Issue of Tibet: A post modern perspective!

Tenzin Nyinjey

There was a time when reality was considered absolute, not just in physical sciences but even in social sciences as well. The evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin in natural sciences, and that of Karl Marx in sociology in the way societies develop in linear fashion from stages of primitive, to feudal, to capitalist, to socialist and finally to communist states are the two prime examples. Such a predominant and single conception of an ultimate reality created its own share of human tragedies on our earth, as is evidenced by the massive destruction of World Wars I and II and more so in its aftermath in so-called communist states.

Then came Albert Einstein, who changed the dynamics of scientific reality - the way we look at and perceive it with his theory of relativity. According to him, even physical reality can be multiple depending on the observer’s physical context.

Einstein’s conclusion about reality is similar to the one propounded by post-modernist writers in literature and the arts. According to them there is no fixed reality, but multiple realities depending upon each individual’s perspective, and all these realities are valid and it can’t be scientifically proved that one conception of reality is better or worse than that of others.

This concept of multiple realities, all of which are valid, is extremely relevant in the kind of society we live in. Ours is a democratic society with different religious, cultural, social and political views. One group of people embraces a reality of interests, which is different from and at times contradictory to that of another group.

Such a post-modernist approach is also helpful in our efforts to resolve the issue of Tibet’s status. As we all know, Tibet is currently under the military occupation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and among the exile Tibetans there are basically two theories or realities in resolving the issue. The grand theory, as propounded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and majority of exile Tibetans, is that Tibet must seek autonomy within the constitutional framework of the PRC. The other competent theory, as advocated by some of the intellectuals and young Tibetan exiles, is that Tibet should strive for independence. Both the proponents of these theories appear to be in conflict against each other, thinking as if one has the best solution/reality in solving Tibet’s issue. In other words, both sides reflect the classical view that reality is one, rather than the post modernist or Einsteinian view that realities could be different depending upon the observer’s physical context and that all these different perspectives of realities are valid scientifically.

In addition to this post-modernist perspective, we can add another strategy of what political scientists refer to as ‘cognitive dissonance’. And this cognitive dissonance can be added by bringing up another perspective, which is Tibet’s status quo. Indeed there are some Tibetans, both in and outside of Tibet, who are benefitting from the status quo.

Such a notion can be helpful, for at least, it will help the two seemingly conflicting sides to live in harmony and engage in lively debates rather than always ending up in acrimony whenever they meet and engage in conversation over the question of Tibet’s future status.

Furthermore, a single point perspective or reality concerning the ‘best’ solution regarding Tibet’s struggle, be it independence or autonomy, is reassuring, but it obstructs further discussion, debates and thinking, where as multiple perspectives of reality (independence, autonomy, status quo) will always leave room for us to have creative debates, perhaps resulting in a new and fresh perspective on Tibet!

CHINA: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

• China is presently the world’s most populous country with 1,336,280,000 people.
  
• China is world’s 2nd largest by land area.
  
• China has largest border with 22,117 km covering 14 nations (more than any other countries except Russia).
  
• China’s People's Liberation Army with the strength of 2.3 million active troops is the world’s largest Military.
  
• China recently became the world's largest exporter ($130.7bn). China will overtake Japan as the second largest economy in the world by 2010.
  
• China is the largest holder of U.S Treasury with 894.8 billions (dec 2009).
  
• China is one of the permanent Security Council members of the United Nations.
  
• China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with multi cultural diversity.
  
• Communist Party of China with 75,931,000 members, which is considered the world's largest political party.
  
• China has an estimated 926,000 researchers, second only to the 1.3 million in the United States.
  
• China currently has the most cell phone users in the world with over 700 million users in July 2009.
  

But on the other hand:

• Mao Tsetung, the great helmsman of China is on the top of world largest genocide in the human history with 49-78 million.
  
• China, the "factory of the world", is the most polluted country in the world.
  
• China has 20 of the world's 30 most polluted cities
  
• China is one of the top corrupted nations in the world.
  
• China is one of the worst human rights violators in the world.
  
• China's wealthiest 10 percent families make up 45 percent of the total wealth of urban residents whereas 10 percent the families with the lowest income account for only 1.4 percent of the total income of the families in the whole country.
  
• China’s average per capita national income is $3,000 in 2008 despite being the world third largest economy.
  
• China has as many as 10 million active prostitutes at any given time who contribute as much as five percent to the country’s annual GDP as most of the earned income.
  
• China has about 700,000 HIV positive, but less than 50,000 receive antiretroviral treatment.
  

