Loud and Clear

Emerging out of my office and on the way to home, I was trudging along an alley to the Metro stations, when I heard this clamour from a roadside. Intrigued, I followed the direction from I hear this boot of slogans emanating. Then I saw a line of people stretched out at a corner of the roadside. A middle aged woman blaring out through a megaphone "Free Press "and the group joined in " In Iran" ,albeit in a weak chorus. The slogans was not deafening but audible. What helped most for the group was some hand made posters and banners screaming out their grievances in the troubled region of Iran. Without those signs, it would be a simple crowd of people, staring and standing with a sense of direction.

It was not a large protest, and the people present appeared not as enthusiastic and passionate as they should be. Standing along in one single file at the corner of the road, some even have their hands in pocket, and give the impression of reluctance for what they are doing. I doubt such a gathering could send out their message loud and clear to the onlookers and those people who drives by . This is by no means the perception of a spectator.

What I was witnessing reminded me of similar Tibetan people's protest against China during key anniversary or the visit of Chinese dignitaries. Tibetan protest in Washington D.C or in other parts of the country for most of the time have a considerable turnout of people.
But the protest can be more effective and more powerful if organizers and people involved could ensure to implement few things. The purpose of any demonstration is to draw attention and get media publicity for Tibetan people's flight. For that to happen, the size of the event matters hugely, therefore the event organizer should have the wisdom of making best use of the people present. Wherever there is a crowd and there is a natural sense of curiosity. Even a small group of people can enhance its effectivensss by handouting Tibetan national flags, and banners to each and every protesters.

There need to be a unified slogans and simple strategy to serve the goal of the protest. For example, protesters should raise the banner that resonates the protest and , or wave the Tibetan national flag or anything that symbolizes the issues. Instead of punching their fist in the air, palanquins, banner and flags were more symbolic and it sends out a clear and loud message, besides adding to the grandeur of the protest.

Creative and meaningful slogans could capture the lens of camera man and the eyes of media person. During 2008 Tibetan uprising, Tibetan college students in China showed their solidarity by observing a candle light vigil and a popular hand scripted slogan "IN SOLIDARITY WITH TIBETAN PEOPLE" in Tibetan language. This few simple words put together says a lot for the purpose of the sit in.
in Switzerland, a family dedicated their time to draw a catchy and attractive caricatures in a big white screen. Capturing the essence of China's brutality in Tibet in an artistic way. Then there was the trade mark slogans by Students for Free Tibet that mimic the Chinese official Olympic slogans " One World One Dream, Free Tibet". And not to forget the shoe throwing spectacular of an Iraqi journalist against George Bush. These are few example of a creative and innovative ways of protest. As the adage goes "it is better to see ones than to hear a thousand times". With the passage of time, the achoes of voice will die out but the images of protest and slogans will linger.
Next time, when a protest to be staged, the concerned individual participants should rack their brains for a novel way of raising the issues to be seen conspicuously. Or if nothing is handy, then hold onto a snow lion flag and hoist it high. It is a symbol of Tibetan nation and Tibetan people and we should pay due respect to its significance by not wrapping around oneself, which I have seen Tibetan do during protest.

Love Is Understanding

While flipping through the pages of this classic religious literature"Old Path White Cloud" by Thich Nhat Hanh, I landed my eyes upon an interesting chapter, that relates to the concept of "love". Love is a mystery to many of us. and Love is also the most misunderstood word. Expression such as: love is blind, love knows no boundary, love at first sight, in love there is suffering, further complicate the true meaning of love. No doubt the effect of love is endearing, and it is a most cherished human emotion.

After skimming over the chapter on 'love', it has unravelled the mystery of love. Like a surgeon dissecting a body to investigate the cause of the illness, 2500 years ago, this young wise prince learnt the truth about love, and laid out to the eyes of layman the intricacies of love and its different types.
Here I take the privilege of quoting from the chapter on love. So the story goes :

"One afternoon, the Buddha received a young man whose face was lined with grief and misery. The Buddha learned that the man had recently lost his only son and for several days had stood in the cemetery crying out loud, "my son, my son, where have you gone?" The man was unable to eat, drink, or sleep".
The Buddha told him, "In love there is suffering".

As a reader, now I can perceive your bewilderment on this statement by the Buddha. So it is no surprising as the man responded by objecting what Buddha just said, " You are wrong. Love doesn't cause suffering, Love brings only happiness and joy". The bereaved man abruptly left before the Buddha could explain what he had meant.

