As an Australian Aboriginal Woman I, have so much Empathy for The Tibetan People, our Country has been taken over & We have been displaced & disrespected & like the Tibetans Our Lands drained of resources......So much Greed & Lack of Respect for Fellow Human Beings & Cultures! I Am greatly Saddened by The cruel treatment of My Brothers & Sisters The Tibetan People ..... The Dalai Lama is an Inspirational & Great Example Of Compassion & Respect For All Beings...... FREE ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA & PLEASE FREE TIBET!........Donna Dunggiirr & Family

Donna Dunggiirr, Alice Springs, NT Australia

Dechen,

I think most people know the Epoch Times is a front for the Falungong, hardly an objective or credible news source.

Paul in Florida,

Do you think the US will allow Alaska to hold a vote on Independence? The fact is Tibet has never been recognized as an independent country ever before and after 1950, so it is quite hypocritical to ask China to hold a vote. Afterall, will America or Canada hold a vote for their natives (if any are still left)? No.

Peter, Toulouse

Peter, Toulouse,

If someone came, burned down your home and beat you up, for being of a certain race...would you hope that the authorities would come down hard on the perpetrators.

Who wouldnt?

I believe that the Dalai Llama has to accept some responsibility for this violence, as their spiritual leader, if their spirits are angered to violence over beliefs, then their spiritual leader should accept it is his responsibiloity to temper such spirit, which he has not done.

It is easy to say non violence, but achiieving non violence involves leading people away from any such feelings that might evoke violence, has the Dalai Llama been dong that, or has he made Tibetans feel hard done by?

Clare, Cambridge, UK

Don't know if it is true but the Epoch times which is a Chinese newspaper is saying that PLA has Chinese agents dressed up as Tibetans 'rioting' to show the Tibetans in bad light.

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-3-22/67906.html

Also, they organised the stones which seemed to have appeared magically from thin air. I must admit this is the first time I have seen Tibetans stoning buildings

Dechen, London,

If China is so loved in Tibet, have elections and embarrass the Dali.

If China is so much the victim, let in world media with satellite dishes to report on the Tibetans love and affection with the ethnic cleansing bureaucracy.

Paul in Florida, Florida,

For those who advocate boycotting of China in any form, I admire your courage, but you are very simplistic. Starting from the morning you may throw away your slippers, alarm clocks, underwear, toothbrush, toilet seat, garlic powder, cups, dishes, breakfast table, shirts, pants, eyeglasses, parts of your automoble, lightbulbs, cell phone, basketball, shoes, laptop computer, TV, calculators, pens and pencils, cereals, stereos, chairs, door knobs, traffic lights, etc, etc. At the end of the day, you are a true proletariat and patriot. Thank you and have a nice day!!!

jose, los angeles, USA

Rick of LA: Yes, even though it is subtle, there is a great deal of propaganda and what you'd call censorship in Western media groups, particularly the BBC. Yes, there have been thousands of reports on the situation, but the vast majority of them display a great deal of bias. If you closely study the way they write their reports, you'll find they are deliberately trying to create sympathy for the Tibetans while trying to portray China in as negative a light as possible. All they talk about is the "heavy-handed" tactics of Chinese authorities (which haven't been very heavy-handed at all), and imply that China has no right to have anything at all to do with Tibet (despite the fact that it has been more or less a part of China since the Yuan dynasty and since then has had very few years of total independence, in which they managed to take on the most disgustingly capitalist system imaginable), while ignoring any facts that might create sympathy for the Chinese.

Ruobing Yan, Melbourne, Australia

A communist is just a red nazi

they came
they saw
and they killed

any diffrence

None I can see

knight, aberdeen, UK

Judging from the bias and hatred of comments here, there will never be peace in this world, and China and Asian countries will need to become the superpower. Never be colonized by the white devils ever again. The world belongs to the military power.

Hong L, Singapore,

If you have the ability to join a demonstration in your city, now is the time. There are demonstrations against the barbaric treatment of Tibetans in small countries this week. Get out and support if you care about human rights.

Mark Holmes, Vancouver, Canada

Sutapas of London,

May I suggest you read the book " India's China War" by Professor Neville Maxwell, a well documented book that tells the truth regarding the war between India and China.

Unlike the anti China propaganda that is endlessly being parroted by the righteous western press, this book is unbias.

