by Frédérique (Dec 3, 2005) |
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Tibetan History begins with the incursions of Tibetan K'iang in Central China when Buddha was living in India, Confucius and Lao-tseu in China (5th century B.C.). The History of Tibet can be divided in two parts: The second is the establishment and the end of the Dalai-Lama Theocracy. During both periods civil and religious problems are mixed and cannot separate, which means there aren’t civil problems without religious problems. In the seventh century, the Tibetan King Sron-tsan-gampo was very powerful and he threatens the Chinese Empire. During this period, many famous buildings and holy places were built. Later when the Tibetan leadership in Central Asia was weaker, the Mongol Khan considered Tibet as a sacred country and secured it. This protection continued when Mongol Dynasty reigned over China. The Chinese Ming Emperors also acknowledged the leadership of Tibetan Buddhism in all of China. Tibet lived peacefully up to recent periods.
The first European travellers to visit Tibet were very impressed by the country and its inhabitants. They reported that Tibet was considered as a mythic country. At the end of the Second World War, the Mao-Tse-tung Army defeated Chang-Kai-chek and invaded peacefully Tibet. After installation of a pro-Chinese Administration, the first decisions brought a severe famine, suppressed civil rights and imposed the Chinese language. In March 1959, Lhassa population obliged the Dalai-Lama to escape to India, against his will... In the 1970's, during the Cultural Revolution the Red Guards destroyed nearly 2000 official buildings and holy places, and burnt nearly all the Tibetan libraries and books to get rid of the Tibetan civilisation and language.
For the last 4 years a strong repression has occurred in Monasteries, in spite of the presence of European journalists and tourists. |
The actual facts don't seem sufficiently interesting for the Western media. What has happened to Tibet since then? 1.2 million Tibetans died as a result of Chinese occupation Over six thousand monasteries, temples and historical structures were looted and destroyed Tibet's ecosystem has been severely damaged: vast tracts of forest have been denuded, wildlife species decimated Tibet's substantial mineral resources have been plundered One quarter of China's nuclear missiles are stationed in Tibet China is using Tibet as a dumping ground for nuclear waste
Some three hundred thousand Chinese troops are based in Tibet (1 soldier to every 10 Tibetans) 7.5 million Chinese colonists have been shifted into Tibet in a move to dominate the Tibetans A secret Chinese document in 1992 revealed plans to swamp the Tibetan population with even more Chinese. Forced abortions, many in late pregnancy, and sterilization of Tibetan women is common. Some four thousand Tibetan political prisoners are being held 175,000 Tibetans are in exile. In 1959, the lnternational Commission of Jurists found that genocide had been committed in Tibet.
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