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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Lessons from China : Equal rights for all ethnic groups by M.P. Muttiah
Discrimination against ethnic and religious groups in many countries caused tension, turmoil, bloodshed, division of the country and hampered economic development. Even in the United States, which is called the Free World, there are Civil Rights Movements fighting for equal rights and opportunities. In contrast, the People's Republic of China has ensured equal rights for all its ethnic groups. Han-Chinese population makes up more than 90 per cent of the total population. The population of other 55 ethnic groups are called ethnic minorities. Their rights are not only enshrined in the Constitution but their practical implementation also makes the people more united. Ethnic minorities are given preferential treatment to develop their culture. The story of how the holiness of Jade Dragon Mountain is preserved shows that even the legends of ethnic minorities are highly respected in China. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China's Lijiang Old Town is a holy mountain for local Naxi people whose population is only 320,000. It consists of 13 peaks, among which Shanzidou is the highest with an altitude of 5,600 metres. When we look from Lijiang Old Town, which is 15 kilometres away, the snow covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a Jade Dragon lying in the clouds and thus it is named the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. According to geologists, for about 100 million years the area around the mountain was the ocean and it was during the last 600 thousand years that the different landscapes had come into being because of the uprising of the lithosphere. But the legend tells a different story. Once upon a time Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain were twins. They had lived on panning in Golden Sand River until one day an evil enemy usurped it. The brothers were brave and had a fierce battle with the evil. Haba died in the fight and Jade Dragon drove off the enemy after being armed with 13 swords. For guarding the people and preventing the return of the enemy Jade Dragon held the 13 swords in hands day and night. As time passed, the brothers had turned into snow mountains. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a holy mountain for local Naxi people not only because of the legend, but also because that long time ago, it was a place for young lovers to sacrifice their young lives in honour of true love and to escape from the arranged marriages and feudal customs. When the Provincial Government decided to construct a road through the mountain to promote tourism, Naxi people opposed since it would affect its holiness. After the discussion between Naxi representatives and government authorities it was decided to construct the road up to the foot of the hill, from where a path way begins as in our Sri Pada. Cable cars carry tourists and visitors to the foot of the peak at a
height of 4,506 metres. On the request of the Naxi people the government had
prohibited visitors to climb the peak. Though Naxis are a drop in the 1.8
billion Chinese population, the unclimbed Shanzidou peak demonstrates how
Chinese government respects and honours, not only the rights but also the
legend of ethnic minorities. |
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