December 2009 / January 2010 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

sources emphasize the submission of kneeling
here, whilst Tibetan sources emphasize the lack
of the kowtow.
In 1950, the PRC invaded Tibet, in an attempt
to liberate it from the ruling Tibetan government,
which held the despotic rule of aristocracy and
monasteries in power, rejecting any form of
modernization, at the expense of 95% of Tibetans
of the population who lived like ‘serfs’ in a feudal
serfdom or “hell on earth”. Except from a very thin
top layer in society, Tibetans had no mentionable
access to education, care, democracy, media, and
lived in primitive conditions. Mao Zedong stated
that the decision to unite Tibet into the PRC was
done to achieve ethnic equality and to “free
Tibetans from imperialist oppression”.
Tibetan sources however describe the
people in the same period as happy, content, and
devoted to Buddhism. It is a religious devotism
which clearly finds a different interpretation in
Marxist / communist ideology. Is religion a freedom
or a means of oppression?
In any case, one year after the invasion, the
PRC and Tibetan representatives both signed and
ratified the “Seventeen Point Agreement for the
Peaceful Liberation of Tibet”, in which Tibet is an
autonomous region within the Chinese sovereignty,
and recognition of the Dalai Lama and of the
Panchen Lama. However, Tibetan leaders later
contended this treaty, as it was signed under
pressure (the PRC had 20.000 troupes waiting at
the border)
The Tibet territory has always been under
debate. Two provinces (Xikang and Qinghai) that
were excluded from the treaty, revolted when
they faced the Chinese land redistribution policies.
This 1957 upraise was forcefully suppressed by
the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, allegedly
not shy of brutal torture. The number of freedom
fighters grew rapidly, receiving American support,
leading to the summit in the Lhasa uprising of
1959. A gathering of 30.000 people at the Dalai
Lama’s palace was dramatically shelled with PLA
artillery. Some reports estimate the casualties in
all the conflicts as much as 85.000. Clearly, the
Chinese ‘peaceful liberation of Tibet’ had gone
terribly wrong and was widely condemned. Various
countries and committees openly disapproved,
and the UN General Assembly condemned China
for “violations of fundamental human rights
of the Tibetan people” in 1959, 1961 and 1965
resolutions.
Following the defeat, the Dalai Lama fled to
India, and formed a government-in-exile. The PRC
sees the continued western support to the Dalai
Lama, the government-in-exile and resistance
movements as a threat to Chinese territorial
integrity, sovereignty and stability.
Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin
Gyatso, better known as the 14 th Dalai Lama, was
born in 1935 and proclaimed the tulku or rebirth
of the 13 th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
Since the invasion, reports on the situation are
quite contradictory. Chinese sources claim rapid
progress for prosperous, free, and happy Tibetans
participating in democratic reforms. Tibetans,
on the other hand, call the PRC rule illegitimate,
motivated solely by the natural resources and
strategic value of Tibet. They say the Chinese
feel superior to the Tibetans, using assimilationist
policies and even genocide, aimed at destroying
Tibet’s distinct ethnic makeup, culture, and
identity, thereby cementing it as an indivisible
part of China. So far there has been no open and
free election under Chinese rule yet.
The current policy of the Dalai Lama, is that
he does not seek full independence for Tibet,
but would accept Tibet as a genuine autonomous
region within the People’s Republic of China, under
the democratic condition of freedom of speech
and expression and genuine self-rule.
The Human Rights Watch World Report 2008
reports on Tibet: “Widespread and numerous
instances of repression target ordinary citizens,
monks, nuns, and even children in an effort to
quash alleged ‘separatism’.” The examples given
are those arrests of protestors, political graffitiwriters,
and others unsolicited expressions of
opinion.
Today, the Tibet government in exile is not
recognized by any government in the world.
The territory is part of China. However, various
governments and international institutions do
support the social and cultural activities organized
by the government-in-exile.
At this point I notice I have been living in
Singapore for too long. I think to myself: yeah lah,
but if you write politically loaded graffiti slogans
on a public wall, organize a protest, or loudly
voice an opinion in conflict with the government,
or expect open and free elections, obviously you
will be arrested and imprisoned or caned. But is
this normal?
Both parties seem to have point, whether the
Dalai Lama kowtowed or not. But I think my good
father was right. Better not raise the subject at
the dinner table. Especially not with Chinese
business prospects.
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Vol.19 • No. 10 • December 2009 / January 2010