Earthquake & Tsunami Tragedy in Japan

Tokyo: [March 11, 2011 Friday] Around 2:46 pm a strong earthquake shook Tokyo city. Epicenter of the earthquake is believed to be around North east Japan of Miyagi prefecture. The 8.9 magnitude earthquake was followed by major tsunami around the east coast of Japan. The earthquake and the tsunami brought a lot of damage to the lives and properties with more than 1000 confirmed death, and many still missing. Tsunami virtually swallowed a town; many lost their homes and are sheltered in temporary shelters.

The damage in Tokyo city was mild compared to Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. But the earthquake sent the Tokyoite rushing in panic. Office files, equipments, books and the goods in the shelves went haphazard and crashed on the floors. In Shunjuku city of Tokyo, people poured out and crowded at Shinjuku Gyoen Park for safety from where the people watched in horror the skyscrapers in pendulum motion. All train service came to a halt, people crowded for bus and taxi. Roads were jammed, telephone and mobiles stopped working. The streets were full of people trying to find their way out to their homes. Many had to walk for more than four to five hours to home.

Overall damage to the nation is great, fires destroyed dwellings and properties. Many are rendered homeless. The government has confirmed the safety of its nuclear stations, and is doing its best to rehabilitate the people and bring normalcy. Starting from United States, many countries have promised relief fund and services. Japan has been a generous nation when ever natural disasters occurs around the world, it is now time for the world to repay the gratitude, especially the country who has been receiving Japanese ODA despite being the world second largest economy.

This is said to be the highest earthquake magnitude ever recorded. 1923 Kanto earthquake recorded 8.3 magnitude with 143,000 people's death, and 1996 Kobe earthquake with 7.2 magnitude in which 6,400 people died. While it may be a proud moment for the Japanese building technocrats that the skyscrapers of world height withstood such magnitude, it is equally a great message to the humanity about the lurking natural disasters to convey the precariousness of human existence despite scientific progress.

Tibetan 10th March uprising anniversary was observed on the day [Thursday] at two places in Tokyo at Joenji Temple and Nihonbashi. Japanese monks for Tibet and M/s Open Sense organized the events respectively. The main event scheduled on 13th March by Tibetan Community and the Japanese Support groups to conduct peace march in the city, and Students for Free Tibet's plan to demonstrate before Chinese embassy had to be cancelled because of the earthquake tragedy. As of now, no report has come about Tibetans being affected by the tragedy.

Blood Notes of Theurang

Tashi Rapten is among the many Tibetan poets, writers and intellectuals arrested by the Chinese authorities since the brutal crackdown of Tibetan uprising throughout Tibet in 2008. But little is known on what charges and why he has been arrested and for how long.

The young man who was to graduate last year compiled some of his poems, notes and writings in one book, Trag-yig in Tibetan [Written in Blood] under the pen name of Theurang. The poetry and the essay works give an in-depth understanding of Tibetans' feeling and why they are against the Chinese regime.

The note is divided into five chapters, first four chapters are written in form of poetry. The last one, which has six sections including the conclusion, forms the main writing in essay style. The first chapter in the poetry section, 'Monologue in hell', he compares the prisons in Tibet to a region of hell, and how the people in these hell are left speaking with themselves about the hope and their aspiration in monologue and wondering what was their crime. How the people in the dark cells of prisons believe the ultimate visit of the rays of Sun light to usher the days of freedom and equality and to dispel the ignorance of the conqueror. Song of the soul and My Tibet in poetry chapter equally makes an incisive understanding of the poet's mind.

In the essay section,"Denpai Tugsher" [Trail of the truth], the author tells us about the truth behind the violence in March 2008, and who was responsible for this bloody incident. How Chinese authorities fabricated violence and blamed everything to the Dalai Lama. It discusses Olympic and how the Beijing Olympics brought repression in Tibet. It also dwells on the earthquake in the region and how it was handled actually and how it was broadcasted in media. The author has written about how Tibetan language is undermined, and how the security personal forces false confession from the students.

The book is an open testimony of a young Tibetan of what is going on in Tibet. His sentences and statements often end in question marks leaving the readers and the Chinese authorities to reflect on. In fact, the Chinese government should laud him for bringing these policy failure and misdemeanors in public, and make effort to rectify the policy if the leadership is really serious about the so-called policy of "harmonious society".

We don't know under what condition Tashi Rapten is in right now, but we commend him for his courage to challenge the repressive regime bent on destroying Tibetan nationality. If democracy, freedom and human rights is to triumph in this world, International community should raise voice for people like Tashi Rapten and others who are still languishing in prisons.

Following is the opening notes of the author in his book, Trag-yig [Written in blood]

Lhasa of the first half of March 2008 was not the peaceful and serene abode of non-violence and the heavenly Tibetan city that many have known. It was a bloody land full for corpses and infernos, inundated with gunfires and military contingents.

