| The 2008 Olympics and China What the Olympics are for by Laura Salinger |
As the 2008 Summer Olympics draw near, China remains under the microscope as Tibetan supporters and
the international community criticize what they are calling egregious human rights violations in occupied
Tibet. Additionally, the Chinese government has also been criticized for its continued relationship with Sudan,
a country where genocide has left thousands dead or fleeing the Darfur region. The U.S., meanwhile, holds its
breath as it weighs support for Tibet with the economic prowess of China and the hopes and dreams associated
with the much-celebrated Olympics. At the time this was written, it was still undecided whether Pres. Bush would
boycott the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.
The Chinese government and press adamantly deny China’s role in any human rights violations. They have
painted Tibetan protests as calculated uprisings planned to coincide with the Olympics. They have labeled the
Tibetan Youth Congress, an organization linked to the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile in India, a “terrorist
organization” and have rebuffed calls for a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. They claim that appeals made by the
Dalai Lama after the initial Lhasa violence were an attempt to trigger further unrest in Tibet.
While China’s actions in Tibet are now in the spotlight, it is not a new struggle. The Tibetan occupation (a
notion that China does not recognize, saying Tibet is not “occupied,” but instead is a historically proven region
of China) is a subject that has reared its head for decades. “Free Tibet” is not a recently coined statement, but
one that has found itself on many a protestor’s tongue since China invaded Tibet in 1949-50.
As an Asian American publication that promotes readership from all of the diverse ethnicities and cultures of
Asia that are represented in Wisconsin, the Tibetan/Chinese situation is one that is admittedly controversial, one
maybe that is easier to avoid. It is a volatile situation marked by passionate dissenting opinions, which are
confounded by sensitive political and economical considerations. Still, it is one that deserves attention.
In Madison, it is the Tibetan population that is currently the most vocal about the Olympics in China, the
Olympic torch route, and the political environment in Tibet. In a concerted effort to present all sides, this writer
contacted two Chinese organizations in South Central Wisconsin and the Consulate General of the People’s
Republic of China in Chicago. They did not return our phone calls or e-mails.
Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Abbot and Director of Deer Park Buddhist Center and Monastery in Oregon,
Wisconsin, offered his stance on the current situation. Geshe Sopa is considered worldwide, to be one of the
great living spiritual masters of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Deer Park is a celebrated Buddhist center and
monastery focused on teaching Tibetan Buddhism and culture. Here is what Geshe Sopa had to say:
“The human rights violations in Tibet since the People’s Republic of China invaded and occupied Tibet, are
very real, and very serious. The world needs to know about the oppression and cultural genocide that has been
and is still going on in Tibet. The Tibetan people, in and out of Tibet, have been patient. But those in Tibet are
human and can no longer endure the oppressive conditions under which they have been living. So, they are
now demonstrating and protesting. Some say it is wrong to connect the Olympics with human rights violations. I
don’t agree. There is a very strong connection. Human rights are an international issue. The Olympics are
supposed to be an international forum of harmony among nations. There can be no real harmony while the host
nation is guilty of gross human rights violations, not only in Tibet, but also in many other areas as well.
“While everyone is watching China during this Olympic year, the Tibetan people, through their
demonstrations, are crying out to the world, and particularly to the world leaders, to urge the Chinese
government to enter into face-to-face dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai [Lama] and his representatives in
order to work out a peaceful resolution to this 50-year-old crisis. His Holiness has been asking for such dialogue
for many years, but has always been rebuffed. This is an appropriate time for the Tibetan people to call out, for
the world to listen, and for the Chinese government to make good on their word of bringing true human rights to
all of its people.”
The Wisconsin Tibetan Association has also been very vocal about the upcoming Olympics and protests in
Tibet. They have held a number of candlelight vigils in support of their native homeland. Wisconsin Tibetan
Association Vice President Jampa Khedup said that it is time, once and for all, to end the bloodshed in Tibet.
There are huge human rights abuses occurring, and not just in Tibet,” Khedup said. “It is time to end the
violence.”
Khedup said that the Wisconsin Tibetan Association is strongly opposed to the Olympic torch traveling
through Tibet, which is set for June.
“China would like to portray to the world that Tibet is part of China,” Khedup said. “If you have studied the
history of Tibet at all, you would know that is not true. We have our own language, our own culture, and our own
tradition. We have our own identity.”
Khedup was a little more tight-lipped when asked if he thought the U.S. should boycott the Olympics entirely,
saying that the Association isn’t calling for a complete boycott. But he asserted that there are differing opinions
in the Tibetan community on that issue. He did offer up a reminder about what the Olympics are really all about.
