[Reader-list] Chinese intellectuals respond to Tibet

[sonia jabbar]

Reported in the international press a few days ago. Pl do a google
search and you will find it.
Why? Because  I am interested in dialogue and not mere confrontation
between pro-chinese and pro-Tibetan positions.

On 3/27/08, mahmood farooqui <mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com> wrote:
> By way of verification, how, and why, did this statement reach you...
>
>
> On 27/03/2008, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On Saturday 22 March some 30 Chinese intellectuals (most are Han Chinese)
> > circulated a statement on the unrest in Tibet.
> >
> > Below is the text of their open letter to Chinese government.
> >
> > Twelve Suggestions for Dealing with the Tibetan Situation by Some Chinese
> > Intellectuals
> >
> > 1. At present the one-sided propaganda of the official Chinese media is
> > having the effect of stirring up inter-ethnic animosity and aggravating an
> > already tense situation. This is extremely detrimental to the long-term
> goal
> > of safeguarding national unity. We call for such propaganda to be stopped.
> >
> > 2. We support the Dalai Lama's appeal for peace, and hope that the ethnic
> > conflict can be dealt with according to the principles of goodwill, peace,
> > and non-violence. We condemn any violent act against innocent people,
> > strongly urge the Chinese government to stop the violent suppression, and
> > appeal to the Tibetan people likewise not to engage in violent activities.
> >
> > 3. The Chinese government claims that "there is sufficient evidence to
> prove
> > this incident was organized, premeditated, and meticulously orchestrated
> by
> > the Dalai clique." We hope that the government will show proof of this. In
> > order to change the international community's negative view and
> distrustful
> > attitude, we also suggest that the government invite the United Nation's
> > Commission on Human Rights to carry out an independent investigation of
> the
> > evidence, the course of the incident, the number of casualties, etc.
> >
> > 4. In our opinion, such Cultural-Revolution-like language as "the Dalai
> Lama
> > is a jackal in Buddhist monk's robes and an evil spirit with a human face
> > and the heart of a beast" used by the Chinese Communist Party leadership
> in
> > the Tibet Autonomous Region is of no help in easing the situation, nor is
> it
> > beneficial to the Chinese government's image. As the Chinese government is
> > committed to integrating into the international community, we maintain
> that
> > it should display a style of governing that conforms to the standards of
> > modern civilization.
> >
> > 5. We note that on the very day when the violence erupted in Lhasa (March
> > 14), the leaders of the Tibet Autonomous Region declared that "there is
> > sufficient evidence to prove this incident was organized, premeditated,
> and
> > meticulously orchestrated by the Dalai clique." This shows that the
> > authorities in Tibet knew in advance that the riot would occur, yet did
> > nothing effective to prevent the incident from happening or escalating. If
> > there was a dereliction of duty, a serious investigation must be carried
> out
> > to determine this and deal with it accordingly.
> >
> > 6. If in the end it cannot be proved that this was an organized,
> > premeditated, and meticulously orchestrated event but was instead a
> 'popular
> > revolt' triggered by events, then the authorities should pursue those
> > responsible for inciting the popular revolt and concocting false
> information
> > to deceive the Central Government and the people; they should also
> seriously
> > reflect on what can be learned from this event so as to avoid taking the
> > same course in the future.
> >
> > 7.  We strongly demand that the authorities not subject every Tibetan to
> > political investigation or revenge. The trials of those who have been
> > arrested must be carried out according to judicial procedures that are
> open,
> > just, and transparent so as to ensure that all parties are satisfied.
> >
> > 8. We urge the Chinese government to allow credible national and
> > international media to go into Tibetan areas to conduct independent
> > interviews and news reports. In our view, the current news blockade cannot
> > gain credit with the Chinese people or the international community, and is
> > harmful to the credibility of the Chinese government. If the government
> > grasps the true situation, it need not fear challenges. Only by adopting
> an
> > open attitude can we turn around the international community‚s distrust of
> > our government.
> >
> > 9. We appeal to the Chinese people and overseas Chinese to be calm and
> > tolerant, and to reflect deeply on what is happening. Adopting a posture
> of
> > aggressive nationalism will only invite antipathy from the international
> > community and harm China's international image.
> >
> > 10. The disturbances in Tibet in the 1980s were limited to Lhasa, whereas
> > this time they have spread to many Tibetan areas. This deterioration
> > indicates that there are serious mistakes in the work that has been done
> > with regard to Tibet. The relevant government departments must
> > conscientiously reflect upon this matter, examine their failures, and
> > fundamentally change the failed nationality policies.
> >
> > 11. In order to prevent similar incidents from happening in future, the
> > government must abide by the freedom of religious belief and the freedom
> of
> > speech explicitly enshrined in the Chinese Constitution, thereby allowing
> > the Tibetan people fully to express their grievances and hopes, and
> > permitting citizens of all nationalities freely to criticize and make
> > suggestions regarding the government's nationality policies.
> >
> > 12. We hold that we must eliminate animosity and bring about national
> > reconciliation, not continue to increase divisions between nationalities.
> A
> > country that wishes to avoid the partition of its territory must first
> avoid
> > divisions among its nationalities. Therefore, we appeal to the leaders of
> > our country to hold direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama. We hope that the
> > Chinese and Tibetan people will do away with the misunderstandings between
> > them, develop their interactions with each other, and achieve unity.
> > Government departments as much as popular organizations and religious
> > figures should make great efforts toward this goal.
> >
> > Signatures:
> >
> > Wang Lixiong (Beijing, Writer)
> > Liu Xiaobo (Beijing, Freelance Writer)
> > Zhang Zuhua (Beijing, scholar of constitutionalism)
> > Sha Yexin (Shanghai, writer, Chinese Muslim)
> > Yu Haocheng (Beijing, jurist)
> > Ding Zilin (Beijing, professor)
> > Jiang peikun (Beijing, professor)
> > Yu Jie (Beijing, writer)
> > Sun Wenguang (Shangdong, professor)
> > Ran Yunfei (Sichuan, editor, Tujia nationality)
> > Pu Zhiqiang (Beijing, lawyer)
> > Teng Biao (Beijing, Layer and scholar)
> > Liao Yiwu ()Sichuan, writer)
> > Wang Qisheng (Beijing, scholar)
> > Zhang Xianling (Beijing, engineer)
> > Xu Jue (Beijing, research fellow)
> > Li Jun (Gansu, photographer)
> > Gao Yu (Beijing, journalist)
> > Wang Debang (Beijing, freelance writer)
> > Zhao Dagong (Shenzhen, freelance writer)
> > Jiang Danwen (Shanghai, writer)
> > Liu Yi (Gansu, painter)
> > Xu Hui (Beijing, writer)
> > Wang Tiancheng (Beijing, scholar)
> > Wen kejian (Hangzhou, freelance)
> > Li Hai (Beijing, freelance writer)
> > Tian Yongde (Inner Mongolia, folk human rights activists)
> > Zan Aizong (Hangzhou, journalist)
> > Liu Yiming (Hubei, freelance writer)
> > Liu  Di (Beijing, freelance writer)
> >
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