Jingle Bells

781 Words2 Pages

The Future of Tibet:
The Dalai Lama's role as an international celebrity, and Nobel peace prize winner, has strengthened the Tibetan cause in recent years. Portrayal of the Dalai Lama in the media, and in movies such as Seven Years in Tibet has successfully publicized the movement. It has furthermore put international pressure on China. Viewed by the outside world as an oppressor of a peaceful people, China is constantly criticized by foreign advocates and governments. This has affected China's relations with other nations. In 1993 the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of conditioning China's "most-favored-nation" status, allowing lower tariff rates. The action stated that unless China complied with the release of Tibetan prisoners, incarcerated for nonviolent expression of religion, their status would be revoked. This, along with numerous other sanctions from outside governments, have severely limited Chinese foreign policy. They can no longer get away with human rights violations without fear of economic repercussions.
The Dalai Lama's actions have also resulted in internal pressure in China. Numerous protests by Tibetan nationalists have taken form around the actions of the Dalai Lama. As recently as 2008 conflict in China has resulted on pressure to the government by Tibetans. On March 10, 2008, around five hundred monks of the Drepung monastery, attempted to march into the center of Lhasa in honor of the 49th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan revolt. They were stopped by the Chinese police, with some arrested and beaten. Meanwhile, another monks from another monastery, the Sera, were arrested in Lhasa for carrying the Tibetan Flag. Six hundred monks from Sera arrived the next day to demand the release of the ot...

... middle of paper ...

...t has been relatively ignored by the Chinese. Instead, they have taken to hard-line tactics to combat Tibetan nationalism. They hope to limit the influence of Tibetan culture as they wait for the already elderly Tenzin Gyatso to die. If the Dalai Lama seeks to solve the crisis before he dies, he needs to get China's attention, and focus on not losing the support of young Tibetan nationalists.
The future of the role of the Dalai Lama itself is uncertain. Tenzin Gyatso has stated that it us up to him on whether or not he will reincarnate after his death. Seeing the title as a remnant of the past, he is not sure if a Dalai Lama is even needed in the modern era. He sees democracy as capable of taking his place. However, the Dalai Lama has become a figure for more than just Tibet. He represents a peaceful humanistic approach in a world so dominated by violence and power.

Open Document