The Chinese Anger

(Based on the writer's visit to Shanghai from May 6 to 9,2008, for adiscussion on the "Beijing Olympics & Security" )

Why anger?

Because of what the Tibetans did in Lhasa on March 14,2008, when there waslarge-scale violence directed at the Han Chinese and their property andthereafter in other Tibetan-inhabited areas outside the Tibet autonomous region.

Because of what the Chinese perceive and allege as the role played by theDalai Lama, the Dharamsala-based Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and some membersof the Tibetan diaspora in the West in instigating this violence.

Because of the alleged role played by Western--particularly American -- humanrights activists and non-governmental organisations such as the US-basedNational Endowment for Democracy (NED),the Germany-based Neumann Stiftung(Foundation) and the France-based "Reporters Without Frontiers" ininstigating, funding and encouraging this violence.

Because of what the Chinese indignantly describe as the baseless allegationsdisseminated by the Dalai Lama, his advisers and the TYC regarding large-scaledeaths of Tibetans during firing by the Chinese security forces in Lhasa andcultutal genocide in Tibet.

Because of what the Chinese describe as a mischievous, motivated andone-sided projection of the events by most of the Western media.

They do not hesitate to call the Dalai Lama, the TYC and their supporters asa pack of dishonest liars who have learnt the techniques of disinformation fromtheir Western--particularly American-- supporters and funders.

They point out that while nearly 20 Hans were brutally killed by Tibetan mobson March 14,2008--with some of them burnt alive-- there was not a singleinstance of retaliatory killing of Tibetans by the Hans. Even according to theDalai Lama's version, the Tibetans who were killed died in the action taken bythe security forces to quell violence by the Tibetan mobs and not at the handsof Han civilians, who, it is said, conducted themselves with great restraintdespite the Tibetan attacks on them.

All sections of the Chinese one met were outraged that while the Westernmedia played up what the Chinese describe as the baseless stories of the DalaiLama's set-up, they blacked out the version of the Chinese Government.

Surprise was expressed over the fact that even large sections of the Indianmedia and analysts mainly accepted the Western and the Dalai Lama's versions,and ignored the Chinese Government's version or played it down.

The Dalai Lama--who is contemptuously referred to as Dalai or as the head ofthe Dalai clique-- is the most distrusted and disliked figure in China. He isseen as a double-dealer, as a man who says one thing, but does another, whokeeps changing his position frequently depending on the prevailingcircumstances.

According to them, the Dalai Lama openly talks of autonomy, but secretly asksthe TYC to fight for independence, openly preaches non-violence, but secretlyasks the TYC to take to violence, openly supports the holding of the Olympics inBeijing, but secretly asks the TYC to co-operate with Western--particularlyAmerican--human rights groups in sabotaging it.

How can we seriously deal with a person like him, who does not inspireconfidence and trust, they ask. They are outraged by his demand for a GreaterTibet by merging in Tibet other Tibetan-inhabited areas of China, which do notnow form part of the Tibet autonomous region and rule out even discussing thiswith him.

It is apparent that while they might be prepared to talk with therepresentatives of the Dalai Lama about his own future as the leader of theTibetan Buddhists, they might not be prepared to discuss with him the future ofTibet. They dismiss firmly any suggestions for a Hong Kong or Taiwan stylestatus for Tibet under the one country, two systems formula. They seem tosuspect that the Dalai Lama's strategy is to come back to Tibet under anagreement with the Chinese, re-assume his political role and create aTaiwan-like situation by introducing a multi-party liberal democracy on theIndian model.

The TYC is widely seen as a terrorist organisation no different from Al Qaedaor the Islamic Movement of East Turkestan or the Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam (LTTE). They claim to have captured arms and ammunition from thepossession of TYC supporters in Tibet. The argument that the Dalai Lama is agood man, a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, a charismatic religious personalityand has had no role in the radicalisation of the TYC falls on deaf ears.

There is appreciation of the stand taken by the government of India that itwould not allow the Dalai Lama's set-up to indulge in anti-Chinese activitiesfrom Indian territory and of the measures taken by the government to ensure asafe passage for the Olympic Flame through New Delhi.

At the same time, one could discern an air of puzzlement over what isapparently perceived as the inaction of the government of India against the TYC--particularlysome American nationals of Tibetan origin, who now seem to dominate itspolicy-making and activities.

The Olympic flame has been successfully taken to the top of the Everest. Itis proposed to be taken across the Tibetan-inhabited areas, including Tibet, inthe third week of June. If there is a fresh outbreak of violence during thatperiod, one should not be surprised if the Chinese authorities take up with theGovernment of India the question of arresting and extraditing to China thosewhom they might perceive as the ring leaders of the TYC-sponsored violence.

B. Raman is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. ofIndia, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies,Chennai. He is also associated with the Chennai Centre For China Studies.