BTW, what is this business about “mutually-agreed upon independence”? Do you think the United States would have ever become independent if the British had a say and veto power over the revolutionaries?
As I mentioned, not all Tibetans want independence - Dalai Lama included.
The "independence protests" that we've seen recently are a combination of pro-independence splitists and those who simply want the autonomy they were promised by the Chinese before that agreement was unilaterally revoked in 1959. They want the Chinese to stop polluting their religious, cultural and language traditions and they want the government to stop the relocation of Han Chinese to the region. There's a huge disparity between Han Chinese and Tibetans in the region because the governments policies are all stack in favor of Han Chinese.
Why is it any different in case of China - the oppressor and colonizing power in Tibet?
As Fishing-guy stated in response to my poor analogy:
A better analogy for Tibet would be if the native American nations want to go independent from the United States. The Tibetans can choose the way of Geronimo, and they will get the same fate as he did.
The problem with China is that there is not a system where the common folks can address their grievances.
Re: As I mentioned, not all Tibetans want independence - Dalai Lama included.
Again. You are playing fast and loose with the facts. The Tibetans (including the Dalaia Lama) would love independence, but they know that that after this many years of occupation it is unlikely.
Spoken like someone who has never met a Tibetan.
There are Tibetans in government positions in Lhasa who will give you this line; and there are probably some Tibetans in Tibet who believe it. But again, for the vast majority of Tibetans, this is simply not part of the their experience. Get any Tibetan nomad, farmer, peasant, or monk a few hundred yards away from their local party cadre and the first thing they'll do is ask for a picture of the Dalai Lama; the second thing they'll do is ask you to help them free their country.
More foolishness. Only a ChiCom or a ChiCom apologist would use the word "splitist." (sic)
But again, the true testament to the fact that Tibetans have been far from content under Chinese rule lie in the actions of the people themselves. Ever since the Chinese invasion and occupation there has been substantial popular resistance to Chinese rule in Tibet. This resistance has taken many forms over the years - leafleting, public demonstration, mass non-cooperation, economic boycott, and armed uprising are all forms of protest have been practiced by Tibetans inside Tibet, at the risk of their own lives.