Arrested for ‘walking while buddhist’

More than 100 Tibetan refugees who were detained in India while attempting to march to the Chinese border have been placed in custody for 14 days.

The marchers, protesting against China hosting the Olympics, were detained near Dharamsala town, headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

The walk began on Monday as part of a global pro-independence protest.

It coincided with the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against China.

India has in the past been sympathetic to the Tibetan cause but in recent years Delhi’s relations with Beijing have improved and India has not allowed large-scale public protests for fear of embarrassing Beijing. BBC

Dalai-Iran-Torture cocktail ala Bush

This is something only Bush can pull off: photo op with the Dalai Lama, justifying torture and rallying for war with Iran at the same time. Check out the picture in combination with the hedlines on the right right on the NY Times site:

Let’s do this like buddhists

George W. Bush will meet the Dalai Lama tomorrow to give him a Congressional medal. Chinese officials are miffed because they fear it gives his Holiness political power in Tibet they’d rather have remain with the Chinese Party. They’d probably would like nothing better than for him to curl up and die. (He’d be back.) Or at least go away and stop peacefully protesting.

This recent episode does not only show the ugly side of China, it is also a fine example of peaceful protest done right because of that very reason. The BBC reports:

Chinese officials in Tibet expressed fury at the announcement of the Congressional award.

Tibet’s Communist Party Secretary of Tibet, Zhang Qingli, accused the exiled spiritual leader of trying to “split the motherland”.

“We are furious,” he said. “If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world.”

Asked by journalists after the meeting to comment on China’s reaction, the Buddhist leader said: “That always happens”. BBC

Somehow I doubt this would be getting so much play in the mainstream press if the Chinese had just kept their mouths shut. Instead they openly protested and shone the spotlight on him. All he had to do is smile and say “yeah, they always act this way” and he looks good.

Now that is wisdom.