Hung, kuala lumpur,

for Welch, Chongqing, China

northern irland was mostly settled by english (that will change so maybe we will see a reunification) so it can be understood that it s not independant, but for tibet and china it s not the same culture, not the same religion, ethny.
and for the good old joke about the dalai lama who refuse to stop the slavery, sure the communist china have freed them. so they can t choose their life their religion their rulers.
the freedom in the communist country looks just like the slavery in the old regime, just more bureaucratic and without any culture thanks to the cultural revolution

remy, liverpool,

China is large enough so why occupy TIbet? The US has played the policeman of the world, but only against those weaker than itself. Anybody else, is left to run riot!!!

Matt, Naples, Italy

There was strong media bias within the Western Mass Media (including BBC, CNN) against China. They failed to report the facts, and were deliberately misleading the readers because of polictical reasons.

The monks & Tibetan set fire against shops which burnt innocents alive to death. They armed with axes & hunting knives to have their demonstration, attacking innocents. They were acutually rioters. BBC still said this as "China's oppression of peaful demonstration".

Leung, Hong Kong, China

Isaac Chin, Cerritos, US
You say Tibeteans are given money and economic help. beating someone and taking their freedom and then giving some money still does not make it right? or giving someone money does not give you a right to then supress them. and anyway the money isn't going to and being used by the average tibetian, it goes into developing a tibet for han chinese. you also say they are given freedom to practice religion. Relative to what? I was there last summer. I could feel the tensions as the monks were under. i was visiting a monk for conversation and a uniformed person stood outside and watches us for all 30 minutes, and he is not allowed to close the door or windows so police can look/listen in, the is no one is allowed to have photos or even mention the name of the dalai lama, and their pachen lama is a bejing appointed proxy.
if people in taiwan are all like you, i wish you luck when the PLA march (swim?) in...

J Lee, London, Seoul,

One of the commentators above mentioned about child monks, I think this might be the source of the problem. Tibetan Buddhism has very different practices from other Buddhisms, parents normally send very very young children to the temple for them to learn the religion, who knows what is taught in the temple? I once watched a documentary on TV, and saw some very very young kids in monk costumes studying old religious books, chanting verses in Tibetan, moving theirs heads from left to right, this reminded me of other documentaries about extreme Islamic schools, very similar scenes, young kids studying nothing but religious books. There is nothing wrong to be religious, but young children should get proper education first, to equip them with knowledge to cope with the future life. Tibetan parents should think again to send their young kids to the temples than to primary schools.

Cindy, London,

Andy King - there are just two tiny differences between the situation in the Middle East and Tibet:

1. the US and UK are looking for a way
to get out; China is in Tibet to stay;

2. In the Middle East, the overwhelming majority
of the slaughter has been inflicted by the
population on itself. In Tibet it's been China
that, for fifty years, has been attempting genocide.

I know these are minor quibbles, and will have no effect on your mind-set, but they may give you an inkling of why views such as yours leave some of us reaching for the whiskey bottle..

Ken Leyland, Liverpool, U.K.

I don't understand why China, the victim of the riot, is now portraited as the devil. Don't people see Han Chinese were burnt to death by Tibetan mob.Don't people see Tibetan mob chopping Han Chinese. Loads of Han Chinese were killed for only being Han Chinese.
This is ridiculous to argue Chinese government to let this thing happen.
Imagine China is the father of a family and Tibet is one kid of the family. The father has been giving everything to feed the kid, and giving a room of the house for the kid. Now the kid grows up and cries that other members of the family can not enter the room. Of course, the father will not agree. Then the kid becomes naughty, kicking, slapping, stabbing sisters,brothers, Mum and Dad. Should the father stay away and not disipline the kid?
So, neighbours support father please and be good neighbours.

Tsai, Liverpool, England

The superiority complex (or plain racism) of many Chinese towards minorities is a major cause for the resentment in Tibet and Turkesstan. The Chinese authorities demonstrate a blatant disregard for the culture of other peoples execpt if it can be used to generate cash.

