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Tibet Ethnic

Olympic Torch Relay Runs Across Lhasa

 

The torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has run across Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The relay in Lhasa began at 9 am on Saturday morning at the square in front of the city's famous garden, the Norbu Lingka.

A minute of silence was observed to remember the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake a month ago. Local authorities say the arrival of the flame is a great boost to the solidarity of the different ethnic groups in the autonomous region.

Qin Yizhi, vice chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, said, "The passage of the flame across Lhasa will further enhance the patriotism of all ethnic groups and stimulate their enthusiasm to make greater contribution to the social progress in Tibet. Let's stick to the Olympic spirit of peace, friendship and progress and hold high the Olympic torch symbolizing harmony and glory. Wish all the best to our country, and a great success to the Beijing Olympic Games."

The cloudy day cast no shadows over local enthusiasm. The torch was lit and passed over to local leaders, amid cheers and thunderous applause.

 

The first torch bearer was 72-year-old Gongbo, a noted Tibetan mountaineer. This run featured 156 torchbearers, 75 of them Tibetan. The route covered 9.3 kilometers and ended at Potala Square.

 

During the two-hour relay, the flame kindled on the top of Mount Qomolangma on May 8th reunited with the main torch.

 

The next destination for the Olympic torch relay is Qinghai Province.

 Gonpo (L), 75-year-old Tibetan mountaineering hero and the first torchbearer, receives the torch from Qin Yizhi, secretary of the Lhasa city committee of the Communist Party of China, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous

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What need does China have of Tibet & Taiwan for refusing them independence & self-govenance?

It is a common knowledge that almost every country in the world is made up of several distinct ethnic nations. Each of these can stand on their own. But why are ethnic nations refused secession or the call for autonomy if they feel they can't continue with the parent country?

There are five times more people in China than the whole of Africa. So, what is in tiny Tibet & Taiwan that is attracting China? Is people, resources or what?

It's a political issue. The Chinese government has advertised itself as infallible for generations now. The only justification for a one-party state would be that the party in power was perfect. If China were to relinquish it's claim to any area that would prefer true independence (you can add Xinzhang, inner mongolia, and parts of Manchuria to the list) then it would open the door to other parts to claim the same. Why do you think they protested Kosovo's recent independence.
For the government to not be able to hold onto sometime as fundamental as territorial sovereignty claims, it would show weakness, undermine its legitimacy and force millions to confirm doubts they surely already have about their government.

In other words, remove one and the house of cards collapses

Travelogue Ethnic Odyssey - Magnificant Tibet 1/3

[mage source="tags"]Tibet Ethnic[/mage