DP Tool Club 15/CD_ASCQ_15_070894.iso/vrac/wtn_0594.zip/WTN-0531.NWS

Text File | 1994-06-06 | 31KB | 546 lines

------------------------   World Tibet Network News   ----------------------
   Published by:     The Canada-Tibet Committee
   Editorial Board:  Brian Given <[e-mail]>
                     Nima Dorjee <[e-mail]>
                     Conrad Richter <[e-mail]>
                     Tseten Samdup <[e-mail]>
   Submissions and subscriptions to:
                     [e-mail]
                     or fax to: [phone]  (U.K.)
   Send us your comments, announcements, news or items for discussion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISSUE ID: 94/05/31  18:00 GMT           Compiled by Nima Dorjee
==========================================================================
1. The Price Is Rights
2. Dolma Tsamchoe, Tibetan Lady Oracle, Gets Eight Years in Prison
3. Tibetan dance troupe from Lhasa performs in Vienna
4. U.S. China Trade  - VOA Report
5. "Song for Tibet" will be aired on May 31, 8:00pm. EST
6. Canada Tibet Committee Launches Parliamentary Blitz
7. China to promote Tibetan economy
8. Fleeing Tibet
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1. The Price Is Rights
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forwarded by: [e-mail]

By Mary McGrory

    Nancy Pelosi is indeed "the gentle lady from California" as she is ritually
addressed on the floor of the House. She is also a good friend of President
Clinton's. But when he did a reverse on trade with China, she let him have it.
    Pelosi, a Democrat who leads a bipartisan group of House human rights
advocates, heard that the president would, after all, extend most favored nation
(MFN) status to the unrepentant China, went on "McNeil-Lehrer NewsHour," and
said just about the meanest thing you can about Bill Clinton - that his policies
are President George Bush's revisited.
    She was ecstatic last year when Clinton told the House, a hotbed of human
rights advocates, that it did not need to pass a law making MFN extension
conditional on progress on human rights. He issued his own executive order
forbidding any further favorable treatment until China mended its ways.
    But China made the odd gesture here and there - and often canceled it out
with further repression. And Clinton, making the baffling point that the policy
had not worked - neither did the Ten Commandments - ate crow for the dragon.
    Pelosi said bitterly that it was "comparable to (President) Ronald Reagan's
certification of human rights progress in El Salvador" at the time of the death
squads. Democratic leaders objected: Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell
(Maine),House Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) and House Majority Whip
David Bonior (Mich.).
    It was not just the decision itself that bothered Pelosi. She found the
language offensive, too, an echo of Chinese government prose.
    The tone was almost apologetic. It was as if Clinton were a doctor who had
prescribed a remedy for a nation with a bad case of tyranny. It had not helped
and he sought leave to try something else.
    Republicans got just what they wanted, a break for big business with the
chance to trash the decision as a turnabout on Clinton's campaign promise to
reverse Bush's policy of "coddling criminals" after the slaughter in Tiananmen
Square almost exactly five years ago.
    Human rights never really had a chance, not when put in the context of a
contest with trade, even though the Chinese had an $18 billion advantage. Just
say "jobs" and most political knees go weak. It was always a reach, and when
President Jimmy Carter made it policy, he was startled by its instant
popularity. Reagan put an end to the nonsense. His first secretary of state,
Alexander Haig, announced at his confirmation hearings that terrorism would
dislodge human rights as a first foreign policy consideration.
     Clinton has not said so in so many words, but he has made it plain that
trade will supersede human rights on his agenda.The human rights policy for all
intents and purposes, has been retired. He has given up our claim to be unique
among nations, as privileged and blessed but with official compassion for the
less fortunate. Clinton loved the idea. It's just the execution that is beyond
him. What he seems to be saying is that we cannot afford human rights.
    Says Pelosi, "The Chinese think money is everything with us." Human rights
advocates were ecstatic last year over the executive order, because, Pelosi
enthused at the time, "As long as we are unified, the Chinese will get the
message."

