HELIOLITH

Dear Hu Jintao and Zhang Qingli,

I am writing to respectfully share my opinion with you on the situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region. While I understand that the official view is that no external persons or countries should meddle with the internal affairs of China, I request that you listen, for I speak not with condemnation, but with respect and concern. I do not rightly know what precisely has occurred over the last weeks, beyond what the Chinese government and outside sources have agreed upon, namely that Tibetan protests turned violent, and that human beings were killed. I express my deepest sympathy for the families and countrymen of those who have died in the violence — murder in any form is intolerable.

I would like to request that you entertain the possibility that the unrest and frustration of Tibetans is a symptom of China’s policy in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. I realize that this is an accusatory statement, and I do not mean to insult your governing abilities. Regretfully, it has taken violence to catalyze the world’s attention to the situation here, and you would not want to be seen as caving in to the demands of those who use violence to express themselves– but there are far greater dangers. In my country, the U.S.A, after the attacks of 9/11/01, there were many who tried to analyze the attacks in the context of our international policies, while others quickly reacted with fury and ire, stating that to do so was to justify the attackers. Nothing ever justifies violence. Honest introspection and self-reflection harms no one.

Perhaps you, as an outsider to our internal affairs, can see some of our own failed policies in the last decade, and the repercussions that we have suffered for them. Please seriously consider re-opening dialogues with the Dalai Lama, while entertaining the possibility of his request for greater Tibetan autonomy. I realize that while publicly China has accused him of inciting violence, I think that you are well aware, as is the majority of the world, that this is someone who could never incite violence, that he walks the same path that the great leader Mahatma Gandhi walked, one that shuns all forms of violence. As an outsider myself to your policy, it does seem that the Tibetan people, the vast majority of which seem peaceful, and discontent with Chinese management, have several valid points of critique to China’s policies in their area of your empire. I am not interested in maligning China. I am interested in seeing your great leadership make a difference for the people of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, who deserve, just like all citizens of the world, to be listened to, and treated with dignity and respect.

Thank you for your time.