How much are we involved in combating the China propaganda?
cyberactivism
using tech
by Tashi Samphel,
27 May 2009
China is using the internet against the Tibetan cause
The Chinese economy is booming and the world seems to be relying too much on
Chinese products. I also am very fond of electronic goods, and ironically most
of electronic products are labeled "Made in China". I own an HP laptop and an
internet data card which is again made in China — I use it for
promoting the Tibetan cause.
Due to the current status of China in this world and its booming economy, I
really doubt whether the Tibetan issue can be resolved easily. I feel
economic progress has made China very powerful and influential in the global
scenario: As a saying goes, "More Power, More Prestige". So I would like to
depict some points where China has utilized its power against the Tibetan cause.
China pressured the Belgium government regarding His Holiness the Dalai
Lama's visit to Belgium, and they also put pressure on German chancellor Angela
Markel and France President Nicolas Sarkozy regarding their meeting with His
Holiness. Even the United Nations is so terribly cautious of Chinese power.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon recently visited Sri Lanka's affected
areas and said he was so moved by the suffering of the people there. But my
question is "will he ever think to visit Tibet to check the horrible
situation and the deplorable conditions of Tibetans under the brutal Chinese
rule."
Chinese power is spreading throughout this globe and at a very
fast rate like an epidemic. CNN made an apology to China regarding its
broadcasting of the 2008 Tibet crisis. The South African government barred His
Holiness' visa to visit South Africa under the influence of Chinese power. So
China is becoming very powerful and everyone seems to be acting senselessly
under its pressure.
China is a one-party state and they have absolute control over the whole
system in China. China is reshaping its new media presence and is spending
hugely on it to reach the world audience with views and context they call
“the true Chinese Voices”. From the recent news, the Chinese embassy is
distributing DVDs and inviting dignitaries to an art exhibition “Tibet
Past and Present”. In the Hindustan Times Newspaper they advertised their
cause in four colorful pages stating “Anniversary of 50 Years —
Tibet's Liberation from Serfdom”.
What can Tibetans do?
In my view, most of the younger Tibetan generation and educated people use
the internet, especially for fun such as using social networking sites like Hi5.com or
Facebook.com, and chatting with friends through instant messaging like Yahoo
Messenger, Skype or MSN messenger — but I wonder how many of us ever use
the internet as a platform to raise awareness about the Tibetan cause.
I really feel there is lack of responsibility in our younger generation and
educated people in writing articles and especially online articles in
response to China propaganda. Even our Tibetan government is not
handling those issues. Sometime I wonder, does our government in exile have
a specific strategy to resolve these kinds of issues?
Finally, I suggest to our younger generation and educated ones, to create their
own blogs and write more and more on the Tibet issue, to keep our struggle alive
forever.
Thank You
Tashi Samphel,
TPPRC, New Delhi
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