Who is to blame for the Tibet uprising

Tibet's real 48 per cent literacy rate is due to China's policies.

Zhang accelerated resettlement programs using Li Dezhu's social engineering strategy that including the "Namdrang Rangdrik" ("Do-It-Yourself Program").

By 2008, 570,000 farmers and herders from 112,000 households across Tibet were relocated in new "modern socialist villages". By the end of 2010, 80 per cent will become "urbanites" under the "comfortable housing program to present a modern face for the ancient region". Tibetans are forced to abandon traditional lifestyles and livelihood when relocated into small isolated groups for ease of monitoring and control.

The generous aid is difficult to find. "Namdrang Rangdrik" heaps injustice upon injustice on Tibetans, forced to accept government loans and Chinese bank loans for houses they do not want or can afford. The program only benefits Tibetans who can afford the deposit and secure the bank loan. They must also contribute free manual labour during construction. Complaints invite immediate forfeiture of housing rights.

Houses cost US$5,000 to US$6,000. The Government lends about US$1,200 for construction. Bank loans and family cash make up the rest. Despite having started, or even having completed building while contributing substantial labour, default on loans forfeits the right of occupancy. There is no provision for those who cannot qualify. They are relocated "quietly" to remote areas with minimal assistance.

Few of these "modern face" houses have water or electricity. "Show villages" along the tourist roads boast minimal electricity or water. New housing have no yards, gardens or provision to keep livestock. Removed from their lifestyle they must now buy food.

Harsher policies only strengthen the resolve of Tibetans, especially the younger exiles now questioning the Dalai Lama's “middle way”. One Tibetan summed it up very simply:

There's been this hatred for a long time. Sometimes you would even wonder how we had avoided open confrontation for so many years. This is a hatred that cannot be solved by arresting a few people.

If we did not believe in Buddhism, we would have rioted a long time ago. We endured and endured, but now it has become impossible to endure any more.

We're not sure if it's true that the Panchen was appointed by the government, but if it is true, we cannot support him. We wouldn't support a Dalai Lama appointed by the government either. These people should be chosen by monasteries.

Discontent had been smouldering throughout "old Tibet" for over a year, each demonstration becoming more violent. None were reported despite injuries, extensive property damage and deaths (including police).

Recent reliable reports suggest the uprising was deliberately engineered to justify the use of lethal force during the run up to the Olympics. British intelligence GCHQ intercepts, imply police disguised as Buddhist monks actively initiated violence. State media images of a monk wielding a sword in one videoed incident were later edited to remove the "monk" who was identified as a local policeman. Reports of police standing by videoing serious incidents but failing to intervene, even with the numbers to do so, tends to support the claim that incidents were staged.

CCP policies planted the dynamite and Zhang lit the fuse. The old strategies of 1959 and 1989 engineered incidents and the PLA pulled the triggers.

Who is to blame?