Reflections on Tibet

A traditional imperial practice is to minoritise the indiginous population of a country until they become an insignificant part of the society and the Chinese are applying this with great enthusiasm. Most teaching in schools is now in chinese and speaking the language is essential for getting any reasonable employment, whilst Chinese settlers are often given good jobs rather than Tibetans, irrespective of their qualifications. Indeed, the Chinese are encouraging massive settlement by their own people as part of a general plan to push out the Tibetans and their culture; hundreds of thousands of settlers have already moved in, encouraged by cash and employment benefits and in some areas the Chinese actually outnumber the Tibetans, leaving them the worst land and most menial jobs.

In 1994 the Chinese government announced it's latest blow to Tibet; it is now planning to build a railway through to Lhasa which, as well as making it easier to continue their plunder and destruction of Tibet's natural resources, will also make it even easier to move vast numbers of settlers into the heart of the country and complete once and for all the destruction of the Tibetan's culture and traditions. When I chose the title 'Last Train To Lhasa' for my second album I was not actually aware of this fact, the name being more of an ironic joke as no trains run to Lhasa and it seemed incongruous that any should cross the ancient, mysterious land I had so fallen in love with. The news of the Chinese's plan now seems to symbolise the great spiritual and cultural loss which is looming; instead of a country of deep devotion and spiritual attainment with perhaps the greatest understanding on the planet of the human soul and psyche developed over thousands of years, Tibet will become another mess of iron and diesel, the chants of the monks being replaced by the rumble of trucks and machinery, the prayer flags and banners by concrete tower blocks and radio masts.

We live at a time when we face some of the greatest challanges of our history. Can we afford to lose a people and culture which has understood and lived for thousands of years in harmony with an eocsystem which we seem to be fighting a losing battle with? Can we afford to let a vast repository of spiritual and human understanding which could benifit us all be destroyed to make way for more mines and factories which would only benefit some? The Tibetans will not use violence in their opposition to their oppressors - can we afford to wash our hands of them and accept that it is alright for the strong and ruthless to dominate the weak and principled? Our governments may not be prepared to stand up for what they say they believe in - freedom, human rights, democracy - for fear of rocking the trade boat, but we as individuals can; we can show our support for the Tibetan people, we can push for our public servants to do something to help, and at least the Tibetans will know that they are not alone in their fight to preserve their culture and beliefs, that others around the world also believe in the spirit, the heart and the dream of a world free of power-weilding bullies and their silent allies who look the other way.

For more information on the historical and present situation in Tibet, and details of what you can do to help, contact:

International Campaign For Tibet
1735 Eye Street
NW, Suite 615
Washington D.C.
20006
U.S.A.

Tel: 202 785 1515
Fax: 202 785 4343

Free Tibet Campaign
1 Rosoman Place
London EC1R 0JY.

Email: tibetsupport@gn.apc.org