Tibet and the Monks

The Chinese government has really cracked down on Tibet to try and regain some semblance of "order". The Tibetan monks recently poured their feelings out to the foreign journalists behind closed doors. The journalists were provided with a Chinese sanctioned and guarded tour of the Tibetan region. The vision that the Chinese government was peddling to the foreign media was one of order and calm. The monks on the other hand paint a picture of violence, being jailed in their own temples, and many of the protesters being injured or killed.

The last thing the Chinese government wants is for the Olympics to be marred by these protests. This is a major chance for China to show their stuff on the world stage. Unfortunately, by continuing down the path of authoritarian rule and persecution, they are further staining their reputation. We can only hope that the Chinese government will see fit to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama to bring peace to the region…and establish a longer diplomatic relationship to ultimately allow for some freedom.