Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SAOPAULO138
2008-03-18 12:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: CHINA' REPRESSION

Tags:  KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0050
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0138 0781233
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181233Z MAR 08 ZDK
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8019
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9161
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8652
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 3050
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000138

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: CHINA' REPRESSION
IN TIBET; SAO PAULO


"Cultural Genocide"

Liberal, largest national circulation dail Folha de S. Paulo
editorialized (3/18): "Despit its current high level of
industrialization andeconomic growth, China continues to be a
brutal ictatorship. Because Beijing totally controls information
and has made Tibet a forbidden territory for journalists, it is hard
to evaluate what is going on there.... Considering the history of
Chinese authorities' behavior, one should take Chinese official
statements with skepticism. Even so, according to available
information, it seems that Beijing is avoiding bloodshed on the eve
of the Olympic Games.... In addition to systematic human rights
violations, Tibet's traditions have been disrespected, in a kind of
'cultural genocide,' as the Dalai Lama has described it. The ideal
would be to find an agreed solution, through which Tibetans could
enjoy real autonomy.... To give political and cultural autonomy to
Tibet would not be unprecedented for China, which coexists with a
similar situation in Hong Kong. However, nothing indicates that
Beijing will give up the use of force against the defenseless
Tibetan population."
White