Tibet, films remain the sparring point

WASHINGTON, November 2: Despite all the platitudes generated during President Jiang Zemin's visit earlier this week, the United States on S...

WASHINGTON, November 2: Despite all the platitudes generated during President Jiang Zemin’s visit earlier this week, the United States on Saturday appointed a new “special coordinator” for Tibet, to focus on China’s suppression of Tibet’s cultural and religious traditions.

Beijing, on the other hand, issued a ban on cooperating with three Hollywood studios – Disney, MGM/United Artistes, and Columbia Tristar – which recently produced movies showing China in an unflattering light. Two of the movies, Seven Years in Tibet and Red Corner, are showing here currently, while a third, Kundan is yet to be released.

In Washington, Secretary of State Madeliene Albright made the announcement about the new Tibet coordinator, hours after President Jiang left here for New York. State department spokesman James Rubin said that one of the central aspects of the new post would be to promote talks between China and the Dalai Lama. The Clinton appointee for the new post is Greg Craig, a director in the State Department’s Policy Planning Division. Craig, 52, holds the rank of assistant secretary.

The US recognises Tibet as a part of China, but successive administrations have been under increasing pressure to ensure that the cultural and religious freedom of the Tibetan Buddhists are preserved.

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