[Afigenatjola]

Perhaps the most newsworthy aspect of the story is that our Secretary of State has just finished a journey to Russia where she took Putin to task for numerous things, but there is on-going silence from the US government about China's actions against Tibet / Tibetans.

[shihoodiacarf]

Well I don't think silence is the right approach but Tibet is a sizable chunk of land and China is not a country I'd be threatening. Surely they will not concede it on their own in any near future.

It seems that Tibet may be looking like a lost cause, with the Delai Lama in exile the whole region has lost its once treasured characteristics.

My theory personally is that China will eventually go the way of the USSR, although I'm not sure how autnomous some of the Chinese regions might be. This would perhaps be best for everyone, with Tibet and HK separate things could finally become more stable in the region. Time will tell.

[vypusknye]

Wow Lofter thanks for posting that video. It's horrible.

I agree that the train is an engineering marvel and representative of a can-do spirit that we don't have anymore. Still, it's more than upsetting to witness yet another outstanding culture being smashed to bits.

[finasteride]

Appalling video.

China has a criminal government.

[highattainlet]

yeah, I once read the Chinese "Constitution". It's such a joke.
For example, here's Article 4:

Article 4. All nationalities in the People's Republic of China are equal. The state protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities and upholds and develops the relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all of China's nationalities. Discrimination against and oppression of any nationality are prohibited; any acts that undermine the unity of the nationalities or instigate their secession are prohibited. The state helps the areas inhabited by minority nationalities speed up their economic and cultural development in accordance with the peculiarities and needs of the different minority nationalities. Regional autonomy is practised in areas where people of minority nationalities live in compact communities; in these areas organs of self- government are established for the exercise of the right of autonomy. All the national autonomous areas are inalienable parts of the People's Republic of China. The people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and to preserve or reform their own ways and customs.

[poispanna]

Wonder who wrote that, To-mas Je-Fer-Soon?

From my experience anything that contains "People's...." is a ploy.

[zoneouddy]

You saying the "people" cain't be trusted ???

[durootrium]

No I mean from a historical perspective things that contain the words "People's" anything, as in implying ownership, are usually bad.

This is mostly the case in the USSR where there were dozens of government programs and agencies bearing this name that in actually did nothing but rob "the people."

There is an interesting case involving Poland whose official name contains the word "Rzeczpospolita" meaning something along the lines of commonwealth. This name has been historically very positive as it represented one of the first electoral democracies in the world with the 1st constitution in Europe. However when Poland became communist the name was changed to the People's Republic of Poland essentially disposing with the commonwealth and commencing the robbing of the citizens. Consequently the name was reversed when communism was abandoned.

I just in general distrust things done in the name of the people. That is not to say that things done FOR the people are bad, because obviously this wording is used often everywhere.

Also to be quite honest "We the people.." is making a hell of an assumption, right? As we see just half a century later, not everybody held those truths to be self-evident.

[Kdgjhytiy]

I admire the Chinese for their can-do spirit. I don't admire their government, which still hasn't come clean on Tiananmen Square.

[Bromymbollile]

Yes, China and Tibet have been at it again. A recent uprising is put down by Chinese troops.


Closer to home, on March 14th outside the United Nations in Manhattan a peaceful group of pro-Tibet protesters are given the Bejing treatment by New York's finest.


Does the US ascribe to the same policy as Nepal?
"Nepal's national policy recognises 'One China'. We will prevent any anti-China activities that take place in our territory," home ministry spokesman Modraj Dottel told AFP.


The NYPD needn't have been jumpy since this was the day before, "protesters outside the Chinese Consulate building [12th Avenue and 42nd Street] threw debris and scuffled with police, resulting in minor injuries and [six] arrests." source (None of the 'arrests' caught on film above are reported.)

[Viafdrear]

This is what I don't get: Why won't China just leave Tibet alone? I mean, just let Tibet be in peace.

[GlictStiply]

This is what I don't get: Why won't China just leave Tibet alone? I mean, just let Tibet be in peace.

...in a word: "OIL".

Chinese researchers have discovered massive new gas and oil deposits totaling an estimated 4 billion to 5.4 billion tons in Tibet. The frightened, freedom hating gangsters who constitute the Chinese government have no ideaological reasons for opressing Tibet, for them it is simply money. For those at lower levels, the beaureaucrats, the police, the comisars, the thugs it is different, they believe in what they are doing or at the very least,like what they do; as always oppression depends on such ordinary people.

I watched a harrowing documentary on TV last night about a tibetan exile who went back into Tibet undercover to record documentary evidence of what the Chinese government say are fabrications. I think you may be able to watch it on your PC at this link ( Undercover in Tibet ) at: www.channel4.com/4od/index.html

For those who can't see it here are some of what he found; The man with the hidden camera was Tash Despa, who left Tibet 11 years ago in the traditional way: he trekked for a month across the Himalayas, passing many frozen corpses as he went. Since then, needless to say, thousands more of his countrymen have made the same trek – prompting the obvious question of why they’re so desperate to escape.

