| Moving beyond the restoration of law and order in | | | | quarters of Tibetans need to be addressed. Pockets |
| Lhasa, reporting of Tibetan affairs continue to display | | | | of lingering disturbances by Tibetans in western |
| stark extremes, one agitating independence and | | | | provinces are manifestation of undercurrents and |
| human rights while supporting draconian clamp down | | | | unresolved festering issues. For lasting peace to be |
| and allegations of blaming foreign conspiracy on the | | | | achieved, there has to be a move to foster better |
| other end. | | | | understanding and address some of these concerns. |
| The Chinese government has exercised restraint in | | | | Some poorer Tibetans may not have benefited from |
| restoring law and order in Lhasa, just as any sovereign | | | | the economic development, just like poorer Chinese in |
| democratic government would. Even the Dalai Lama | | | | inland provinces. The rich-poor divide is real. Hence the |
| tried to dissociate himself from the rioters and | | | | poor target savvy businessmen and minorities who |
| threatened to resign should violence continued. | | | | may be innocent parties, to vent their hatred and |
| Footage on scenes of aggressive agitators and rioters | | | | vengeance. |
| are clear testimony that the demonstrations are not | | | | The bottom line has been established by the Dalai |
| innocuous, spontaneous nor peaceful. The display of | | | | Lama himself that he is not seeking for independence |
| violence is premeditated, well orchestrated and has | | | | and secession as some of the rioters had in mind. He |
| caught the Chinese authorities off guard. When men in | | | | is against boycotting the Olympics. Most pragmatists |
| robes started to attack innocents, damage and loot | | | | would realize that Tibet would not be able to secede |
| properties, then they are no more men of peace | | | | and function as an economically self sufficient state. |
| which Buddhism preaches and therefore do not | | | | There would be a vacuum without the administrative |
| deserve respect. They are considered criminals bent | | | | and economic sustenance from China. Examples of |
| on disruptive peace, and the full extent of law must be | | | | some small East European countries and the post-Iraq |
| applied to bring these people to justice. The authorities | | | | invasion bring to mind the harsh truths and difficulty of |
| have every right and responsibility to its citizens to | | | | governing. |
| clamp down on violence, criminal acts, disruptive and | | | | The current Chinese leadership would be in a more |
| terrorist behaviour. Fortunately, the Chinese security | | | | confident position to heal the sensitivities and historical |
| forces have only tear gas and blank bullets and the | | | | baggage of the invasion by PLA and the brutal |
| security measures so far have been effective. | | | | suppression of dissent. Mao Zedong is gone and it is a |
| On the whole, Tibetans have improved economically; | | | | different Chinese leadership that would undertake the |
| their standard of living is way higher than those days | | | | task of a softer approach to integration. Brushing aside |
| of serfdom under the Lamas. Beijing has invested | | | | deeper social issues is wishing a problem away. |
| heavily in communications, industrial development and | | | | It would be helpful if some press, foreign leaders and |
| social amenities in Tibet. Tibetan culture and Buddhist | | | | Hollywood stars refrain from fanning hatred. |
| spirit are still very much alive. | | | | Meanwhile, the Olympics will go ahead as planned. |
| Nevertheless, seething discontent among some | | | | |