   In his statement last week, Clinton conceded that "serious human rights
abuses continue in China, including the arrest and detention of those who
peacefully voice their opinions and the repression of Tibet's religious and
cultural traditions." His solution: to "delink human rights from the annual
extension of most favored nation trading status for China."
    In other words, we must humor the beast, because if we do not, it will give
us trouble on North Korea. Besides, members of his administration swarmed over
China, all last winter, giving winks and nods to local merchants. When U.S.
businessmen gave Secretary of State Warren Christopher a hard time in Beijing
about human rights, and no one in the White House even whispered a reprimand,
the Chinese knew they were home free.
   Bush always maintained that the Chinese act better if you kowtow to them and
Clinton is following in his footsteps. History suggests that appeasement always
inspires them to find something even more obnoxious to do. They continue to
belch fire about their hydrogen bomb, sell arms to outlaw nations, keep
dissidents in jail and use prison labor.
    But realpolitik carried the day, and Clinton is being patted on the back by
Democrats who say he did the "wise" thing. Nobody claims it was right.
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2. Dolma Tsamchoe, Tibetan Lady Oracle, Gets Eight Years in Prison
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [e-mail] (SYSTEM OPERATOR)

TIBET HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE

DHARAMSALA (INDIA), May 31, 1994 (Human Rights Desk) --Dolma Tsamcho, a
58-year old lady Oracle and now a prisoner of conscience, has been sentenced
to a 8-year "reform through labour" term at the Drapchi Prison in
Lhasa by the Chinese authorities in the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region."
She was arrested in April, 1993 reportedly for statements made about Tibetan
independence while in a trance.  Much of the details and circumstances
about her arrest in this Update, was given by her third daughter, 24-year old
Zomkyi, who fled Tibet and reached Dharamsala, India in January 1994.

Dolma Tsamchoe, a 58-year old mother, born at Ruthog (Ch: Ri Tao)
in Maldrogungkar district, Lhasa City, is a farmer by profession -
she has been so since 1959 - and until her arrest, managed to make
her ends meet.  Her husband's name is Tratog and they have six
children.  The eldest is 30 years old and makes his living in
Lhasa.  The fourth child also is in Lhasa.

Ruthog is a remote countryside with little outside contacts but in
a region which has seen several different manifestations supporting
Tibetan independence in the recent years.  Dolma Tsamchoe has
always exhibited deep reverence for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
all the time expressed support for Him as the supreme leader of the
Tibetan people, according to her daughter.  She had often been - as
she continues to be - in constant trance, believed to be a medium
of a local deity, in which state she had made pointed fact-to-face
accusations against the culprits.  According to Zomkyi, her
mother's fingers would point at the nose of the guilty persons -
against persons guilty of causing damage to the well being of her
village, those committing theft and robbery, Chinese "running dogs"
elements, those slaughtering or capturing innocent wild lives, and
objecting to or stopping such practices.

In 1993, Dolma Tsamchoe reportedly toured seven villages around
Ruthog where in front of assembled crowds she shouted "Tibet is
independent", "His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and not the Chinese, is
the Supreme Leader of Tibet, the Land of Snow", "Independence of
Tibet is coming soon, all Tsampa eating Tibetans, unite!" etc.  She
was believed to have raised the above slogans while in the stage of
a trance.

Because the god-fearing local authorities did not know what to do
about it, the head of her Work Brigade reported her actions to the
Bhalog (Ch: Palo Qu) and Maldrogungkar district authorities, who in
turn reported the matter to the "Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)"
authorities.  Under derict orders reportedly issued by the "TAR"
authorities in Lhasa, Dolma Tsamchoe was arrested in April 1993.
Latest reports from Ruthog also state that her son-in-law, Konchog
Tendhar and her brother, Jamyang were arrested around the same
time.

