Thursday, November 17, 2011

spectator,sympathizer or supporter.

I am horrified to watch this grotesque vidoe of self immolation in Tibethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5o2RFqA_l4&feature=player_embedded. To me I am seeing for the first a human being is burning himself alive. His hands are trembling and his body were twisting with spsam, he has not breathed his last yet.  A closer look one can discern how the flames were shooting from his mouth. That is we heard he has swollen kerosne.There has to been something that is larger than his life,  that drives him to such extreme action. It can not be just a mere patriotic feeling and restment against the Chinese government. The invididual has put himself on harm's way with full knowledge of its consequence.  What you can call it? desperation, courage, bravery, selfless act, violent or sheer madness. Personally, this type of self immolation is unfathomnable to me.   Maybe the Tibetan people's spirit are as real as the flame of the self immolation.  This ultimate sacrifice has tobe the the true symbols of Tibetan spirit. The flame of freedom has been ignited, and it will not be put out by the herrendous gust that blew from the east.

This tragic news from Tibet has petrified me, I racked my brain as what is calling on us. And I penned this piece on this blog as what exiles can do given our situation. As I watch and ponder over the situation and circumstance that led to this immense sacrifice, I started to get numb. The monk, Tsewang Norbu has set himself ablaze, and he is consumed and engulfed by the flames beyond recognition. However, based on the video pictures, he did not do it in isolation. The self immolation took place in a sparsely crowded market area. the clip that we see shot at the moment of incident. Tsewang Norbu has fallen down and lying back, and he is still alive and fighting for life.
The onlookers, who have gathered to watch him dying are mostly Tibetans. This I could make out from their vague conversations and chattering.

What I can not understand is why those people who are nearby appears to be so indifferent. It is completly in contrast to the another self immolation in Amdo Ngaba, where the crowd are shouting, screaming and calling for the Dalai lama frantically. Which is indicative of the dire situation and the crowd's understanding of why the self immolation is occuring.  Whereas the people that have sorrounded the bornfire that Tsewang Norbu made has  no such sense of urgency or remorse. If i am not mistaken, I had an impression of those people were watching him dying are  acting so unsamaritan. Noone is coming forward to assist the burning victem. The usual report of hundreds and thousands of Tibetans showing solidarity and sympathy for the victems, seemed to be so unreal based on this clip. Those spectators are so relaxed, they are chatting leisurely, and caring so little for the cause that the this man burnt himself. When the Vitanam monk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E37cMtCrKoAburnt himself to death. The people around him were worshipping and prostrating infront of him. Any Tibetans can not remain as a spectator when such a scene of self immolation unfolding infront of your eyes.
Recently, in China, people's apathy made international headlines when a child struck by a car were left unattended by dozen of people who passed by, not even calling for police.  I hope the Tibetan, whose is known to have a culture of compassion and equanimity, act kindly and selflessly.  This clip is indeed very graphic and disturbing and more disappointing is the way those onlookers are reacting to the scene. When I asked someone, what she would do on this case, she said " I would not try to put out the fire, because it is too late, and however, I will show my solidarity and support by raising his slogans against the Chinese government".  I dont know what I will do when I am a witness to such unbearble scene.