OPINION> Commentary
Human rights hoax from lord of serfdom
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-04 07:58

As the Chinese government and the people passed through crucial moments to save the earthquake victims, some British politicians insisted on inviting the Dalai Lama to visit Britain last week.

The British House of Commons even went so far as to hold a hearing on the so-called issue of China's human rights and invited the Dalai Lama to address the hearing.

It was really ridiculous of the Dalai Lama to play the role of "witness to China's human rights problems" while the Chinese government responded quickly to the natural disaster to save victims, many being Tibetans and Qiangs.

In the quake-hit Sichuan Aba Tibet-Qiang autonomous prefecture, about 55 percent of the people are Tibetans.

Saving the victims means protecting all ethnic groups' rights to survive, which is also promotion of human rights protection.

The government's quick response, transparency on the earthquake information, and observance of the three-day national mourning for the dead all show its respect for human rights.

Tibetans, Qiangs and Hans all help each other in the disaster rescue and relief, which is a vivid illustration of the progress of China's human rights.

In stark contrast, the Dalai Lama traveled across Europe, speaking out without any sense of responsibility.

Instead of doing anything helpful in the real actions to safeguard people's rights to survive, he continued to pressurize the government under the pretext of safeguarding human rights.

For instance, to enjoy the spotlight of the German media, the Dalai Lama exaggerated the Chinese government's actions in quelling the riot that no other government would tolerate in similar circumstances.

He even indulged in the slander that the Chinese government lacked the "ethical authority" and tried to seek help from the British government to pressurize China on "safeguarding human rights".

The Dalai Lama seemed to have forgotten that under his rule, more than 90 percent of serfs had little guarantee on their survival rights, and that the Lhasa riot on March 14 claimed innocent lives and caused great damage to people's properties.

The Dalai Lama cannot stand for the Tibetan people as he has been engaged in activities aimed at splitting the country and restoring the old theocratic rule in Tibet, which was even darker than medieval Europe.

How can one with bad records on human rights sit in judgment on "China's human rights problems"?

The Dalai Lama should sincerely stop his plots to split China, to fuel violence and to sabotage the upcoming Olympic Games, giving way to possible talks between him and the central government.

Regrettably, the facts only show the Dalai Lama's continuous efforts to split the country with the banner of "human rights".

Xinhua - China Daily

(China Daily 06/04/2008 page9)