The detainees were first held at the Maldrogungkar District Prison
and were later transferred to Gutsa prison in Lhasa.  Jamyang and
Konchog Tendhar were reportedly released from Gutsa prison though
reasons given for their release have not been known.  However,
Dolma Tsamchoe, charged with "counter-revolutionary propaganda"
activities was sentenced to a eight-year prison term to be served
by "reform through labour," according to Zomkyi.  Dolma Tsamchoe
now serves her term at the Drapchi Prison in Lhasa, also known as
"TAR" Prison No. 1.

At Drapchi prison, Dolma Tsamchoe has been forced to wear the
Chinese prison uniform against her wishes, said Zomkyi.  "It would
be so humiliating for my mother who has never worn any other
clothes than the Tibetan dress," she added.  Her relatives and
children who went to see Dolma Tsamchoe at the prison, found her to
be still courageous and determined, telling them not to worry about
her state.

Released by
HUMAN RIGHTS DESK


------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.    Tibetan dance troupe from Lhasa performs in Vienna
------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Lobsang Gyalpo

VIENNA, May 31, 1994 --A Tibetan Dance Troupe from Lhasa, Tibet,
performed in Vienna yesterday. Several Tibetans living in Austria
as well as some Austrian supporters, carrying flags of free Tibet
and placards, stood in front of the entrance to the theatre and
distributed leaflets to almost everyone that came to the performance.

    In his opening statement, Prof. Fritz Moravec, the organizer, stated
    that the performances would present the centuries old culture, dance and
    music of Tibet. Unfortunately reality did not bear this out. The
    actual performances were straight out of Beijing opera.

    The first performance was titled "The great religious ceremony in
    Snowland" and had to do with Monlam, the Great Prayer Festival. Several
    Tibetans dressed as monks were arranged in typical western orchestra
    fashion on the stage - drums to the left, flutes in the middle,
    cymbals on the right, etc. The 'monks' themselves were all seated on
    chairs instead of sitting cross legged. Two drums on stage had nothing
    to do with Tibet. These drums were placed with their skins - contact sides
    - in the horizontal position. They presented images of Africa or the
    Carribbean rather than Tibet. The coup de grace to this farce was the
    appearance of a monk conductor who conducted the music in exactly
    the same fashion as would a maestro conducting a western classical
    music orchestra. The music itself was a mixture between Tibetan
    monastic music, western classical music and rock music.

    The rest of the performance consisted of 15 folk dances and solo songs
    as well as pieces from Tibetan folk opera.  Apart from three performances
    that were fairly authentic, the rest of the show was pure
    Beijing opera as mentioned already. The costumes were not authentic.
    In one dance, the female performers were dressed in some kind of
    transparent see-through material. The dance movements were copies
    of ballet steps. All that was missing to cap it off was the Chinese
    flag being held high while the group sang, "The East is Red".

    All in all, the event was a mockery of Tibetan culture and an insult
    to Tibetan Buddhism.

    The event in Austria was organized by Prof. Fritz Moravec, an Austrian
    who frequently leads tourists on trips to Tibet and is also actively
    involved with the Shoey school in Lhasa. Prof Morawec is also known
    to the Tibetan Community in Austria. However, it was only through
    coiincidence that the Tibetans in Austria became aware that this
    event was to take place.

    A request to Prof. Moravec from the Tibetans in Austria to meet
    with the Tibetan members of the Dance troupe was flatly refused. Prior
    to the event, absolutely no information was made available as to the
    arrival of the dance troupe and their whereabouts in Vienna. Tickets
    to the event were to sent out to a selected audience. However, as
    there were several empty seats, several Tibetans living in Austria
    were able to witness the performances.

    After the show, the Tibetans in Austria and their supporters waited
    till the dance troupe came out to board their bus. Amid cries of
    "Tashi Delek", one of the Tibetan members of the dance troupe
    said,
            "You know we are unhappy in Tibet."

