Tibet, Olympic and Hypocracy

It is heartening to know that there are so many passionate people who are showing their solidarity with the Tibetan people. This was clearly shown by the fiasco created by pro-Tibetan groups inflicted on the Olympic Torch run.


The Tibetan issue started in 1949 when the Chinese army 'invaded' Tibet. Quotation marks are used to illustrate the contended event, depending on which side one supports. Before this date, Tibet was, by all intent and purposes, an 'independent' country. This was because, although there was never an official proclaimation, at the same time, it conducted its own diplomatic arrangement with neighbouring countries without the interference of China. Hence, that period provided the stage for the current controversy.


I will not dwelve into the politics of Tibet, although I do sympathise with their cause. Tibetan has a very rich culture and their culture is being threatened with the migration of the Chinese into Tibet. However, in this latest unrest, I find it very hard to support them.


Unlike in Burma, although monks took to the streets peacefully, their protests were replied with violence by the government. That was certaninly heavy-handed. In Tibet however, there was destruction of properties and violent protests. Any government in the world would have done what the Chinese government had done - to control the violence. Scenes of police beating protestors were no different from that during the WTO meet in the US - the bastion of human rights - after violence erupted with the protestors. Similar scenes were replayed during the riots in southern France. Why was it that there were no charges of abuses in both instances?


Unfortunately, once violence is used, the protesting Tibetans cannot expect any response other than violence. What do they expect the government to do - leave them alone to destroy more properties and lives or take action to stop the rampage? Surely any government would have taken the second course of action. However if the demonstrations had been peaceful, then the Chinese government would have more alternatives and even time to let things to cool down. The option to just wait out would have been more viable and not seen as being weak and not in control. Violence only begets violence.


The Palestinians must be very envious of the Tibetans. For Israel was not even a state before it was carved out from the Arab peninsula and declared its independence in 1948; despite protests from Britain and the Arab world. Since then they had been suppressed by the Israelis. The mere actions of stone-throwing by young Palestinians, was replied with bullets from the Israeli soldiers. Was there any demonstrations and protest from the West? No. Was there any disruptions to the Olympic torch relay? No. Such hypocracy!


Attempts to disrupt the Olympic torch relay run unfortunately is not the correct way to go. This is because the Olympic movement is not at fault. The root problem is China, this year's host. Why put the Olympics to ransom? The demonstrators and protestors talked about freedom of expressions but do they subscribed to it? No. They are just trying to force their beliefs onto the rest of us - those who are apolitical and who just want to enjoy the Olympics. Why should the torch-bearer be prevented from participating the torch relay? Why should people be prevented from enjoying the joy and aspirations symbolised by the torch? Why should atheletes who had trained very hard for the last four years be prevented from participating in an apolitical event meant to bring peace and understanding to the world?

The protestors had probably forgotten about the origins of the Olympics and its ideals. Olympics was a time when warring factions of ancient Greece channel their hostilities from killing each other to something more peaceful and that is the sporting events. War was suspended. Truce was proclaimed to ensure the safe travel of the atheletics to Olympia. If ancient Greek can understand and practiced such ideals, why can't our modern civilised world do the same?

Please leave the Olympics alone. The Olympic movement is a neutral non-political movement meant to bring out the best in mankind. Lets leave it that way, so that mankind has something to look forward to in our ever bleak future of the world.

Links:
- A Short History of Tibet
- Friends of Tibet
- Tibet and China - two distinct views
- The Ancient Olympics