Italian scholars express concerns about distorted reports on Tibet

Source: Xinhua | 03-31-2009 08:22

ROME, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Many Italian scholars have voiced concerns about some Western media are running distorted or even fabricated reports on Tibet.

At a joint seminar attended by Italian scholars and a group of Chinese Tibetologists who visited Italy from Friday to Monday, Professor Giorgio Mantici said some Italian media had carried many negative and untrue stories about China and its Tibetan region.

"Sometimes, what we read about Tibet from media was fabricated by the Dalai Lama and his followers," Mantici said.

"In the 1930's, a British reporter described China's Yunnan province as a haven of peace. Now some journalists also copy that version as if the Tibet under the former feudal serfdom ruled by the Dalai Lama was a heaven. Media repeated those stories and let them become the so-called facts," said the professor from Oriental University of Napoli.

On some reports mentioning the "peaceful rebellion" in Tibet 50years ago, Mantici said a rebellion would never be a peaceful one. "What will be peaceful upheaval or peaceful rebellion?"

Some media also argued the Dalai Lama did not demand independence but only autonomy, Mantici said.