The 2008 Tibetan Unrest - Research Paper Example

In 2008 during the eve of the Olympics, there was a series of unrest in Tibet (Merkel-Hess, Kate, Kenneth and Jeffrey54-55). During the same period, there was so much focus on Beijing. Tibet is a part of Beijing’s claimed territory (Goldstein 450). In March 14th, there were a succession of demonstrations, protests and riots ain the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The unrest commenced on the 10th of March during the 49th commemoration of the abortive uprising in Tibet in 1959 in opposition of Beijing rule.

The demonstrations spread over to several areas and various monasteries outside of Tibet. The unrest commenced with numerous monks from Drepung monastery staging peaceful protests. The monks were demanding the release of their fellow counterparts arrested in the previous autumn. The participants of the unrest direct their anguish to two civilians named Han and Wei. In the break of one weak, serious protests began marred with violence. There was widespread looting, killing, burning and rioting.

Media reports found that this unrest was due to the socio-economic issues in Lhasa (Losada 340). The people of Tibet were infuriated by the high rates of inflation that resulted in the increase in prices of consumer goods and food (Goldstein 454-500). The youth were also complaining of inequality in access to jobs and education. James miles, a reporter of “The Economist”, termed the 3.14 riot as an eruption of tribal hatred. The rest of this paper will focus on Tibet’s struggle for sovereignty, the religious power and politics of the Tibet territory and the underlying causes of the event.

Truth about the riots; the facts At the core of the conflict is a conflicting perspective on who is the rightful owner Tibet. In the early 1800s, China viewed Tibet as a vassal state that paid tribute to the emperor through a priest-patron relationship. In recent times, the relationship has become ambiguous. China suffered in the hands of the British during the same period when the British conquered Lhasa in 1904 (Merkel-Hess, Kate, Kenneth and Jeffrey 59). China has since struggled for the full claim of Tibet hence the delicate relationship between the two.

The question of who ought to take blame for the 2008 unrest is therefore relative given both parties legitimise their clemency to Tibet. What really transpired during the killings? There has been little if any condemnation of the killings in Tibet by the western countries. Statements were made about the infringement of human rights by the People’s Republic of China overshadowing the real tribulations of the victims of the violence. The reality of the issue is that there were killings and destruction of property even from some of the reports by western media only that there was no attention paid to the magnitude of the killings.

The unrest had a series of serious criminal activities including looting, beating, destruction of property and arson. The rioters set fire on more than three hundred places that include hospitals, schools, shops, houses of civilians and government offices. In addition, about 214 rooms burned down and another 56 vehicles torched. There were very brutal killings with an estimated 31 innocent people slashed or burnt to death (Merkel-Hess, Kate, Kenneth and Jeffrey 63). Another 51 police officers were injured with 12 of them suffering serious injuries.

As such, the riot was