Thirty dead in Tibet, Dharamsala says
　

ULTIMATUM: Tanks and armored troops were out in force in Lhasa yesterday and authorities gave the rioters until midnight tomorrow to turn themselves in

AGENCIES, DHARAMSALA, INDIA, XIAHE, CHINA AND SYDNEY
Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 1

　

The Tibetan government-in-exile yesterday demanded the UN intervene to end rights violations in Tibet following deadly protests and said it had received confirmation that about 30 people had been killed in clashes.

Beijing said yesterday it would give rioters until midnight tomorrow to turn themselves in as protests continued in China both in and outside of Tibet.

"The Tibetan parliament urges the UN to send representatives immediately and intervene and investigate the current urgent human rights violations in Tibet," the administration said in a statement.

"We are confirming approximately 30 deaths and we are even hearing numbers of over 100 dead, but this number we are unable to confirm," Tenzin Taklha, a senior official said.

Tanks and armored vehicles were out in force in the Tibetan capital Lhasa yesterday, a day after the worst protests against China's rule in the vast, Himalayan region in nearly 20 years, witnesses said.

China has said that 10 people were burnt to death in the protests.

　

In Gansu Province, several hundred monks marched out of historic Labrang monastery and into the town of Xiahe in the morning, gathering hundreds of other Tibetans with them as they went, the residents said.

The crowd attacked government buildings, smashing windows in the county police headquarters, before police fired tear gas to put an end to the protest, the local residents said.

The government-in-exile said it was "deeply concerned" by reports "emanating from all three regions of Tibet of random killings, injuries and arrest of thousands of Tibetans peacefully protesting against Chinese policy."

International pressure mounted on Beijing yesterday to show restraint towards the demonstrators, as protesters in Sydney removed the Chinese flag at China's consulate building and tried to raise a Tibetan flag.

Sydney police said around 70 people took part in the protest.

Australia, the US and Europe urged the Chinese authorities to deal with the situation in Tibet and elsewhere peacefully.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith called for China to allow "peaceful expression of dissent."

The security breach at the consulate was captured by local television, which showed about a half dozen protesters scaling a 4m wall, the Chinese flag being lowered and an unsuccessful bid to raise the multi-colored Tibetan flag.

Taiwanese government condemns crackdown on Tibet
　

By Jenny W. Hsu and Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTERS
Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 1

The government and politicians across party lines yesterday condemned Beijing's bloody oppression of demonstrations in Tibet.

"From this incident, it is apparent that China is far from respecting human rights and upholding democratic values as it claimed it would before the Olympics. That was an empty promise," Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) said.

In a press release, the ministry condemned China for hiding Tibet from the world at this crucial moment by clamping down on media.

The ministry urged the international community to join in condemning China's actions and urging Beijing to refrain from resorting to more violence to silence those who demand human rights. Beijing must respect universal human rights at home and abroad, including those of the Taiwanese.

Yeh said the government would continue to watch the developments in Tibet, adding that it had provided aid to Tibetans through various channels.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said the violence in Lhasa showed that Beijing had not make any progress in respecting human rights since the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989.

Beijing's barbarism in Tibet has given the Taiwanese a clear look at the autocratic regime's tactics, making it obvious that China would never resolve cross-strait tensions peacefully, the council said.

The council called on the international community to condemn China for its human rights abuses, including its rejection of religious freedom and equal treatment for all people.

China's use of violence and military intimidation to achieve its goals makes it amply clear that it will never rule out the option of taking Taiwan by force, the council said.

China's tyrannic crackdown is unfitting of a major player in the region, it said.

Instead of behaving as a responsible stakeholder in the international community, "Beijing has become a genuine threat to regional harmony," it said.

The ministry-level Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission said in a statement that Beijing was ignoring calls for peace by Tibetan spiritual and political leader in exile the Dalai Lama.

"The Dalai Lama has just called on the Chinese government to negotiate and to resolve the Tibet issue through rational and peaceful means," it said. "With the Dalai Lama's words still fresh, the Chinese government launched a bloody crackdown on unarmed Tibetan civilians."

At a press conference in Taipei, Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday denounced the Chinese government's violence.

"We are against any kind of bloody crackdown ... The Tibet incident serves as a warning" of China's treatment of its citizens, he said.

Hsieh's running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said the crackdown in Tibet demonstrated the same principles outlined in China's "Anti-Secession" Law.

Su was referring to a law enacted by China on March 14, 2005, in which Beijing stated it could use "non-peaceful means" if Taiwan were to declare formal independence.

Article 2 of the law states: "There is only one China in the world. Both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China ... Taiwan is part of China. The state shall never allow the `Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any name or by any means."

"China hasn't enacted an `Anti-Secession' Law targeting Tibet, but it has rolled out tanks to suppress the Tibetan protests," President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said in Kaohsiung yesterday.

"Do you think China would allow Taiwanese people to pursue democracy and freedom?" Chen asked.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday also condemned Beijing's violent suppression of Tibetan protesters.

"We support Tibetan autonomy and respect Tibetan religious beliefs and customs," Ma said, adding that he would maintain the cross-strait "status quo" if elected.

Growth may not be what is needed


Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 8

The economy and standard of living are both important issues in the presidential election campaign. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) is proposing a "happiness economy" while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rival Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is proposing a "cross-strait common market" and a "633 policy" -- 6 percent economic growth, 3 percent unemployment and 3 percent inflation.

The main difference between the two candidates may in fact lie in the manner in which they want to open up toward China. Ma wants a wider opening, while Hsieh stresses that national security must be a consideration and that the opening of cross-strait trade should be more limited, focusing more on global markets. Although both candidates are talking about a prosperous economy, neither of their economic prescriptions may be what Taiwan needs at this stage.

