Police Shut Down Tibet Show
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- Photo: Munem Wasif
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- Photo: Munem Wasif
We had a lot of discussion in this thread about whether freeing Tibet should be an issue among Bangladeshi activists. It seems like China is surely paying attention.
POLICE TRY TO SHUT DOWN EXHIBITION AT DRIK GALLERY
Police today locked the gates of Drik Gallery, Dhaka, to prevent the scheduled opening of photography exhibition ‘Into Exile: Tibet 1949 – 2009’. The images portrayed the journey of Tibetans from their homeland to exile. It was due to be inaugurated by Professor Muzaffar Ahmed of Transparency International Bangladesh. A troop of police arrived and announced to gallery staff that the exhibition would not take place. Without any paperwork or official warning, they locked the gates to prevent people from entering. Their arrival followed days of threats of arrest and forcibly closing the exhibition down.
Drik Gallery continued with the opening, with Professor Ahmed symbolically inaugurating the exhibition on the street by the front gate. The inauguration was watched by many people who had come to see the work, and Professor Ahmed spoke of the need for intimate knowledge of our neighbours. That such knowledge could lead to peace. He felt that such exhibitions could be shown even in China, but that the Bangladesh government in their enthusiasm to please such a powerful government would assert censorship in their own country.
Drik is an organisation which is strongly in favour of a free media. They view the action as a direct attempt to suppress the media. In 20 years of operation, Drik has always fought against any kind of censorship. Exhibitions at Drik have been opened by Sheikh Hasina, by Khaleda Zia and jointly by the two deputy leaders Abdus Samad Azad and Badruddoza Chowdhury. It is only upon the protest of the Chinese government that the need for permission has been stated.
The event was also broadcast to a global audience through live web-streaming on www.drik.tv/intoexile-Tibet
The gallery gates were still locked by police at 7pm.
First a delegation from Chinese embassy came to meet the Shahidul Alam, director of Drik and ‘requested’ him to cancel the event. An email from an activist reached us here: ‘They also wandered around Drik and asked employees number of questions….
Alam bhai told them not to advise him what to do on his own property.
As of 6 pm tonight, Special Branch officers reached Drik under the operatives of a certain SI Mijan and demanded to know the name of the contact person for the exhibition. They were locked in meeting with Shahidul Alam till last report came in. The movement leaders also previously reported various visits to the home of the activists over the past three weeks by the same SI.
Last time I checked this was a free country. Why are these folks so sensitive about an exhibition in Dhaka on Tibet?
Dharamsala, October 31: Representatives from Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh on Thursday made vain efforts to cancel a week-long Tibet exhibition to be held in the Bangladeshi Capital Dhaka from Sunday.
Students for a Free Tibet, Bangladesh (SFTBD) in partnership with Drik Bangladesh, a Dhaka-based picture agency representing a group of media professionals, is organising the exhibition themed “Into Exile | Tibet 1949-2009” at Drik Gallery in Dhaka from November 1 to 7.
[...] their ideological war in Bangladesh. According to the ‘Unheard Voice’ blog, ‘Threat on activists for free Tibet in Dhaka continues.” Phayul also has coverage “Tibet exhibition in Bangladesh to go on despite Chinese [...]
It is extremely sad for authorities in Bangladesh to be used as tools for the Chinese regime. Why is China so afraid of this small exhibition? Is truth really this powerful?
Stand up, let us not allow China to bully us.
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Freedom's Herald Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
This is the point. Why do any people have to bend over backwards to please the Chinese Communist Party? They weren’t elected by anyone and they are even a minority in their own country. The only way they rule their own people is by the threat of violence, long prison sentences, torture, or execution – and all these can be yours if you say the wrong thing.
The CCP talks about ‘interfering’ in their internal matters, but what about this incident?
What happens when a fellow Muslim wants to tell you his story about the way the Chinese Communist Party ruled People’s Republic of China treats your brothers and sisters in Eastern Turkestan (Xinjiang)? You think that the Chinese authorities were mean and nasty now, just wait until someone wants to give a voice to their peaceful call for justice.