    As the bus pulled away, several hands could be seen waving from the
    back of the bus.


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4. U.S. China Trade  - VOA Report
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded by: [e-mail]

Washington, May 29, 1994
By: Victor Beattie
Source: VOA

INTRO:  SOME DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS --
OPPOSED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO DELINK TRADE WITH
CHINA FROM BEIJING'S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY -- ARE SEEKING
LEGISLATION IMPOSING SELECTED SANCTIONS.  V-O-A'S VICTOR
BEATTIE REPORTS A LEADER OF THE LEGISLATIVE DRIVE HOPES IT
WILL FORCE CHINA TO RELEASE MORE POLITICAL PRISONERS:

TEXT:  CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY PELOSI -- A FREQUENT CRITIC OF
CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD -- SAYS THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT
IN CONGRESS FOR SELECTED SANCTIONS ON CHINESE IMPORTS.  SUCH
LEGISLATION COULD TARGET GOVERNMENT-OWNED ENTERPRISES SUCH
AS THOSE RUN BY THE MILITARY WHILE SPARING THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.

MS. PELOSI EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
DECISION LAST WEEK TO DELINK HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRADE IN
EXTENDING MOST-FAVORED TRADE STATUS TO CHINA.  IT WAS A
MAJOR POLICY REVERAL.  MR. CLINTON LINKED THE TWO LAST YEAR
SAYING CHINA MUST SHOW SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN SEVEN
AREAS OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO GAIN AN EXTENSION OF M-F-N.

THE PRESIDENT LAST WEEK INDICATED PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND
HE BELIEVES HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA WILL IMPROVE AS TRADE
RELATIONS CONTINUE AND EXPAND.

CONGRESSWOMAN PELOSI -- IN SPEAKING WITH N-B-C CORRESPONDENT
TIM RUSSERT -- SAYS MR. CLINTON BROKE A CAMPAIGN PROMISE AND
WENT BACK ON HIS OWN EXECUTIVE ORDER OF 1993:

                     ///PELOSI ACTUALITY///

         WE WILL NOT BE REVERSING THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION.
         WE WILL BE PUTTING -- BECAUSE M-F-N COULD BE
         DEFEATED -- BUT REALISTICALLY WE WOULD BE PUTTING
         OTHER SANCTIONS IN OUR LEGISLATION TO PUT PRESSURE
         ON THE CHINESE TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS.  (RUSSERT)
         DO YOU HAVE THE VOTES TO IMPOSE THOSE SANCTIONS?
         (PELOSI) I HAVE NEVER ASSUMED ANYTHING AS FAR AS MY
         COLLEAGUES ARE CONCERNED. BUT -- I DO KNOW WE HAVE
         THE ARGUEMENTS AND WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT
         IN THE CONGRESS.

                       ///END ACTUALITY///

CONGRESSWOMAN PELOSI SAYS THE AMERICAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY
HAS CREATED WHAT SHE CALLS A MYTH THAT AMERICANS ARE JOB
WINNERS IN THE TRADE DEBATE.  SHE SAYS THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
ONLY TWO-PERCENT OF ALL AMERICAN EXPORTS WENT TO CHINA LAST
YEAR WHILE 40-PERCENT OF ALL CHINESE EXPORTS CAME TO THE
UNITED STATES.  SHE ALSO POINTS TO THE TRADE IMBALANCE IN
CHINA'S FAVOR.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER RICHARD GEPHARDT SUPPORTS MS. PELOSI'S
EFFORT SAYING SELECTED SANCTIONS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST:

                    ///GEPHARDT ACTUALITY///

         IF YOU THINK THIS IS NOT A GOOD POLICY OF LINKING
         TRADE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK
         AT SOUTH AFRICA WHERE WE INSISTED IN CONGRESS ON
         LINKING THE TWO AND WE FINALLY GOT ACTION TOWARD
         DEMOCRACY.

