Tibetan Political Review
A free online ejournal managed by an international editorial board.
http://sites.google.com/site/tibetanpoliticalreview/ It
contains articles and discussion covering democratization, politics and
the political future of Tibet. Materials available from 2010 onwards. From Intute.ac.uk
Tibet: Problems, Prospects, and U.S. Policy (PDF; 170 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)
On March 10, 2008, a series of demonstrations began in Lhasa and other Tibetan regions of China to mark the 49th anniversary of an unsuccessful Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. The demonstrations appeared to begin peacefully with small groups that were then contained by security forces. Both the protests and the response of the PRC authorities escalated in the ensuing days, spreading from the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) into parts of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai Provinces with Tibetan populations. By March 14, 2008, mobs of angry people were burning and looting establishments in downtown Lhasa. Authorities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) responded by sealing off Tibet and moving in large-scale security forces. Beijing has defended its actions as appropriate and necessary to restore civil order and prevent further violence. Still, China’s response has resulted in renewed calls for boycotts of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony on August 8, 2008, and for China to hold talks with the Dalai Lama.
China sees itself as having provided Tibet with extensive economic assistance and development using money from central government coffers, and PRC officials often seem perplexed at the simmering anger many Tibetans nevertheless retain against them. Despite the economic development, Tibetans charge that the PRC interferes with Tibetan culture and religion. They cite as examples: Beijing’s interference in 1995 in the choice of the Panchen Lama, Tibet’s second highest- ranking personage; enactment of a “reincarnation law” in 2007 requiring Buddhist monks who wish to reincarnate to obtain prior approval from Beijing; and China’s policy of conducting “patriotic education” campaigns, as well as efforts to foster atheism, among the Tibetan religious community. The PRC defends the campaigns as a tool to help monks become loyal, law-abiding citizens of China. Controversy over the role of the Dalai Lama and the impact of PRC control on Tibet’s language, culture, and religion have prompted recurring actions by Congress in support of Tibet’s traditions — actions routinely denounced by Beijing.
Members of the 110th Congress have responded to the March 2008 demonstrations and crackdowns with legislation requiring U.S. government officials to boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony (H.R. 5668); proposals condemning the crackdown and asking Beijing to hold talks with the Dalai Lama (H.Res. 1075 and H.Res. 1077); and the formation of a new Tibet Caucus. Many fear there is little hope that Beijing will make significant changes in its Tibet policy, despite even the urgent advice of China’s friends. Beijing appears to have calculated that it can out-wait the 72-year-old Dalai Lama, and that his demise will result in the Tibetan movement’s disintegration. But many see the Dalai Lama and his influence within the Tibetan community as the key to unlocking China’s difficulties in Tibet. They see China’s rejection of the Dalai Lama’s “middle way” approach as having undercut his ability to influence younger, more militant Tibetans.
They believe his death, without having reached an understanding from Beijing for greater Tibetan autonomy, would remove an important source of restraint on more ideological elements in the Tibetan community. This report will be updated as events warrant.
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Dalai Lama’s Speech on the 49th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day
Source: Council on Foreign Relations
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ARTICLE 19 is a human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide.
Africa: http://www.article19.org/work/regions/africa/index.html See also: Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.Burma: Campaign to Free Aung San Suu Kyi
Tibet: Tibet: Dialogue and Respect for Free Expression, the Legitimate ResponseChina and Tibet : Human Rights Watch resources
This site is maintained by leading human rights group Human Rights
Watch. It provides free access to its press releases, statements and
full text reports relating to human rights in China and Tibet. This
includes coverage of abuses against Tibetan citizens by the Chinese
government, the campaign for Tibetan independence and self government.
Coverage of human rights in China includes materials relating to womens
rights, minority rights and issues relating to the 2008 Beijing
Olympics. Publications generally date from approximately 1989 onwards.
http://hrw.org/doc/?t=asia&c=china
Tibet: Alliance for Democracy and Reform in Asia resources
The Alliance for Democracy and Reform in Asia (ADRA) was founded in
2000. It is composed of individuals and organisations who seek to
promote human rights, good governance and free elections in Asian
countries. It website provides free access to information on its aims
and activities. It includes a large number of press releases,
statements, comments and full text reports. This section contains
materials about Tibet. They discuss human rights, calls for democracy
and the Tibetan independence movement from approximately 2004 onwards.
http://www.asiademocracy.org/content_list.php?section_id=1&country_id=22
Sino-Tibetan dialogue in the Post-Mao era: lessons and prospects
This site provides access to the full text of a 91 page report by Tashi
Rabgey and Tseten Wangchuk Sharlho which was published as policy
studies no.12 by the East-West Center, (a think tank based in
Washington) in 2004. It examines the nature of relations between China
and Tibet from the mid 1970s until 2004. Topics covered include changes
in Chinese policy towards Tibet in the post mao period; the role of the
Dalai Llama and the international community in the campaogn for Tibetan
independence.
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/PS012.pdf