With a couple of days till the UK’s Glastonbury Festival launches we’re pleased to report that once again friends of Tibet’s cause who run #teamGlasto4Tibet will be there to raise the Tibetan flag across the globally watched event.
Our Twitter team @tibettruth will for the duration of the festival be posting Glastonbury images and updates across social-media. Over the years this has proved a very positive and hepful action to help in increasing exposure of the Tibetan cause to the many who may not be aware of the plight of Tibet’s people, under vicious rule by China.
If you are watching Glastonbury Festival via the BBC coverage and see one of the Tibetan flags it would be excellent if you can grab a print-screen of that. Drop it to @tibettruth or post to our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/digitalactivism/
Sincere thanks to: @Glasto4TIBET and everyone at #teamGlasto4TIBET with a shoutout to @goonchild4 and @MrChrisBrand for joining the action.
Original image;usmissionchina/ap-upgraded by @tibettruth
The only fact that a visiting diplomat to occupied Tibet can come away with is this:
There is no way she or he will ever discover the nature or extent of Chinese oppression of Tibet’s people and culture because every moment of such trips are controlled and monitored. There is no freedom for independent assessment, everything is choreographed by the Chinese regime. The only Tibetans met will be those who are willing collaborators, minds contaminated by China’s propaganda, Ordinary Tibetans are fearful to speak, the conseqences being dark indeed.
In truth Ambassador Branstad has been a compliant player in an exercise of disinformation and censorship, we wonder if he will report that reality, or would such a disclosure be considered by the State Department too offensive to Chinese sensitivities?
The infamous 17 Point ‘Agreement’, a treaty forced at gunpoint upon Tibetans by China on May 23 1951
Image: archivenet
On May 23 1951 a traitor urged his fellow Tibetan representatives to sign a phony ‘peace’ agreement (see above).
Tibetans know very well the treachery, empty assurances and lies which was the so-called ’17 Point Agreement’ forced upon Tibet by the Chinese regime.
What many do not realize is that the ‘Memorandum On Genuine Autonomy For Tibetans’, as advocated by the present exiled Tibetan Administration (a proposal which surrenders Tibetan nationhood and submits to Chinese rule) provides even less guarantees and freedom than was offered by the cyncical deceptions of the May 23rd 1951 ‘agreement’.
The lessons of history are the first to be ignored it would seem!
Right man to do business with, Terry Branstad raises a glass with Chinese dictator, Xi Jinping
Image: scmp
Imagine sitting opposite a representative of the Nazi regime as he assured you that the conditions of the Polish people had, under German occupation improved. To witness your stated concerns on atrocities contemptuously dismissed as baseless accusations, the expressionless dismissal of what the world knew to be true.
This week US Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad is visting occupied Tibet, we wonder if the former Governor of Iowa, once described (Dec 11, 2016) by the Omaha World Herald as having a ‘light touch’ on China, will regard his Chinese hosts as brutal occupiers of Tibet. Selected by Trump for the Ambassadorial post he looks more like the man best placed to do business with China, as opposed to being a vigorous advocate of Tibetan cultural freedoms.
His trip is a follow-up to a law passed last December requiring the United States to deny visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing policies which restrict access to Tibet for foreigners. A legislation that was denounced by China.
According to the US Embassy: “This visit is a chance for the ambassador to engage with local leaders to raise longstanding concerns about restrictions on religious freedom and the preservation of Tibetan culture and language,”.
Anyone concerned with the plight of Tibet’s people will welcome the US challenging the oppression of Tibetans. However, that should be measured against the political reality of a US State Department which endorses Chinese propaganda that Tibet is an inalienable part of China!
Reports from occupied Tibet this week reveal the ongoing assault against Tibetan culture, a number of images showing Tibetan infants being militarized at a local propaganda event aimed at glorifying the Chinese regime’s military. These are of course the very same forces which violently oppress the Tibetan people, in a drive to indoctrinate Tibet’s children they are also deployed as brainwashing units. Holding up China’s occupying army as heroes and ‘protectors of the people’.
Meanwhile in Lhasa on May 15 Chinese surveillance personnel and propagandists were pumping out the latest edicts from the Chinese regime as part of the relentless psyop against Tibetans.
Tibet academics who play the game with China’s regime are rewarded with research trips, university partnerships, career advancement and published papers
Image: xinhua
Look right from the get go we’re going to make it plain. We’ve little respect for academics specializing in Tibetan culture and history, who (usually for the purposes of career and research enhancement) collaborate with the Chinese regime. Why? Because there’s always a dangerous compromise on the facts, there has to be. Don’t forget it’s a totalitarian authority which demands compliance to its official narrative on any aspect of Tibet. Unless a scholar signs-off on that there’s no deal, applications for visas are denied, cooperation from Chinese universities and research bodies is not extended. So what do you do? After all you have a passion for your area of study? It would be a real shame not make progress on that project you’ve been considering, right?