                       ///END ACTUALITY///

CONGRESSMAN GEPHARDT INSISTS THAT TRADE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ARE
IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE.

HOWEVER -- DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BILL BRADLEY DISAGREES SAYING
THE PRESIDENT MADE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR A NUMBER OF
GEOPOLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REASONS.  HE SAYS CHINA -- WHICH
HOLDS VETO POWER IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- WILL BE
COUNTED ON IF SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA OVER ITS
SUSPECTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM ARE SOUGHT:

                     ///BRADLEY ACTUALITY///

         IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC GROUNDS IT WAS THE RIGHT
         DECISION. IT WAS THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY OF THE
         WORLD.  WE HAVE 200-THOUSAND JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY
         ALREADY TIED TO EXPORTS TO CHINA.  THAT WILL ONLY
         INCREASE IN THE YEARS AHEAD AND I THINK THERE'S A
         BETTER WAY TO PURSUE HUMAN RIGHTS.

                       ///END ACTUALITY///

SENATOR BRADLEY SAYS HIS POSITION IS A CHANGE FROM THE PAST.
HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE THREAT OF WITHHOLDING THE 2000
OLYMPICS FROM BEIJING AND EXPOSURE TO OTHER CULTURES WILL
WORK TO IMPROVE CHINA'S RECORD.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SD

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5.   "Song for Tibet" will be aired on May 31, 8:00pm. EST
-------------------------------------------------------------------
National Film Board of Canada, Genie Award winning film "Song for
Tibet" will be shown across Canada on Vision TV Tuesday May 31 at
8:00 pm.

Directed by Anne Henderson, "Song for Tibet" follows two young
Tibetans as they travel back to the refugee settlements in India
and meet recently arrived refugees from Tibet.  When the two return
to Canada they take part in preparations for the Dalai Lama's first
visit to Ottawa.

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6.   Canada Tibet Committee Launches Parliamentary Blitz
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Forwarded by: Thubten Samdup ([e-mail])
The Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal
branches, has launched a campaign to meet each of Canada's Members
of Parliament in a national effort to develop a strong support base
for Tibet within the Canadian Parliament.

The campaign is centred around the rebuilding of the Parliamentary
Friends of Tibet (PFT), a non-partisan organization begun in 1989.
The PFT lost many of its members during Canada's last federal
election in October 1993.

"We believe that a strong PFT can encourage the Canadian government
to use its good relationship with China to push for change in
Tibet", said Thubten Samdup, CTC National President and North
American representative to the Tibetan exile parliament in
Dharmsala.  "Such a measure would be a tangible indication of the
Canadian government's commitment to human rights.  The timing of
the Blitz launch is significant because Canada is currently
involved in a Foreign Policy Review" Samdup added.

Preparations for the Parliamentary Blitz have been going on for
several months.  Bilingual materials have been compiled for both
volunteers and MPs.  Group leaders have scheduled "lobbying teams"
each comprised of one Tibetan and one-non Tibetan and coordinated
transportation between Montreal and Ottawa as well as Vancouver and
the outlying areas of British Columbia.  Appointment confirmations
are being made by CTC Ottawa members, following initial contact
letters sent out by Montreal.

The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic
Development, an independent organization created and funded by the
Canadian Parliament, has provided training for CTC volunteers who
are meeting MPs each Wednesday and Thursday.  The Blitz will
continue until the June adjournment and will begin again in
September with a reception planned for Ottawa in late fall to
welcome all the PFT members and their staff.