Although the 5.7 percent economic growth Taiwan experienced last year cannot compare with the double digit growth of developing countries, it was a brilliant performance for an economically developed country. Despite this, many Taiwanese still feel life is hard. Why?

The discrepancy between economic data and daily life is the result of deteriorating income distribution -- economic growth has not trickled down from the top earners to the lower income levels, resulting in an M-shaped distribution. High income earners are monopolizing most of the benefits from capital investments and technological innovation, while middle class incomes are not seeing gains, with many people even falling behind and joining the ranks of low income households, feeding a rapid increase in the newly poor.

This income distribution is the result of globalization and competition with China. Salaries are kept down by China's low prices and cheap labor. As Taiwanese demand higher salaries, companies relocate to China, resulting in a virtual salary freeze in Taiwan over the past few years. As soon as local product prices increase, similar but inferior Chinese products are introduced. Meanwhile the Taiwanese public is also suffering from cost increases brought on global increases in oil, grain and raw material prices.

Although both candidates want to promote economic growth, failure to address unequal income distribution might make that problem even worse, causing even more people to feel exploited. In particular, Ma's 633 policy and his all out promotion of economic growth might have an even bigger negative impact on income distribution than Hsieh's economic policy suggestions, especially since Ma's "cross-strait common market" proposal means further deregulating labor, product and capital exchanges. As far as products, prices, salaries and capital movement go -- these changes could add fuel to the fire of negative impact.

Ma's economic thinking seems to be based on the outdated mindset of a developing country. He seems unable to recognize that Taiwan has already entered the low to medium economic growth phase of a developed economy. At this stage, high economic growth will not necessarily have a positive impact on Taiwan's development because problems are no longer of a supply character, but are rather related to income distribution.

More emphasis on social justice and concern for welfare policies for the lower income levels are what this country really needs.

It is all about the crown

Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 8

During a press conference Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Fai (費鴻泰) announced that he was ready to commit suicide if KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is not elected after KMT lawmakers intruded on DPP candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) Taipei campaign office.

What does this statement reveal? It shows KMT members do not really care about social order. Fai's statement shows that the KMT is not about maintaining and enforcing modes of relating and behaving. It is not about conserving social structures, institutions and practices. All that matters is to get the post, make Ma the president. It is all about the crown.

During the campaign, the KMT has tried to convince us that the increasing number of suicides is the result of the erroneous policies of the present government and that the new government and the new president can somehow fix it.

Fai's statement that he would consider suicide is nothing but a farce. A politician must be able to face the ups and downs of the profession he or she is voluntarily engaged in and must take full responsibility for his or her actions and words.

The lack of integrity shown by these KMT politicians casts doubts on whether a KMT victory would really be "a change that Taiwanese people should believe in."

Hanna Shen
Taipei
　

Where is Taiwan's justice?


Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 8

I was struck by the scene: a government leader who promoted himself as someone with a squeaky-clean, no corruption image. Now just days after he was caught in corruption and crime and it became public, he has resigned from his office.

I refer to New York Governor Elliot Spitzer. And his political career is at an end. And we are left with the encouraging thought that the US democracy is healthy.

That is just so different from Taiwan. If he had been a politician in Taiwan, I wonder if Spitzer would be running for president right now, with front-runner status, an adoring media and backed by a huge campaign war chest.

When will we see justice in Taiwan?

Joel Linton
Taipei

Vote buying is shameful

Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 8

Taiwan is a democracy. Yet every time an election is held, there have been lots of reports of vote-buying scandals. It is a shame to Taiwan and all Taiwanese.

The vote buying is so thorough and widespread it could only be done by the richest party in the world.

The result is an abnormal democracy and an unfair election campaign.

This election will be close. I would like to call for the government to start a "no vote selling" campaign by issuing every family a "no vote selling" sticker.

Hopefully this will create peer pressure and deter vote selling somewhat.

This election is crucial for Taiwan. Many Taiwanese still cannot fathom the evil of the KMT's party assets and the damage that could be inflicted if this party wins.

Taiwan's law enforcement and judicial agencies have failed to deter any party from vote selling or buying. With the no vote selling campaign, peer pressure may work and give Taiwanese elections a new life.

John Yang
Ohio

Reject China's hypocrisy

Sunday, Mar 16, 2008, Page 8

Recently I was watching the Cable News Network and noticed how China "rejected" criticism of its human rights abuses as reported by the US.

However, China's rejection only showed the blatant hypocrisy that supports such monolithic and archaic entity as the Chinese Communist Party. And to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that China is the leader of misleading world grand delusions, my dear reader, I present this inexhaustive litany:

China rejects the rights of families of those massacred at Tiananmen Square in 1989 to any source of compensation, never mind disclosing the names and ranks of those responsible for it.

China rejects the rights of the Uighur people and last week summarily executed two supposed Uighur members of a terrorist organization -- but claim the Olympics are secure.

China rejects the rights of the Olympians to complain or "defame" the great entity of China about its abuses against humanity, or any other thing a human being would consider objectionable -- and makes them sign papers saying so.

Along the same lines, China has rejected the foreign architects and designers who built the Beijing Olympic Stadium and banned them from attending the prestigious ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating its opening.

China rejects any management of the Olympics if the management is not Chinese.

And who now is dealing with the Devil?

On its soil, China rejects bishops selected by the Vatican and now even the Pope would become a negotiator. Would the Vatican drop recognition of Taiwan just so China would sign off on the right of the Pope to name his Church's bishops?

And to close, my case dear reader, China rejects the right of the Taiwanese to live in peace. China has pointed more than 1,000 missiles at this country. China even rejects the Taiwan Relations Act in which the US is obliged to help Taiwan "defend itself."

My message to any would-be Olympian is this: "What do you reject?"

Kevin Larson
Chiayi City