On March 18th, when “Xi Zang” (Tibet) was typed in Google’s search engine, other than Beijing’s official medias, there were not any other reports about the Tibet Incidence (note: this research was done in China, behind the Internet blocks the communist government has imposed).
However, on an overseas Chinese website – Boxun.com, there was an article titled "Comments from Internet Users in China about the ”Tibet Incidence.” It was a collection of comments from Chinese forums about the Tibet Incidence before the news blockage occurred. These short sentences posted on the Internet reveals the sentiments of those Chinese users about the Tibetan people. They have been, roughly, grouped into 4 groups: sympathetic (S), neutral (N), indifferent (I), and hatred (H).
It is alarming that most of the Internet postings showed indifference, neutrality or even hatred towards Tibetan protesters. As a result of decades of government propaganda in furtherance of its political agenda, there lacks mutual understanding and sympathy between the Han majority and other minority groups.
Below is a translation to this article: [1]
User:” Look at the recent “attempted bomb attack” that was successfully aborted in Xinjiang, as well as the “gasoline incident” on an airplane. It was reported earlier that the gasoline was not to be lighted until the airplane got close to Beijing.” (N)
User: “The enemies have very little time left and they are getting crazy.” (H)
User: “There have been Tibetan riots in the capital of Tibet these days, which had caused an increasing number of deaths.” (N)
User: “An Australian Reporter reported that the number of deaths are still rising.”(N)
User: “In the past several days there have been several Tibetans rebellious incidences in Tibet’s capital, they are drawing a lot of attention from the outside. The picture below shows a group of Tibetan protesters burning a Chinese national flag.” (N)
Below are historical records (also cached) from an Internet forum in China before they were removed.
{mospagebreak}
2008-03-1602:00:50
”Only 80 people died. Just a minor tragedy, not a big deal.”(H)
2008-03-1622:05:41
”It turned out that Tibetans’ lives are so cheap!” (S)
2008-03-1710:15:06
”Not sure how it is going over there. I’m from Shanxi.” (N)
2008-03-1809:54:35
“If you want to know more details, you can go onto international news pages." (N)
2008-03-1615:58:41
“Kill this trash.” (H)
Comment in reply to: “Only 80 people died. Just a minor tragedy, not a big deal.”
2008-03-1811:52:30
”Non-humans can speak after all.” (S)
2008-03-1811:53:54
”I am really looking forward to the fourth, fifth and sixth atomic bombs on Japan’s territories. It must be really cool." (H)
2008-03-1814:19:50
"For those “people” who want to die, just “rise up." (H)
2008-03-1814:25:40
“Eliminate them.” (H)
2008-03-1814:47:43
"Resolutely wipe out all reactionary forces!” (H)
2008-03-1814:51:48
“What can I say?” (I)
2008-03-1814:54:48
“Everything has a cause.” (S)
{mospagebreak}
2008-03-1814:56:45
“We cannot give up even an inch of the properties our ancestors left us.” (I)
Comment in reply to:” Only 80 people died. Just a little massacre, not a big deal.”
2008-03-1814:56:48
"Human trash, talking like this!!!!” (S)
2008-03-1815:00:14
“Only Chinese say things like this.” (S)
Comment in reply to:” Only 80 people died. Just a little massacre, not a big deal.”
2008-03-1815:11:40
“Who the hell are you? What kind of crap are you saying!!!!!!!” (S)
2008-03-1815:15:36
“How beautiful it would be if there are five or six atomic bombs explode simultaneously right above Japan!!!!” (H)
2008-03-1815:17:46
"Tragedy. Chinese people’s tragedy. Tao brother (referring to the president of China-Hu Jintao), you are leaving us with zero hope. I don’t want to say anything anymore. Brothers and sisters, let’s just focus on working and making money.” (S)
2008-03-1815:21:58
‘Even if they become independent, can they survive?” (I)
2008-03-1815:37:09
“Any reactionary forces and violent forces must be punished harshly and we must be determined to destroy them. " (H)
2008-03-1815:40:58
“We should assign someone good to go and kill Dalai. That would resolve all the problems.” (H)
2008-03-1815:41:47
“We should use forces to finish up Dalai as early as possible.” (H)
2008-03-1815:45:24
“Kill. It would give us 50 years of stability.” (H)
{mospagebreak}
2008-03-1815:51:02
"Those who are calling for independence, we must shoot them like birds. Whenever one comes out, kill him first. No matter how crazy they get, there will not be the second Mongolia. Go as crazy as you want, but wherever you are, you are always the ones to be ruled.” (H)
2008-03-1815:58:49
“Carry out proletariat dictatorship over those anti-revolutionaries who commit grave crimes.” (H)
2008-03-1815:59:43
"This incidence has a deep background and profound causes. The Dalai’s group carefully planned and organized it. The important thing to realize is that they have used the shortcomings and underdevelopment of our nation’s political system. From now on we must persistently enhance and improve it, so that others will not take advantage of it.” (H)
Comment in reply to:” Only 80 people died. Just a minor tragedy, not a big deal.”
2008-03-1816:01:
“Are you Chinese or Japanese?” (S)
Below are error messages after clicking the“3.14 Tibet Incidence” search results in several Chinese search engines
Web page of the“3.14 Tibet Incidence”:
Error: The page you are trying to visit probably does not exist or has encountered other problems or errors. Please visit other pages or visit the Spacewomen homepage.
Web page of the“3.14 Tibet Incidence”:
Please do not publish any other articles about Tibet Incidence.
Web page of the“3.14 Tibet Incidence”:
The article you are looking for is from bbs. Kaoyan.com. We will delete it and other relevant ones shortly. We ask for your cooperation. Thanks.
Video Web page of the” Tibet Incidence”: Sina.com Blog – the video has been deleted.
Endnotes:
[1] Boxun News, March 18th, 2008
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/03/200803181955.shtml