Did Buddha mean then that the more you love the more you suffer? let find out, because whatever the Buddha says is always well thought , and meditated upon. After some people inquired Buddha about the validity of his pronouncement on love, then Buddha responded unflinchingly:
" Recently I heard that a woman in Savatthi lost her mother. She was so grief-stricken that she lost her mind and has been wandering the streets asking everyone, 'Have you seen my mother?Have you seen my mother?' I have also heard about two young lovers who committed suicide together because the girl's parents were forcing her to marry someone else. These two stories also demonstrate that love can cause suffering".

So in a way the Buddha ask us all, " if some misfortune befell to one of you dear ones, would you suffer?"
but don't be mistaken, Buddha does not say we should not love, what he says is this
" There are many kinds of love. We should examine closely the nature of each kinds of love. Life has a great need of presence of love, but not the sort of love that is based on lust, passion, attachment, discrimination and prejudice. There is another kind of love, sorely needed,which consists of loving kindness and compassion".

So Buddha concludes his sermon on love with the following guidance:
"The love for which all beings truly hunger is loving kindness and compassion. Loving kindness or Maitri is the love that has the capacity to bring happiness to another. Karuna or compassion is the love which has the capacity to remove another's suffering. Both do not demand anything in return. Loving kindness and compassion are not limited to one's parents, spouse, children, relatives, caste members, and countrymen. They extend to all people and all beings" He continues
"with loving kindness and compassion , life is filled with peace, joy, and contentment".

To my readers, I have to confess here, that i dont know if I can love someone including my dear wife and baby without attachment. But Buddha's explanation of love helped me a lot in understanding love, that love is indeed understanding.

Tibetan language

Bejing based Tibetan writer and poet Woeser's most recent entry on her blog http://tibet.woeser.com/?p=8609 drives home a point that the standard of Tibetan language in China's so called Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) is to the point of dismal. Which she thinks is very disgraceful to say the least. She urges the TAR officials to make Tibetan language the medium of instruction and standardized test for job and training recruitment.

Woeser and her friend recently investigated /researched the standard of Tibetan language in all the Tibetan regions under PRC. To her surprise, the findings concludes the standard of Tibetan language in Tibetan Autonomous region is very poor. Woeser whines many Tibetans in Lhasa frequently go to Nangma and induldge in drinking and dance, which according to her view is a sheer wasting of their time. Thus Tibetan who cares for the preservation and promotion of their culture and language have dwindled . Tibetan regions that scored high points in the standard of Tibetan language are Tibetan autonomous regions of Gansu, Ganan and Amdo Ngapo. The regions that shows poor standard of Tibetan languages are, some of the Kham areas, such as Yushu, Decheng, and Tibetan Autonomous regions.

The reasons for this deteriorating standard of Tibetan languages is attributed to lack of good professional institutions and proper education guidance and facilities in these areas. Except in some Amdo regions, all other Tibetan autonomous regions conduct test for profesisonal and employment purpose all in Chinese. Woeser raised the question, why Tibetan are not given the test in their own mother tongue?

Even though Woeser did not mention what means of criteria applied for the evaluation, yet her assessment by and larges reflects the true level of Tibetan education as censurable from new Tibetan arrivals in Nepal and India. Tibetan from Amdo tend to be more educated whereas Tibetan from Kham, many of them are illiterate. The most celebrated Tibetan poet, Woeser implores that her fellow Tibetans compatriots took to heart the importance of promoting and preserving Tibetan language and culture. She said why the so called Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) failed to implement at least 20% of test in Tibetan language itself shows the government priorities in education policies .

I am curious that if exile government and institutions take a similar assessment of Tibetan language standard in exile, particularly in all the schools and institutions , then we will know the truth, whether Tibetans in exile are better off in preservation of Tibetan language than the Chinese occupied Tibet. Recently in a response to a reporter's questions on the standard of Tibetan language in Nepal's Songtsang high school, the Principal without reservation replied " As far as Tibetan language are concerned, I think comparing to other Tibetan schools, our school neither ranks high nor too low. Our student's Tibetan language standard is mediocre " .
The Department of education in exile government after introducing Tibetan proficiency test as a requirement for Fulbright scholarship, only then there was surge of interest in learning Tibetan by graduate students, who aspire for the coveted scholarship. Crash course in Tibetan language were also offered to meet these demands.
Tibetan language will be taken seriously by the majority of Tibetan only when it become necessary for employment and advancement in career. In today's consumeristic society ,people may not learn the language just because it is holy language and it is our mother tongue. There need to be a high demand for it. For example in most recent time arabic language is extremely popular in schools and university in U.S. Since U.S is on a global war on terror, knowledge on arabic languages is essential for intelligence gathering, and oversea post in most of Arab and Muslim countries. Hence, U.S government agency and top organizations prefer their new recruitments with knowledge in arabic language.