Timur, London,

Sharpen your eyes!what china is doing is so different from what western countries report,as well as the true fact in Tibet. For those who voice "Free Tibet ",ask yourself how much do you know about Tibet before making any comments. Don't be so easily misled by the western media. they are not as objective as they claim. Some photos posted on the internet are fake, some are from India, Nepal, some are trimmed...I would say it is a growing pain.Like the industry revolution first took place in UK, how many people died...At the end everyone will benefit.
We all know who is the brutal country in the world, aggressively attacked other country without any permission from UN, grab oil...Sorry I only mean the authorities. So what's the point of rebuking China? Maybe China is still weak facing western wealthy countries at the moment?

Tony WONG, Hong Kong SAR,

If you want to know the real boundary of historical China, then look at where they built there great walls for 2,000 years. Certainly not on the Nepal border! The Chinese communists have colonized Tibet just like the Japanese colonized manchuria and China. Similarly with the Western Muslim territories as someone has said. The Han Chinese even test their N-bombs in the Muslim regions with large numbers of radiation-induced birth defects amongst the Muslims and all protest suppressed. The Chinese gave Pakistan the blueprint for the nuclear bomb and still occupy Aksai Chin in Kashmir. They have the cheek to even claim Arunachal Pradesh! As a commentator in Times of India said yesterday, India's new national symbol is the Chicken not the Peacock for the brazen kowtowing to the agressive Chinese bullies who do their utmost to destabilize India. As an Indian I am ashamed of the Indian government's appeasement of the Chinese dictatorship. The people of India support the Tibetan freedom!

Sutapas Bhattacharya, London, UK

All the evidence points to the majority of deaths being that of Han Chinese at the hands of Tibetan rioters.
The Chinese response was restrained. The video taken by an Australian tourist clearly shows Tibetans burning shops, cars, beating up innocent bystanders, with armed police not too far away doing nothing.

Yes China was guilty of human rights abuses - they held back the security forces thereby allowing the Tibetan thugs to kill innocent Hans. The armed police should have been sent in a lot earlier and severely dealt to these hooligans.

In the end Tibetans and Han are the same race. We have common origins. It is the West who is trying to stir up problems between us.

Jebe, Hong Kong, China

China seems to be punch drunk with its growing economic and military prowess. We have seen bigger powers fall by the wayside due to their inability to take the religious & linguistic minorities along as equals. They marched into the region in 1950s , killed thousands of Tibetans, drove over a lakh to India, imposed Chinese language on them, denied political & religious rights and flooded the region with Han population. And when the locals protest, they are called "splitters" and Dalai Lama is blamed for the unrest. As long as this repressive policy is pursued, the ethnic fault lines are bound to show up now and then. And China will have to suffer the 'Tibetan ulcer".

M.Srinath Reddy, Hyderabad, India

Kris iyer, Chennai, India
I know Korea didn't remain free from China because of *self* military power. It was US cold war policy decision to pour in US military. Tibet, alas, did not get the same importance in the eyes of Washington.
james Chung, Chengdu, China
and the chinese people in china are seeing...state propaganda? calling the dalai lama for as the plot leader? and you complain one picture is colouring views ?)

J Lee, London, Seoul,

How can one be so ignorant as to claim that the violence is along "ethnic lines" after telling the story of the ethnically-Tibetan traitor in 1988? In 2008 as well, at least one hotel owned by an Tibetans was torched alongside Chinese businesses, reportedly because the owner was considered friendly to the Chinese government. And in Amdo I've heard stories that ethnic-Tibetan government officials have been stoned by protesters for trying to stop the protests.

The Tibetan issue has ALWAYS been about national identity and independence, not race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone loyal to the Chinese state is an enemy to the vast majority of Tibetans. I guarantee that Tibetans would not harm a Chinese person who stood by them in protesting for Tibetan independence.

Rich Felker, Charlottesville, VA, USA

When China first illegally occupied Tibet the world sat by and did nothing ,the constant violation of human rights is reported both by reporters and Tibtians including children monks and nuns who have been on the recieving end the world does nothing.

When are we going to see one of the world leaders stand up and be counted and tell China enough is enough? instead of the pathetic posturing and sympathetic noises we are currently hearing. When are we going to impose sanctions. Is it maybe that because Tibet doesn't have rich oil reserves or anything else the west desires there is a reluctence to get serious with the Chinese?

Rob Maye, Bude,

We, in the West, cry 'Foul!' as China continues it's actions, dictating religious and political leadership, in Tibet, resulting in the death of over 80 civilians.