The PFT issued the invitation for the first visit of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama to Ottawa in 1990, has organized two parliamentary
hearings on Tibet, regularly addresses rallies, and has brought up
Tibet in the House of Commons on several occasions.  PFT member,
Senator Con DiNino sits on the seven member committee formed
following the World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet which took
place in New Delhi in March 1994.  The committee was created to
follow-up on the Convention resolutions.
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7.  China to promote Tibetan economy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "c. richter" <[e-mail]>

   HONG KONG, May 30 (UPI) -- China plans to give Tibet the most flexible
economic policies in the country in an attempt to open the backward region to
foreign investment, a report said Monday.
   News of the reformed policies comes on the heels of a report that seven
Tibetans were arrested by Chinese authorities for protesting against increases
in Tibet.
   A London-based Tibet support group says more than 100 people began a protest
in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, Friday.
   The seven people were arrested after shouting anti-Chinese slogans during
another protest Saturday, the support group said.
   Although China has longed claimed sovereignty over Tibet, there is still a
vocalindependence movement led by the Dalai Lama, the region's exiled religious
leader.
   With the new economic reforms, China, which maintains tight military control
over Tibet, is trying to boost Lhasa's economy, which is one of the region's
poorest, a pro-China newspaper in Hong Kong said.
   Few details were available on the new policies, but an authoritative source
said Tibet will have more economic latitude than China's various special
econimic investment zones, the Chinese language Wen Wei Po newspaper said.
   Tibet's new policies will be particularly attractive to businessmen in
neighboring South Asia, the source quoted by Wen Wei Po newspaper said.
   Tibet shares its southern border with India, Nepal and Bhutan and Burma.
   China's special economic zones, which are all located along the country's
coast, have attracted large amounts of foreign investment by offering
preferential terms for taxes, tariffs and other regulations.
   Remote Tibet, however, is one of the most backward regions of China. Tibet
occupies one-eighth of China's land but the mountainous region has a population
of only 2.96 million. The average annual income was only $60 in 1993.
  Tourism is one of Tibet's few industries, but unrest in the region and travel
permits that are hard to come by limited tourist-generated revenue.
  The United States and many other nations have repeatedly criticized China for
its suppression of the Tibetan people and their culture and religion.
   China crushed an independence uprising in Tibet in the 1950s and still
ocassionally uses force to deal with protests.
  But the Wen Wei Po source said that China had invested billions of dollars in
Tibet, andthe investment had laid the groundwork for new preferential policies.
   China will not implement the preferential policies in other autonomous
regions because they do not possess Tibet's "special characteristics," Wen Wei
Po said.
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8.      Fleeing Tibet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright, 1994. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By ARTHUR MAX
 Associated Press Writer
   NAMCHE BAZAR, Nepal (AP) -- Traders and smugglers were the original travelers
on the perilous trail across the Himalayas. Now it is Tibetan refugees who
travel for days, sometimes weeks, to the Nepalese border.
   Refugees climb the 19,000-foot Nangpa La Pass, traversing the world's highest
mountain range, and trudge over glaciers, the ice cracking under their feet.
   They scramble across a valley of loose boulders -- like walking on bowling
balls, a Western traveler said; ford icy, waist-high rivers, and follow yak
trails on precipitous mountainsides.
   Thirty-five years after an uprising against Chinese rule failed and the Dalai
Lama fled to India with 100,000 devotees, his people continue following him into
exile.
   The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says 3,500 Tibetans passed through
Katmandu, capital of Nepal, in 1993 on their way to India, 1,000 more than in
each of the previous two years. Hundreds leave Tibet every year by other routes.
   By June 3, President Clinton must decide whether to renew China's
preferential trade privileges with the United States or to impose sanctions
because of its human rights record. Protecting "Tibet's distinctive religious
and cultural heritage" is one of the criteria he set.
