Some Thoughts about Security during the Olympics

Click the title to read 'China tightens Tibet security ahead of Beijing Olympics' by Jane Macartney in Beijing on July 30, 2008 from Times Online, or click the following link
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4427278.ece

Some very unpleasant things had happened in China recently, including bus bombings claimed responsibility by an unknown group calling itself the Turkistan Islamic Party, a police official's death which made Yang Jia, the killer, famous and caused conflicts on viewing justice and a young girl's death which is believed to have some hidden secrets with the local authorities...

Too many problems to be solved but currently, the only thing the government can do for the short run is tightening security allover problematic areas in China, including the important cities like Beijing and Shanghai and the area that might cause trouble, like Tibet, to creat or maintain the peace at least on the surface. “Civilian police will cancel all two-day weekend vacations. All police will be mobilised. All police will be in action. The police will be fully devoted to Olympic security work with a high sense of political responsibility.”, cited from a meeting of the Tibet public security office.

I have the following thoughts:

1. It is understandable to tighten the security in Tibet. I am thinking the questions: 'Does the Chinese government not realise that all this draconian security in Tibet will only cause further damage to their already poor reputation? , whereas allowing peaceful protests will only earn them respect. Is this concept too difficult for them to grasp?' quoted from a reader, Mike, Nottm from UK, but I still think the tightened security in Tibet is justified. This year is a tough year to China, and Chinese government can not afford any tiny little problem during the Olympics. This would be a tough battle and all I can say is good luck. I can not wait till the end day, Aug 24th, of the Olympics since after all the show, we can close the door and sit down to solve some real problems from the roots, hopefully.

2. About Tibet, the real problem is what they are going to do in the long run. Tightening security is understandable during the Olympics but the government can not maintain the superficial order by the security manner. Besides the money spending on the tight security, inconvenience of people's daily life, there is no way in hell the real problem can be solved if the government refuses to stand in Tibetans shoes to understand their heart of beliefs. Or please just try very hard to stay at the same page with the Tibetan people, by not claiming the economic development and arrogantly thinking everyone wants the same.

3. I am thinking sometimes that China is actually not ready to have such an important world event. Economically, we are strong enough, but there are too many problems which are suppressed, sacrificed, ignored before in order to develop economy, too many conflicts are introduced into the society because of the unbalanced development mood and way too fast changes, from Xu Zhiyuan's column in FTchinese.com those concerns are expressed brilliantly. I think the strategies of economic development was the best we can do under that historical moments and conditions and I really think Chinese government is doing a great job, but now probably is the time to think very hard for another way to solve the longtime accumulated problems.
It is unavoidable. I remembered when the Olympics relay was protested, a comment said it is the first time for Chinese to know how world views them and they will learn from the pain and the angry caused by the different voices. Changes always can not come easy. Things that come easily can not last long. Therefore, I think Olympics is a big piece of weight, among other pieces, adding to the scale to make the scale read 'time to change', in this sense, just welcome all the problems showing and remember them for the further reference.