“Over the past decades, despite consistent efforts, the Diaspora groups have not succeeded in significantly improving the situation. This suggests that the more important participants in the crisis are Tibetans in Tibet,” says Donald S. Lopez, an expert on Tibet and Buddhism at the University of Michigan.
Neither the demonstrations within nor the embarrassing disruptions of the torch’s global progress appear to have shaken Beijing’s determination to retain its hold on Tibet.
The “Free Tibet” groups have aroused international public opinion, compelling some leaders to condemn Beijing _ but not to boycott the Olympics, never mind seriously endangering their profitable economic ties.