Re: Chinese Activist Harry Wu Urges EU to Appoint Envoy on Tibet

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Thomas J Wheat) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Chinese Activist Harry Wu Urges EU to Appoint Envoy on Tibet   
> November 14, 2003
> http://www.savetibet.org/News/News.cfm?ID=2123&c=6
>  
> Leading Chinese human rights activist Harry Wu has supported the call
> for the European Union to appoint a special representative on Tibet
> saying such a position will reflect EU's sincerety in defending the
> right of the downtrodden.

arrrrrrrgh...

> Participating in the European Parliament Forum on Tibet in Brussels on
> November 12, 2003, Wu said, "The State Department of the United States
> government has appointed an Under Secretary of State, Ms. Paula
> Dobriansky, as US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. This is a
> high level appointment, which highlights that the United States
> Government is paying serious attention to the non-violent struggle of
> Tibet. It is time for the European Union to also appoint a senior
> official to push China to the negotiation table. This is an important
> and concrete step that the European Union could take. It would show
> the European Union does in fact actively defend the rights of the
> downtrodden and repressed."

...aaaAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!

> Wu also said it was significant that envoys of the Dalai Lama have
> been visiting China as it showed that the Chinese Government has
> realized that they cannot ignore the Dalai Lama. Wu said, "Beijing
> received a high-level delegation to restart negotiations with the His
> Holiness Dalai Lama. Regardless of Beijing's motives for holding these
> talks, or if the negotiations have any real success, at the very
> least, the negotiations make one thing clear: despite being exiled for
> over 50 years, Beijing cannot ignore the Dalai Lama and his people.
> Beijing refused to talk with Tibetan delegates for many years; they
> referred to them as a "Gang of Bandits."  Now, Beijing is beginning to
> accept the reality."
> 
> Following is the full text of Harry Wu's remarks. 
> 
> The Crux of the Tibetan Problem
> 
> European Parliament Forum on Tibet:
> 
> EU Response to Sino-Tibetan Dialogue
> 
> 
> 
> Harry Wu, Laogai Research Foundation
> 
> Nov.12, 2003
> 
> It is an honor to speak before this distinguished audience.  
> 
> It's been almost fifty years since China "liberated" Tibet, crushing
> its people, government and its religion, and forcing the Dalai Lama
> into exile. Since then, tens of thousands of Tibetans have fled to all
> parts of the world. However, they have not given up hope. They have
> not been wiped-out or deemed irrelevant, and I suspect they will never
> be. To most Han Chinese, Tibetans are an "uncivilized, ignorant,
> filthy and superstitious" people, who needed to be liberated by the
> Chinese Communist Party. Yet, all throughout the world, Tibetan stand
> with pride.
> 
> All over the world, exiled Tibetans live together in peace with the
> locals of their adopted nations, receiving much more respect and
> welcome and trust than Chinese immigrants. Tibetan maintains their
> religion, culture, dress and customs, as well as his own government
> in-exile, with an unmistakable dignity. Among the younger generation,
> many obtain high-level academic degrees, and become well-known
> scholars. They may have lost their land, but they are reaching toward
> the heavens.
> 
> Beijing received a high-level delegation to restart negotiations with
> the His Holiness Dalai Lama. Regardless of Beijing's motives for
> holding these talks, or if the negotiations have any real success, at
> the very least, the negotiations make one thing clear: despite being
> exiled for over 50 years, Beijing cannot ignore the Dalai Lama and his
> people. Beijing refused to talk with Tibetan delegates for many years;
> they referred to them as a "Gang of Bandits."  Now, Beijing is
> beginning to accept the reality. One of the reasons that brought
> Beijing back to negotiating table is the fact that the Communist
> regime facing a historic crisis. It must change its policies.  The
> exiled Tibetan government does not enjoy any military or any economic
> power; it does not even have any diplomatic relations. Yet they still
> matter. As everyone knows, the CCP's political power is always based
> on physical strength. Yet, the facts prove, although often drowned out
> by wickedness and greed, justice and truth eventually prevail.
> 
> Beijing knows the Dalai Lama and Tibetans are highly respected by
> peoples and government of nearly all nations, they know truth is not
> on their side. Nevertheless, there are two key factors supporting
