News Article

Tibet - china tension

Summary

The most recent news about Tibet is not very pleasant. On Monday security forces open fired on Tibetans in western china. According to Tibetan rights group and the Tibetan exile government thirty were wounded and at least one was killed. This is also said to be the largest violent clash in the ethnic Tibetan areas of China since 2008. Internet access in that area was cut off to slow down the spread of the information. This was the second firing at Tibetans; the previous one was on January 14 in Aba, also located in the Sichuan province. Seventeen Tibetans have set themselves on fire since last March 16. Tibetans with gunshot wounds are scared to go the hospitals because they might have to face questioning or retaliation by the authorities. The cause of the protest may have been that the Tibetans demanding the release of detainees who were distributing leaflets which called for Tibet’s freedom. Or the protest could also be part of the local boycott against the Chinese celebrations of the lunar New Year. The Chinese have stopped all visitors from entering the country during the Tibetan New Year as they suspect that the scenario might get violent.

Response

This issue has been carrying on since forever. Why can’t the rest of the world do something about it? This was my first response. After research I realized that if any other country with power, like USA especially, will have economic trouble later with china. This economic trouble will be a big one. In Ken Keseys novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the same thing happens to McMurphy as the Tibetans. If someone tries to stand up and challenge the system they are put down. The Tibetans have been challenging the Chinese government for a long time now, and the result is this. The protestors were put down for going against the system. Even though it is hard for other countries to do anything about this situation I still feel that they can make a few agreements. The Chinese refused to listen to the Tibetans and any agreement they have made has been broken. Hopefully this issue is resolved fast. 

Vocab

1. Aggrieved:

• “The Tibetan Parliament is deeply aggrieved by the incidents and condemns the Chinese authorities for resorting to such drastic acts of force and repression.”
• Definition/Origin: feeling resentment at having been treated unjustly. Originated from Middle English word agreven meaning to make heavy or worsen. 
• Sentence: Woodstock students are deeply aggrieved by the management’s callous attitude in not taking interest about the quality of our food.

2. Dissemination:

• “Internet access to the area was cut off by the authorities, apparently to slow the dissemination of information.”
• Definition/Origin: To spread abroad; promulgate. Originated from latin word dissminre

• Sentence: In Woodstock, especially amongst the girls, dissemination of information is very fast.

 3. Leery:

• “People in China wounded by gunshots are often leery of going to hospitals, fearing that they will face questioning and possibly retaliation by the authorities”
• Definition/Origin: Suspicious or distrustful. Originated from Middle English leor.

• Sentence: Woodstock school students are really leery of what the school does with all the money the students pay as fees.