Frank Jannuzi: Alternative to a boycott - Go to Tibet Posted by The Editors

(This post is by Senate staffer Frank Jannuzi, these are his personal views)

In response to the recent unrest in Tibet, there have been calls for world leaders to boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics or to skip the Olympics altogether.  Setting aside whether one’s mere attendance at the Olympics would indeed convey approval, I believe that calls for a boycott are unwise and will backfire.  This kind of gesture might make us feel good for a day, but will do nothing to advance the cause of human rights in Tibet or elsewhere in China.  That is why the Dalai Lama has consistently argued in favor of engagement and dialogue with China, and why even now he continues to advocate attendance at the Olympics.  The Dalai Lama’s pragmatism is the result of his experience. China’s mistreatment of the Tibetan people did not start last March 10, and it will not end after the Olympics are over.  The boycott movement reflects the pressures of the news cycle and the Presidential campaign, not a strategic plan for how best to advance human rights in China.   

Alternatives to the Boycott:

The same forces that have expanded civic space and human rights in China over past 30 years – even in Tibet – are still at work today.  A boycott will weaken, not strengthen the advocates of reform inside China, by aligning them implicitly with Western forces intent on “humiliating” China.  It will be used by China’s leaders to stir nationalist passions, which already run strong in China.  We should scrutinize China’s conduct in the appropriate venues, including the UN Human Rights Council.  We should invest in rule of law, civil society, press freedom, and transparency programs in China.  We should visit with Tibetans (including welcoming the Dalai Lama in Washington), and when we go to China we should raise our concerns, meet with dissidents, and visit Tibet (and other minority regions) to investigate conditions there. 

But we should avoid demonizing China’s leaders and backing them into a corner.  We should not let them blame us for spoiling their Olympics.  They are doing a good job of it all by themselves. 

Comments

[Jason]

Want to know Tibet?
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

[Rebecca Krause-Hardie]

I've visited Tibet and can certainly attest to the problems and huge damage done as a result of the Chinese Invasion and destruction of their culture. And you are right, the problem is not just this moment in time. Buddhism calls for peaceful activities, but not for sitting around being passive. All this to say, that sometimes we should do things that upset the apple cart, like sitting at the soda counter of the Woolworth in 1960's.

[peace]

I personally believe that the United States should boycott the Olympics not only for their actions in Tibet, but also their support for the Sudenese and Burmese governments. Also the Chinese government's terrible human rights record towards their own and not to mention the terrible enviromental record, plus one should add in the complete lack of labor standards within the Chinese factories. In the past 15 years the American government has accomadated the Chinese government acting like a bully towards its own people, and by boycotting the Olympics it would at least make a statement that we oppose its actions. It just seems unfair to me that we constantly badger Iran and Russia, but allow China, who has a far worse human rights reacord and shows no pretense of having a democracy, off the hook.

[uglyrain]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubZbp28696Q

Watchi this video first then talk human right.

also we love our gov, maybe its not on your news media but Chinese people around the world have stand up protest,

just open your eyes.

[John Savard]

It is true that our reaction to events in Tibet might be used by Chinese leaders to encourage nationalism that will suit their purposes. Every city that has a police department is proof that people know you can't change the behavior of thugs and killers by smiling nicely at them. Conclusion: do what will work to provide the people of Tibet with human rights. Pre-emptive nuclear strike to eliminate the Beijing regime's WMD capability, followed by regime change.

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