Some comments about what Tonikenese, who correctly spotted that the video below was from Hotan, might want as a prize. I thought this was a pretty funny exchange. Nice to have a bit of humor after so much angst.
If he is a nationalistic Chinese , he might want you to portray China as a benign rising power that welcomes the world to join the Beijing Olympic Games in August, even just once.
If he is a anti-China Tibetan or western guy, he might demand that you step up the criticisim of Chinese government and the nationalistic Chinese who are so proud of the fact that Beijing is gonna host the Olympic Games.Posted by peng200b | April 10, 2008 1:19 PM
mmm, none of peng200b’s suggestions are particularly appealing. I’ll just take satisfaction in having the right answer!
I spent a week in Hotan and Kashgar last October and loved the area — especially the fresh pomegranate juice!
Posted by tonkinese | April 10, 2008 4:59 PM
I still like 1world’s answer better. “Hmm, it can’t be anything good about China. Otherwise this is not Time.COM. That’s as much as I can NAIL it. Carry on…”
So, let see what ulterior motives and hidden agenda Simon has in showing this video.
OK, those jade must be fake, as we all know that most of the Jade from Hotan were exhausted for thousands of years. And therefore, Simon is showing us the underground smuggling ring of fake jade. Probably trading for opium the get across the border from Afghanistan. Moreover, the money they get in this trading are financing the plot to blow up the Games.
May be these are all undercover PLA officers trying to smear the good names of the Uyghers.
The plot thickens.
Posted by John Smith | April 10, 2008 7:10 PM
Fresh pomegranate juice indeed! Are you are you didn’t see any human right violations? Sorry Tonkinese, I’m afraid no prize for you;)
Posted by 1World | April 11, 2008 12:11 AM
Or it’s the CIA flooding the market with real Jade, so as to cause mass deflation of Jade prices, leading to a very localized economic recession, fueling separatist movements in Xinjiang. After the separation and first year of political chaos and coup d’etats, the USA (after retreating from Iraq) will send it’s army to Xinjiang, to gloriously liberate the people (on the basis of an anti muslim-terrorism operation), and install a puppet government.
Come on, are you guys blind, or is the truth just too painful?
Posted by BB | April 11, 2008 12:16 AM