Perspectivas / Perspectives

March 10 (DPnet).– DemocraciaParticipativa.net pays a well-deserved tribute to the peaceful Tibetan people by honoring and spreading a message of recognition to the Tibetan Uprising Day, commemorating when Tibetans rose up to protest China’s invasion of their homeland.

In 1950, China sent in thousands of troops to enforce its claim on Tibet and systematic repression on Tibetan sovereignty started. On March 10, 1959, thousands of people rose up but were swept by Chinese forces. Finally, thousands gathered outside His Holiness the Dalai Lama's summer residence in Lhasa. There, they formed a protective barrier to prevent his capture by Chinese Communist Party forces. They succeeded in protecting him and the Dalai Lama fled and set up a government in exile in India. In that singular act of courage, our Tibetan brothers and sisters proclaimed to the world: "We alone have the right to decide our future."

The Dalai Lama (this title means in their language "Ocean of Wisdom") is the leading spiritual figure; the Panchen Lama is the second most important figure. Both are seen as the reincarnations of their predecessors. However, the Dalai Lama and Beijing have been at odds over the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama – identifying different youngsters for the role. The Chinese government does not espouse the beliefs of Buddhism, but has arrogated to itself the right to appoint at will a new Pachen Lama supposedly "reincarnated" undeer thjeir control. The Dalai Lama's choice, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, has not been seen since his detention by the Chinese authorities in 1995. 

• Se había reportado que los agresores le habían cortado la lengua con un arma cortopunzante y lo habían amenazado explícitamente por su profesión tras cubrir un acto electoral en El Alto. 
• El Gobierno condenó el ataque y afirmó que no quedará impune. No obstante, la Fiscalía descartó posteriormente la mutilación de la lengua al periodista F. Jesús Z.S. y lo tipificó como lesiones graves y robo agravado.

La Paz, Feb. 18 (DPnet).– El Ministerio Público de La Paz descartó oficialmente las versiones de secuestro, tortura y mutilación de lengua contra el periodista F. Jesús Z.S., un caso que generó conmoción nacional. La víctima  fue secuestrada en la madrugada del pasado jueves en la ciudad de El Alto, la segunda más poblada de Bolivia.

Los principales gremios de prensa del país, la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas de Bolivia (ANPB) y la Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores de la Prensa de Bolivia (Cstpb), según lo denunciaron el pasado domingo, calificaron el hecho como un intento de asesinato premeditado para silenciar su labor informativa. 

No obstante, tras las investigaciones preliminares y la declaración de la propia víctima, el fiscal departamental, Luis Carlos Torrez, aclaró que el incidente no está vinculado a represalias por su labor informativa. Se trata de un hecho de inseguridad ciudadana tipificado como lesiones graves y robo agravado.

Not only because it would expose their false narrative that everything is fine in Tibet, a region they’ve occupied for decades—but also because it would draw attention to their abuse and torture of peaceful protestors held in China’s notorious political prison system. Some of whom are still missing.

Even knowing the consequences, when Tibetan farmers discovered active gold-mining operations on their traditional grazing land in the Serkhok Valley, they had no choice but to speak out. The people of Kashi didn’t stay silent. And neither can we.

The land that’s being mined for gold is precious to these Tibetan nomadic farmers. It sustains their cattle, their livelihoods, and their way of life. They first tried to confront the miners and appeal to local officials to stop the mining. But they were ignored.

Five Central Asian nations —Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan— restrict what people can teach children.  

    Uzbekistan
    Population: 37 million, 2% Christian
    Kazakhstan
    Population: 20.7 million, 15% Christian
    Tajikistan
    Population: 10.7 million, ˂1% Christian
    Turkmenistan
    Population: 7.5 million, 4% Christian
    Kyrgyzstan
    Population: 7.2 million, 4% Christian

Towering mountain ranges such as the Pamir, Hindu Kush and Tian Shan declare God’s glory across Central Asia. But today, governments throughout the region use restrictive religion laws in an attempt to prevent pastors, teachers and even Christian parents from teaching children about Christ.

Pastor Parviz knew the risk he was taking as he packed the Christian children’s books into his suitcase and prepared to return home to Tajikistan. But as a pastor and a parent, he also knew that no investment or sacrifice was too great to provide discipleship materials for the children in his small fellowship.

The laws of Tajikistan and other nations in the region restrict and even forbid teaching religious beliefs and practices to children. If the Christian children’s books buried in Parviz’s suitcase were discovered, he could be fined, arrested or even imprisoned. Still, he believed the risk was well worth the gain of discipling children in the Lord.