Shame
It was obviously at China’s instigation that Britain has warned the Dalai Lam not to make any political statements during his forthcoming visit to the UK. On no previous occasion did London feel the need to issue him such warnings.
Once can understand Peking’s paranoia. The Dalai Lama’s annoncement of the five-point peace proposal in Washington last year led to all the events since then which has left China’s labouriously cultivated reputation in shambles. Even the riot of 5 March probably would not have occurred without the precedent set in October. China could not possibly stand idle while such things turn into an annual international event : last year Washington, this year London, next year Bonn, then Canberra, Tokyo… and so on. And each one followed by a major political demonstration in Tibet necessitating fresh evacuation of foreigners. What happens to all the efforts to earn their living ? For a while Peking may provide them extra allowances and write it off as “subsidies to Tibet.” But how long can they afford to do so?
While China’s concern is understandable. Britain’s is not quite so. Although she no longer rules the waves, she is hardly in such an object state as to let her demonstrate institutions such as freedom of speech be curtailed by the Middle Kingdom. So far Prime Minister Thatcher’s running battle with the press, including the BBC, are of her own making. Is she now going to compound the error by having a foreign government tell her what to do in such matters?
How that the warning has been issued, how should we respond to it? The Dalai Lama may not be allowed to make political statements in his own volition. However, we hope he will not be barred from giving frank answers to any political questions that member of the press may put to him. This is the least British government can do to prevent itself from appearing like a satellite of the People’s Republic.
In his statement on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising, the Dalai Lama has rightly praised the brave people of Tibet who did the seemingly impossible by staging the recent demonstrations at the risk of certain death. Those same brave people are going to be ver disappointed if their leader if prevented from voicing their aspirations to the free world. And that too because a democratic country chooses, for some perverted notion of political and economic grains, to bow to the dictates of a totalitarian power.
It was obviously at China’s instigation that Britain has warned the Dalai Lam not to make any political statements during his forthcoming visit to the UK. On no previous occasion did London feel the need to issue him such warnings.
Once can understand Peking’s paranoia. The Dalai Lama’s annoncement of the five-point peace proposal in Washington last year led to all the events since then which has left China’s labouriously cultivated reputation in shambles. Even the riot of 5 March probably would not have occurred without the precedent set in October. China could not possibly stand idle while such things turn into an annual international event : last year Washington, this year London, next year Bonn, then Canberra, Tokyo… and so on. And each one followed by a major political demonstration in Tibet necessitating fresh evacuation of foreigners. What happens to all the efforts to earn their living ? For a while Peking may provide them extra allowances and write it off as “subsidies to Tibet.” But how long can they afford to do so?
While China’s concern is understandable. Britain’s is not quite so. Although she no longer rules the waves, she is hardly in such an object state as to let her demonstrate institutions such as freedom of speech be curtailed by the Middle Kingdom. So far Prime Minister Thatcher’s running battle with the press, including the BBC, are of her own making. Is she now going to compound the error by having a foreign government tell her what to do in such matters?
How that the warning has been issued, how should we respond to it? The Dalai Lama may not be allowed to make political statements in his own volition. However, we hope he will not be barred from giving frank answers to any political questions that member of the press may put to him. This is the least British government can do to prevent itself from appearing like a satellite of the People’s Republic.
In his statement on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising, the Dalai Lama has rightly praised the brave people of Tibet who did the seemingly impossible by staging the recent demonstrations at the risk of certain death. Those same brave people are going to be ver disappointed if their leader if prevented from voicing their aspirations to the free world. And that too because a democratic country chooses, for some perverted notion of political and economic grains, to bow to the dictates of a totalitarian power.
posted by editorla at
9:11 PM
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