The Struggle for Tibet Goes Digital

The gloves were finally off, as a column of Chinese Type 59 tanks rolled down
the Changan Avenue, near Tiananmen Square. It was the spring of 1989, and
hundreds of thousands of students were protesting all across China, especially
so in Beijing, crusading for liberty and free speech. To make their voices
heard, students huddled in Tiananmen Square went on a hunger strike. But instead
of negotiations, the communist regime of China decided to crush the non-violent
movement in the most virulent fashion.

As the tanks slowly rolled on, a single student, armed with two empty
shopping bags, He stood right before the mighty tanks and brought the whole
column to a halt. He gesticulated with his arms and climbed on top of the tank
to express his views to the soldier manning the tank. He was not ready to let
go, but people (protesters probably) pulled him on the side before something
untoward happened. The whole incident was captured on video and beamed by TV
channels across the world. The images raised international concerns and country
after country lambasted the Chinese regime for the brutal reprisal. Other than
that there is little that we know of the Tiananmen protest.

Changing Times

The world has changed infinitely much since then. Today, China is a global
power, both in economic and military terms. But there seems to be trouble
brewing again, this time in the roof of the world, Tibet.

Last fortnight, near simultaneous protests started in Lhasa, and then spread
to different cities of the Tibetan. People were seen marching in different parts
of Tibet, denouncing the oppression of the Chinese military. Once again, the
Chinese government decided to come down heavy. Protestors were shot and media
access to the region was denied. But unlike in 1989, this time, the protestors
did not have to be physically present in Tibet to be counted. Thanks to the
Internet, Tibetans across the world are taking part in the ongoing struggle.

While China has blocked Youtube and many other chat rooms in a bid to
suppress news on the unrest, thousands of Tibetans across the world are using
the Internet to connect and spread the word on the real picture on the ground.
So when the Chinese officials claimed that the rioting had withered away, videos
on Youtube showed the contrary.

Virtual Action

Google the words Free Tibet, and you will see over seven hundred thousand
results. There are around 1,500 videos on Youtube on the same keyword. Hundreds
of pro-Tibetan websites provide links and forums for organizing mass protests
against the Chinese rule, the chief ones are Freetibet.org, Tibet.org,
Savetibet.org, and many others. In fact, Tibetsites.com has a list of all the
websites that are raising the issue. The Tibetan government in exile has its
official website on Tibet.com.

There is also much talk of how to use the Olympic event as a platform for
highlighting the Tibetan cause.

Every person is responsible to follow the laws of their own country, yet we
can all work to change those laws. And when those laws are reprehensible, then
passive or active opposition may be required. Mahatma Gandhi provided many
useful lessons in how a populace can non-violently free itself from oppressive
rules and rulers. And many technologists have developed ways for citizens to
evade information controls that they think are inappropriate, say John Gilmore,
cofounder and board member, Electric Frontier Foundation.

So, back in 1989, the unknown rebel had to stand in front of a tank to make a
statement, the Tibetans now use Blogspot and Youtube to do the same.

Shashwat DC

shashwatc@cybermedia.co.in