'First immolation attempt' in China's Tibet

[ellisonz]

Source: AFP

AFP – 7 hrs ago

A former Buddhist monk has set himself alight in Tibet, a campaign group said Friday, citing Tibetan exiles in India and calling it the first such protest in the vast autonomous region of southwestern China.

The report from the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) follows a series of self-immolations by Buddhist monks and nuns in Tibetan-inhabited regions of the country, where ethnic Tibetans have long chafed against Chinese rule.

The former monk, said to be in his 40s, is reported to have survived and been taken to hospital in Tibet's Changdu prefecture.

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He attempted suicide after being caught Wednesday for illegally chopping down trees, it said citing local officials who called Phuntsog "eccentric" for brandishing a knife at a forest ranger he suspected of tipping off authorities.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/first-immolation-attempt-chinas-tibet-reported-040242349.html

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Buddhist monks outside one of the entrances to the Kirti monastary in the town of Aba in China's Sichuan province, in October 2011. Rights groups say nine monks and two nuns have have set themselves on fire this year in Sichuan province, which borders Changdu, to protest against religious repression of Tibetan Buddhists, and that at least seven have died. Many were from the Kirti monastery

[sulphurdunn]

1. Saigon 1963

When people begin burning and blowing themselves up to get your attention, you best give it to them or go home.

[ellisonz]

2. Oh if only...

...The PRC has no intention of backing off. In fact, they're going into full search and destroy mode.

30 September 2011
China to Launch 'Third Battle Campaign' in Tibet

On 1 October 2011, China will be celebrating the 62 founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Such celebration is always preceded by tighter control and more restrictions in Tibet. This time is no different. According to www.chinatibetnews.com, in the afternoon of 27 September 2011, the Regional Party Committee of Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and the TAR government held a conference in Lhasa in preparation of the celebration for the founding of the PRC on 1st of October.

A 'Third Battle Campaign' was launched to ''win this year's stability maintenance'' during the meeting. Autonomous Region Party Secretary Chen Quanguo stressed on four points in the meeting. The first, he said, is to ensure that no political case arises. He added, ''Struggle against separatism shall be dealt in-depth, to effectively maintain social stability and ensure long-term stability in Tibet.'' Secondly, problems should be tackled from the base when it is small. Thirdly, all the monasteries shall be closely watched along with intensified patriotic re-education sessions. Religious activities and religious affairs shall be carried out according to the law. Lastly, he said that comrades of party and government (and every official) have the main responsibility of maintaining stability.

Pema Thinley, Chairman of TAR government, chaired the meeting and told that officials must be determined to win this ''Third Campaign'' battle of maintaining stability. The meeting was also joined by all heads of counties and cities via telephone/video conference.

The second meeting on 'social stability' in this year to deploy crackdown in all regions of Tibet, this conference is the first to the new TAR Secretary Chen Quanguo. The 'Third Battle Campaign' is aimed to crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters and those Tibetans who differ from the political ideologies of the PRC.

http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110930.html

[sulphurdunn]

4. It's hard not to admire

the Chinese people despite their totalitarian capitalist state. They are smart. That's why the Chinese population of Tibet will become Tibetans even before the People's Republic is swept into history's dust bin.

[ellisonz]

5. Historically the exact opposite opinion is true.

The latest survey by the Pew Global Attitudes Project – conducted in China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States, from March 31-May 14, 20061 – finds that the Japanese and Chinese tend to associate a number of negative characteristics with one another, and tend not to see certain positive traits in one another. Both publics consider the other competitive, as well as greedy and arrogant; neither sees the other as honest or generous.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2006/09/21/publics-of-asian-powers-hold-negative-views-of-one-another/

71% of Japanese dislike the Chinese. The Chinese are seen as cheaters, and that is dishonorable, and a cause of a loss of face, whereas the Chinese are mostly still upset that Japan has not apologized for WWII.

I tend to hold the same prejudice as the Japanese personally (Japanese step-mother). I do not believe what China has done to turn itself into an economic and political powerhouse is sustainable. I think they are in for a big fall once the world grows sick of their games and lets them fall face first into the mud.

Have you ever seen the Sand Pebbles with Steve McQueen or Charlton Heston in 55 Days at Peking? The Chinese are seen as sniveling, arrogant, and ultimately stupid.

They may win the battle, but they lose the war. :hide:

[AlecBGreen]

7. I can attest to the widespread hatred of the Japanese by Chinese

My wife is Chinese and often argues with her peers over their unfounded hatred and stereotyping. Very frustrating and sad :(

[ellisonz]

8. It's been this way for a thousand years too.

The Japanese need to bite the bullet and apologize, but I don't exactly trust the PRC to act in anyone's best interest but their own.

[SidDithers]

3. K&R...

Thanks for posting.

Sid

[ellisonz]

6. You're welcome!

Unrest is spreading. It's particularly interesting that seems to be more related to economic rights, than religious. :(

[xchrom]

9. Recommend

[Odin2005]

10. The PRC is engaging in outright genocide in Tibet.

I've heard they are deporting Tibetans and diluting the remaining ones with Chinese colonists. :grr: