We Must Not Allow China’s ‘Final Solution’ : Sovereignty: Its claim on Tibet is as invalid as Iraq’s on Kuwait; the world must help.

Thirty-four years ago today, the people of Tibet rose up against the occupation of our country by China. March 10 has become our national day, set aside to remember the courage and suffering of those who gave their lives for a free Tibet. The tears of Tibetan sadness have brought not hopelessness but a strong resolve to regain what is rightfully ours.

In the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, China insists that Tibet is and always was Chinese. One need only look at the facts to see the absurdity of that claim. The Tibetan culture is separate and distinct from Chinese culture. We have our own language, food, clothing, customs and a distinct form of Buddhism not found in pre-communist China or elsewhere.

Before the occupation, Tibet was an independent country by any standard. We had our own form of government, one that signed treaties, issued passports and visas, printed money and stamps, and collected taxes. Our nation had borders respected by other nations. China has redrawn the maps and renamed Tibetan areas, but it has not and cannot erase 2,000 years of history.

Other actions taken by China, however, have been more effective in distorting reality. As a result of China’s on-going policy of population transfer, that is, of promoting and facilitating the settling of millions of Chinese nationals in Tibet, Tibetans are now out-numbered in our homeland. In 1992, China announced that it was opening the Tibetan “job market” to all Chinese. Very soon, China will have accomplished by these policies the final solution to the Tibet problem--China will eliminate Tibetans in Tibet.

Of course, this would be a tragedy to me. But the world community also has reason to be concerned. People everywhere live in fear of terrorism, war and all manner of unrest. Each of us longs for rational approaches to ending injustice and inequity. Tibetans are no different. In fact, Tibetans have made the wish for peaceful solutions the cornerstone of the quest for a free Tibet. Under the leadership and guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, our struggle has remained nonviolent. Those inside Tibet peacefully demonstrate for independence. Those of us in exile have used our resources, rather than violence to expose the truth.

Within the last few years, the United Nations has become involved in assisting countries and peoples victimized by aggression. The Chinese claim on Tibet has no more reality than the Iraqi claim on Kuwait, but after more than 30 years of occupation and the rewriting of history, the claim has the appearance of validity. That has happened because the world has allowed it to. It is imperative that the attention of the United Nations now turn toward Tibet.

Tibet needs international support. China should be forced by the United Nations, through international law, diplomatic measures and, if necessary, economic pressure, to withdraw before it is too late. The tragedy of Tibet will become a tragedy for the world if China is allowed to continue its occupation, while a people committed to a nonviolent struggle for freedom and justice are allowed to perish.