The Cost of Human Rights essays

The Cost of Human Rights essays In Tibet Chinese officials gouge out a mans eyes and then throw him from the roof of Tibets holiest shrine. Meanwhile elsewhere in the town a father and daughter are forced to have sex while members of the Chinese army watch and cheer on (Chang, 30). China has violated treaties they have signed with Tibet and horrific international crimes are being committed on a daily basis. Countries will publicly condemn and take covert actions against China. But they fear if they take a more active stance against China they could lose trade relations with China. For almost two thousand years Tibet has existed as an autonomous nation. Only twice in the countrys history have they been subjected to rule by outsiders (Chang, 31). On October 7th, 1950 eighty thousand troops of the Peoples Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet in an attempt to integrate Tibet with China. The Tibetan army was outnumbered as well as overpowered and twelve days later Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, Tibetan Provincial Governor, surrendered to the Chinese government (Cavendish). The agreement the two leaders signed stated, the Tibetan government could keep their functions and rights, including an army (Dalai Lama Says). Chairman Mao even encouraged the Tibetans to retain the Tibetan flag. This retention of the Tibetan flag clearly illustrated that China acknowledges that Tibet is an independent country and not an annexation of China. The treaty also stipulated that Tibet would have autonomy, that the central government would not alter the existing political system or t he established status, functions and powers of the Dalai Lama, that freedom of religious belief would be upheld (Dalai Lama Says). Thus according to the treaty Tibet would remain a sovereign state. However, China did not uphold its end of the treaty and has subjected Tibet to communist rule, completely altering Tibetan way of life. ...