The Tibet Question

Speaker Pelosi presented the first Lantos Human Rights Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning in the Capitol Visitor Center. Named for the late Congressman and human rights activist Tom Lantos, the Lantos Human Rights Prize is intended to raise awareness about human rights violations and honor the brave individuals who are committed to fighting for human rights throughout the world. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Not even the Dalai Lama is asking for Tibet to become an independent country. I am not going to exceed him in my expectations for Tibet. When the Dalai Lama was in Tibet one person was the religious leader of the Tibetan people, and the same person was also the political leader. How do I feel about that? How do I feel about bullock carts compared to bullet trains? The same person being the religious and political leader by birth is a political bullock cart. It is not a modern concept. And there is no ancient boundary I am beholden to. This is the age of globalization, internet and trans-continental trains. National boundaries matter less and less. What matters is trade.

But then human rights are religion to me. Free speech is religion to me. Religious freedom is religion to me. Political reform is in Beijing's best interests. It is not true the Chinese economy is too mature to attempt double digit growth rates. But the only way China goes back to double digit growth rates now is if it engages in fundamental political reform.

But then that does not mean copying the American system. If America were to get more democratic, it would bring about fundamental campaign finance reform. If America were to become better at respecting human rights, the American police would not brutalize African Americans, and the American criminal justice would not be so skewed against them. So, just like China, America itself is a work in progress.

China moving towards political pluralism and free speech takes it to cutting edges of technology. China going federal integrates it with Taiwan.

Tibet has seen progress in the physical sphere. You see shiny trains. But its cultural heritage remains sacrosanct. And I never have never will approve of the police brutalization of peacefully protesting Tibetan protesters in Kathmandu.

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Lhasa To Kathmandu In Six Hours

English: Mount Everest North Face as seen from the path to the base camp, Tibet. Español: Cara norte del Monte Everest vista desde el sendero que lleva al campo base en el Tibet (China). Français : Face nord du Mont Everest vue du chemin menant au camp de base. Tibet. Italiano: Faccia Nord del monte Everest vista dal sentiero che porta al campo base in Tibet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the train will move at 120 kilometers per hour, and since Lhasa to Kathmandu is about 600 kilometers, that puts the travel distance at six hours. This tunnel under Mount Everest will take Nepal-China, indeed China-South Asia relations to unprecedented heights. This will also put pressure on India to deeply integrate itself to Nepal through major infrastructure projects like the Hulaki Rajmarga.

Kathmandu to Lumbini is another 200 kilometers. That would be the logical extension once the train reaches Kathmandu. The logical thing to do would be to take the train straight south to the plains and then go west to Lumbini.

That would also form the framework for the East West train along the plains to ultimately create a Beijing to Delhi train track. You can not think of a better symbol for this Asian Century.

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काठमाण्डु माथि मधेसीको शासन स्थापित भए पछि

काठमाण्डु माथि मधेसीको शासन स्थापित भए पछि हुने पहिलो काम तिब्बत का शरणार्थी हरुलाई harass गर्ने काम पुर्ण रुपले बंद गर्ने हुन्छ। शांतिपूर्ण ढंगले तिब्बत का शरणार्थी हरुले जस्तो सुकै राजनीतिक क्रियाकलाप पनि गर्न पाउने छन। नेपाल भनेको चीनको satellite state होइन। अरुणाचल प्रदेश चीनको होइन कि तिब्बत मधेसको हो। हजारों साल पुराना इतिहास साक्षी छ। इतिहासमा तिब्बत चीनको कहिले थियो? बुद्ध भारतमा जन्मेको भनेर कुनै नामै नचलेको पत्रिकाले कतै झुक्किएर छापी दियो भने दुनिया भरि तमाशा गर्ने नेपाली हरु तिब्बत को सवाल मा चीन को च किन गर्ने? चीनसे डरना क्या -- असत्य से डरो।