“The Olympics are not just a game,” Khedup said. “The Olympics are about friendship, harmony, and
freedom.”
the international community criticize what they are calling egregious human rights violations in occupied
Tibet. Additionally, the Chinese government has also been criticized for its continued relationship with Sudan,
a country where genocide has left thousands dead or fleeing the Darfur region. The U.S., meanwhile, holds its
breath as it weighs support for Tibet with the economic prowess of China and the hopes and dreams associated
with the much-celebrated Olympics. At the time this was written, it was still undecided whether Pres. Bush would
boycott the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.
The Chinese government and press adamantly deny China’s role in any human rights violations. They have
painted Tibetan protests as calculated uprisings planned to coincide with the Olympics. They have labeled the
Tibetan Youth Congress, an organization linked to the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile in India, a “terrorist
organization” and have rebuffed calls for a dialogue with the Dalai Lama. They claim that appeals made by the
Dalai Lama after the initial Lhasa violence were an attempt to trigger further unrest in Tibet.
While China’s actions in Tibet are now in the spotlight, it is not a new struggle. The Tibetan occupation (a
notion that China does not recognize, saying Tibet is not “occupied,” but instead is a historically proven region
of China) is a subject that has reared its head for decades. “Free Tibet” is not a recently coined statement, but
one that has found itself on many a protestor’s tongue since China invaded Tibet in 1949-50.
As an Asian American publication that promotes readership from all of the diverse ethnicities and cultures of
Asia that are represented in Wisconsin, the Tibetan/Chinese situation is one that is admittedly controversial, one
maybe that is easier to avoid. It is a volatile situation marked by passionate dissenting opinions, which are
confounded by sensitive political and economical considerations. Still, it is one that deserves attention.
In Madison, it is the Tibetan population that is currently the most vocal about the Olympics in China, the
Olympic torch route, and the political environment in Tibet. In a concerted effort to present all sides, this writer
contacted two Chinese organizations in South Central Wisconsin and the Consulate General of the People’s
Republic of China in Chicago. They did not return our phone calls or e-mails.
Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Abbot and Director of Deer Park Buddhist Center and Monastery in Oregon,
Wisconsin, offered his stance on the current situation. Geshe Sopa is considered worldwide, to be one of the
great living spiritual masters of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Deer Park is a celebrated Buddhist center and
monastery focused on teaching Tibetan Buddhism and culture. Here is what Geshe Sopa had to say:
“The human rights violations in Tibet since the People’s Republic of China invaded and occupied Tibet, are
very real, and very serious. The world needs to know about the oppression and cultural genocide that has been
and is still going on in Tibet. The Tibetan people, in and out of Tibet, have been patient. But those in Tibet are
human and can no longer endure the oppressive conditions under which they have been living. So, they are
now demonstrating and protesting. Some say it is wrong to connect the Olympics with human rights violations. I
don’t agree. There is a very strong connection. Human rights are an international issue. The Olympics are
supposed to be an international forum of harmony among nations. There can be no real harmony while the host
nation is guilty of gross human rights violations, not only in Tibet, but also in many other areas as well.
“While everyone is watching China during this Olympic year, the Tibetan people, through their
demonstrations, are crying out to the world, and particularly to the world leaders, to urge the Chinese
government to enter into face-to-face dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai [Lama] and his representatives in
order to work out a peaceful resolution to this 50-year-old crisis. His Holiness has been asking for such dialogue
for many years, but has always been rebuffed. This is an appropriate time for the Tibetan people to call out, for
the world to listen, and for the Chinese government to make good on their word of bringing true human rights to
all of its people.”
The Wisconsin Tibetan Association has also been very vocal about the upcoming Olympics and protests in
Tibet. They have held a number of candlelight vigils in support of their native homeland. Wisconsin Tibetan
Association Vice President Jampa Khedup said that it is time, once and for all, to end the bloodshed in Tibet.
There are huge human rights abuses occurring, and not just in Tibet,” Khedup said. “It is time to end the
violence.”
Khedup said that the Wisconsin Tibetan Association is strongly opposed to the Olympic torch traveling
through Tibet, which is set for June.
“China would like to portray to the world that Tibet is part of China,” Khedup said. “If you have studied the
history of Tibet at all, you would know that is not true. We have our own language, our own culture, and our own
tradition. We have our own identity.”
Khedup was a little more tight-lipped when asked if he thought the U.S. should boycott the Olympics entirely,
saying that the Association isn’t calling for a complete boycott. But he asserted that there are differing opinions
in the Tibetan community on that issue. He did offer up a reminder about what the Olympics are really all about.
“The Olympics are not just a game,” Khedup said. “The Olympics are about friendship, harmony, and
freedom.”
Laura Salinger is a
freelance writer based
in Madison, Wis.
freelance writer based
in Madison, Wis.