Meanwhile, US and UK forces aggressively occupy, dictating religious and political leadership, two Middle Eastern countries (no territorial claim whatsoever), resulting in the death of over 80,000 civilians.

Is it us, our politicians or our media that enables such blatant double standards?

Forget Beijing 2008 - perhaps we should be boycotting London 2012?

Andy King, London, England

Why is independent media bloccked from Tibet ?

If Really Tiberians are doing something wrong.. why can't the chinese let independent media into tibet ?

Why should anyone believe the chinese media which is anyhow state controlled like every other social or political outfit in China ?

Tibetiens have their right to freedom. China cannot take away their rights... China has been in this land grab for long

Why are tibetians suppressed without a right to self determination ? a right to self rule ? a right to practice their religion openly ? why shouldn't a tibetian wear the image of the Dalai Lama .. their image of a guru ? a preacher incarnate ?

Why should commies of this world be allowed to DOCTOR our lives and lives of millions according to totally outdated writings of Karl Marx and the like

Democracies and societies around the world need to stand up to China

Down with oppression .. Up with Democracy

e_vinayak, India, India

People don't like other cultures invading and taking over their territory. We know that in the UK

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

Brian McKay, below, says the problem is highly complex, as complex as that between his non-native Canada and its natives. This, I believe, is overstated. It's basically a matter of treating others the way you would like to be treated. Is that so difficult? If so, then that is the result of the hardness of your own heart that comes when you mistreat someone. You lack the conscience that opens up to your own guilt. Now that certainly could be complex. Most likely due to lifetimes of the same behavior. So we might say the complexity lies on the side of the Han Chinese, whose government has deprived them of their ties to the deeper human spirit. Religion is the opiate of the people, said Marxism. While the Tibetans, an exceptionally religious people, have tried desperately to hold onto their religion, the Chinese government has worked hard to obliterate it, thus ensuring the younger generation would have a similar hard-hearted outlook. Now it comes reflected back as their Karma.

Akira Yoshinogawa, Haida Gwaii, Canada

Tibet should be free from the rule of communist regime. Tibet should be free from China. Holy Tibet must be free. I fear, one day these Chinese will eat whole Indian subcontinent- then whole world.

Pankaj, Delhi, India

"China was apparently only a civilized country thousands of years ago. Now it is merely a Communist one." Diana , Arlington, Masschusetts, USA

These days China is about as communist as Texas, probably less. The fact the party retains the title is typical of their doublespeak, where black is white, pollution is progress and everyone who is unhappy is a troublemaker.

Stoatum, London, UK

In know way can anybody believe that the Dala Lama would encourage violence . This alone tells us the Chinese Government are best not believed.

Mike Fenton, Perth, Australia

Yeah I agree it is highly complex, just as complex as the problem between us and the natives. And I am NOT trying to be funny.

Brian McKay, Toronto, Canada

Forcible assimilation is not new for the Han Chinese, Manchu's became a victim after they lost their position as rulers, Mongols are a 10% minority in Inner Mongolia today, Uyghurs, Kazaks and Kyrgyz barely hold majority in Xinjiang where there were less than 1% Han before PLA invasion of 1951 and with the new railway in Tibet the process just got started for Tibet. Communism is an imperial tool of the ethnic Han, just as Marxism was for ethnic Russian in Soviet Union. Breakup of Soviet Union and a similar future for China is what the Han ethnic group dread and is trying to avoid. The Russians have way too much land and resources than they need and not enough population resources to keep minorities under control, that is why they let go. The situation is opposite for Han Chinese, they have too many people and not enough land, "Lebensraum" should ring a bell here. It is one thing to just move in and co-exist, but another to intend to destroy and assimilate, this the world should resist

Ibne Khaldun, Los Angeles, California

Thank you so much, for the first un-biased internet news report on the Tibet situation I have seen so far.

