Should Free Tibet be quiet because of the earthquake?

NEWS.com.au: 'Tibetan Olympics begin in India'

"A MOCK "Olympics" organised by Tibetan exiles kicked off in northern India today despite calls to halt anti-China protests as a mark of respect for earthquake victims."

"The world goes to Beijing for the Olympics Games, but we have nowhere to go - and so we must demonstrate we the Tibetan people are also alive,'' games director Lobsang Wangyal said."

"Catherine Schuetze, an Australian acting as volunteer book-keeper for the "Tibetan Olympics'' said lack of money was threatening the event in Dharamshala, home to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Mr Wangyal said he did not have enough cash to hand out $US8000 ($A8300) in promised prize money. "I've got just 40,000 rupees ($A1000) and total expenses are expected to be well over two million rupees,'' Mr Wangyal said.

The Dalai Lama's exiled Tibetan administration in Dharamshala has turned its back on the event, which it views as insulting to China and likely to damage the prospects of future talks."

"But the influential Tibetan Youth Congress, which largely ignores the Dalai Lama's appeals for moderation, threw its weight behind the alternative games."

What do you reckon? Should these Tibetans drop their plan for a "Tibetan Olympics" because of the tragic earthquake (and severe aftershocks) that has rocked China? If they do not highlight their cause now, then when? Would people listen then?

I think the Beijing Olympics has created a rare platform for Tibet to air its grievances and actually have the world pay attention. The Chinese earthquake and the high number of casualties are devastating and there is a need to respect the victims. However, Tibetans have gone through devastating injustices for an extended period of time. While I do not wish to equate the two forms of suffering, I support what the advocates of Free Tibet are doing to continue to highlight its cause because it is crucial to do so now. The Chinese victims need to be helped and respected, but the Tibetans deserve to be heard and respected too.

By the way, if you're a little confused by the Dalai Lama's administration's disapproval of the political move and the Tibetan Youth Congress' support, the latter has been vocal about "Free Tibet" and advocates the independence of Tibet, while the Dalai Lama has been significantly less political and more interested in having talks, creating a "Middle Way", and creating a sense of peace in Tibet. (He's more zen, if you will.)