For Freedom,
Freedom’s Herald
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Stay tuned for more updates on this – DrikNEWS will be covering this with live updates on Facebook:
http://www.driknews.com
http://www.facebook.com/driknews
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The Special Branch is back at Drik asking to close down this exhibition. Shahidul is in the Board Room talking to them right now. Threatened to bring additional forces if necessary.
Whatever the outcome is, watch it live on http://www.drik.tv/IntoExile-Tibet at 5.30pm Dhaka time today.
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i am here at drik now, the police is here insisting there will be no exhibition. load voices. come to stand by drik now, scheduled opening 5:30. seems more forces will be brought in. show your stand today.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Yumi Goto, Yumi Goto. Yumi Goto said: Unheard Voice » Threat on activists for free Tibet in Dhaka continues http://bit.ly/2A7dSe [...]
Update from the gate:
Police with arms barricade Tibet Exhibition Drik Gallery. Gate locked. More buses on the way. Please spread the word or come ASAP.
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still inside, quiet here but three lines of police blocking the gate. think they announced the exhibition for opened with the chief guest outside. live streaming to internet : http://www.drik.tv/IntoExile-Tibet
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I am a Chinese woman with bussiness interest in BD but I am not the only one. I think BD gov. needs to look at advantage for BD.
Thank you.
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ahmed Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 am
Ms Chinese Lady
Would you please be able to explain how does this exibition affect on your business with Bangladesh?
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ncd Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:29 am
Dear Chinese Business woman,
Are you suggesting that B’desh should kow-tow to Beijing and give up its independence!!!!!
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Zeeshan Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
so in the interest of ‘interest’ we should give up our point of view. If you are 100% sure that China has no reason to be defensive, why is it being so? and is what you say, not a veiled threat?
Its in our interest to have our own point of view, thank you. You want to think only in terms of money and power, be my guest, but some of us value other things.
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http://www.dalailama.com
Dalai Lama: Tibet Wants Autonomy, Not Independence
Published: Sunday, 16 April, 2006
San Francisco, USA, 16 April 2006 (By Amanda Bower, Time Magazine)
Tibet’s spiritual leader speaks
Q.Two weeks ago, the Chinese government said it would allow you to visit your homeland, which you fled in 1959, if you abandoned your pursuit of independence for Tibet. But haven’t you long said that you want autonomy, not independence, for Tibet?
A.Oh yes. The world knows the Dalai Lama is not seeking independence. The world knows. Still the Chinese do not know. [Laughs]
Q.Do you have any heaviness of heart about giving up hope for Tibetan independence?
A.No. It’s not necessary. Of course the present situation, in reality, I think that 99% of the Tibetan population is very, very unhappy. Every year, I think more than 10,000 Tibetans come to India. Some escape, some with permission. Every single Tibetan, when you meet them, is crying, complaining, including some Tibetans who have high level positions and are party members. I think many foreigners who visit Tibet and who have some close contact with local Tibetans also get the same impression. There are a large number of police forces there. Why? Too much suspicion, too much fear. If what the Chinese government claims is true, there’s no need for security like that. This is very bad, not only bad for Tibetans, but also for the People’s Republic of China as a whole.
As far as the future is concerned, look at the European Union. In the past centuries, those nations talked most about their sovereignty. Now, today, the common interest is more important than each individual nation’s sovereignty. Tibet is a landlocked country, a large area, small population, very, very backward. We Tibetans want modernization. Therefore, in order to develop Tibet materially as a modern nation, Tibet must remain within the People’s Republic of China. Provided Chinese give us a full guarantee of preservation of Tibetan culture, Tibetan environment, Tibetan spirituality, then it is of mutual benefit. [Besides] foreign affairs [and] defense [are] all the things which Tibetans can manage by themselves. Tibetans should have the full autonomy.
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Congrats Wasfia and her fiends on achieving this exhibition. Whenever there is curb on freedom of speech, ban of books, censorship of information, trade of human rights for money, suppression of public freedom and movements, some one one will always speak up.