Ruobing, Melbourne, Australia

Several issues here. China's questionable justification in 1949 for the military occupation of Tibet, the cruel destruction of Tibetan monastries ever since, the suppresion of Tibetan culture, open interference in the selection of Tibetan Lamas, (Lamas have been kidnapped and held in solitary confinement) using Tibet's natural resources for other parts of China, with no direct benefit to Tibetans - these and more show that Tibet is a colony of China. Historically, the middle-kingdom had the same relationship with Tibet as it had with Vietnam, Mangolia, Burma and Korea. But except Tibet, all these other countries are independent. Why ? Because unlike Tibet they were military powers. Tibet chose to remain a peaceful, religious entity. It was easy for China to gobble it up. But "digesting" such a meal is not going to be easy. The wider world is on Tibet's side. China will not convince the world of the legitimacy of its rule of Tibet.

Kris iyer, Chennai, India

How long will the United States and other wealthy countries continue to hypocritically sell out the principles of freedom -- free speech, free press, freedom of religion -- so that China can remain our best trade partner? While I am incredibly DEVASTATED at the suffering right now in Tibet, I am THRILLED that finally the West's attention is focused on the crimes of the Chinese government. And this attention and pressure will only increase as the Olympics approach. I'm just hoping that -- despite total government censorship in China, and blackouts of objective news websites -- some news inevitably will seep between the internet and email cracks. Do you know anyone inside China? Email PDFs of news stories to them -- in the name of freedom! FREE TIBET.

A. Bonacker, east hampton, New York

I read this article in defence of my buddhist prala brothers.

It seems such a comfortable thing to do for any western media journalist to just spin out the headline "Tibet" then immediately afterwards the word "jealousy" to portray buddhism and its practitoner monks as no different from anybody else on this planet that there middle wisdom is flawed just like the rest of all the worlds religons, they are human being not gods - suffering people, your observing an ancient race of peaceful people as there tolerence has been finally broken. labelling them as jeolouse people is media ignorance at its finest hour, these are not jealous people - of what ! you write my friend like they are living on some smart housing estate in the middle of london then have gone kicking doors down in the january sales over some fancy settee, what your witnessing my friend is the death of Tibet and its Culture by the chinese - ethnic cleansing for 45 years. open your eyes wider, report the truth.

Bose Wales, Wales , UK

the description of picture 13 is false. The truth is a Han-Chinese ,who was hurt by Tibetan rioters, rescuded by police.

If people wear color glasses, you can not see truth world.

james Chung, Chengdu, China

Hans are only allowed one child while Tibetans 3. Hans pay taxes while Tibetans got billions in welfare every year in Tibetan culture protection,Tibetan language teaching, temple and relic maintenance, among others. Tibetans enjoy greater freedom and autonomy than Hans themselves. They have been treated far better than the Indians, the blacks, the latinos or any other minorities in the US by the whites. So why is this cry of oppression by the western media?

I am of Taiwanese origin, and I always know that Tibet is part of China for centuries, and more than a millenium since it began to a part under the Chinese umbrella as a tributary. So it's strange to hear the western media counting the Tibetan history only since 1959.

It's even more strange that the Chinese government continued to 'dialogue' and 'negotiate' with Dalai Lama. If Dalai Lama wants to contribute to Tibet's development, he ought to present himself as an agent of the Chinese people, and for the Chinese people.

Isaac Chin, Cerritos, US

Chinese sensorship to this level clearly indicates that they have something to hide.The Chinese government who is so used to suppressing whoever is standing up to their own right as a human being can't stand the presence of media questioning their integrity.The Chinese however can't suppress the international media the way they suppressed Tibetan in their own land, so it all came down to complete shutdown of media Tibet.And inside they roam free with the mask off and killing people for standing up and questioning the unwelcome authority.
It is outrageous how the Chinese people can take all these sensorship when they have the right to hear the story from a third party besides beijing controlled newspaper.If chinese people have real guts, they should ask this question first. However, i have a feeling that they are scared too of this regime.China is number 1in population but very few people have the 21st century thinking.I think it is time for Chinese to be a democratic country.Peace.

tenzin, new york city, united state

To R.C.Mcdonald
You must done your homework under Chinese watch
ONE WORLD
ONE DREAM
FREE TIBET...STOP BEIJING'S GENOCIDE GAME SHOW

tenzin, new york city, united state

Tibet was Independent. There are legal proof and written history.
The International Commission of Jurists' Legal Enquiry Committee on Tibet reported in its study on Tibet's legal status:
Tibet demonstrated from 1913 to 1950 the conditions of statehood as generally accepted under international law. In 1950, there was a people and a territory, and a government which functioned in that territory, conducting its own domestic affairs free from any outside authority. From 1913-1950, foreign relations of Tibet were conducted exclusively by the Government of Tibet, and countries with whom Tibet had foreign relations are shown by official documents to have treated Tibet in practice as an independent State.
The Tibetan people undoubtedly possess the right to self- determination, by virtue of which Tibetans have the right to determine their political status and their economic, social and cultural development.