> Beijing's Tibet policy: First, most Han Chinese are prejudiced against
> Tibetans, and believe Tibetans need economic, cultural and other
> assistance. Second, most Han Chinese believe Tibet was never an
> independent country, and was always a part of China. As a result, most
> Han Chinese agree with Beijing's policies. Even many Chinese exiled or
> domestic dissidents which claim they are fighting for democracy,
> freedom and human rights, unfortunately, the sentiment of traditional
> nationalism leading them support and agree Beijing's Tibet policy.
> 
> Many Han Chinese ask: Isn't Han Chinese culture superior to Tibet's?
> Don't Tibetans have an unhealthy, harmful lifestyle? Don't they want a
> theocracy? Doesn't the Tibetan religion block economic and cultural
> development, etc.? These questions are important to evaluate and
> discuss. However, the first thing we should address is this: who has
> the right to judge right from wrong? Moreover, who has the right to
> use physical force to implement such a judgment?
> 
> If a culture fails to respect another people's right to
> self-determination, then itself has no right to self-determination.
> Yet, this is what is happening in China. If Han Chinese is in the
> process of seeking democracy, freedom and prosperity, then it should
> respect another culture's right to do the same. Tibetans have the
> right to seek their own political future, social structure, religious
> beliefs and culture.
> 
> Actually, Han Chinese must appreciate Tibetan's tireless, courageous
> and consistent fight for its fundamental rights. Their struggle is
> breaking the power of the Communist autocratic regime in China.
> Tibet's efforts will eventually benefit all Chinese people.
> 
> If most Han Chinese begin believing that they should respect Tibet,
> and agree that Tibet has freedom of choice, I believe Beijing's
> current policy would become untenable. When a majority of Han Chinese
> expresses this type of sentiment, it will represent a significant
> shift in thought among Han Chinese.
> 
> In the last twenty years, the Communist government has hidden its use
> of force against the Tibetan people under the cover of economic
> development along with the feet of tens of thousands of Han Chinese
> migrants pouring into Tibet. The same autocratic government that
> destroyed Tibetan monasteries now is spending money rebuilt the
> monasteries. They are building railways, highways, and power stations.
> Their purpose is to gradually eliminate Tibetan's culture, region, and
> people.
> 
> I wish Western nations would not only clearly express your desire to
> see fruitful negotiations between China and the Dalai Lama. However, I
> also hope they will stop investing in Tibet, stop purchasing any
> products made in Tibet, and never welcome any Beijing-controlled
> Tibetan delegates, or culture or artistic performance. The West must
> not maintain its hypocritical appeasement policy. I hope the West
> remembers how Stalin swallowed Eastern Europe and Asian countries and
> built up Soviet Empire, and what was necessary for the West to defeat
> it.
> 
> The State Department of the United States government has appointed an
> Under Secretary of State, Ms. Paula Dobriansky, as US Special
> Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. This is a high level appointment,
> which highlights that the United States Government is paying serious
> attention to the non-violent struggle of Tibet. It is time for the
> European Union to also appoint a senior official to push China to the
> negotiation table. This is an important and concrete step that the
> European Union could take. It would show the European Union does in
> fact actively defend the rights of the downtrodden and repressed.
> 
> The world is changing. In the face of a rising tide of globalization,
> liberalization, democratization and human rights, the old and tired
> petty excuses for injustice, such as colonialism, racism, communism
> and even nationalism, are becoming weak and indefensible. Sooner or
> later, they will all be thrown into the dustbin of history.
>  
> 
> 
> 
>  
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> 
> International Campaign for Tibet
> 1825 K Street NW, Suite 520
> Washington, DC 20006 
> Phone: 202.785.1515
> Fax: 202.785.4343
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> International Campaign for Tibet Europe 
> Keizersgracht 302, Amsterdam
> P.O. Box 3337, 1001 AC AMSTERDAM
> The Netherlands
> Phone: +31 (0)20 3308265
> Fax: +31 (0)20 3308266
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> 
> International Campaign for Tibet Deutschland e.V. 
> Marienstr. 30
> 10117 Berlin
> Germany
> Phone: +49 (0)30 27879086
> Fax: +49 (0)30 27879087
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]