DRUGCHU DZONG LANDSLIDE: MAN-MADE CATASTROPHE

by Tenzin Lekshay, 12 August 2010

On 08 August, a disastrous landslide triggered by rain in Drugchu Dzong, (Zhougu) near Lhabrang Tashi Kyil of Amdo's Kanlho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province killed more than a thousand with plus 600 missing beneath the rubbles and solid muds. Chinese President Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao visited the spot to condole and inspect the disaster swamped by this killer landslide. Even the exile Tibetan Government based in Dharamshala sent their condolences and grievances to the bereaved surviving members and had hold a special prayer sessions for the departed souls.

Everyday, we get some updates about the death tolls and the casualties but we did not really look at the causes of this deadly landslide. Neither we know whether such kind of landslides will occur in the future. It is critical to understand the hidden reality of what is exactly happening inside Tibet, since more and more of calamities and disasters happen incessantly one after another. When the wounds of recent Kyegudo earthquake heals silently, Tibet was shocked by yet another debacle.

To get a clear picture of this landslide, we need to dwell into its cause and effect; i.e. its historical and geographical background, and the governmental policies and roles. Otherwise, with no knowledge of what is happening in Tibet, we might cry and accuse mother nature for causing a collosal damages inside Tibet.

Background of Drugchu Dzong:

Drugchu Dzong in Kanlho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province is the eastern tip of Tibetan county in China, located at 104.5 degree E longitude. it is elivated at the height of 2,500-3,500 meters, covering over 2,983 square kilometers. Chinese political administrative boundaries recognized it as within a Tibetan periphery when they created the boundaries in 1949. But historically, Tibetan settlements extend further north beyond Minzian and south towards Wenxian until the end of Mongol era. Drugchu Dzong is demarcated by Minshan range in the south along the Sino-Tibetan borders, and upper Min river watershed in the east. Earlier in 1954, Drugchu was carved out of Dangchang, Min and Wudu counties as Zhouqu County, which is named after the Tibetan name of Bailong River that flows in the middle of Drugchu county town.

CHINA’S GO WEST: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

by Tenzin Lekshay, 11 August 2010

Since the inception of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the Communist Party of China (CCP), the self proclaimed helm and the savior of millions of proletarian and the campesino has drastically switched their formulae from socialism to Capitalism. But the core program of the CCP still remains vibrant in a multi faced approaches of expanding the Middle Kingdom which not only focus on capturing or claiming territorial rights, but also pushing forward dumping its large Chinese population else where in the world. I shall focus on the second issue that deals with the Migration of Chinese populace, both internally as well as externally spreading all over the world.

My hypothesis on Chinese migration is based on 'push n pull' factors of Migrational theory which in Chinese case is simply both formulated or unformulated factors which concerns with the governmental policy. The overwhelming shift in the demographic composition within China and other countries with the preempt flows of Chinese emigrants has both win and lose implication in China.

Even before the rise of CCP, the Nationalist Government of China under the rule of Kuomintang went on charting for the reunification of China. The situation then was troublesome with the clusters of events occurred in China, i.e Japanese attacks, civil wars with the Communist and the foreign imperialists' exploitations and intrusions.

The concept of Middle Kingdom "zhōngguó" originated during the reign of Zhou dynasty (1045-256 BC) was later misinterpreted with the political overtone of carrying out the expansionistic drive along the far end neighbours. PRC earlier claimed in their initial white paper on Tibet that Tibet was part of China since 7th Century, which infact was not historically true. The concept of Middle kingdom varied over the ages as the Great wall of China, a fortress built and maintained since 5 BC to protect the Chinese empire in the northern border is currently located in the middle of China, which in one end of the mighty gate is located within proximity of Tibet's border in northeast.

During the early years of CCP rule, in the name of 'liberation', around 40,000 PLA troops launched their attack at the eastern ghat of Tibet in Chamdo and defeated the meager Tibetan troops after a round of 21 battles till 19 October 1950.

Tenzin Nyinjey: A letter to the Editors of Tibetan political review, after reading Reflections on Tethong/Sangay Debate

While I appreciate the editorial critiquing and analyzing the 'traditional' and 'modern' approaches of the two potential Kalon Tripa candidates, Tenzin Namgyal Tethong and Lobsang Sangay, towards securing power and serving our people, I felt somehow the editors are biased against Lobsang Sangay. I feel the members of the editorial board 'misinterpreted' or 'misunderstood' Sangay when he invoked great leaders like Songtsen Gampo, Alexander, Abraham Lincoln and others, to support his argument that 'experience' is not the key to run for the highest political position.

Experience in this context, according to Lobsang Sangay, means one doesn't necessarily needs to have an experience of serving for a long time in a bureaucratic organization, in the Tibetan civil service; it no way means one doesn't need any experience concerning the Tibetan freedom struggle and the Tibetan movement as a whole.

Of course Lobsang Sangay has never served as a member of Parliament, unlike Obama and others, who were senators or lawmakers before going on to assume the highest political office, but he did serve on the Central Executive Committee of the Tibetan Youth Congress, which ideally and principally and practically fights for Tibetan independence, and which serves as a de facto opposition party in the exile Tibetan society. And that is enough experience to assume the highest political office of the Tibetan government in exile. In other words, in our society, experience as MP (Chitue) is not a prerequisite to run for the Kalon Tripa post.

Knowledge or shes yon (pronounced and spelled yon not yun) indeed is the key; one needs to know, understand and realize the Tibetan freedom struggle as a whole, our current difficult situation, our existential struggle against the Chinese, and I think Sangay knows it quite well, not because he has a doctorate from Harvard, but because he reads and quotes the works of luminaries like Vaclav Havel, Gandhi, Mandela and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And moreover, education gives you pride, confidence and skills necessary to secure one's goals. Alas most of our Chitues don't read books, apart from newspapers like Dusbab, Bangchen and Sheja.

And I agree with the editors that a common man might think he's arrogant when he invoked all these great leaders, but that's not what he implies. What he implies and thus needs to be stressed by the editorial board, which you have failed to do so, is that by referring to these leaders Sangay is just enunciating all the qualities a leader requires to lead his people towards freedom and independence: charisma, knowledge, inspiration, values, courage and so on!

And that's what Tibetans, not just the leaders, but every Tashi, Dolma and Tenzin, every 'ordinary' Tibetan needs if we are to regain our independence: inspiration, knowledge, values, courage etc.

I agree at times due to his relatively young age, due to his 'inexperience', Lobsang Sangay does crosses his line and thus appears naive, condescending, and even arrogant, as for instance when differentiating the category of leaders and administrators, he said: a leader doesn't need the experience of a manager or administrator, such as keeping the records of pens and [files]. Lobsang Sangay must know that a manager or a higher Tibetan civil servant plays a much bigger and more important role than storing books and pencils. Having said this, I think Lobsang Sangay is smart and open enough to learn from such mistakes, such show of naivety, if we care to point them out sincerely and openly.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely

Tenzin Nyinjey
New York
USA