The Chinese pressure on Bangladesh is a test of Bangladesh’s integrity and independence. Bangladesh is not Nepal; where China can easily command its whims and fancies on it. I know many Nepalese who do not like the Chinese strong handedness in their policies but China has made huge inroads in that Himalayan country. I hope Bangladesh doesn’t become another Nepal.
-tenzin tsundue
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I would like to specifically comment on the posting left before mine.
Are you actually saying that the Bangladesh government should allow a foreign power (China) to tell them what to in their own country? And if Bangladesh does as it is told it may be rewarded with some investment.
I think this comment displays an unbelievable level of arrogance. China spends too much time interfering in other country’s political affairs.
Bangladesh must be brave and not become yet another “puppet” country for China to manipulate.
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[...] Voice Blog reported on 31st of October, 2009: It seems like China is surely paying attention. Tomorrow’s exhibition [...]
[...] Voice Blog reported on 31st of October, 2009: It seems like China is surely paying attention. Tomorrow’s exhibition [...]
I don’t believe that the organizers didnt know that this event will draw Chinese attention. I also believe that they did know why and how China will react to this event. Let me be very clear. Its not a matter of bully or something. Tibet is not a topic about which we should get so excited. Its something India should be more concern about. Its all going wrong. Things are going pretty bad in Bangladesh. Believe me people. We are in deep shit. Only because we are so innocent that we trust people around us like blinds. Please dont let slip out your motherland to some nasty politician. Who don’t even know what is good for them. They forgot they’ll die one day and people’ll piss on their grave for sure. Please be sensible. I know a lot more than anyone of you in here. If you really want to know why I am telling all these you can send me mail… Her is my fake mail address abut i check it. catherine25f990@yahooa.com
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I think that for Bangladesh to compromise its sovereignty by bending to Chinese political will speaks volumes about itself. Despite the faults in Bangladesh’s democracy, it should respect human rights and the right to free speech.
Do Chinese government officials also not realise that by trying to shut the exhibition down they create a great deal more attention-grabbing controversy than if they simply ignored such events?
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I am amazed to see some of the comments, like why we are bending over backwards to please the Chinese!! Have you guys been hibernating?? Do you not know China is now a Economic superpower?
Bangladesh’s economy relies heavily on having good relation witch China. China is no doubt the single most important supplier of industrial machinery and consumer goods to Bangladesh.
We are looking to China to finance many of our large infrastructure projects including the Padma bridge.
Tibet and Taiwan are the most sensitive political issues for the Chinese and they take every measure to prevent these entities from gaining publicity and most countries do their best to not offend the Chinese.
Even Obama avoided meeting The Dalai Lama while he was visiting washington so not to offend the Chinese authorities.
Bangladesh is a third world country and benefits immensely from having a friendly relation with China and we are hardly in a position to annoy them.
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Zeeshan Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
….none of which has anything to do with the right to have an opinion about the Tibetan situation or the right to have an exhibition. This has nothing to do with trade or political economics. Its a photo exhibition, documenting a historical fact. Why dont we just change history then, since its inconvenient.
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a arzu Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:12 am
So let me pose this question to you. What if some country still had official position that Bangladesh is still East Pakistan and not an independent country, would this affect our overall relation with them – economic, political and other bilateral issues?
China considers Tibet as part of it’s own territory, so hosting an exhibition which contradicts this notion will surely tick them off.
Our relation with China is too important to be tainted by a petty exhibition. The government is right to block this show and should continue to do so in the future.
The organizers can of-course use our judicial courts to argue against the government’s action but whether they have the stomach to do so is another matter. I would support any decision reached by our judiciary.
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[...] Voice Blog reported on 31st of October, 2009: It seems like China is surely paying attention. Tomorrow’s exhibition [...]
hi guys,
except today’s amardeyshomoy i have not read even a “T” about Tibet in daily star,daily azadi nor any of our local channels &/or cnn,bbc or aljazeera has any coverage pertaining to Tibet.
the bottom line is this is a super sensitive issue which the super powers like president barack obama will not touch with a ten foot pole so, why we a 3rd world entity should go out of our way to antagonize our chinese comrades??? tnx to gob for ignoring and not joining in shedding crocodile tears, we do have enormous problems why add one more??
have a nice day, take care!