tsultrim Wangchuk, New York, USA

This is the first report I've read that presented a more balanced view on the tibetan conflict that's going on right now. There has not been a lack of media coverage over this issue however the western world's anti-communist sentiment persists in all those other articles. The vicious attack on innocent Han Chinese people and Hui Muslims that resulted in a large number of injuries, even deaths and damages to properties by tibetan protesters is never mentioned anywhere. People might argue that there is a cause for these disgusting actions, but i think it's very hypocritical that titles such as ' peace/freedom-loving people' are kept used in referring to those protesters. Their actions really does not make them any holier than the communist government.

Alicia, Sydney, Australia

Anyone who is serious about engaging this issue should read actual studies on Tibet and China instead of the ignorant analysis of the media.

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1718/17180040.htm
http://cc.purdue.edu/~wtv/tibet/history.html#iif07
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Here is something about Dalai, but the source is not as reliable as the three above, judge for yourself.
http://www.cloakanddagger.de/home%20page%20items/Hitler%20and%20the%20Dalai%20Lama.htm

thrawn, NYC, USA

The Chinese said essentially the same thing over every Vietnamese upraising over the past 4000 years. Their policy was, and always will be, what territory they declare to be Chinese is just that. Tough luck to the inhabitants of said lands.

Vinnie Lam, Melbourne, Australia

stan, phoenix, arizona, usa

i hope u know that modernisation comes at the expense of cultural freedom, any high school kid whoes got an idea of geography will tell u that.

Eddie, Sydney, Australia

In "Tibet: how jealousy, rage and bitterness of a new generation fuelled deadly riots" Macartney writes that "Beijing has poured billions of dollars into the region over the past three decades" without noting that most of China's investment in Tibet – like the railway, which facilitates the deployment of military force, the migration of Chinese settlers, and the exploitation of natural resources – has focused on colonizing the country, not uplifting Tibetans. And when she writes that "The latest unrest has shown that Beijing needs to do more than restrict religion, vilify the Dalai Lama and throw money at the problem," I began to wonder if Ms. Macartney was implying that those things are a good start. What she misses is that what she calls "ethnic hatred" is rooted in the fact that most Tibetans continue to see the Chinese as occupiers who have been engaged in a decades-long assault on Tibetan culture and religion, or what the Dalai Lama referred to as "cultural genocide" this week.

han shan, new york, usa

To T K Eng from LA, Should the west stop buying crude oil from some the Arab States too since their policies towards "homosexual, women, religion and minorities' can also be said as "barbaric and unacceptable in a modern age?' Then I wonder, without Middle East's oil and China's cheap manufactures, who's going to support American's economy so you guys can have spare time to meddle with other's affair

And a comment on the phrase 'culture genocide' too: For ten years in Australia I have never seen a aboriginal youth roaming the street naked with a digeredoo on his back. They wear t-shirt, jeans and listen to ipod just like the rest. Would you say the Australia gov has committed 'culture genocide' ? I think it has something more to do with the word "globalisation' and the CCP is certainly not responsible for it. If those Tibetan youth feel so strongly about preserving their culture, why don't they wear traditional costume everyday, boycott any han chinese food and pursue a nomad life?

Lucy, Melbourne, Australia

Having been in Lhasa for some time only a few months ago, I'm pleased to read what seems like the first accurate and thoughtful article on the current unrest. The advances in Tibet and the investments by China have been remarkable and admirable. The attacks against the Chinese in Lhasa were foolish acts that have likely harmed the opportunities for Tibetians to partake more fully in the advances that have taken place. The clueless reactions by many Westerners, as well as the sad manipulation by the Dalai Lama, have not helped.