SOME QUOTES OF FREEDOM

Today, on March 10, Tibetans and Tibetan supporters all over the world commemorate the 51st Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day with various campaigns and activities. Kashag stated that Tibetans are enduring hardships and the Tibetan spirituality, polity and race have suffered irreparable demages. Inside Tibet, many Tibetans, young and old, men and women, monks and nuns, educated and uneducated, rich and poor sacrificed their life for the cause of freedom. Many still are languishing in prisons bearing all inhuman treatments, torture and suffering. On this occasion, we pay tribute to all the martyrs who laid down their life for the Six million Tibetans. In the future too, there is no doubt that many Tibetans will give their bloods and soul for the cause of Tibet until freedom shines over Tibet.

CHINA: POWER WITH A BARREL OF GUN

"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"- Mao Tsetung

Early this year, 5th Tibet Work forum was concluded in Beijing with the aim of controlling Tibet rigorously by supressing people's freedom in the name of stability. In doing so, injecting economic developments to the Tibetan areas are considered a panacea to integrate Tibet into Middle Kingdom without giving any considerations to the aspirations of Tibetan people.

Hu Jintao, the premier of People's Republic of China (PRC) who was once a party secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), is carrying a huge banner of Harmonious society since he became the supreme leader of PRC. It is by now considered as the great legacy of Hu Jintao of advancing China's soft power into the global politics. However, his policy on Tibet became rhetoric with an implementation of annihilating the Tibetan identity and races. Two decades ago, he took a similar steps of crushing the Tibetans by launching Martial Law in Tibet when the Tibetan protested in Lhasa. The recent strike hard policy on Tibet with the detention of more than 400 Tibetans in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, prior to Tibetan National Uprising Day anniversary is an indication that China's attitude towards Tibet is worsening.

Economic Development: Not a solution

Since the time of Mao Tsetung, China claims to spent millions of Yuan for the development of Tibet. After the economic liberalization of PRC in 1979, during Deng Xiaoping's era, China pumped millions of yuans in Tibet based on the decisions made upon the consecutive Tibet Work Forums. But Hu Yoabang, General Secretary of CCP, during his maiden visit to Tibet in 1980's proclaimed that the Central government's money allocated in Tibet were literally thrown into Lhasa Kyichu. That clearly indicates the party cadres in Tibet were corrupted and had not utilize the money efficiently. Late Panchen Lama also criticized the Central government of digging Tibet's resource more than what they sanctioned for Tibet. To the outside world, China projected Tibet as a tourist destination and tourism is considered a pillar of development inside Tibet. But the projects which the Chinese government carried out in Tibet were of heavy projects which insufficiently helped Tibetans to sustain their livelihood, Many of projects are heavy projects such like railway, roadways, hydral power, airports and industries have minimal role to play in protecting Tibet's unique culture and heritage. Rather, it is purposefully aimed to control Tibet into their iron grip thus by encouraging heavy influx of Chinese migrants into Tibet.

From Mao to Hu Jintao, the economic transformation and integration is regarded as the forefront policies to integrate Tibet. But, material development alone can not solve the problems. It is interesting to see that whenever the Chinese leaders talk about their policy in Tibet, first thing they utter is stability, then the economic development comes later. Economic development without a considerable freedom certainly will not be effective. Over the years, history proves that Tibetans are not happy with the government's economic policy which is focus not on uplifting the status of Tibetans but rather focused on mitigating the Tibetan identity and culture. Masterminding Han superiority is the ultimate agenda of the CCP inside Tibet.

Stability: Importance of People's engagement

China feels that Tibetan will bend its knee to the social contract scheme of introducing economic prosperity by forsaking culture. But, assuming such thing makes a blunder as Tibetan cultures are deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of all Tibetans. How can a sixty years old corrupted policy tends to change thousand years old rich cultures. Is stability an ultimate goal of Mighty China, It is simply not, but it is the ultimate goal of Chinese Communist party (CCP) who is ruling China for the past six decades. Fear of unstability inside China is the biggest worry of Chinese leaders who felt the coming collapse of CCP. So by any means, CCP tries to maintain stablity by introducing various means which largely include voilent means and approaches. Such is the case that China is ruled by the leaders and not by the laws. Stabilty is primarily an initiative of people who engaged with the social contracts. But such stability shouldn't be forced upon public without any desirable engagment from the public. For example, Fulong Gong practioners were mercilessly tortured, Christian churches are going undergrounds and Tibetan buddhism is on the verge of complete distruction in the name of stability. It is not China but CCP who fears of instability. Therefore, without peoples engagment, stability can not enforce and sustain. If CCP succeeded to supress the people by the virtue of having a power with the barrel of gun, it will not sustain for the long run. Sooner or later, CCP will collapse if continues to envisage their dream of stability without people's role.

In Tibet also, the promotion of stability thus need to attach with the promotion of Tibetan cultures and identity. Any such policies of exterminating Tibetan cutures will not help stabilize Tibet. China's current policy on Tibet is certainly a nemesis in retaining their soverienty over Tibet.