Analysts weigh Obama’s global human rights policies

While President Obama takes plenty of heat over his plans to overhaul domestic policies, critics have also taken aim at his foreign policy approach, particularly as it relates to human rights around the globe. Human Rights Watch advocacy director Tom Malinowski said Wednesday that while the administration appeared to have “gotten the balance right” on Myanmar, the military junta-ruled Asian nation formerly known as Burma, by starting a dialogue while maintaining sanctions, “China is a different matter.” “And that’s where we’ve seen the tension play out in the most acute way, with several signals that have been sent suggesting that the administration is putting human rights issues to one side,” Malinowski said on CNN’s “Amanpour.” “And most recently, the, I think, symbolic mistake of the president declining to meet the Dalai Lama before his own visit to China later next month.” The Tibetan spiritual leader, who fled to India in 1959 and established a government in exile there, visited the United States earlier this month.

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In Taiwan, Dalai Lama disputes China’s claims

The Dalai Lama — on a visit to Taiwan that includes prayers for recent typhoon victims — has rebutted China’s claims that he is there for political reasons. In a Monday interview with CNN’s Sara Sidner, the Tibetan spiritual leader said he was visiting the island to comfort victims of Typhoon Morakot

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When a ‘Chosen’ Tibetan Lama Says No Thanks

“For the last time, I’m not your messiah,” groans the title character in the 1979 comedy The Life of Brian. There’s an echo of Brian’s panicked renunciation in a shakeup currently underway in Tibetan Buddhism — in this case, nobody’s laughing, although the ending will, no doubt, be happier

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Dalai Lama thanks India for 50 years in exile

Cloaked in a traditional flowing red and saffron Tibetan robe the Dalai Lama took a deep breath as he began to express his gratitude to the country that took him in as a refugee 50 years ago. “I think in this country (there are) many other refugees,” the Dalai Lama reflected, sitting cross legged

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China dismisses cyber-espionage claims

Analysts in China are dismissing claims that nearly 1,300 computers in more than 100 countries have been attacked, and have become part of a cyber-espionage network apparently based in China. “This is purely another political issue that the West is trying to exaggerate,” Song Xiaojun, a Beijing-based strategy and military analyst, told the state-run news agency, Xinhua.

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Reports: Cyberspy network targets governments

Nearly 1,300 computers in more than 100 countries have been attacked and have become part of an computer espionage network apparently based in China, security experts alleged in two reports Sunday. Computers — including machines at NATO, governments and embassies — are infected with software that lets attackers gain complete control of them, according to the reports

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Behind South Africa’s Snub of the Dalai Lama

Nobody ought to have been surprised that South Africa chose to heed China’s concerns and deny a visa to the Dalai Lama — not because of the South African government’s poor record of responding to human-rights crises in its own neighborhood, but because of China’s growing diplomatic influence and assertiveness thanks to its status as the great hope of an ailing world economy.

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Tensions high in advance of Tibet anniversary

March 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule and the chasm between Beijing and critics of its Tibet policies remains deep and wide. Pro-Tibet supporters have marched in London and other cities to mark the anniversary. “Tibetans have had enough Chinese rule,” said Matt Wiskase, a protest organizer in London

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Nepal beefs up security ahead of Tibet anniversary

Authorities in Nepal said Saturday they have beefed up security near the Chinese Embassy to stop any possible anti-Chinese demonstrations in the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet. “The area within 200 meters (218 yards) of the Chinese Embassy visa section has been declared a prohibited area from Friday,” Nabaraj Silwal, the chief of the Kathmandu city police, said. “Rallies, sit-ins and sloganeering will not be allowed within the prohibited area.” The decision comes a day after visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue had an hour-long meeting with Nepalese security officials in Kathmandu to discuss prevention of anti-Chinese activities.

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