BS: 40 years on..Tibet

Subject: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 07:45 PM

40 years ago Tibet was declared an Autonomous Region....it has done the Tibetans no good. The newspapers here are filling up with pictures of happy shiny faced Tibetans all declaring how much better off they are.....what a feed of pooh.

This appeared in the on-line Telegraph.

Tibet is shut for the month

Subject: RE: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 10:38 PM

Michael Palin did a great travel series called "Himalaya." Being the person he is, he pointed out a lot of political inequities, etc. across the region, but esp. when he was allowed into Lhasa. I cannot remember the percentage, but, if I remember correctly, he said the population was mostly Chinese, as China keeps bringing in more of them to settle there. He was able to visit with some people who are doing their best to preserve Tibetan culture. What has happened there is so wrong and so heart-wrenching.

Thanks for the reminder.

Namaste,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: GUEST,Shanghaiceltic
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:26 AM

And this is how it is being reported by Xinhua...err no mention of the area being closed off to foreigners.


LHASA, Aug. 1 -- At the foot of the Potala Palace, more than 20,000 farmers, herdsmen, lamas and people of various ethnic groups gathered, with the clear blue Himalayan sky filled with clouds of pigeons and balloons.

    Coloured flags and traditional decorative gateways adorned the streets of Lhasa. Smiling faces were everywhere as people celebrated the 40th birthday of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

    The people were smiling because, in many cases, they were thankful.

    "In today's rural areas in Tibet, we all enjoy the guarantee of medical care. The government provides children with free education, and now all villages have roads," said Anu, a villager from Tohlung Dechen in Lhasa County.

    Anu was just one person expressing his heartfelt support, saying he was proud to see farmers and herdsmen enjoying the freedom to believe in whatever religion they wanted and conduct normal religious activities, and to see their Tibetan customs, habits, history and cultural traditions being fully respected.

    Jia Qinglin, head of the central government delegation, congratulated the Tibetan people on their remarkable achievements during the past four decades.

    He presented regional officials with a banner of congratulations, written by President Hu Jintao, which is inscribed with the words: "Strive for common prosperity with joint unity and development."

    In a jointly signed telegram of congratulations, the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Central Military Commission reaffirmed that the central government and other parts of the country will continue to support Tibet.

    Tibet has entered a crucial period for the progress of its economy and long-term stability. Economic development is the focus of all work, and stability and development are two major tasks of the region, Jia told the gathering.

    Jia - also chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, China's top political advisory body - encouraged local officials and all ethnic groups in Tibet to pursue economic and social development to fulfil the increasing needs of Tibetan people and promote social harmony.

    One of the startling changes in the past four decades is Tibet's rapid growth rate in gross domestic product (GDP). It has averaged 12.7 per cent for four years in a row, with the total GDP amounting to 21 billion yuan (US$258 million) last year.

    The per-capita annual income of residents living in Tibetan cities and towns was 8,058 yuan (US$994) in 2004, 4.65 times that in 1985, and the annual income of its farming population has risen to 1,691 yuan (US$208) from 317 yuan (US$39) in 1985.

    Jia said safeguarding the unification of the motherland and maintaining social stability are in the fundamental interests of Tibetan people.

Subject: RE: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: mooman
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 04:49 AM

What a load of sickening hooey from the Chinese. No mention of the 100s of 1000s they slaughtered back then?

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: Stu
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 07:17 AM

A real shame they only had culture, not oil.

If Saddam had ignored as many resolutions on Tibet as the Chinese have done the Americans would have invaded years ago.

Tashi Dalek,

stig

Subject: RE: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:47 AM

What a load of shite! The REAL way to help Tibet would be for the Chinese government to get out and let the Dalai Lama back in!

As for the health care, etc...I hope they still have their traditional medical treatments intact. Years ago I watched a rare, bootleg video of a class of young children being taught Tibetan medicine, through oral tradition. In their system, at that time, diabetes was considered no worse than the common cold and treated, successfuly, with native herbs and minerals. Of course that is the kind of thing allopathic medicine would suppress if it ever got out!

Subject: RE: BS: 40 years on..Tibet
From: Raedwulf
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 07:58 PM

"In today's rural areas in Tibet, we all enjoy the guarantee of medical care. The government provides children with free education, and now all villages have roads,"

Very true. One can't help wondering whether this would not also have been true had the Chinese NOT illegally invaded Tibet, mind you! And what else might they have had on top?