I'm feeeeelin' it... You??

Watching the demonstrations and the pictures of the protest screaming on the front pages of the Newspapers and managzines across the world, one can't go without really asking what's holding the world from countering China's attempt to muffle the protests in Lhasa and the rest of TAR. Click here to see the images of teh protest Washington Post

It does not matter how much China, or for that matter any country in the world, is counted upon as a "Super Power" in the economic terms, it has definitely at the bottom of the pile when it comes to Human Rights. Tthe first and foremost failing of this nation state is by not coming clean with its policies on Darfur and Tibet. At best, the China's PR machine can only come out blaming the Dalai Lama for the protests by the native Tibetans and those in Exile (in India, Nepal, et al) and the world around stood watching as the batons came down on those protesting monks and the bullets tore through those maroon robes bringing out the blood that never new what freedom tastes like.


Before China can go on the books as a nation that is capable of hosting such a dream event like the Olympics, they better address these human rights issues. Wen Jiabao may have to take a stand before China's carefully built image as a growing superpower gets muddied any further. Without any conciliatory measures, in my little knowledge of politics and international affair, I foresee no end to this crisis. Free Tibet is not just a local movement anymore as the world has gotten to pay attention with notables such as Richard Gere have brought the limelight on the issue of Chinese agreesion. Compared to the protests of the past (uprising in the 1980s), this one seems to have a larger implication on the image of China. It will be a delicate dance for the State Council leadership to address the issue without suffering a nightmarish backlash from the countries around the world, especially with many nations probably considering a pull out from the upcoming Olympics if the authorities resort to violence to subdue the protests. With key figures such as Steven Spielberg protesting China's policies on the Darfur Crisis by pulling out of China Olympics, Chinese authorities better get it right this time before a lot more damage is done. LET THIS NOT BECOME ANOTHER DARFUR!

China can no longer claim that it is an internal issue and objects to the advise of external actors such as the UN. This is not just an internal administrative issue anymore when the protests spilled into the streets of Kathmandu and New Delhi. Before it gets any worse, can the G8 and the rest of the UN Security Council biggies put some pressure on China, recommending a negotiated solution. This seems to the golden opportunity for teh Tibets to neotiate for a lasting solution. When the Olympics is come and gone, there won't be any such opportunity to attract the World's attention to this issue, at least for a while. As the article on Time suggested, this may be the Tibetan equivalent of the Palestinian Intifada against Israel, an issue that has dragged over decades as the world stood by watching the hapless efforts by various parties bit the dust.

For all that matters, it may be a golden opportunity for the G8 and the UN to rid itself of its disgraceful, inefficient past! Putting pressure on the Communist regime to sit and negotiate rather than to fire away bullets at those Monks and nuns in maroon robes may help the UN to rid of its "spineless body" image that it has acquired over the years with dismal performance in addressing teh Darfur crisis.

Of all the people, I wonder what do the CEOs of these companies have to say about the Chinese policies: Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric and McDonald's - the key sponsors of the the sponsors of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Inspite of all the rhetoric about the Ethics taught by many of these CEOs at many a graduation ceremonies at the world's leading institutes such as Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton School of Business, why do these "posers" stand by and continue to let the maintain their silence? Maybe it is the fear of their companies stock's devalued if they pull out of the Olympics? Or would their businesses operations and potential profits suffer if the Chinese adminsitrators order a shutdown Coca Cola and likes for sending a message by pulling out of the Olympics ?

It is time for the world to decide on how they want to write the books of history on this issue. Let this not be another Darfur! And Let this not be another Burma where the monks had to swallow bullets when they raised their voice against an authoritarian regime? Maybe it is the very opportunity for the US (and President Bush) to start repairing its sullied image after the Iraqi (mis)adventure. Is anyone listening? Maybe Mr. Obama!!!

Oh! Maybe as a consumer, I'd like to send a message to Coca Cola for its bad business ethics. Forthe world to know, I'm boycotting Coca Cola and will continue to shun their products from now on! Anyone wants to join hands???