Now that China has essentially gone into lockdown mode amidst the protests in Tibet, and banned all Western journalists, their intentions are clear: full-scale genocide.
Twelve years ago, I sat down to interview my Tibetan language professor for a journalism class. We talked for about a half hour, about his history, his faith, and his country. He told me that, at age four, soldiers came to his house late one night, and he watched as they executed his father in the street. He told me how he had fled to the United States, fearing for his life. What really got to me, though, was when I asked him one question.
"Do you think you will ever go back?" I asked
He smiled at me, then he looked off into the distance. "I can never go back."
In the wake of the recent rioting within Tibet, the issue of Tibet's independence has made its way into the news again.
So, it's important to get some facts straight, up front. The United Nations declared China's invasion of Tibet in the 1950s an illegal act, a declaration has never been overturned in the subsequent occupation of Tibet. China claimed that it was "liberating" Tibet, as Tibetans were living as Tibetans had for over a thousand years (read: vast, untapped natural resources). Museums were built to show the world what barbarians the Tibetan people were. China was doing Tibet a favor by bringing it into the modern world, right?
I know many Tibetans. I studied Tibetan language and religions of Tibet in college. I knew the Dalai Lama's brother, Thubten Jigme Norbu, and I worked for his wife and son. The Tibetans I've known are peace-loving people, who refuse to hate the Chinese people, despite what the Chinese government has done to their nation, to their families. If you've seen the movie Kundun, you know what kinds of things I'm talking about. Before the invasion, the Chinese approached my friend and offered him a deal. Convince your brother to allow China to take control of Tibet, and we'll put you in charge. Instead, he warned his brother (Yeshe Norbu to Tibetans, 'Dalai Lama' is a Mongol term) that he must flee Tibet. Thubten then left Tibet, for good.
Another of my Tibetan language teachers was visiting for a year from Lhasa, so I assume that he's in the middle of the chaos in Lhasa. He walks with a cane, after Chinese soldiers broke both of his legs. I asked someone once what happened, and they told me "never mix politics and religion."
Then, there is the story of the Panchen Lama.
In Tibetan Buddhism, when an important Lama dies, the belief is that he will be reborn, and a search is conducted to find him. Thus, all 14 of the Dalai Lamas are the same person. The Panchen Lama is the second in charge in Tibetan Buddhism. When the Dalai Lama passes, the Panchen Lama serves two functions: as the interim leader of Tibet, and to find the Dalai Lama, after his rebirth. In 1995, the Dalai Lama announced Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama. The Chinese government immediately removed Gedhun and his family. They formed a new search committee and announced that Gyaincain Norbu, the son of two members of the Communist Party, was the 11th Panchen Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima has not been seen since. The Chinese government claims that he and his family are political prisoners. So, at best, he was the world's youngest political prisoner, at the age of 6. At worst, according to critics, he likely became the world's youngest political execution.
China has repeatedly attempted to paint the Dalai Lama as a global terrorist mastermind, despite his Nobel Peace Prize. There is an ounce of potential in this, since Tibetan Buddhism has a built in escape clause for the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is believed to be the earthly embodiment of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
In times of need, Avalokitesvara can transform in Mahakala, the wrathful diety, and wage war against Tibet's oppressors.
While a massive ass-kicking at the hands of Mahakala is certainly an option for him, the Dalai Lama has shown no signs that he is encouraging any such violence. In the story linked above, he condemns the violent protesting.
This is all very sad and frustrating for me, on a personal level, and on a political level. Now that China has banned Western reporters from entering the country, and has effectively gone on lock down, and refused international calls for talks on the situation, I believe their intentions are very clear. They intend on eradicating their Tibetan problem, once and for all.
The question is, will the world continue to turn a blind eye on China's repeated human rights violations?
Barack Obama has called upon China to meet with the Dalai Lama to "engage in a dialogue with the Dalai Lama directly, allow him to return to Tibet, and work with him to assure the identity and cultural integrity of Tibet and to address the legitimate needs of the Tibetan people." He has also condemned the crackdown. John McCain has called China's actions unacceptable. Senator Clinton and the white house have issued statements urging China to show "restraint."