中国是世界上最多的人口但西藏是一个无可争辩的独立国家。

对我来说中国政府必须思考西藏的问题。今日西藏流氓政府当于薘赖喇嘛的邻导下看起来个门活动是很平安的，可是中国很有名的作家王李秀说过薘赖去世已或藏族人们不会继须干平安的活动。另外西藏流氓政府的总理三多也说过不管花一百年多西藏流氓政府和组指已经准备了西藏问题的结决方法。

这次新疆饱发了汉族人和濰族人的毛顿决不是一个一班的事情，但这代表中国国家主席湖锦涛的名族团结的标语整是个无根据的。所以西藏和新疆的问题会影响中国国家的存在。

Fact vs Fiction

The July 5th Sunday unrest in Xinjiang and subsequent ethnic clashes leaves us with many unanswered questions. But based on reliable sources of information, that are corroborated, one can come to the following conclusions, that there are facts and also fiction:

Facts: Police opened fire on protesters. Chinese police did not crackdown on Han Chinese mob http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYzgsSUSiE&NR=1as much as they did to Uigher minorities. The initial protest was largely peaceful. The Chinese did not have evidence to prove that exiled Uigher leader Rabeya Kadeer, instigated the protest.
Uigher did not say they want to kill or beat people, they demanded justice from the authorities. The Chinese government did not give a chance to the peaceful and peacefully started demonstration. The Chinese authorities were responsible for the atrocities. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8144362.stm

Fiction: The Chinese local xijiang government put the casualty figures at 184, without specifying who committed this offence. The exile Uighur group says Uigher casualties understated.

Value crisis

In a recent interview with HH the Dalai lama by a Germany journalist, the Dalai Lama was asked about the economic crisis to which he responded that the "financial crisis isn't purely a crisis of market economy, bur rather a crisis of value". From this interview, the Dalai Lama shared his insights on world economic woe, and I am impressed tremendously as always by His Holiness the Dalai lama's wisdom. The Tibetan spiritual leader may not have a economic background, but his indepth knowledge on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, enabled him to grasp the human mentality so comprehensively and so sophisticatedly that he is well suited to comment on all issues. The Dalai Lama is a thinker, philosopher, scholar and scientist and economist. The world thinkers, scholars and journalists, weigh each and every words of HH, because in my view, they are so relevant and rational in this post modern interconnected world.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's solution for the economic crisis is to inculcate value education starting from school, and so the change should begin with each individuals. Greed is the root cause as spelled out by HH . His Holiness also said the people who are most affected by this world financial crisis are the one who only think about money-even dream about it -are affected the most by it. So what lessons if any can learn from this economic crisis. Yes, the lessons we learn are many "the value of money is limited and insecurity is huge. Inner value, such as friendship, trust, honesty and compassion are much more reliable than money-they always brings strength and happiness". Despite of huge economic leap for the Chinese leadership, the Dalai Lama warns potential danger to it "communist elites only think about power and money, and this can be very destructive". So the bottom line is that money is not everything for a happy life not even for a happy society or presperous nation. As for happiness for an individual there is a formula :Happiness=compassion+emptiness. For a detail understanding of emptiness and compassion, "The Wisdom of Forgiveness" by HH the Dalai and Victor Chan is a must read. This is one of those rare books I have read by HH the Dalai Lama and it changed me and so will you on your outlook on life and its purpose.

Uigher revolution .

Five prominent Tibetan NGO based in Dharamsala organized a candle light vigil in expression of solidarity with the Uigher Muslims. The Dalai Lama issued a statement "I am deeply saddend by the deterioting situation in Xijiang and more so for loss of lives. I pray for the victims of family" and His Holiness also urged Chinese government to exercise restrain in handling the situation. A few Tibetans took part in Uighers demonstartions to protest Chinese crackdown in Washignton D.C. One thing is strikingly missing , it is the exile Tibetan government. It is not hard to predicate why the exile government remained silent on the events in Xijiang. There is a possibility that the exile government is losing an important public relation strategy, for keeping mum. The world is monitoring the situations in Xiajiang with such interest and intensity, leading newspapers from the continents churned out an plethora of editorials and Op-ed and reports on this Muslim minority clash with Han majority. U.S lawmakers were gearing up for a resolution to condemn the Chinese repression on the protesters, and dare to stand up with Rabiya Kadeer who is labelled by the Chinese officials as "terrorist" or "inciter"Turkyi Prime Minister would rise the issue on UN security council. The UN general secretary was "alarmed" by the number of death. President Hu Jiato cut short of his G-8 summit, a huge lose of face and an opportunity to exercise China's influence on major world issues with its counterparts in Rome.
It does not end here. The event in Xijiang has a rippling effect. Its consequence will be far reaching. Who knows, it is the beginning of the end of a trynicall rull. A Madarine caller to RFA said " ... only when the Han and Uighers unit to fight against CCP, can the people be victorous".

