By The Editor
Like all living species, humankind consists of different races settling in various parts of the globe each having its own culture, language, faith and belief, customary habits, etc. though initially all shared a common origin. Over the years races changed while some flourished and prospered whereas others dwindled in size and population and quite a number of them became extinct. The last indigenous inhabitant of Tasmania island (North of Australia) died in 1876. The Ainus who were original inhabitants of Japan and came from Northern Siberia are now reduced to small numbers. All these developments were natural with no external forces applied. However, certain races think highly of themselves and try to eliminate others by whatever means whom they look down upon as being inferior. Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) who was the Nazi dictator of Germany after World War I attempted unsuccessfully to eliminate the Jews who were considered to be the greatest enemies of the country leading Germany to ruin and disaster. Unfortunately, intolerant leaders with personal agenda and for selfish interest continue to use force even in the 21st century presuming that they will achieve greatness. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegal said: “ What experience and history teach is this- that people and government never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.”
China’s ruling Communist Party dominated by majority Han Chinese has been adopting policy of liquidating minorities by using various means and methods. About a million children of Tibetan minority in residential schools are being brainwashed and forced to compulsorily follow culture of Hans which is part of education system in Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) and without access to traditional or culturally relevant learning of their own. This has attracted reactions from United Nations (UN) experts who declared that such policies are against prohibition of discrimination and the right to education, linguistic and cultural rights, freedom of religion or belief and other minority rights of Tibetan people. In their views, these are efforts to forcibly assimilate the vast majority of Tibetan children by separating them from their families and boarding them at state-run schools. Hence, there is an urgent need to resolve Tibet-China conflict.
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) which promotes human rights and democratic freedom for Tibetan people vehemently demanded for changing of China’s policy and stressed that international community should increase pressure on Beijing. It also reminded that negotiations with the Dalai Lama is of great importance before Tibetans’ cultural heritage is erased by China. Expressing deep concern over the matter, experts have sent a letter to Chinese government on November 11, 2022 and said that they remain in contact with Chinese officials. In early February this year experts met with deep concern from Tibetans as well as global leaders from various organisations and stressed for early action before time runs out for a million Tibetan children.