   Evidence from newly arrived refugees indicates China has done nothing
recently to either improve or worsen the lot of Tibetans.
   "We don't see anything significantly new," said Tahir Ali, the U.N. refugee
agency's representative in Katmandu. "There is a continuation of the situation
that has gone on for many years."
   Few refugees complain of torture, physical abuse or harassment in the year
since Clinton put China on warning. But their stories testify to systematic
discrimination designed to deepen China's hold and crush any hope of
independence. An overwhelming presence of Chinese soldiers, police, and
plainclothes agents discourages rebellion.
   Lobsang Thokmey, a Buddhist monk from Tibet's eastern Amdo province, had been
walking 15 days when he met a reporter on the trail to Namche Bazar, a market
town and stopping point for climbers on the way to Mount Everest. A Tibetan
monastery in the town offers shelter and rest to weary refugees.
   Thokmey and his friend, Lobsang Tenpa, said they had not slept for four days.
Their faces were burned raw by the sun's rays reflected from mountain snow.
Tenpa's eyes were swollen nearly shut from the cold and lack of sleep.
   Because the Chinese had limited the number of monks who could join his
monastery and restricted the use of some sacred texts, Thokmey said through an
interpreter, the center of Tibetan scholarship had shifted to India along with
the Dalai Lama and the most learned monks.
   He left Tibet, the monk said, so he could "study hard to become a good human
being."
   Other refugees encountered along the Himalayan trail just inside Nepal spoke
of being denied jobs, of paying 30 percent of their livestock as tax, of poor
education for native Tibetans.
   "You need good connections for a job or to get into school," said Dhondup
Tsering, 20, from the region near Lhasa, the capital.
   China claims sovereignty over Tibet since the 13th century, but Tibetans say
they enjoyed de facto independence much of that time.
   The Chinese characterize their actions in the remote land as civilizing a
backward, underdeveloped region inhabited by a primitive people who lived for
centuries under a theocratic, feudalistic regime of lamas, or priests.
   Ethnic Han Chinese encouraged by economic incentives to move to Tibet now run
the largest businesses and hold the most powerful administrative posts, refugees
say. Lhasa, Tibet's ancient capital, is becoming a modern city of steel and
concrete.
   So many people are leaving Tibet that the Dalai Lama says the Chinese may
become more numerous than native Tibetans, threatening the culture.
   The refugees move mainly at night in order to evade Chinese and Nepalese
police. Most wear thin-soled Chinese-made sneakers, whatever the terrain, and
carry only small bags containing food and a few possessions.
   Earlier in May, six refugees were lost on the Nangpa Glacier for five days.
All lost fingers or toes to frostbite.
   Nepal allows Tibetans to pass through the country, but not to stay. Corrupt
Nepalese policemen in the mountains often arrest refugees to extract bribes and
turn back those who cannot pay.
   Many refugees travel in groups of 25 to 30 led by Tibetan exiles who charge
up to $125 each. The U.N. refugee agency calls the guides smugglers.
   A hard three-day walk from Namche Bazar takes the refugees to the nearest
vehicular road and a 12-hour bus ride to Katmandu, where the Dalai Lama's office
runs a transit camp. U.N. officials interview newcomers to make sure they are
genuine refugees.
   About half of the new exiles are monks or nuns. Others are small children
being taken to India by relatives, even strangers, to attend schools operated by
the Dalai Lama's administration. Most of the children will never see their
families again.
   Tampa Tsering, an undersized 12-year-old wearing an oversized "Chicago Bulls"
baseball cap made in China, seemed to revel in the adventure as he made his way
down the mountain trail with two relatives. But when asked whether his parents
had given him the cap, he burst into tears without answering.
   The border traffic goes in both directions. A 23-year-old who gave his name
only as Dawa said he had just spent three months in Tibet with his parents, who
sent him to India nine years ago for an education.
   "People are afraid to speak openly," he said. "Young people talk in whispers.
The idea of independence is only a seed."
   "There is nothing we can do," said Yishi Dolma, a 23-year-old woman who hopes
to go to school for the first time. "Tibet is already captured by China. The
Chinese are very powerful."
   End Adv for Sun May 29
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--- GoldED 2.41+/#1067
 * Origin: BODY DHARMA * Moderator, TIBET_NEWS - DharmaNet (96:101/33)