The scope of the protest.
It is not overstating that the Sunday's protest was unprecedented to say the least. News trickled out the protest was initially started by college students who express solidarity for the Uigher victems of Gongdong toy factory. in an Youtube image, thousands of protesters marching with nothing visible their hands. The incident could have been more damaging and more bloody, have the local authorities failed to intervene . South China Morning post reported "Thousands of students detained at college" in an obvious move to prevent their roles in the waves of protest that rocked Xingiang. From Uramqi, the clash spiraled into neighourings cities Kashagar and others. unconfirmed sources put the death figure at 1000, mainly from police shooting and beaten. XingUighers overseas spared no time to vent their support for their brethren. In Turkey, hundreds of Uighers scuffled with police for demonstration in front of Chinese embassy. In Holland, 13 Uighers were charged for hurling stones at the Chinese embassy in a vent of their frustration and anger. "The week's events have catapulted Ms. Kadeer to a new level of global recognition" thus wrote in a byline article in Newyork Time.

Foreign media

What analysts term as a "media savvy", Chinese government this time allowed foreign media to cover the events except in a stage managed manner. Foreigon correspondents access to the Uighers neighbourhood were denied and interview with locals were closely watched by official prodigies. Did China really learn a lesson from their blackout media tactic in 2008 Tibet uprising and now allowing this seemingly semi free reporting by foreign journalist. An answer to this question from the Neyork times's Curry wrote "By allowing reporters immediate, if controlled , access, China wins some plaudits for its openness. These tour groups usually included a continents from country such as Nepal and Russia, where press is nominally free, but journalistic standard are rather flexible and relation with Chinese government are good. These journalists were relied on to produce a suitable number of "independent" stories in English and other languages parrot the the coverage in the Chinese State run press. In today's media world where search engine hits matter more than quality of writing, the Chinese are probably correct in calculating that the small number of predictably negative stories from the likes of the Newyork Times... are acceptable cost to achieve parity or even supremacy in the post protest online spine zone". However, even this is a fact , I would not complain of what irresponsible journalist report. The burden is on the individual journalist and their ethical consciousness. Truth will be revealed, and it can not be hidden.
what is the root causes ,
Chinese officials in Xingjiang pointed their fingers squarely on the frail exile Uigher world congress chairperson Rabeya Kadeer, and "outside influence". The later lashed out on the lacklustre response of the local authorities in Gongdong to the toy factory brawl, and the China's 6 decades of repression and marginalization of Turkey identity and culture, and of course communist propaganda against Uigher as a "enemy" of the state and "terrorist", that fueled the resentment against each other, and so the root cause of the this ethinic clash..

China's harmonous society undermined. The event unequivocally send a clear and loud message that the foundation of communist party and its stability has been shaken. And Hu's mantra of harmonous society were shattered. Hu Jintao would not skip the G-8 summit, if the situation was not that grave. The Chinese government is a obsessed with maintaining stability and this major social upheaval become a nightmare. They would leave no stone unturned to crack and restore calm and peace to the region as evidenced with massive reinforcement of troops. If not quelled and resolved this simmering tension between the ethnics and it has the potential to derail China's territorial integrity and topple the communist power. After all it was the ethnic conflicts in former Soviet union that lead to its downfall. Who will win, the Chinese government or the disadvantaged Uighur people? it sound a simple question, but there wont be a correct answer, only time will tell.
I dont know if the exile Tibetan government is making a strategic blunder by not issuing any statement on the events, so does the U.S government. Interestedly, a Chinese professor at Renmin University in Beijing, Shi Yinhong commented " China's foreign ministry officials are smart enough to know the fundamental difference between some human rights organizations, and congress and the us government". But do the Chinese officials make a distinctions between the Dalai lama, exile government, exile parliament and other NGO. It has been China's practise to heap all the blames on Dalai Lama for any "splittist"actions that any exile entities engage in. Or could it be exile government is still creating a conducive environment? and hoping against hope for a dialogue, which i say will be a whimsical dream.