Aimed at the wrong target

First it was Baroness Ashton, on behalf of the European Union. Then came Hugo Swire, British foreign office minister.

They expressed "serious" worries about the "human rights situation" in China's Tibet, the self-immolations in particular.

They have also displayed a "balance" in their respective statements. They are appealing for both the "Chinese authorities" and "Tibetans" and "their community and religious leaders" to play a role in stopping self-immolations, though they ignored the efforts of local officials and communities to prevent such tragedies.

But such "balance" is not fair at all, because it is based on a human rights picture in Tibet that stands facts on their head.

The self-immolations that have occurred in Tibetan-inhabited areas were not spontaneous acts of "protest against Chinese rule" as Dharamsala's self-claimed organization and its sympathizers have portrayed them to be.

As was obvious in the latest such case busted in Sichuan province, some of the immolations were proved to have been carried out at Dharamsala's very behest. "Hopeless Tibetans setting themselves on fire out of despair under Han Chinese rule" is a cruel message Dharamsala has concocted with the lives of innocent Tibetans.

Ashton and Swire's statements are simply aimed at the wrong target because it has been Dharamsala that has been inciting such suicidal actions, in a covert but merciless manner that has been proved beyond doubt.

Unless Dharamsala exercises restraint, and shows true respect for the lives of believers in Tibetan Buddhism, there will be no end to such tragedies.

The real problem now is that both religious believers and their sympathizers, especially teenagers, have been brainwashed by Dharamsala-directed teachings. The latter is using the tragic loss of life as a stepping stone to power, taking advantage of the Dalai Lama's religious influence.

Talking about principles of human rights, both Ashton and Swire, as well as the institutions they represent, should regret the statements they have made on Tibet, because the lives average Tibetans are leading today are so different from the stereotypes in their heads.

And, we can proudly assure them that the regional autonomy the Chinese Constitution stipulates for minority-inhabited regions cannot be more genuine in Tibet.

The miserable Tibet that Dharamsala has built exists only in the lies they spread and in the tragedies they create.

(China Daily 12/21/2012 page8)