Once Tash re-entered Tibet, the answers soon started to become clear. On the way in, his car passed a Chinese army convoy three miles long. (According to the programme, the country now contains one Chinese soldier for every 20 Tibetans.) And, despite his nervousness – at one point he confessed he’d just been vomiting with fear – Tash turned out to be an assiduous collector of evidence.

Thousands of Tibetan nomads, for example, have been resettled in what the Chinese claim is a programme of social development. Yet, when Tash navigated his way to the middle of nowhere to visit one of the new “villages”, he accurately described it as seeming like a prison camp, with no school, clinic or transport links.

He also met several people who’d suffered more personal forms of oppression. One victim of torture broke down as he explained why “being electrocuted in water is much worse than when you are dry”. (When you’re dry, the electric prod only hurts where it touches. When you’re wet, it sends pain shooting through the whole body.) A woman literally had the scars to prove that, contrary to official Chinese law, the one-child policy now applies to Tibetans – and is imposed through forced sterilisation. If she’d had the money, she told us, she could have bought a false sterilisation certificate. As it was, she couldn’t even afford a drip to treat the “agonising pain” from an operation carried out without proper anaesthetic.



I think it is disgusting that the Olympics are being held there this year but it goes to show the hypocracy of western governments and the contempt they have for freedom. The olympic torch is due in London next week. It was due to go through Heathrow's new T5 terminal but it will now go through the segregated VIP terminal, partly because British Airways would lose it but in reality its because the widespread protests would embarass the British Government in the face of the Chinese. In Greece last week when the flame was lit Greek policemen participated with Chinese secret police IN GREECE in beating up Tibetan freedom protestors. Previously in London, British police violently put down peaceful protesters during a Chinese state visit and protest was heavily kept away from the Chinese.

On the BBC breakfast news two bland presenters "interviewed" the Chinese emassador in London about the violence against Tibetans after the riots there last week. The ambassador smiled benignly and dismissed all knowledge of such events. Pressed softly she acknowledged something may have happend but the embassy was not in a position to investigate such claims. The interview concluded with smiles all around as she presented the two "journalists" with two stuffed toys, the mascots of the Olympics which they accepted with sacarine delight only TV breakfast presenters seem to exhibit. It says is all about why they wanted the Olympics. It made me nauseous.

When you see Chinese President Hu Jintao smiling and being glad handed by our "leaders" at the Olympics, remember it was this man who presided over the sytematic torture and oppression of Tibetans.

"If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear".

[AbeldeldepBug]

NYPD also violently beat Tibetan protesters on March 14 at the U.N.

The Olympic torch and even the five rings are simply Nazi pomp that unfortunately, like most of their propaganda - were extremely effective symbols.

"The sportive, knightly battle awakens the best human characteristics. It doesn't separate, but unites the combatants in understanding and respect. It also helps to connect the countries in the spirit of peace. That's why the Olympic Flame should never die."
– Adolf Hitler, commenting on the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games

[womberte]

There's a lot of yen in that Chinese fashion market ...

Dropped like a Stone:
Dior axes Sharon ads as she says
sorry over 'quake karma' comment

thisislondon.co.uk
May 29, 2008

Sharon Stone has been dropped from Christian Dior’s Chinese advertisements after the actress claimed the country’s devastating earthquake may have been the result of bad karma over its treatment of Tibet.

The French fashion house acted even though Stone issued a grovelling apology for the comments.

The 50-year-old actress said she was "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people with her remarks in an interview last week.

Stone models for Christian Dior SA, and the company's Shanghai office issued the statement.


Cancelled: Sharon Stone as she appears in one of the Dior adverts

The public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai, said Basic Instinct star would no longer appear in the company's advertisements in China.

"Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," Stone said in the statement.

"I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."

Stone said she had worked in international charities for the past 20 years and wants to help Chinese people.

During her visit to China last year for the Shanghai Movie Festival she said she felt "deeply the Chinese people's wisdom and hospitality”.

Stone's comments caused considerable anger in the Chinese media. The official Xinhua News Agency said she was the "public enemy of all mankind”.

Chinese media have erupted in indignation over foreign criticism of the country ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.


Controversial: Sharon Stone on the night she made the comment in Cannes

During the international leg of the Olympic torch relay many Chinese reacted strongly to protests over Beijing's rule of Tibet.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang today said he had taken note of Stone's apology, and he hoped China's relief efforts could be fully understood and supported by the international community.

"We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship," he said.

Stone's original comments were made last week during a Cannes Film Festival red-carpet interview.

"I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else," Stone said. "And then this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"

During the brief interview, Stone also said she cried when she received a letter from the Tibetan Foundation asking her to help the quake victims. "They wanted to go and be helpful, and that made me cry. It was a big lesson to me that sometimes you have to learn to put your head down and be of service even to people who aren't nice to you," she said.

© 2008 Associated Newspapers Limited