Religious Studies department holds Tibet Teach-In: "What happened and why?"

Derek Maher, co-director of ECU's Religious Studies program, presented "Tibet Teach-In: 'What happened and why?'"

The event was held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 in room C209 of the Science and Technology Building.

Maher began the presentation by telling the nearly full lecture hall that he was happy so many people came to become more informed.

He continued by explaining the history of interactions between Tibet and China before discussing the protests occurring worldwide as China prepares to host the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

According to the presentation, the violence and Chinese 'clampdown' on Tibet came after protests on March 10 by Tibetan monks were violently suppressed by security forces of the Chinese government.

Shortly thereafter, foreign journalists were expelled from Tibet, and restrictions on movement within the country imposed. Furthermore, access to Internet and cellular networks has been heavily suppressed.

In addition to protests and unrest within Tibet itself, there have been numerous protests and demonstrations worldwide, particularly following the path of the Olympic Torch as it makes its way around the world to Beijing.

During the Torch's stop in Paris on April 7 it had to be extinguished three times, and when it stopped in San Francisco on April 8 the route was drastically changed at the last minute due to fears of violence.

"The eyes of the world are focused on China [because of the Olympics]," Maher said to emphasize why these protests are garnering so much attention.

As one Chinese dissenter wrote, "Please consider whether the Olympic Games should coexist with religious persecution, labor camps, modern slavery, identity discrimination, secret police and crimes against humanity."

After Maher's presentation, he opened the floor to questions. Many of the questions asked were about China's perspective, and whether we in the West are getting the full story from either side.

"I'm disturbed with the dominant narrative-that the Chinese government is all wrong and the Tibetan government is all right. It's a more nuanced story, and I don't think people are getting it," said Jody Baumgartner of the Department of Political Science.

Many students asked what they, as college students, could do.

"Learn more about it. And help other people learn more about the injustices going on," Maher said.

Although some students attended for credit in classes, many students and faculty came out of personal interest in the subject.

"I'm here out of interest. I'm also Buddhist, and I'm studying Buddhism and the Vietnam War. I'm also here as a human being interested in what I can do for the world," said Brandon Ambrose, president of the Buddhist Meditation and Study Group, when asked why he chose to attend.

Anyone wanting to know more about Tibet was encouraged to visit tibet.net or tibetinfonet.net, the websites of the Tibetan Government in Exile and Tibetan Information Network, respectively. ECU also offers a course on Tibetan Religion and Culture, PHIL 3592.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com