New Book Release: ‘China’s Train, Tibet’s Tragedy’Monday, 6 April 2009, 11:21 a.m.
Dharamshala: During 50 years in exile, Tibet has witnessed many changes, almost the entire plateau has been scavenged for its natural resources to feed the China’s industrial furnaces and have equally oppressed its opponents that came in their way. The first national highway connecting the mainland China and Tibet (which was built in early 50’s subsequently) facilitated the smooth transportation of its troops, arsenals and resources in both directions. In the year 1961, the first railway line connecting China ‘Lanzhou’ and Tibet ‘Siling’ became operational. Since then, the Chinese government has been planning meticulously to enhance this railway network inside Tibet. We assume their long run objectives are to siphon off the plateau’s vast natural resources, to enable greater and swifter migration of Chinese and to provide logistical support to the military. At present, the railway line connecting Gormo-Nagchu-Lhasa, despite all its environmental and political impacts is considered as an ‘Engineering Marvel’. It remains to be seen, in the long run, whether this railway network on the Tibetan Plateau will benefit ‘or’ as assumed will further threaten/exploit, the already marginalized Tibetan people and its natural resources. We would be happy and thankful for all the infrastructure developments on the Tibetan Plateau if only our assumptions proof wrong in the test of time. –– Issued by Environment and Development Desk, DIIR(Click this link to download the whole report in pdf format)
