Tibet: Beyond Nationalism

international | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Saturday October 22, 2005 18:11 by Robbie Sinnott Ireland

a 22min exploration with Yungchen Lhamo and Neil Steedman

With the construction of the China-Tibet railway this week, the destruction of Tibet reaches a new level.

Studio interview with Yungchen Lhamo (from Tibet) and Neil Steedman (Tibet Support Group Ireland). mp3 (22mins, FM-friendly).

To listen on broadband (immediately - depending on your player settings/preferences), left-click the next link.

http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/yungchenradioedit.mp3

to download on any connection, right-click etc.
The above link is also the radio edit, suitable for rebroadcasting on FM.

The same interview is segmented at lower resolution for immediate access for all sorts of internet connections lower down, and synopsis given under those headings.

This week marks the completion of the China-Tibet railway, the construction of which began in June 2001.
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/yungchenradioedit.mp3

Its completion will accelerate the orchestrated migration of Han Chinese to further marginalise Tibetans in their own country (which was illegally invaded by China in 1950).

The construction of the railway will also bring to a new level, the economic and environmental plunder of Tibet, despite ongoing bilateral negotiations in Switzerland.

Yungchen Lhamo is a singer and Tibetan exile. At the age of 15 she trekked through the Himalayas to India, but the sense of loss and yearning for her country is palpable in her conversation.

Part 1 (5m34s; mp3 32kbps)
In the first five minutes, Yungchen explains the importance of singing to her and the impact that Chinese imperilaism has had on her culture.
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/1.music_culture.mp3

Part 2 (4m30s; mp3 32kbps)
In the next five minutes, Yungchen speakss about the destruction of Tibet’s landscape, before describing debilitating health issues among the neglected indigenous population.
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/2.imperialneglectofhealth_education.mp3

Part 3 (10m; mp3 32kbps)
In the third part, Yungchen outlines Tibetan strategy of spiritual resistance, and non-hatred. Yungchen suggests that the world under capitalism will face many hardships if humans continue to alienate themselves with materialism.
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/3.alternativetonationalism.mp3

Part 4 (2m; mp3 32kbps)
Neil Steedman of TSGI outlines what Irish people, if not everyone globally can do to try to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by Tibetans today.
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/4.tsgi.mp3

Irish Tibet Support Group website
www.tibet.org/Resources/TSG/Groups/ireland.html

Part 5 (1m; mp3 32kbps - not on full radio edit version).
Outro and contact details for Majority World majorityworld@nearfm.ie
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/5.outro_contact.mp3

The interview was originally broadcast live in studio on Near FM's Majority World, July 22nd, 2005 (about 5 on a Thursday afternoon). coppyleft as always.