Monday, June 05, 2006

China's attempts to pressure museum

This is a matter of serious concern.

China has applied pressure to a museum in the Netherlands which is about to put on an exhibition of the life of the Dalai Lama. The Wereldmuseum (World-Museum) in Rotterdam received a request from the Chinese delegation at the embassy to change part of the text in the exhibition. Tibet is supposed to be a ‘province’ of China, and the Dalai Lama did not flee Tibet, but left at his own free will, according to the Chinese government. They also emphasised that Rotterdam and Shanghai are sister-cities and that the economic ties are important (hint: THERE WILL BE CONSEUQNCES IF YOU DO NOT DO AS WE TELL YOU TO!)

The museum has rejected the request. The spokesperson for the museum said:

“We live in the Netherlands and not in China. We are a cultural institution and culture stands for freedom of expression.”

Rightly so!

1 comment:

itchingjo said...

Good to know! (clapping)