The Chinese authorities are keen to exploit and manipulate western academic institutions to push their disinformation on Tibet. Here Chinese ‘Tibetologists’ meet with a Professor at Leiden University, Netherlands
Image: newscn
So the justification begins, and any concerns on partnering with a regime that you know is brutalizing the Tibetan people and eradicating their cultural and national identity, is rationalized away. With the support and encouragement of intellectual colleagues, the prospect of exotic field trips, and dreams of acclaim for that paper you will now be able to complete and publish, it becomes remarkably easy to ignore the harrowing reality endured by Tibetans. That’s the great thing about being inside the bubble; you are insulated the work becomes everything, while a remnant of concern may remain it’s pushed away into some neglected junkyard of your thinking.
This arm of the Chinese regime is an indoctrination and propaganda center that liaises with foreign academics specializing on Tibet.
Image: archivenet
The Chinese authorities will prove extremely helpful and generous, facilitating your research in Tibet, such support and cooperation comes with a price! The work you produce has to conform to standards expected and dictated by a number of government bodies including; Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tibet Academy Of Social Sciences and China Tibetological Research Centre. You will be required to use certain phrases when describing Tibet, its culture, regions, place-names and people, these of course are propaganda constructions to emphasize China’s bogus claims that Tibet is part of China. At first including such terminology in your writing is awkward but that feeling soon passes and it becomes natural, it also ensures your visa gets renewed!
Tibetan monasteries are targeted for political indoctrination, featuring prominently are the enlightened thoughts of Chinese dictator, Xi Jinping.
Image: Eric Baculinao
Field trips are arranged, monitored, controlled and carefully selected and approved, you will liaise on a regular basis with a Chinese academic ‘partner’, At a number of sites you will meet with Tibetans, who will no doubt inform you of the great progress being made in occupied Tibet, while addressing the subject of your researches. The monastery you have access to seems thriving, new buildings and unrestricted Buddhist practice, the perfect location for your study!
Chinese paramilitary an ever present tyranny at Tibetan Buddhist monasteries
Image: archivenet
An experience no doubt encountered by Professor Agita Baltgalve (University of Latvia/Latvian Society for the Study of Religions). On May 8 she was a key speaker at the screening of a propaganda film shown at the Chinese embassy in the capital city of Riga, Latvia. Her comments clearly met the approval of Xinhua, the official mouthpiece of China’s regime, who reported her as saying: ‘..Latvia has seen visits of several Tibetan delegations, now the documentary films provides an opportunity to learn more about the land and people of Tibet by means of cinematography. ‘. Anyone watching a film on Tibet authorised by Xi Jinping’s regime will be educated with disinformation and falsehoods, not that this seems to trouble Ms Baltgave!
Latvian academic Professor Agita Baltgalve promoting the falsehoods on Tibet by China’s Regime
Image: printscreen/satori.lv
She is an active collaborator in endorsing and promoting Chinese propaganda, seemingly content with the engineered illusions presented to her during visits to a handful of selected Tibetan monasteries during 2018. Her report ‘Current Situation of Tibetan Monasteries in China’(note the title wording) no doubt fails to mention the paramilitary presence at such sites, the asphyxiating control from China’s ideological storm-troopers who dominate and control every aspect of daily life at Tibet’s monasteries. Missing too will be the transformation of once Buddhist centers of study into indoctrination camps, where the political thoughts of Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party are forced upon Tibetans.
Image: tibetnet
We wonder how Ms Baltgave would have responded to news of a documentary film being shown at an embassy of the Soviet Union which portrayed Christianity as thriving in Latvia during the time it was under Soviet occupation? How would she have regarded a western academic’s willing participation in promoting such propaganda? Such ethical considerations appear to be of no importance to Tibet academics who choose to collaborate with the Chinese regime.
Across the water in a land where its government is often heard to boast of traditions of democracy and human-rights something is very rotten.
This week a Minister of the UK authorities, Gavin Williamson, wassummararilly dismissed from his post by Theresa May, the reason you may wonder?Well, there had been a leak of information to the media from a security star chamber called the National Security Council (NSC). This gathering is attended by Ministers, heads of MI6,GCHQ,MI5 and counter-terrorism police, they are all bound by what’s termed the Official Secrets Act. Which is effectively a state gagging order, violation of which is punishable as a crime.
A rapidly assembled inquiry was launched and within a couple of days the Prime Minister had laidresponsibility for the disclosure at the door of Mr Williamson. He had it was claimedbreached the security protocols and convention of supreme confidentiality under which the NSCoperates. What’s more there wastalk of him being open to prosecution. As it stands hecontinuesto vigorously denysuchcharges and has called for an inquiry into the affair.
Image:wsj
What would be revealed if such an investigation was allowed to delve into events which lead to the release of press reports that Theresa May was considering allowing controversial Chinese communications and tech corporation Huawei a contract in constructing a 5G network within the UK?
