McClatchy: China orders resettlement of thousands of Tibetans

[babylonsister]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/world/17185682.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_world

China orders resettlement of thousands of Tibetans
By Tim Johnson
McClatchy Newspapers


ZENGSHOL, Tibet - In a massive campaign that recalls the socialist engineering of an earlier era, the Chinese government has relocated some 250,000 Tibetans - nearly one-tenth of the population - from scattered rural hamlets to new "socialist villages," ordering them to build new housing largely at their own expense and without their consent.

The government calls the year-old project the "comfortable housing program," and its stated aim is to present a more modern face for this ancient region, which China has controlled since 1950.

It claims that the new housing on main roads, sometimes only a mile from previous homes, will enable small farmers and herders to have access to schools and jobs, as well as better health care and hygiene.

But the broader aim seems to be remaking Tibet - a region with its own culture, language and religious traditions - in order to have firmer political control over its population. It comes as China prepares for an influx of millions of tourists in the run-up to next year's Summer Olympic Games.

A vital element in the strategy is to displace a revered leader, the Dalai Lama, now 71, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for advocating resistance to the communist government. The government hopes to replace him after he dies with a state-appointed successor, and in the meantime it's opened the gates of Tibet to greater numbers of ethnic Han Chinese and tightened control of religious activity.

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[EFerrari]

1. They will never unmake Tibet although may people will suffer. n/t

[JVS]

2. I don't get this Tibet has been controlled since 1950 thing

I've seen maps going bact to the 1800' showing Tibet as part of China. Was tibet able to claim independence during the chaos of WWII or something?

[dave_p]

3. 1913

During China's Republican revolution, as things started falling apart under Sun's successor Yuan Shikai. Hardly nationhood since time immemorial.

[Odin2005]

4. Tibet was also an independent entity during the middle ages, IIRC.

[dave_p]

5. So was Tuscany

And Aragon, and Burgundy. Stuff happens.

[KittyWampus]

6. It takes the depravity and corruption of the Chinese govt. to make the current GOP look

not so bad.

Actually, considering the direction the GOP has the USA heading, you'd think they were using China as a model.

[babylonsister]

7. That's my fear; is this where we're headed? nt

[IronLionZion]

8. I doubt the GOP cares if we have housing nt

[crispini]

9. My heart breaks for Tibet.

Such a beautiful place and a unique culture and form of Buddhism ....

[Chulanowa]

10. I don't miss it too much.

Prior to the Chinese invasion, Tibet was a despotic theocratic monarchy that worked much like Tzarist Russia. Chinese rule isn't an improvement of course, but I would seriously doubt that a return to Lamaist rule would be a step forward for Tibet.