The Changing Dynamics of the Tibetan Struggle
24 Mar, 2009 · 2834
Gunjan Singh looks at recent influences on the Tibetan movement
The Dalai Lama said that this year there could not be the regular New Year celebrations owing to the memory of the Tibetans who lost their lives in demonstrations against the Chinese last year. He also said that one could not forget the Tibetans who are still under detention. Though there have been differences of opinion which were obvious last year regarding the way the Tibetan movement is progressing, there is now a consensus that the Tibetan people need to work together and not celebrate Losar. This move thus marks the first anniversary of the Uprising of 2008 which brought to the forefront the change in the dynamics of the Tibetan movement. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising.
Meanwhile, the Chinese leadership has been talking about building stability and harmony in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). President Hu Jintao asserted that there is a need to build the Great Wall of Stability in Tibet. He discussed this issue when joining a panel discussion with deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) from the Tibet Autonomous Region. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has commented that the Dalai Lama should not be regarded as a religious figure but as a political figure. The differences between China and Dalai Lama have nothing to do with religion, human rights, ethnic relations and culture, he said but the issue was of whether to defend China's unity against attempts to separate Tibet from China. "Other countries should not allow Dalai to visit and should not let him use their territory to engage in secessionist activities."
The government in Beijing recently heightened the level of security in the TAR fearing disturbances from the Tibetan people. “We will firmly crackdown on criminal activities in Tibet's border area that pose a threat to China's sovereignty and government,” said Fu, a deputy to the annual session of the NPC. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama has said that Chinese rule has turned Tibet into “hell on earth” in the last 50 years.
What appears is that last year the Chinese government was taken by surprise by the Tibetans protestors. Due to the Olympics there was a lot of international attention on China and with increased international media presence, the Tibetans did manage to generate a large degree of support. Howver, the situation is not the same in 2009. The Chinese government is well-prepared to handle any acts of violence which the Tibetans may undertake. Last year, the Chinese government was under pressure to conduct the Olympics successfully and without generating any antagonistic feelings while this year there is no such pressure. Even US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton during her visit to China put the Tibetan issue on the sidelines and gave priority to the talks on the economic slowdown. At the moment the US is in dire need of Chinese help and is not at all keen to antagonize China.
During all these years, Beijing has managed to maintain a non-negotiable stance when it came to Tibet. It has kept the farce of the talks on with the Tibetan representatives which has helped China to reduce the level of international criticism. China has constantly pressurized Dalai Lama to assert more control on the younger generation which is more violent and is talking of independence. This younger generation has also been criticizing Dalai Lama for his soft approach.
Another important question which comes to the forefront is of what the future of the Tibetan movement will be after the Dalai Lama. China has been playing a wait-and-watch game quite comfortably. The question of a successor is definitely the one which is troubling the Dalai Lama the most at this time. What will be the outcome of the struggle which has been on for the last 50 years? Will it be too far-fetched to say that it may become more and more volatile once the Dalai Lama is gone and the younger generation takes over? Will this younger generation which has not lived in Tibet understand the nuances of the ongoing struggle?
For India the issue is even more complex. With the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India is involved whether it likes it or not. The question of internal security is constantly looming large but with an increasing level of economic interdependence between China and India, Tibet may take a back seat when it comes to the issues of importance at the bilateral level.
Meanwhile, the Chinese leadership has been talking about building stability and harmony in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). President Hu Jintao asserted that there is a need to build the Great Wall of Stability in Tibet. He discussed this issue when joining a panel discussion with deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) from the Tibet Autonomous Region. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has commented that the Dalai Lama should not be regarded as a religious figure but as a political figure. The differences between China and Dalai Lama have nothing to do with religion, human rights, ethnic relations and culture, he said but the issue was of whether to defend China's unity against attempts to separate Tibet from China. "Other countries should not allow Dalai to visit and should not let him use their territory to engage in secessionist activities."
The government in Beijing recently heightened the level of security in the TAR fearing disturbances from the Tibetan people. “We will firmly crackdown on criminal activities in Tibet's border area that pose a threat to China's sovereignty and government,” said Fu, a deputy to the annual session of the NPC. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama has said that Chinese rule has turned Tibet into “hell on earth” in the last 50 years.
What appears is that last year the Chinese government was taken by surprise by the Tibetans protestors. Due to the Olympics there was a lot of international attention on China and with increased international media presence, the Tibetans did manage to generate a large degree of support. Howver, the situation is not the same in 2009. The Chinese government is well-prepared to handle any acts of violence which the Tibetans may undertake. Last year, the Chinese government was under pressure to conduct the Olympics successfully and without generating any antagonistic feelings while this year there is no such pressure. Even US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton during her visit to China put the Tibetan issue on the sidelines and gave priority to the talks on the economic slowdown. At the moment the US is in dire need of Chinese help and is not at all keen to antagonize China.
During all these years, Beijing has managed to maintain a non-negotiable stance when it came to Tibet. It has kept the farce of the talks on with the Tibetan representatives which has helped China to reduce the level of international criticism. China has constantly pressurized Dalai Lama to assert more control on the younger generation which is more violent and is talking of independence. This younger generation has also been criticizing Dalai Lama for his soft approach.
Another important question which comes to the forefront is of what the future of the Tibetan movement will be after the Dalai Lama. China has been playing a wait-and-watch game quite comfortably. The question of a successor is definitely the one which is troubling the Dalai Lama the most at this time. What will be the outcome of the struggle which has been on for the last 50 years? Will it be too far-fetched to say that it may become more and more volatile once the Dalai Lama is gone and the younger generation takes over? Will this younger generation which has not lived in Tibet understand the nuances of the ongoing struggle?
For India the issue is even more complex. With the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India is involved whether it likes it or not. The question of internal security is constantly looming large but with an increasing level of economic interdependence between China and India, Tibet may take a back seat when it comes to the issues of importance at the bilateral level.
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