[The Economist]
A plea to China
SIR – Following the tragic killing of 29 innocent people in Kunming, and the self immolation of 120 Tibetans in recent months, you pronounced that “the only way forward” is for China to show Uighurs and Tibetans “how they can live peacefully and prosperously together within China” (“The burden of empire”, March 8th). But you did not say how that objective might be achieved.
The underlying issue is the gulf between the theoretical rights for minorities enshrined in China’s constitution, and the administrative practice on the ground. The theoretical protection of language, cultural tradition and religious belief is, in practice, experienced as repression, uncontrolled economic development and inward migration of the majority Han Chinese to the regions. A proper constitutional arrangement would commit to genuine dialogue between communities and be sincere in seeking an outcome that is to the advantage of all and respects the rule of law.
China is open to change. In declaring war on pollution, for example, Li Keqiang, the prime minister, has recognised that economic growth on its own is not the answer to all China’s problems and he intends to pursue “a different kind of development”. For the sake of China’s minority population of 100m, and for the good of the nation as a whole, we hope that Beijing’s willingness to consider a new way forward extends to political as well as environmental concerns.
Thubten Samdup
Office of Tibet
London
Print
Email