In all probabilitysuch an examination is not likely as there may well be too many politically sensitive skeletons rattling around, which could prove damagingly embarrassing to the Prime Minister’s government and her Conservative Party. There’s already an indication that the matter is being slammed down with yesterday’s announcement by the Metropolitan Police thatthe disclosure did not constitute a criminal offence, Nor it was claimeddid the informationreleasedbreach the Official Secrets Act.
The UK political establishment operates a policy of active appeasement towards the Chinese regime. indicated here as the British equivalent of the White House is decorated to celebrate the Spring New Year
Image:cgtn
“I am satisfied that what was disclosed did not contain information that would breach the Official Secrets Act,”said Neil Basu, head of the Met’s specialist operations. “I have considered all the information available to me andI have takenlegal advice.I am satisfied that the disclosure did not amount to a criminal offence either under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) or misconduct in a public office. No crime has been committed and this is not a matter for the police.”(Source: The Guardian 5/4/2019)
John Browne, formerly Lead Non-Executive Director of David Cameron’s Conservative Government, now Chair at Huawei UK
Image: standford.edu
This statementraises an interesting possible legal defense for future whistle-blowers who couldargue that it‘s not the action itself which defines if the OSA has been breached but the nature of information. From the government‘s perspective it does something more important, eliminates the risk of exposure within a court, it also returns complete control to them. Who can now bury this controversy deeply away from what could be dangerous further scrutiny. Before exploring further some interesting connections between the UK government, former Ministers and officials with Huawei let‘s change the focus.
Andrew Cahn, formerly headed David Cameron’s Conservative Government on UK Trade & Investment. SInce 2011 a Non-Executive Director of Huawei Technologies UK
Image: dailymail
While the UK government struggles to justify it’s reported approval of allowingHuawei to engineer the 5G network across Britain, or reassure its allies that any potential security risk can be contained the Chinese corporation is a key facilitator in the oppression of the Tibetan people. Not that the political establishment in London extends any substantial concern towards the plight of Tibet, especially when engaged in lucrative commercial partnerships with Chinese corporations!
Yet if they bothered to carefully assess the role of Huawei in occupied Tibet they would soon realize that its insistence on being an independent business, not influenced or constrained by China’s regimeis palpable nonsense. Like all major corporations within China Huawei is deeply and actively enmeshed with the political machinery of the Chinese state, without the sanction of the authorities it would not exist. It cannot operate without the approval of Xi Jinping and his regime. We are not though talking of a well intentioned company that happens to be under the control of China’s totalitarian tyranny, Huaweiis an engaged player, fully subscribed to the extreme politicalideology which aims to expand Chinese political, military and national interests.
John Suffolk, formerly Chief Information Officer for David Cameron’s Conservative Government. Now Senior Vice President and the Global Cyber Security & Privacy Officer for Huawei
Image: desibelajans
This is shown by its suffocating presence in Tibet where it has been constructing a range of communication and security networks, the purpose of which is to monitor Tibetans, intruding into every aspect of their daily living.Establishing an extensive CCTV coverage, creating facial recognition systems and security barriers at Tibetan monasteries and other public locations.Working in collusion with other Chinese communication providers it has engineered a surveillance network which monitors social-media and telephone systems to identity any dissent against China’s regime.
Image:tibetfr
In this regardit is partnering in the repressive assault against Tibetan cultural and national identity, a collaboration which should be of serious concern to governments, including of that of the United Kingdom, which claim to place the highest value upon human rights and freedoms. Yet it‘sinterest is directed towards strengtheningties with Huawei, even to the extent of jeopardizing security alliances with the USA and other countries.
The prospect of trade and the significant profits which flow from collaborating with the Chinese technology giant are presented as being in the interest of the nation, enablingeconomic and performance benefits fron the latest network platform. Such claims, of course, are open to debate and should be measured against handing over control of communications infrastructure to an arm of the Chinese state.
Facial recognition systems are being rolled out across China and occupied lands such as Tibet and East Turkistan.
Image:scmp
While the advantages of 5G are promoted as offering a digital revolution such technology also affords a totalitarian state disturbing levels of increased social control and surveillance. That is already happening within China, facilitated by Huawei, while there are now three 5G base-stations operating inside occupied Tibet. One, at the LhasaPost and Telecommunications School, the other two are installed at the office of the TibetPost Group in Lhasa, and in China Mobile’s Tibet branch building.
Image: archivenet
It‘s said that power corrupts, in realityitprobably reveals an inherent capacity for venality, is such self-interest at the heart of this controversy? Have prominent figures linked to the UK Government and Conservative Party profited from Huawei? Was it coincidental that fairly senior people associated with former Prime Minister David Cameron’s administration were offered and accepted prominent executive positions onto the board of HuaweiUK? Clearly finance has dominated the scene since Huawei promised in 2012 that it would be investing £1.3 billion in the British economy.!
Whatever the facts, which look set to be confined indefinitely to the archives, in defending its partnership with Huawei and risking the integrity of its communications network and national security the UK authorities are collaborating with a corporation which is enabling the violent oppression and 24/7 surveillance of the Tibetan people!