Tony, Washington DC, USA

No one can do much about history running its course. I used to think it is entirely the fault of the Communists, but now I see it differently. Even if the Communists didn't take over in 1949, history would have unfolded in a similar way. Just as the Anglo-Saxons who drove the native Americans, Canadians, and Australians to near extinction, and just as the Spanish who destroyed the entire South and Central American culture and assimilated its people, just as the Russians who exiled the native Chinese residents of Vladivostok (Haishenwai), Blagovischensk (Hailanpao), and Khabarovsk (Boli) to Siberia and turned them into Russian cities, the same history is happening in the Chinese frontier, only not as bloody.

Just as the West slowly destroyed Chinese culture starting with opium, free trade (1900 Siege of Beijing), communism, and the market economy, the Han in turn tried to export the same ideas to its ethnic minorities.

"The Prime Directive" -- that's the real debate!

Mike, St. Louis, USA

As Northern ireland is a part of UK, Tibet is a part of China.
Before 1959, the socia system in Tibet is slavery, Dalai Lama opposed to abolish the slavery at Tibet, so he fled from Tibet to India, after 1959, the socia system in Tibet is socialist system.

Welch, Chongqing, China

Re: Elaine - somehow I dont think this is about how the Chinese Government want to be seen abroad, infact, if anything it is about how the gov sell their policies to their own people.

You may be suprised to hear this, but in general chinese government policies are pretty representative of the han population. Suprisingly, democracy wouldnt change much there. If you dont beleive me - then have a chat to any passing chinese student.

It is strong han chinese characteristic that people do not like to protest. This has come from 200years of internal conflict - "better to say nothing and dont rock the boat."

When it comes to religion and politics, it is not that the gov are telling employees to give up their religion, it is that they dont want politics and religion to mix. There are many gov officials who practise their religion, but they know that they cannot confuse work with beliefs. We all know what dangers happen when religion is confused with politics: 911, middleeast, etc, etc

Rob, Swansea, UK

"Lack of media coverage" ??? Are you insane?
The only way there could me more coverage is if we were all given personal tour guided tours to Tibet by CNN/MSNBC/ABC.

Interesting when you speak of media coverage that you don't mention the communists who have declared marshal law and kicked all journalists out.

"Censorship" in the Western media?! You have lost me...

Rick, Los Angeles, CA, USA

The truth of the matter is that Tibet is part of China. I have done my homework. Tibet wants to be a "break-away country". It may be that Tibet wants to become a second Vatican. Having been raised a devout catholic I say this without hesitation. The Pope and the Dalai Lama are religious trouble makers. Too many rules are broken today in the name of religion. I don't want to do this or that because of my religion, that is the story. I say too bad, here is an example: Individuals didn't want to fight the 2nd World War because of religion. So everyone else had to fight it for them, WHY? It doesn't make sense to me. Why should my son or daughter or husband or wife fight a war for some religious person. Burma has had a dictator in power for decades, who is looking after their people?

R.C. McDonald, Enderby, B.C.,

The monks oppose the Chinese because they have gutted their religion. The Panchen lama was selected by Beijing technocrats with no religious understanding. In fact, they probably view religion as superstition. But Tibet has one of the few living traditions on the planet, by which I mean there are still realized beings in their tradition. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism lost all realization in their traditions centuries ago. The people of Tibet are very pious, in a profound and humble sense. During the Tang and Sung dynasties, the Chinese too had a living buddhist tradition, but they have lost it.

There was a documentary called A Year in Tibet on BBC4. They showed the Panchen lama visiting a monastery in Tibet and it is clear he has no realization. He dwells in Beijing surrounded by political toadies instead of in a spiritual community striving for enlightenment. Really sad for the Tibetan people.

Maybe some way will be found to bridge the differences and allow the Tibetan people to gain the benefits of technology while retaining their spirituality.

stan, phoenix, arizona, usa

As one born and raised in a multi-ethnic society in Southeast Asia, I can vouch for the fact that Chinese community was hated and detested not just for their economic dominance in a predominantly non-Chinese country, but also for their ethnocentrism. Let us face it. Chinese are ethnocentric and their psyche is rooted in the "middle kingdom" syndrome. Professor Hilman is right about one thing. Chinese are very industrious and good traders, better than most communities in the world and they do well economically as a minority community all over the world. But the core issue is not economic dominance over the majority community. It is ethnocentricism, not addressed by Prof. Hilman. One reason why Chinese in many Asian countries have been forcibly through laws to assimilate. In Tibet, the majority Tibetans do not have that luxury of forcible assimilation of the Chinese through laws. It is a tragedy of unimaginable proportions for Tibetans that is unforlding before our own eyes.

