Voices from Europe: Admitting to Wrong Reports Always Comes Slow

Giuseppe, a reader of CRI Web site in Italy, has been to Lhasa before. He said, "When I visited Tibet last year, I clearly felt the tranquility in locals' lives. I have been to Tibet for three times, and I could say that local people's lives have been greatly improved, and that road conditions there have been getting better, and Lhasa has been getting prettier. I'm very sorry to hear that the recent riot in Lhasa damaged the city's peace and stability, and I strongly oppose such violent riot targeting innocent civilians. I'm looking forward to going back to Tibet and seeing the tranquility and peace back there."

German reader Bernd Kolkwitz wrote in a letter to CRI German Service, "What I feel sorry is that in Germany there are also some 'two-siders'. They say they support 'one China', but what they actually do is completely contradictory. Many German media were using the Lhasa riot to instigate anti-China opinions, and were trying to use it as an excuse to boycott the upcoming Beijing Olympics."

A netizen surnamed Lee wrote in a comment on CRI German channel, "These days several media in Germany, including the N-TV, ARD, ZDF and the Der Spiegel, have been distorting the fact about the Lhasa riot. They have been lying in their reports, shamelessly! If this happened 50 years ago, their lies might pass off without notice. But in such a time today, I'm sure they will regret over what they have done. I hope more people can get to read the reports by CRI."

German listener Mirko L. wrote in a letter to CRI, "The recent riot in Lhasa has attracted wide attentions. I personally think the riot was conceived by intelligence agencies outside China. Their purpose was to agitate political disorders when China is about to host the Olympics, and attempt to force China to an isolated international position. I hope the Chinese government can control the violence soon, so as to foil the imperialists' attempt to disturb China."

In the email he wrote to CRI, German listener Helmut Matt comments that, "From the very beginning, I have been guessing that this was done by some people who tried to prevent China from hosting the Olympics. It's clear to see, from the rampant rumors about the event and the fast spread of incorrect media reports, that how fully-planned the riot was. There are people in some countries, including Germany, who support the so-called 'free Tibet', but what should a 'free Tibet' look like? Few people really know. The Lhasa riot gave us no good impressions - many people injured; some even lost their lives. Yet the fact of dying still failed to stop some bold rioters. In a report on China Central Television's overseas channel, I was astonished to see that five women were burn to death in a fire set by the rioters. In my country, few people really understand that Tibetans have obtained so many rights bestowed by the regional ethnic autonomy. I think CRI did a good job to link the '2006 Tibetan Cultural Week' feature to the Lhasa riot page. It reminds people of the beautiful things in Tibet. I believe that the Chinese government and people living in Tibet are able to defeat the separatists' plan. I also hope that the Chinese government can control the situation soon, and that people in Tibet could live like before and don't need to fear about losing their lives. And finally, I hope the media in my country could change their perspectives. I'm very obsessed that wrong reports usually come out very fast, but when it comes to admitting they have done wrong, apologies always come slow. The call out to boycott the Beijing Olympics using the Lhasa riot angers me."

Joaquin, a CRI listener in Barcelona, Spain, wrote, "The opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway is a typical evidence for the economical development in Tibet and the improvement of locals' lives. Such developments largely stemmed from the support of the government and all Chinese people. Because of that, the attempt to separate Tibet from China is doomed to fail for lack of support."

Italian listener Giordano expressed his opposition to the Lhasa riot via telephone and fax. He says he supports the Chinese government on its handling of the riot.

A French Chinese surnamed Yu strongly opposes the March 14 violent riot in Lhasa. He says he feels distressed by the fact that many innocent people were injured or even killed in the riots. He continues that Tibet has had significant improvements in the past decades under the Chinese government, and that the attempt to politicalize the Beijing Olympics will be impossible to fulfill. He believes the Chinese government is able to handle the incident properly.

Czech listener Jindrich Tomisek is an Esperanto enthusiastic. He wrote to CRI's Esperanto channel, "I'm distressed and worried that in Lhasa and some other places there are a small number of people with ulterior motives plotting such riots. I sincerely wish the Lhasa riot would not have any impact on the Beijing Olympic torch relay. I sincerely wish good luck to the Beijing Olympics."

Monacan listener Helene says in an email to CRI French Service that she thinks it's ridiculous to associate the Beijing Olympics with the riot in Lhasa. She says the Olympics are a sports event, not a political stage, and that some media are absolutely wrong to link the two together. Helene wishes great success to the Beijing Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2008)