By Sophie Taylor
SHANGHAI (Reuters) -
China's carefully controlled media may
have remained largely silent on the unrest in Tibet, but a look
at Chinese blogs reveals a vitriolic outpouring of anger and
nationalism directed against Tibetans and the West.
On Saturday, a rash of angry blog posts appeared after
China confirmed deaths in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and U.S.
actor Richard Gere called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics
should the authorities mishandle the protests.
"Westerners think they know all about China, telling us
that this, that and the other is bad," wrote one blogger, who
listed historical reasons justifying Tibet's inclusion as part
of China.
"Most foreigners have been brainwashed as far as this issue
is concerned," assented another user.
Other blogs were virulently nationalistic.
"If you behave well, we'll protect your culture and
benefits," said one blogger, addressing Tibetans in China.
"If you behave badly, we'll still take care of your culture
... by putting it in a museum. I believe in the Han (Chinese)
people!"
Many blamed the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual
leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, for inciting the riots.
"Simple monks, simple Tibetans, do they even know what is
the driving force behind the push for independence?" said one
blog.
The view was echoed by some residents in Beijing, due to
host the Olympics in less than six months' time.
"I think that the Chinese government has to cut this cancer
out. We can start with the Dalai Lama, and even though we don't
have relations with the Dalai Lama, we should arrest those who
are behind the riots," said one man surnamed Song.
In striking contrast to the media blackout during the
Tiananmen protests in 1989, China's flourishing online
chatrooms, bulletin boards and Web logs means citizens have
more opportunity to air their opinions publicly, even as
censors rush to remove the offending comments mere hours later.
Some Web surfers expressed indignation at the muzzled
mainland Chinese press, having only stumbled on reports of the
riots while browsing international sites.
"The local papers haven't covered this. Luckily for us
there is still online media," said one.
China, which has ruled Tibet since 1950, maintains that the
predominantly Buddhist Himalayan region has been traditionally
part of the country for centuries, a view taught exclusively at
Chinese schools.
Still, while most blog postings appeared to agree with
Beijing's official stance, a rare few differed.
"I'm not some big Stalinist, and I don't share the view
that Tibet is part of China. Every minority has the right to
choose its own path of development," said one blogger who
claimed to have lived in Tibet for four years.
(Editing by Ben Blanchard)
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