Invisible Tibet
Posted by stuart on Apr 27th, 2009
2009
Apr 27
Via an article at the International Herald Tribune I have been introduced to a this blog, a heart-wrenching catalogue of China-induced woe from the roof of the world. At least I imaging that’s what it is, because it’s mostly written in Chinese by the blog’s host, Woeser. Nevertheless, Woeser’s interview with IHT suggests that the blog’s contents would be a wake up call for all those Chinese who have fallen into their government’s propaganda trap. Well, it might be if it weren’t wrapped in a loving blanket of CCP censorship.
A couple of days ago Invisible Tibet highlighted the plight of the REAL Panchen Lama, who became the world’s youngest political prisoner at the age of 6 in 1995. Last Saturday was, as far as I can make out, the young man’s (assuming he’s still alive) 20th birthday. Incarcerated at the age of six! What a country!
If your Chinese is up to it, and even if it isn’t, visit the site; the pictures alone tell a story of the beauty and brutality of life on the plateau. But first read the interview:
She moved back to Lhasa, found a job at Tibetan Literature, a government-run journal, and began delving into the history and folklore of Tibet. In 2003, a publisher in Guangzhou put out her first book, “Notes on Tibet,” a collection of prose and short stories that quickly sold out. It was just before the second print run that the authorities took notice. They promptly banned the book, saying it contained “serious political mistakes.”In their condemnation of the book, her employer, the Tibetan Literature Association, said she had glorified the Dalai Lama, harmed the solidarity of the nation and “exaggerated and beautified the positive function of religion in social life.” They demanded a confession of her errors. She refused, and found herself unemployed.
Since then Woeser has become a more vocal critic of the Chinese government’s Tibetan policy. And well she might, for unlike a billion of her countrymen, she’s seen the consequences for herself.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Two websites that offer English translations of Woeser’s work are Ragged Banner Press (www.raggedbanner.com) and High Peaks Pure Earth (www.highpeakspureearth.com — search on the “Woeser” tag). Ragged Banner Press is the publisher of Tibet’s True Heart, an annotated collection of Woeser’s poetry. Both these sites are blocked by the GFW.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Are there flaws, deficiencies and problems in the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet? Absolutely. Should the government examine its policies? Absolutely. Are things in Tibet black and white (TGIE all good, Chinese government all bad) as they are made out to be by these western and Chinese sympathizers of the TGIE? Absolutely not.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Based on her interview, I don’t think this blogger is calling for independence, Pffefer. Have the Chinese made ‘improvements’ to some aspects of Tibetan society? Undoubtedly.
But when you’re being told what you can do, say, think, and you’re being beaten, arrested, and disrespected for any deviation from the prescribed thought, deed, or action, then it’s difficult to say “by the way, thanks for the lovely railway station you guys built for us”.
Besides, I think it’s quite clear that the majority of the beneficiaries of the investment in Tibet are Han Chinese. And until we begin to see free access to and free reporting from the region, right or wrong, that perception is unlikely to change.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
A.E. Clark – sorry, you were temporarily caught up in my spam filter.
Thanks very much for those two web addresses, I’ll take a look.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Those ‘improvements’ are not real since you put quotation marks around it? I am not talking about this Woeser person, but in general your average western TGIE sympathizer is for everything the TGIE wants, independence being one of the many things.
“Besides, I think it’s quite clear that the majority of the beneficiaries of the investment in Tibet are Han Chinese. ”
Quite clear? You tell me why. When the roads are built, buildings erected, economy expanded and developed, the vast majority of the Tibetan Chinese are not impacted?
“And until we begin to see free access to and free reporting from the region, right or wrong, that perception is unlikely to change.”
I take you are saying as long as China remains authoritarian you democrazy zealots will never change your perceptions about China, Tibet included. Alright, be my guest. I agree with you that you people don’t have to appease the Chinese every time their feelings are hurt, the Chinese should just grow up, developing thicker skin and not pay attention to whatever you say and you people should be able to say whatever you want.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I think it’s quite clear that the majority of the beneficiaries of the investment in Tibet are Han Chinese
Ah yes those evil Han Chinese benefit so much from the one child policy. The evil Han Chinese benefit so much from paying disproportionate taxes. The evil Han Chinese gain so much by sending $4 billion US to the TAR every year.