On that day, the people of Tibet who had silently swallowed their tears and sorrow for decades rose peacefully for Human rights and hit the gongs of the truth to assert their rights to life. On that day, humble people who had for more than five decades kowtowed to the dictates of tyrants and despots stood before the gunfires and shackles to raise the long cherished flag of democracy and equality. On that day, the people gave a clear message that from the depth of their heart they could no longer tolerate the oppression and invasion of the infamous rotten regime known for brutality and for deriding the nation's constitution.

On that day, who was the one who brought with force the frightful tragedy of 1958 once again on the humble populace's head? On that day, who staged deceit and false accusation and played with the lives of the brethrens of this land of snow and turned this fatherland into a bloody land? On that day, who shook and disturbed not only the lives of all beings but also the rivers, mountains and forest?

On that day, how humble and innocent the lives of each spirit representing truth and justice stood before the sound of bullets and horse lash, blood and dead bodies, armies and arms?

That day in March was much bloodier than anyone could dream of. That day was the historic day of March when each brave man and woman hoisted the flag of truth on the backbone of a nation's history. That day was..............

Jasmine sent Chinese leaders in Panic

Jasmine is a name of a white flower, known for its fragrances and flavor. It grows in the high altitude Tibetan plateau also. It is called Metok Kunda. Tibetan uses the jasmine as a part of incense and herbal medicine ingredients. But Jasmine grows in hot Arab nation like Tunisia too, where it is the national flower. Tunisian people recently rose against the long time dictatorship regime and won democracy, this came to be known as "Jasmine Revolution".

Because of this popular uprising, the word 'jasmine' has become taboo in China. Chinese authorities have blocked the word in Internet. People are forbidden to utter the word. It is said that the florists in Chinese cities are having problem because selling and purchase of Jasmine flower is also banned. When someone ordered for a jasmine tea, all eyes were on him. A 25-year old boy was arrested for having placed a white flower near a McDonnell restaurant. Anyone with anything to do with a white flower is arrested.

China is now the world's second largest economy, its military spending is said to be the highest, but the Chinese leaders panicking like a horde of frightened mice on hearing a name of a simple flower? What does this make of China's image?

How much the authority try to squelch the people's aspiration, some day it has to learn the hard truth that power doesn't always come from the barrel of a gun. It comes from people; it comes from a simple flower like jasmine.

Runggye Adak: A Message that China failed to read

Runggye Adak, a Tibetan nomad of Lithang area is still in Chinese prison serving his eight-year sentences issued by Chinese authorities for "provocation to subvert state power". His only crime was that on 1 August 2007, he is said to have said, 'If we cannot invite the Dalai Lama home, we will not have freedom of religion and happiness in Tibet", before a gathering at the annual horse festival in the region. He also called for the release of Panchen Lama and Tulku Tenzin Delek.
The Chinese security people immediately arrested him and his friends and put them behind the bar. Chinese media reported the incident as a "major political incident" and said that he was shouting for "Tibetan independence".
This is how most of the people's grievances end up in Tibet. China is too paranoid to properly address the issue and to understand what the Tibetans are really asking for. Any voice, irrespective of its contents from the Tibetans is seen as opposition to the regime and subversive. Therefore, China has never understood the Tibetans all these years. This is one of the major causes of Chinese policy failure in Tibet.
Runggye Adak is a simple Tibetan nomad. From his statement it is very clear what the Tibetans are looking for "freedom of religion and happiness". As China has denied the Tibetans of these two necessities throughout its brutal rule, people like Runggye Adak are inclined to believe that coming of Dalai Lama to Tibet would bring religious freedom and happiness.
In his statement during the interrogation, he said that he wants Dalai Lama to come to Tibet so that he can speak out his grievances. As simple as this, this shows the extent of repressed emotion and psychology of the people. Tibetans need to be heard and cared. If the Chinese leadership is serious about peace and stability in the region, they should reexamine their policy and listen and respect the voice of people like Runggye Adak seriously. One good thing that the leadership could do now is to release him and ask for his forgiveness.

http://vimeo.com/13266779

This is how China rules Tibet

Chinese government in the name of development has continued mining and baring the Tibetan mountains. Minerals extracted were transported to the mainland. Any protest against these rampant mining are brutally suppressed. Last November, when the Tibetans in Shethongmon county of Shigatse protested against the mining project in the region, they were brutally mishandled and arrested.


The region was filled with Chinese armed personal and trucks. Is this how the Chinese authority thinks could bring peace and stability in the region? Its high time the communist leaders learn something from what is going on in Tunisia and Egypt!!



A Chinese security man with an electric baton intimidating the Tibetan protestors.

http://www.tibet.net/en/index.php?id=2129.&articletype=flash&rmenuid=morenews&s&tab=1#TabbedPanels1

China wants to double Tibet tourism by 2015

Chinese state media has on 13 January said that the government is eyeing for 15 million visitors a year to Tibet by 2015. The government estimate that it will more than double the income from tourism by around 16 billion Yuan ($2.42 billion) a year thereby creating more than 300,000 jobs. Xinhua further goes onto claim that Tibet's economy has grown more quickly than the rest of China. This was attributed to the completion of a railway line to the Tibetan capital Lhasa, and large mining projects.

