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Imagine that it is the time of the Olympic Games and nobody turns up. That is precisely what critics of China and Tibetan freedom fights would most like to happen. Yet whether a boycott of the Olympics actually yields any political success is highly dubious. About thirty years ago, a boycott of this nature took place. At that time, ostracism was used as a form of protest against Russia’s war with Afghanistan. The 1980 Games in Moscow went ahead without the participation of Western nations - not that this had any impact. The war in Afghanistan continued relentlessly. Believing that public pressure on sports events can even remotely influence political decisions is therefore a delusion. The media want us to believe that it can help; after all, it would be a truly momentous if China were to revise its Tibet policy. However, the Chinese standpoint is not easily swayed. China’s empire is currently crumbling and the balance between political absolutism and notions of liberalism is becoming more fragile with every day. Since China is gradually avowing capitalism, the Chinese government must attempt to keep the upper hand, at least politically. This means that we are no closer to finding a solution for Tibet. In view of the fact that Tibet has been fighting for more rights and greater freedom for many years, we have to ask ourselves: why should anything change now?
Tibet Conflict
With the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, Tibet regained independence, only to lose it again with the invasion of the People’s Liberation Army instructed by Mao Zedong. After Chinese troops killed many Tibetan protesters during the revolt of 1959, the Tibetan head of state, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled Tibet followed by hundreds of thousands of followers. Since this time, Tibet has been under Chinese rule. The cultural revolution of the sixties also marked the beginning of the Tibetans’ fight for freedom of opinion and religion. Since fleeing Tibet, the Dalai Lama has set up a government in exile in India. During the spring of this year, Tibetan demonstrators were brutally suppressed, and the situation escalated. The consequences were buildings set on fire, the Chinese army was called in, and international journalists were barred access to Tibet.
Call for Boycott
Since the recent uprising, China’s stance on Tibet, human rights, and freedom of the press have attracted worldwide publicity. The highly symbolic torch relay has turned into a fiasco for China - the Olympic torch has been repeatedly attacked and extinguished on more than one occasion. Yet the Chinese government remains stoic. So far, only the devastating earthquakes in central China have been able to stop the torch relay.
Human rights groups, politicians, and even some athletes are calling for a boycott of the Olympic Games in response to the bloody crackdown on Tibetan demonstrators. But where were these critics during all the years that China has suppressed the Tibetan people and persecuted Buddhist monks? Even in the run-up to the Games, China was not exactly acknowledged for its compliance with international standards in terms of human rights. People in Beijing have been forced to leave their apartments and the international press has been hindered in its work. The concept of freedom of opinion has not existed in China for a considerable time. Where were all the critics when Beijing was awarded the Olympic Games? It seems somewhat hypocritical that God and the World have suddenly discovered their sense of political correctness. Of course, no one could accuse China of willfully damaging the spirit of the Olympics. However, any attempt to speak to the Chinese government about human rights in the light of the history of the Olympic Games cannot be expected to work. This is also how Thomas Bach, president of the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) views the issue. He opposes the practice of politicizing sports. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, follows a similar line of thought, albeit with other underlying motivations. Since China is tightly enmeshed in German industry, the chancellor wants to be sure not to spark off any quarrels with China. With or without boycotting, the Olympic Games will take place. On the other hand, the “opening up” of China, a solution to the Tibet conflict, and the promotion and protection of human rights will afford a great deal more time. In the meantime, anyone who would rather not wait, can do only one thing: turn off the TV set.
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* In other parts of the world, many names of China exist, mainly transliterations of the dynasties “Qin” or “Jin” (e.g. China, Sino), and Han or Tang.
Autor: Torsten Drewes
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