Ananda, Washington, DC, USA

Tibet for the Tibetans! There is no other way! If the Chinese feel it necessary to force their way of life on true Tibetans, who want nothing more than to follow their deeply rooted Buddhist faith to the book in their country, in their life, in the realm of markets, law, environment- Then the Tibetans have EVERY right to recognize the Chinese as a cancer that is threatening their way of life.

England tried to take over Ireland. Look at what happened. The same thing is happening in Tibet.

This is an declaration of war by Tibetan youth against Chinese rule. OF COURSE Chinese online chatters have to show their support. God forbid they offend their officials, who are undoubtedly monitoring conversations.

Glen Parrish, north vancouver, canada

The Chinese Communist Par (CCP) runs in the same vein as Nazi Germany. They oppress homosexuals, ethnic and religious minorities, and anyone who dares to speak up. The west must act now to stop trading with Communist China. Let the Chinese people know that the CCP's policies are barbaric and unacceptable in this modern day and age. Problem is, most Chinese are pretty brainwashed and eats up everything the CCP feeds them. China's blind patriotism and nationalism is a threat to the stability of the world.

T K Eng, Los Angeles, USA/CA

The Chinese Govt. has used emigration of ethnic Han chinese to swamp Tibet. This is cultural genocide.

So China is a source of cheap manufacture? Don't forget the Chinese have done this before; and will do it again; this time using their accumulated foreign currency balances and their stranglehold on cheap (poisoned?) manufactured products. Products for which the West provided the technology without cost.

Abdallah Thani, Doha, Qatar,

Many countries seem to agree that Tibet is a beautiful culture, with an inspiring leader. Yet it seems peaceful resistance has failed, and Chinese oppression is destroying this by turning the repressed into violent reactionaries?

Are European countries and America are scared of denouncing China because it is such an important and powerful economy, driving growth in their own economies?

Mark, London, UK

All they need to do is ask, who's behind communism/capitalism as a despotic systems, who finances them and what mid-eastern ideology do they flow from? At that point, and only that point, seeing their real enemy, will the divide and concur ploys cease to be effective.

LtC, Atlanta, Georgia

I'm from New Zealand. It really hurts to see and hear all the drama unfold from way down here. It's so obvious the media in China are masking the real truth, and there will be many injustices done to the Tibetans from the Chinese - behind closed doors.
But - what can we actually do about it?
Thats the most frustrating thing - I am actually powerless am i not?
Derek

Derek, auckland, New Zealand

Hey "Joel" (I doubt that is your real name): if China in Tibet is like the US in Hawaii, why don't the Tibetans own all of Tibet, including all of TAR and much of Qinghai and parts of Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan? You do know that Hawaiians are the only landholders in Hawaii?

You Chinese propaganda office people are all the same. And you just might cost China the Olympics!

Long Dong, Vancouver, BC

China was apparently only a civilized country thousands of years ago. Now it is merely a Communist one.

Diana , Arlington, Masschusetts, USA

It's so easy to see what one wants to see. There's a riot. The Tibetan gov-in-exile sees the people wants autonomy and the Dalai Lama; the radical factions of the Tibetan youth see people are fighting for independence; the Western world sees peaceful protests and violent crackdown by the Chinese government furnished with pictures and video of Nepal and Indian police.

What China is doing is no different from what US did in Hawaii. There's a growing pain, sometimes gross injustice. But hopefully everyone will benefit at the end.

Politicizing and meddling with this situation is not prudent policy, as it will only alienate the majority of Chinese and instigate more hatred and violence.

Joel, San Diego, US

I feel the western world does not really understand the reasons behind the conflict. This is partially to do with lack of media coverage or censorship, or western societies' lack of interest. Ethnic diversity is so common today ,that unfortunately, we can turn a blind eye! Forcing the Tibetan people to denounce the Dalai Lama is humiliating and a breech of their human rights. It also will only add fuel to the fire. Is is not enough that Tibetan civil servants cannot practise their religion freely? The Chinese Government seem to be more concerned about how this looks to the rest of the world, than trying to come to peaceful negotiations. As usual the rest of the world looks on from our ivory towers!

Elaine Carey, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland