No more "Tibet card", leave Tibetans alone

Tibet is a tranquil land in nature, but the holy abode has never been politically left in peace for over a century because of Western intervention.

Falling prey to coveting Western colonists at the end of the 19th century, the roof of the world, though isolated by its high altitude and adverse natural environment, could not escape a barbarous invasion by British troops in 1904.

Scars left by merciless invaders--bullet holes on the doors andwalls of lamaseries and ruins of castles--still remain.

Gone are the days when Tibet would fall victim to Western bullies with the end of the colonial era, but a century after the British invasion, the land is still being played as a "card" by some to serve their own good. The most recent example of the card game is the United States' Report on Tibet Negotiations.

As an interference into China's internal affairs, the report, though in the disguise of pushing forward negotiations between theChinese government and the Dalai Lama, serves only two purposes: winning popularity and votes for politicians from the public who are misled on the so-called Tibet issue; and containing China as part of America's human rights diplomacy.

What should be made clear is that foreign intervention into Tibet in history was the very root of the so-called Tibet issue. According to studies by Tibetan researcher Ngagwang Cering, there was no such a word as "independence" in Tibetan vocabulary before the British invasion.

As the Tibetan researcher noted, the concept of "independence of Tibet" was nothing but a product of British intrigue to alienate Tibet from China for its own strategic interest in central Asia in its colonial competition with tsarist Russia.

The current Western intervention, in whatever form it might take, has complicated the Tibet issue. Though no nation in the world officially admits the independence of Tibet, the Nobel PeacePrize, foreign leaders' meeting and parliament speech chances given to the Dalai Lama and reports like the recent American one all might fan the flames of the arrogant dream for independence ofthe Dalai Lama and his followers.

Another thing that should never be forgotten is that the US Central Intelligence Agency helped train a guerrilla force for Tibetan insurgents first in Taiwan and then in Colorado in late 1950s. Dubbed in modern terminology, the guerrilla force well deserve the title of terrorists, which at present America hates most. Fortunately, America stopped the dangerous program in the 1970s or the Tibet issue would become more troublesome today.

The Dalai Lama seemed to have reaped a third party benefit fromforeign intervention into the Tibet issue. The "god king" known toWesterners, who kept obscure on the world stage in the early yearsafter he left Tibet, has in recent years gained great popularity and become an icon in Western countries for his advocacy of peace and tolerance.

Any other gain for him? As long as the countries still admit that Tibet is part of China, the Tibet issue will remain a card, and only a card but nothing else, in the hands of Western politicians.

However, innocent Tibetan people are hurt and the tranquil landis remains disturbed by foreign intervention.

Only when one sees himself the arduousness of a Tibetan traveler who makes his way on rugged roads by foot on a bare mountain can he realize how important development is for Tibet.

Regrettably, it seems that few development project plans, from the gigantic Qinghai-Tibet Railway to the renovation of Lhasa's old residential area, can escape criticism from the West. These criticisms are not related to the projects' own merits or weaknesses, but on political purpose.

In the words of an American NGO leader Pamela Logan, US policy on Tibet has been "handicapped" by a voting and vocal public who have never heard the whole story of Tibet but "have been conditioned to believe that the Chinese are utterly opposed to anysort of Tibetan cultural or economic advancement."

Many Westerners admire the mystery and the tranquillity of Tibet. But the holy land will not be left in peace as long as the Tibet issue is kept unsolved and Western countries continue to intervene into the issue. Western countries should no more play Tibet as a "card" so as to leave Tibetans alone.

Undoubtedly, the Dalai Lama is a key figure in the Tibet issue.He chose to leave the country himself over 40 years ago. Whether and when he can come back depends on his own sincerity. No foreignreport on "Tibet negotiation" can help.

It is strange enough that no one who claims to be concerned with the rights and interests of Tibetan people has demonstrated agood memory of the history of the British invasion into Tibet.

Source: Xinhua