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Asif Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Putool,
The coverage was in all the news last night. Also see column six here:
http://www.eprothomalo.com/index.php?opt=view&page=24&date=2009-11-02
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Zeeshan Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
… because its not about Tibet per se. Its about some Bangladeshis who have every right to express their opinion and have an exhibition. It could be about Timbuktu, it doesnt matter, but it has the right to be.
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there are lots of ways of embodying the ‘human brotherhood’ relationship with the Tibetans, even as the peoples of a small country beholden to a local superpower, without going all ‘radiohead’.
remember that the bnp muffed the relationship up a bit when they went along with the taiwanese in the last elected government. it cost the political scalp of a chap who might have become somebody significant.
this china thing is a new one though, but so many other powers dominate and define national life in ways that have now become common sensical.
you dont see any bd government kicking the british empire (dfid) out for their anti human rights actions in iraq.’
one of the reasons for growing out of developmentia and developing some economic integrity is to assert a moral force on ones surroundings.
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Zeeshan Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 pm
u miss the point. Its an exhibition. But of course you can choose to be a realist, a.k.a opportunist
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fugstar Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:12 am
I know its an exhibition.
It would be nice to have principles across all the countries and challenge every day dominations (india, US) that were mainstreamed long ago and continue to be milked.
funny how in this case its the arty types showing spine, and the ’security’ types following orders. probably from dipu moni right?
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Zakir Hussain Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Its very bad incident and our police people are very bad. I hate them.
China looks to export censorship
By Michael Bristow
BBC News, Beijing
2 November, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8329217.stm
Protesters and police in central Urumqi – 3 September 2009
Fears about ethnic tension could be motivating China’s censorship efforts
A few days before the start of this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival its executive director received an “audacious” telephone call.
An official from China’s consulate in the city called him to “urge” the festival to withdraw a film about the Chinese activist Rebiya Kadeer.
Beijing then tried to persuade the organisers of the Frankfurt Book Fair not to allow two Chinese writers to attend an event.
China says it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
But some see these acts as an attempt by China to use abroad the tough censorship measures it constantly employs at home.
Intimidation and threats
Richard Moore, the Melbourne festival’s executive director, said he was astonished to receive the call from the city’s Chinese consulate.
“It came down to [the consular official] saying we need to justify our decision to include the film in the programme. It was a remarkable display of confidence and arrogance,” he said.
The festival decided to ignore the advice and go ahead with the film – about an activist who campaigns for better rights for China’s Uighur minority – but that did not end the issue.
The festival organisation was subjected to an intense campaign of threats, intimidation and disruption, although it is not clear who – if anyone – orchestrated the campaign.
The festival e-mail address received insulting messages, there were waves of annoying phone calls and the fax machine was jammed with callers.
Chinese author and environmental campaigner Dai Qing
Chinese officials objected to writer Dai Qing speaking in Frankfurt
Some notes to the organisers contained messages threatening Mr Moore’s family.
Internet hackers managed to break into the festival’s online booking site, making it appear that session tickets had been sold out.
Hackers also managed to post a Chinese flag on the main website and Chinese film-makers withdrew their movies from the festival.
The film at the centre of the controversy – called The 10 Conditions of Love – was finally shown at a larger venue, partly because the publicity surrounding the row increased interest.
Its subject, Rebiya Kadeer, was also invited to take part in a talk at the festival, which took place in July and August.
But Mr Moore admits that the event organisers will look hard at how to showcase controversial films at future festivals.
The Chinese government was just as direct with the organisers of the Frankfurt Book Fair, an annual event that bills itself as a “worldwide marketplace for ideas”.
Walkout
China was the guest of honour at this October’s fair and Beijing funded a series of events to showcase its literature and culture.
But Chinese officials were angry when they found out writers Dai Qing and Bei Ling had been invited to a symposium connected to the fair.
