Blog Entry III

"TIBET: After the storm, not quite sunshine"

Section:Prime - Special Report
By:SIM CHI YIN
Publication:The Straits Times
Date:04/09/2008
online news link

As an immigrant to Singapore, frankly speaking, only after reading this article I had realized that I have taken this racially and culturally harmonious country as granted. Singapore is a young nation and yet it has great achievement in social engineering, which allows us such a stable and peaceful environment to live in. This is really commendable and something to be proud of for all Singaporeans.

This article overviews the current situation of Tibet Province of PRC, particularly its capital, Lhasa. It says that even with almost half year gone after the deadly mid-march riots, the holy city of Lhasa has not rested in true harmony and understanding. How far this supposedly harmonious situation can go, no one guarantees. Armed paramilitary units are patrolling around every corner of the city and the people are divided to live at different areas according their ethic. Misunderstanding and distrust between the Han Chinese and Tibetans have been constantly upgrading towards hatred, even to an extent that taxi drivers have to choose their passengers and put on identity-showing items to ensure their safety.

The Han Chinese in China is over dominantly more than other ethnic groups. Many of these small ethnic groups though remain with their titles, have already fully adapted to community of the Han Chinese in almost every aspect. However, there are too, ethnic groups such as the Tibetans that try extremely hard to preserve their way of life and remain uninfluenced by the Han Chinese. If we look carefully, this issue is similar to the case of Singapore before and early after independence, only that it has been enlarged to a population size of 1.3 billion. Thus, we as Singaporean students should know what really cause thus social tension. I think it is quite right to say that it is everyone’s fault.

For the Tibetans, it is rather naïve and ignorant of them to even try to absolutely remain isolated culturally. With the world that is globalizing fast, developing is the only way to survive. Isolating yourself will be suicidal, as no one nowadays has everything they need in the hand thus just shut the door and live on their own. The Han Chinese are indeed diluting the dense Tibetan populations in Tibet as they enter the province, as the news says “More shops, malls and people have arrived with the railway, fuelling worries over mounting inter-ethnic competition and a widening income gap.” Of course this will lead to degrees of cultural erosion as the people try to adapt to both way of living. However, if the technologically and economically outdate Tibetans want to live and better their life, it is definitely worth the sacrifice. After all, life, particularly better life, is more valuable then cultural beliefs that only shine after your have a full stomach.

On the other hand, the Han Chinese as the majority of the nation, they have a naturally feeling of dominance and superiority. When they move to other place to live, they bring along their way of life. Moreover, their number is large enough to form a community anywhere. That makes them think it is unnecessary to adapt other living styles or even makes them unfeeling to difference around them. This insensitivity and ignorance to others is really disrespectful to those locals and they doubtlessly will feel threatened by the presence of the Han Chinese. If they can be more considerate and adaptable to other cultures, there would not be much misunderstanding, too.

This problem cannot be solved as easily as it is discussed. It takes society decades to process. Singapore regards social harmony as top priority and only achieves our current state in 40 years; it would be much harder for a big country with humongous population like China to change. Moreover, China does not appear to have good specified policies, laws or regulations of any form enforcing this area of national development. With so many responsibility and hopes that China has to take on, I really not hope to see it letting its glorious achievements and other emergencies to buries this seed of danger in the foundation of the country, only realsie it when problems comes by.