China Invade Tibet

For centuries Tibet had remained a land removed from the rest of the world-not only in the geographical sense but also in its isolation from global politics. It is an irony of history that; at a time when many nations in Asia and Africa were under Western colonial rule, Tibet was an independent, sovereign country and today; when these former colonies have regained their freedom, Tibet is under China’s colonial rule. Situated on the “Roof of the World” Tibet’s separate language (both written and spoken); as well as her unique culture and way of life, distinguished the Tibetan people from the rest of Asia. In a land where Buddhism and the principle of non-violence were held supreme-where, in fact, their Spiritual and Temporal leader; the Dalai Lama; was believed to be the incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion-Tibet had for centuries renounced war as an instrument of offensive policy. As such; at the time of communist China’s military invasion in 1949 the Tibetan people were in no position to defend their country and their freedom. Read More

 Dalai Lama in Exile

On arriving in India in 1959 H. H. the Dalai Lama took some important decisions with far reaching implications. Among the most important were:

I. To set up the Tibetan Government – in – Exile. Now based in Dharamsala; it is this Government that every Tibetan recognizes as the legitimate Government of Tibet.

II. With the kind help of the respective governments; to set up Tibetan refugee settlements and schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The majority of the more than 130,000 Tibetans in exile live in these settlements and it is in these refugee schools where Tibetan children, born in exile, receive a good modern education while at the same time learning their own language and culture.

III. Initiating and implementing the process of democracy at every level of the Tibetan exile community.

Democracy in Exile

As mentioned earlier; one of the first important decisions taken by His Holiness the Dalai Lama after taking refuge in India was to introduce democracy within the Tibetan exile community. Infact, one of the cherished goals of the 13th Dalai Lama had been to introduce democracy in Tibet. And; were it not for China’s invasion and occupation; there is no doubt that by now democracy would have been firmly established in Tibet. Read More

 Genocide in Tibet

This is not all. China is actually carrying out a campaign of genocide in Tibet. Since China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949 more that 1.2 million Tibetans have been massacred. Tens of thousands of other Tibetans-men, women and children-languish in Chinese prisons and slave labour camps. What is more; through a campaign of forced abortions, inter – marriages and transferring millions upon millions of landless and jobless Chinese into Tibet; Tibetans have been reduced to a minority in their own country. The situation is getting worse every day. As early as 1959 the International Commission of Jurists stated that the Chinese had “committed genocide in Tibet”. Subsequently, many independent bodies-including the United Nations, the European Parliament and the United States Congress-have passed resolutions to confirm that gross human rights violations in Tibet continue to this day.