China is using its economic influence to threaten its trade partners in order to censor what they don’t like
Dai Qing, author
Anger over web censorship
China seeks ‘open’ control
According to Juergen Boos, the fair’s director, China asked the organisers to ban the writers, a request they initially agreed to carry out.
The two Chinese writers were then allowed to speak at the symposium, but when they stood up to make a speech some of the Chinese delegation left the room.
“We did not come to be instructed about democracy,” a former Chinese ambassador told the event organisers.
China often asks foreign governments and organisations not to do something that it perceives to be against its interests. It recently complained to Japan when Tokyo allowed Ms Kadeer to enter the country.
But it says this does not contravene its policy of non-interference.
“I believe the Chinese government has not violated the principle of interfering in others’ internal affairs,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu recently in response to a question about this policy.
But writer Dai Qing, who is also an environmental campaigner, believes China’s increasing economic muscle has emboldened the country’s leaders.
“China is using its economic influence to threaten its trade partners in order to censor what they don’t like,” she said.
David Zweig, of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is not so sure the Chinese are doing it from a position of strength.
“Sometimes we cannot tell whether it’s confidence or concern,” said Mr Zweig, the director of the Centre on China’s Transnational Relations, based at his university.
He said China’s attempts to prevent Ms Kadeer from speaking publicly, for example, could be linked to concerns about ethnic tension in Xinjiang, where most Uighurs live.
Hundreds of Uighurs rioted in July, killing scores of Han Chinese people.
Mr Zweig added that there could also be another reason behind the pressure – the Chinese government and its people are often quick to take offence at opinions they do not like to hear.
And he said ordinary people were sometimes more sensitive than officials – forcing the government to take a tougher stance internationally.
That could be why China is now trying to censor critical opinions abroad.
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[...] Voice Blog reported on 31st of October, 2009: It seems like China is surely paying attention. Tomorrow’s exhibition [...]
I don’t support gagging media, but why are we campaigning for FREE Tibet when Dalailama himself is not seeking Independence ? Pls scroll up and ref my prev post, Dalailama is seeking full autonomy within One Chaina, not independence. Govt concern is understandable as Bangladesh is committed to One China foreign policy, but that does not justify shutting down an exhibition. Government could have issued press release reaffirming their position on China and even could have condemned the exhibition. The way govt has handled the issue indicates that we probably heading towards a police state ! We should be concerned about it.
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Sorry the write up is in Bangla-
Faruk Wasif: দৃককাণ্ড: তিব্বত বা চীন নয়, মামলাটা রাষ্ট্রের সঙ্গে
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=199460510129&id=689336078&ref=nf
“আমাদের অধিকার রয়েছে ইরাক-আফগানিস্তান-ফিলিস্তিন বা তিব্বত-মণিপুর-কাশ্মীর কিংবা মাওবাদী-তালেবান কিংবা মার্কিন-ভারত-চীন বা ইসরায়েলের বা যে কারো পে বা বিপে মতপ্রকাশ করবার। কে ভুল বা কে সঠিক তা নিয়ে ব্যক্তি বা গোষ্ঠীর মধ্যে বিতর্কও চলতে পারে। এটুকু আইনী স্বাধীনতা নাগরিক অধিকারের গোড়ার শর্ত। এটুকু হলো পায়জামার ফিতা, এটা না থাকলে কোনো গেরো দিয়েই সংবিধানের লজ্জাস্থান ঢাকবার কোনো সুযোগই পাবে না বুর্জোয়া আইন ও নৈতিকতা। নাগরিকের বিবেকের জিম্মাদার রাষ্ট্র বা প্রতিষ্ঠান নয়, ব্যক্তি বা সমাজ স্বয়ং। এ চিন্তা ছাড়লে বিপদ। “
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Bangladesh should immediately offer to provide shelter to the remaining Uighur ex-detainees of Guantanamo, who were cleared by US courts, but are stuck there because no country, under Chinese pressure, will take them.
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Police crushing scheduled exhibition of tibet freedom movement pictures is highly condemned. Tibet is a sovereign state and deserves independence. Police recruitment procedures should train the police officers to be courteous with the protestors.
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