Tibet

[slimjim]

I don't really understand enough about the history of their situation but a few Qs: 1. Do Tibetans consider the Dalai Lama to be their political leader or is he just their spiritual leader? 2. Who does the western world/UN consider to be in charge of Tibet? 3. Where is the Panchen Lama? Why isn't more being done to secure his freedom? 4. Is this is simple case of the west not caring or being too scared to take on China or is what China is doing more justified than I believe?

[galltin]

The west are too scared to take on China and there's no oil in it so why would they bother.What China is doing is appalling. Tibetans are a peaceful people .

[Sylday]

The Chinese will tell you that Tibet has been an integral part of China for a very long time; and that in any case they have granted Tibet a high degree of autonomy. They also argue that the Dalai Lama was an autocrat, and that only since he left the country have the Tibetan people had any degree of democracy. Like most disputes over self-determination, national borders etc, the Tibetan situation is complex, and no side has a monopoly on the truth. As for your first question, the answer is probably that the Dalai Lama was both a spiritual and political leader, but that "politics" in old-style Tibet was very different to ours today.

[bernardo]

1. Yes - the Dalai Lamas were always the political leaders during independence
2. Tibet is not internationally recognised as an independent starte, so it must be P.R.China
3. Because he is a political pawn/ because the Tibet siuation is very low down on the list of world priorities
4. yes it is not caring; yes it is too scared; no China is not justified in oppressing the Tibetan people and culture.

[Moog]

Having had the fortune to have visited Tibet I can tell you that the Dalai Lama is the most revered person in the lives of ordinary Tibetans, they see him as the head of State and their spiritual leader. Unfortunately Tibet is no longer recognised by the UN as an official country instead as a province of China. With regard to the Panchen Lama it is believed that Gendun Choekyi Nyima who was officially recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995 is being held along with his family by Chinese authorities in Beijing under "protective custody" the Chinese Government have said that the faimly of Gendun Choekyi Nyima asked to be protected as they feared he would be killed by the Tibetan people. China then chose another 6 year old, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the Panchen Lama. Nobody knows for sure where the "official" Panchen Lama is, but I believe a fairly hefty reward has been raised for information leading to the discovery of his whereabouts. I don't think it's a case of the West not caring as such but China, but that the consequences of opposing China on this matter [and many others] are greatly exceed by the benefits of building trade relationships with them. As for the history of Tibet, there's detailed account of Tibetan history here: http://omni.cc.purdue.edu/~wtv/tibet/history.html#iif01 maybe you can judge for yourself whether China have a legitimate claim over the country.

[Drewhound]

I think China has as much right to rule Tibet as Britain has to go and retake Aquitaine but they are in possession and as Moog says the consequences of doing anything would be very grave indeed. When were you there Moog? I saw a little news item today and I was amazed at how the country has changed (from previous film, I haven't been there)

[Moog]

I was there in '94 - truly amazing place

[Drewhound]

It looked like any other Chinese city in the report I saw. They are encouraging the Chinese to move there and the Tibetans were complaining about lack of jobs, lower wages etc, presumably this is to change the whole culture of the country which is very sad indeed. I'm not very knowledgeable about the place but I've had an interest ever since years ago I found a copy (first edition english) of Heinrich Harrars book Seven Years in Tibet with some wonderful photos he and his friend took As you say an amazing place, I envy you for getting to see it