From the Readers

Unity and transparency needed

By Tsenam (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-04-23 10:40

Comment on "Reconstrction plan awaits govt approved" (April 23, China Daily)

As a Tibetan living in exile I personally appreciate the efforts made by the Chinese government and people to assist all those affected by the earthquake. I was also pleasantly surprised by the brave and wise remarks made by Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China member Mr. Jia Qinglin that "Chinese embassies abroad should warmly receive all overseas Tibetans who requested to donate to the quake-hit areas or come back to China for funeral affairs, and offer them necessary assistance (April 19, 2010 Xinhua news )." I believe such openness and maturity is the way forward to bring real ethnic harmony.

The reality is the government and especially our Tibetan Buddhist monks/nuns have unique strengths and weakness. The government can take care of the physical reconstruction and monks/nuns emotional part. If one tries to do the job of the other it will likely fail. This devastating natural destruction will take all our strengths and more.

It is important that China continues to give the media free access to cover the earthquake especially with a focus to see if there were ways that the damage could have been minimized, how rescue/relief can be better coordinated for future such events, prevent corruption and inspire people around the world to join in the reconstruction effort. There is no doubt media has its problems but it should be left to the readers to separate the good from the bad information.

Tsenam, on China Daily website