Still no news reaches us from Rebiya's country

Yes, lots and lot of news from Tibet now - yet much of the truth is still repressed. We hear nothing from East Turkisthan (now known as Xingjiang Uighur Autonomous Region or XUAR). The last posted BBC news article from this country was in 2005. The Uighurs are repressed in the same way as the Tibetans. Rebiya Kadeer is losing all hope of seeing her family again.

I have not lost sight of the reason for this blog. It is to help Rebiya and her people. Rebiya says: 'We were promised wonderful things when we were given autonomous status. We would be in charge of the natural resources, they wouldn’t increase the Chinese population, jobs would be first for locals, then for the incoming Chinese. They said they only came to help us, to develop our own country and culture. The Chinese government used autonomy as a noose to hook the Uighurs and hang them. We have nothing. We’re facing an existential threat, that the Chinese government’s policies will eliminate us as a people. The Chinese government gave us the so-called autonomous status but never respected it, and transferred millions of their own people. Now you can see more Chinese than Uighurs in our own homeland. What China is doing is a frontal attack on our ethnic identity, culture and language. It’s ultra-nationalism . We don’t look Chinese, we don’t speak Chinese, everything is different, and that makes it hard for the Chinese government to justify its repression and occupation.'

Her country is being used as a nuclear testing zone. A dumping ground for nuclear waste. I have heard first hand that there are significant and awful birth defects. The good doctor who risked his life to tell us this will never see his family again.

Spread the word - it works!

The situation in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world.
Not everyone gets out on to the streets like me (and I am pretty new to it), but its seems that positive action pays off. Gordon Brown is going to talk to the Dalai Lama and Nancy Pelosi (speaker of the US House of representatives) has asked for an investigation into China's behaviour in the Tibet unrest.

You will have heard that the Chinese will treat those Tibetans who hand themelves in to the authorities 'with lenience'. My friend has spent many years in a Chinese jail. They beat him so badly he was left for dead. I don't think China understands the word 'lenience'. My friend cries for those held in the prison - he knows what will happen. Despite everything, his needs are simple. Tibetans are not interested in money or power. "It doesn't matter whether Tibet is independent or not, as long as Tibetans live in happiness," he said.

Peace and compassion are not 'nice to haves' they are absolute necessities .

Keep talking my friends - it works

Excerpt from BBC editors page today

"There are a handful of countries where the BBC is not welcome - but not many where our services on radio, TV and online are actively blocked. Along with every other news organisation, China's internal security laws mean we can't get into the region without permission - that has been refused. In addition to our problems in the field, China also routinely blocks access to BBC services in most of the country."

Tibet is a country where news does at least get out. What about the others such as East Turkisthan. Nothing comes from there. Can you imagine the anguish of the people in this country?

What do you say to this - 'Oh dear, there goes China being silly again.' Or maybe 'This should not be allowed. What can I do about it?'

Firstly, you should talk about it - to your friends and family; anyone who will listen.

Secondly get real. Contact your MP and make your point. They will not know how you feel until you tell them. Don't be lazy.

Free Tibet Rally - Cardiff 9th March 2008

It was pretty cold in Cardiff on Sunday, but that didn't sptop many people from turning out to learn more about the situation in Tibet. I was one of the speakers, and, in case you are wondering why I support the Free Tibet campaign, I was happy to take the opportunity to compare the obscene treatment of people in Tibet with those in East Turkisthan.

It is a harsh world we live in. Too many people are reluctant to leave their comfort zone and take a long hard look at the world we really live in. The paradox is the world we live in is often sutained by the hardship of others. Our consumerism is largely built on cheap labour. That cheap labour is build on an unfair society - in many cases it is built on downright cruelty. Yes, we are responsible for the opression in the world. We allow it. We fund it.