Roads, cars, tractors etc. no substitute for religious freedom!

Some Western visitors to Tibet have been impressed by the number of Tibet's schools, roads, cars, tractors, railways, airports et cetera - all a result of the Chinese occupation. Are they oblivious of the fact that 'man does not live by bread alone'?

It is the absence of religious freedom which has led to the latest revolt by many Tibetans. Of the around one hundred Tibetan political prisoners just before the conflict, about 75% were monks and nuns. In an effort to keep down the numbers of those who aspire to become nuns and monks, Beijing has introduced political themes into the qualifying exams required of religious novices.

China's leaders are not enamoured of religions and quasi-religions because their control cannot extend into the realm of beliefs and conscience. Tibetans did not rise up for ethnic or territorial reasons, but because of a strong desire for religious freedom which Beijing has endeavoured to thwart for several decades.