do not misreport Tibet’s struggle or the determination and political demands of those who protest.

Online Action

Our colleagues at @tibettruth have produced a flyer on the issue which can be downloaded HERE

meanwhile if you wish to appeal to Avaaz on this subject express your concerns here HERE

 
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Posted by on November 8, 2011 in Miscellaneous

 

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Tibetan Self-Immolation-Not Despair But Determination

17 Oct

Image:tchrd

There has been  international concern expressed regarding the recent spate of self-immolation by Tibetans in the vicinity of Ngaba in Eastern Tibet. A coordinated campaign has been launched to demand the intervention of governments and the United Nations to call upon the Chinese Regime to lift the repressive constraints applied to Tibetan monasteries, and for international delegations to be granted a visit to determine the situation.

The reports of young Tibetans setting themselves ablaze has shocked and saddened many with a very understandable call for action, in what has been described as a desperate situation that prompted such incidents.  On December 1 Tenzin Phuntsog. a monk reportedly from Karma monastery in Chamdo, which is within the U-Tsang Region of occupied Tibet, was the latest Tibetan to self-immolate. Little wonder that social sites such as Facebook and Twitter have seen streams of posts on various campaigns, and events, to both express solidarity with the protests, and demand an end to China’s oppressive policies. Such actions are of course of immense value in terms of focusing attention on the issue of Tibet, and on a personal level enabling people to demonstrate their concern and sympathies for these sacrifices.

The horrifying nature of these acts of sacrifice naturally produces a response of profound sadness and grief, leading to the very reasonable conclusion that such loss-of-life was a tragic waste, born from sense of despair at the relentless tyranny endured by Tibet’s people. Such a view is eminently understandable, yet if we look a little more closely at these disturbing events, instead of witnessing the despairing actions of individuals unable to to tolerate China’s vicious repression we can observe something entirely different. To realize such an understanding we must first ask ourselves what was the political nature of the action itself? In all the incidents of self-immolation, in and around Kirti Monastery at Ngaba, Tibet’s freedom and complete independence was demanded, along with calls for a return of the Dalai Lama.

The protests were not about human rights as so atrociously suggested by one English free-Tibet group   nor were they demanding improved religious freedoms, the objective and action itself was entirely about Tibetan national freedom. In that sense we can begin to see that far from acting on an impulse of harrowing desperation, these individuals had chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice, not from a selfish interest, but as an action in support of their nation and rightful cause. While these self-immolations have understandably elicited huge sympathy and sadness we should ask ourselves in deciding to take their lives were these Tibetans seeking our sympathy, or were they seeking our support for their cause?

There is indeed misery stalking the lands of Tibet, a sense of sadness and frustration at China’s colonization and exploitation, yet there is also resistance, courage and a willingness to rise against China’s occupation, as evidenced by countless demonstrations, and these latest events. It is of course deeply troubling that these young Tibetans have offered up their lives in such a violent and shocking manner, yet while our sympathy goes to their grieving families, perhaps we honor more appropriately their sacrifice if we recognize the motivation and objective of their actions which was expressed, not through despair, but determination, spirit and inspiring dedication to Tibet’s independence.

 
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Posted by on October 17, 2011 in Miscellaneous, News Item

 
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