Chinese government says it is trying to bring development to a poor and backward region, including new transport links in the form of roads, railways and airports. And the government said that it wanted, "all the people of Tibet to get rich from tourism."

Above portrayal and the citation looks grand and encouraging, but in reality it is nothing more than the communist leadership's another conspiracy to mislead the world into believing that all is well in Tibet and the government is doing its best to boost Tibetan economy and livelihood. China had persistently claimed that Tibetans in Tibet are happy and contended with the development Chinese has brought in, and that it is only a few separatists who are instigating trouble in the region.

Before we take in the Chinese announcement seriously, we need to carefully brood over what they really meant by development in Tibet. If the Chinese leaders are serious about promoting tourism and uplifting the Tibetan economy, it needs to address the grievances of the Tibetans in the region first. Are the Tibetan really meant to benefit from the plan; who will get these 300,000 jobs?

Recent trend in Tibet is that Tibetan tour guides and operators are slowly being displaced by the new arrivals from China. Government does not want Tibetan guides and tour operators who are conversant about Tibetan history and culture and are willing to tell the world about what communism has done to Tibet.

In order to curb this problem and to create jobs for the Chinese migrants, the Chinese government introduced a system in which all the tour guides and operators are required to get license. To acquire the license, applicants are screened and are required to appear for written test and interview. Now, the government has come up with a book on Tibet based on Chinese interpretation of Tibetan history. It is written in Chinese language. Applicants are required to study this book and answer accordingly. This written test and interview is also conducted in Chinese language. Is this the way how the communist government plans to benefit the Tibetans?

Many young Tibetans gave up because they don't want to parrot the Chinese version of Tibetan history, many don't read and write Chinese, and those who read and write Chinese could not compete with Chinese migrants whose mother tongue is Chinese. With these kinds of ingenious but cruel policies the communist government has been marginalizing the Tibetans and encouraging Han Chinese migration. So, all these talks about jobs doesn't concern the Tibetans, the communist government already has in mind for whom the jobs are for.

Since March 2008 uprising, the Tibetans have been put under strict surveillance and only guided tours under strict screenings have been allowed. The government has still not recovered from the 2008 paranoia, Tibetans are still being viewed with suspicions and arrested arbitrarily. Lately, Tibetan intellectuals and artists have been targeted and many are languishing in prisons. Common people have been intimidated and warned against contacting or talking with foreigners. One of my foreign friends who had visited Tibet several times said that he was gripped with fear and surprise when a cheerful Tibetan vendor with whom he has befriended during his earlier visits has become reserved and refused to recognize him last year.

Communist government has unleashed an atmosphere of fear and terror on the Tibetan plateau. There are more security personals and army in the street than civilian folks. Is the communist government really thinking of welcoming 15 millions visitors? If the communist government is confident about this, then it means that in these intervening years, they have successfully and brutally tamed the Tibetans to turn the Tibetan plateau into the first and the largest living human and cultural zoo for the world to see.

Is this what the communist government meant by "making people of Tibet rich from tourism."?

Marginalizing the Tibetans, encouraging Han Chinese migration into Tibet, compulsory imposition of Chinese language in schools and workplaces, exploitation of Tibetan natural resources, making Tibetan culture a showpiece, sinocizing Tibetan way of life, if these are what Chinese meant by developments, Tibetans don't want these developments.

Next time, Beijing plan about development activity in Tibet, they must consult the Tibetans in the region and should seriously and sincerely think about benefiting the Tibetans and their overall livelihood.

Hu Jinato in US

Hu Jintao during his interview in United States pretended he didn't hear properly when asked about human rights issue in China. He was not bluffing, actually the word 'human rights' is not in his vocabulary. So, he didn't understand what Obama was talking about. Funny!!

Any how, when asked for the second time, Hu dodged the question on human rights by implying that China is big and has a large population and it is developing. Now, if the size and the population is obstacle, why doesn't China give Tibet, Uigyur, Inner Mongolia and other minorities their rightful freedom, and let them live in peace.

Chinese communist leaders' obstinate greed to rule China indefinitely has made the colonization of Tibet and others necessary to justify its iron rule. Chinese people are ingeniously used by the communist leaders by inciting patriotism to divert the people's attention from more pressing issues. Therefore, the Chinese people are always at the mercy of communist propaganda.

President Obama should be commended for his clear message to the Chinese leader on human rights issue and for urging Hu to talk with Dalai Lama's representative to resolve Tibet issue. He talked about American concept of universality of human rights and freedom, thus making a point that US will not compromise on human rights issue.

With this visit to US, the land of freedom and justice, let us hope the Chinese leader will give her people their share of universal rights. This Hu Jintao can do before he retires from the helm of authoritative power next year. With continued suppression of Chinese and the people of minority communities and deprivation of their human rights, Hu Jintao will only be reserving his seat in the list of oppressors and dictators, who are scorned as the enemies of the civilization in human history. President Hu still has time to choose whether he wants to be remembered as an oppressor or a liberator in the world history