Posts Tagged ‘Dalai Lama’
I was reminded of China’s new propaganda strategy on Tibet when I read the following sentence recently in the course of my internet browsing. “The best propaganda is that which the target audience does not recognize as overtly propagandistic in nature.” The latest example of this is today’s news about President Jimmy Carter’s forward to a book on Tibet by “three Sino-US experts.” Given President Carter’s experience with China and his knowledge of Tibet (he has met the Dalai Lama and discussed Tibet with him) I cannot imagine him supporting Chinese policies in Tibet. May be if we read the full forward we may be able to understand him better, but the point at hand is the way his involvement is being projected by the Chinese media tasked to spread their version on Tibet (I reproduce their posting below). The topic is soft, i.e. environment and the person is a wellknown international figure. This is subtle propaganda at work with the impression that President Carter is somehow on their side of the fence, if you will. This fits well with some of the quotes that Xinhua seems to be getting from “Tibet experts” on issues relating to Tibet.
Former U.S. president writes preamble for ‘Close to Tibet’
2009-01-27
kristen zhang
China Tibet Information Center
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Tibetan Environment in New York
Posted on: January 16, 2009
The Asia Soceity in New York City is having a day-long conference today (January 16) on “Meltdown: The Impact of Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau.” This is but the latest indication about the significance of the environment in Tibet to the region and the world. The conference features “IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri, distinguished glaciologists Lonnie Thompson and Yao Tandong, environmental experts from China, the UK, the US, Australia and the Tibetan Autonomous Region, as well as mountaineer and filmmaker David Breashears.” It seems there are some Tibetan speakers, too.
Some of my colleagues have gone up to New York to attend this and I am looking forward to their impression. Taking this opportunity I am posting here a paper that I prepared (I was then working in Dharamsala at the Tibetan Department of Information & International Relations) in 1993 on Tibetan environment that was presented at a conference in France.
An analysis of environment and development issues in Tibet
By Bhuchung K. Tsering
(Paper presented at the International conference on the state of environment in Tibet: III Pole, Environment & People of Tibet, Paris. September 30 to October 1, 1993)
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It is clear that the Chinese authorities are increasing their use of Tibetan personalities and institutions to justify and defend their misguided policies on Tibet. The following is the text of remarks that I made on May 15, 1999 at the “Exposing Communist Chinese Government Influence in America” Conference in Orlando, Florida. Those were the days when there was somethign called Splendid China, a theme park connected to the Chinese Government that was used as a vehicle for Chinese publicity.The park, which opened in 1993 eventually had to close its doors in 2003.
China’s Use of Tibetan Institutions for Their Political Ends
Bhuchung K. Tsering May 15, 1999The Chinese authorities have in the last several decades attempted to use Tibetan personalities, institutions and history to justify, legetimise and exercise their control over Tibet. Historically, they have used Tibetan institutions like that of the Panchen Lama to create dissents within the Tibetan community and to legitimize their rule over the Tibetan people.There is a distinct pattern in which Beijing is implementing its policy of misusing distinct Tibetan institutions to serve its political ends. Read the rest of this entry »
Like the ancient Romans the Tibetans, too, have a broader cultural world that goes beyond the political Tibet of today. While we know of the communities in the south-western borders of Tibet (the following article, which I wrote in 2007) is about one such communities, called the Sherpas), there has been less attention on the communities to the south-east and east, who include the Jang (Naxi) people, the Muso and even what is being called the Xixia by Chinese and Minyak by Tibetans. I am told there are some Western scholars who study the Minyak people.
Anyway, enjoy the following for the moment.
Anyone Ever Heard of Karma Paul?
Bhuchung K. Tsering
Tibetan Review, October 2007
China and the Tibetan Scholars
Posted on: January 5, 2009
One of the significant development in the Tibetan world in 2008 was the status of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process. There was history being made in many ways in that field. This was the year when Tibetan and Chinese representatives met the most number of times since contact was re-established in 2002. Also, the situation under which the meetings were held was challenging, to put it kindly. Above all, the outcome of the latest round that was held in November 2008 has led to a stagnation, if you will, of the process.
At another level, we saw the Chinese authorities continuing to use the Tibetan scholars to fulfill their political objectives. I have mentioned it at a few fora and I want to say it here, whatever is the political difference between the Tibetans and the Chinese, I think it shortsighted for the Chinese leadership to be politicising the Tibetan academic world. This only contributes to the diminishing of their scholarly status. Even though many institutions and Tibetologists outside of China may have to conform to the Chinese Government’s desire to host visits by Tibetan scholars where they are forced to voice government positions, they can only pity the scholars themselves.
I wrote the following in 1998 in reaction to a development concerning the International Association of Tibetan Studies, the premier forum for Tibetologists.
Studying ‘Tibetans’ or ‘Tibetan’ studies?
Article by Bhuchung K. Tsering
Tibetan Review
September 1998
Enter the Tibetan Americans
Posted on: January 3, 2009
Enter the Tibetan Americans
One of the challenges to the small Tibetan-American community in the United States is having to adapt to our new hyphenated identity. The feeling of Tibetanness is so strong amongst the Tibetan Americans that in many cases even though several decades may have passed since they have immigrated to this country many continue to regard themselves only as being “Tibetan.”
In the following writeup, a version of which appeared in the newsletter of the London-based Tibet Foundation in February 2001, I talk about the relevance of the hyphenated identity.
Tibetan Americans establish a presence in the United States.
Bhuchung K. Tsering
Tibet Foundation Newsletter
Black Americans and Tibetans
Posted on: January 2, 2009
It is not only January and a New Year (Happy New Year and Tashi Delek to all), but closer home, the United States will see a new President take charge on January 20. Everyone says Barack Obama has created history with his African-American background. What appropriate time than this to talk about Tibet and how it resonates among the African Americans. I wrote the following in 1999.
Black Americans and Tibetans
Bhuchung K. Tsering
Tibetan Review
July 1999
If you look at the Tibet movement in the United States, or, for that matter, throughout the world, one of the glaring points is the absence of a major support base among the Black community. President Nelson Mandela of South Africa is the only African political leader showing an interest in Tibet. Among spiritual leaders we again have to turn to Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
If there is one example of shortsightedness of Indian policy makers when it comes to Tibet, then it definitely is the Tibetan service of All India Radio. I wrote the following article nearly two years back, and a recent check revealed that things have remained the same even now. For the life of me I cannot understand why the target area is just the Tibet Autonomous Region. There are even more Tibetans living outside of the TAR in Kham and Amdo areas, not to speak about the Tibetan-speaking population along the southern belt of the Himalayas in Bhutan and Nepal.
However, here are some other interesting facts about the Tibetan service as published by All India Radio’s External Services Division.
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