Margaret chan, Former Director of Health, Hong Kong

Despite international condemnation over human rights violations by Beijing in Tibet, the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) top official in Lhasa called for greater stress on Chinese elements in religion and a crackdown on 'separatism' in the region.As the CCP marks 70 years of control of Tibet, party secretary Wu Yingjie on Saturday said that the country must pursue "Sinicisation of religion" and a stronger role for the party's leadership in Tibet, a move that analysts say is meant to tighten Beijing's grip on the area, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP)."We must ... promote [the concept] that Tibetan Buddhism has always been a part of the Chinese culture," Wu said. He also claimed that to "nip separatism in the bud, we strictly must crackdown on all kinds of separatist and infiltration activities".This comes after the party issued a report defining its official position on Tibet, claiming the area "has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times", dating back to the seventh century.The white paper further accused Western forces of supporting the Tibetan independence movement and vowed to continue to crack down on 'separatist activities' in Tibet, reported SCMP."In the aftermath of the Opium Wars in the middle of the 19th century, the British-led imperialist powers began to cultivate the idea of 'Tibet independence', intentionally undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it claimed.Robert Barnett, former director of Columbia University's modern Tibetan studies programme, said Beijing had changed its narrative over Tibet's history over the years.Referring to China's claim that Tibet has been its part since the seventh century, Barnett said: "This is hard to take seriously, since until 2015 the [party] and the Chinese government had insisted that Tibet only became part of China in the 13th century, and before that they had said it happened in the 17th or 18th centuries. China has yet to explain why it keeps changing its claims as to when it thinks Tibet became part of China."Meanwhile, analysts also agreed that Beijing was unlikely to try to hold talks with the Dalai Lama, the 85-year-old spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, deeming him a 'separatist and claiming it had to right to choose his successor.According to SCMP, Barnett said Beijing was likely to "try to delay talks until they think the Dalai Lama's position is very weak, and that it will aim to give no concessions, if possible".The Chinese government occupied Tibet in 1950 and has ever since tried to control the region.In recent years, China has intensified its efforts to eradicate the Dalai Lama from the religious lives of Tibetans to crush their identity. During a meeting, Mao Zedong had told the 14th Dalai Lama, that "religion is poison."Last month, the Centre for Democracy, Pluralism and Human Rights (CDPHR), in its latest report, has revealed that various individuals and organisations working for the rights of Tibetan people have reported abuses of rights in Tibet that include restricted freedom of religion, belief and association.The CDPHR report said that the arbitrary arrests, maltreatment in custody, including torture and forced abortion and sterilisation have also been reported.On the issue of 'crushing' Chinese policies, the report said, "The communist Chinese policies of crushing any political dissent have gravely threatened the Tibetan political and cultural identity as they disregard to the international condemnation of the human rights situation in Tibet."Major countries, including the United States, have harshly condemned China's atrocities in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.( With inputs from ANI )Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Margaret ChanFOLLOW

Margaret chan, Latest News

Equity benchmark indices closed higher on Wednesday as worries about increase in inflation were largely offset by continuous decline in Covid cases. ...

Equity benchmark indices were flat during early hours on Wednesday amid mixed global cues and worries about an increase in inflation being largely offset by continuous decline in the country's Covid cases. ...

A top US Congressman has introduced new legislation named the "Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement" or EAGLE Act, that aims to counter the policy challenges posed by China. ...

As the Chinese government continues to reform Hong Kong's legislative process, Beijing's top office overseeing the city's affairs will be expanded to create two new departments covering national security and propaganda in the communist country's bid ...

eXp India, part of eXp Realty, one of the fastest growing real-estate brokerages in the world, has announced its intention to cover the COVID vaccine for all its employees and real-estate agents in India. ...

Equity benchmark indices were marginally higher during early hours on Tuesday with positive global cues as reopening of economies in western countries and encouraging data points towards a fast global recovery. ...

After 21 people were killed due to hail, freezing rain and high winds during an ultramarathon in China's northwestern Gansu province, the Chinese government and state media have criticised officials for putting profit above safety while organising ex ...

Despite international condemnation over human rights violations by Beijing in Tibet, the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) top official in Lhasa called for greater stress on Chinese elements in religion and a crackdown on 'separatism' in the region. ...