In Commemoration of 51 years of Tibetan Resistance to Chinese Rule
By: Tenzin Doshi
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Opinion
The History of the Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10th:
March 10, 2010 will mark the 51st anniversary of Tibet's occupation by the People's Republic of China. On this same date in 1959, Tibetans held their final uprising against the invading People's Liberation Army (PLA) while still officially a sovereign nation. 300,000 Tibetans surrounded Norbulingka palace in Lhasa, which at the time was the residence of the head of state, the Dalai Lama. This mass of demonstrators had come together with the intention of protecting the Dalai Lama as a rumor had spread that the Chinese army had been plotting to kidnap their leader. Simultaneously, about 30,000 to 50,000 Chinese troops were stationed in Lhasa while heavy artillery was stationed outside of the city. After receiving a suspicious invitation from the PLA to attend a dance performance but without the accompaniment of bodyguards, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee from his homeland on March 17, 1959. Days later, the PLA shelled the palace and killed what is estimated to be 86,000 Tibetan men, women, and children, the overwhelming majority of whom were unarmed.
The Result of the Occupation: The occupation can be summarized with two words: genocide and colonization. Since the struggles in the 1950s to the present day, over a million Tibetans have died at the hands of the Chinese, whether it was through starvation, torture, or execution. About 6,000 monasteries, which once held the heart of Tibetan philosophy and culture, have been destroyed. Over 100,000 Tibetans have been forced to undertake the perilous trek across the Himalayas to live as refugees in India or Nepal. The few million Tibetans who remain in Tibet have become a marginalized group in what used to be their own land. Socio-economic mobility as well as educational opportunity is seriously limited as most positions or institutions prioritize people of Han Chinese ethnicity. There has been a massive influx of Chinese settlers, threatening the integrity of the traditional Tibetan way of life. And finally, efforts to preserve the delicate environment of the Tibetan plateau have been put away to maximize economic profit as well as to support the Chinese military.
March 10, 2010 will mark the 51st anniversary of Tibet's occupation by the People's Republic of China. On this same date in 1959, Tibetans held their final uprising against the invading People's Liberation Army (PLA) while still officially a sovereign nation. 300,000 Tibetans surrounded Norbulingka palace in Lhasa, which at the time was the residence of the head of state, the Dalai Lama. This mass of demonstrators had come together with the intention of protecting the Dalai Lama as a rumor had spread that the Chinese army had been plotting to kidnap their leader. Simultaneously, about 30,000 to 50,000 Chinese troops were stationed in Lhasa while heavy artillery was stationed outside of the city. After receiving a suspicious invitation from the PLA to attend a dance performance but without the accompaniment of bodyguards, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee from his homeland on March 17, 1959. Days later, the PLA shelled the palace and killed what is estimated to be 86,000 Tibetan men, women, and children, the overwhelming majority of whom were unarmed.
The Result of the Occupation: The occupation can be summarized with two words: genocide and colonization. Since the struggles in the 1950s to the present day, over a million Tibetans have died at the hands of the Chinese, whether it was through starvation, torture, or execution. About 6,000 monasteries, which once held the heart of Tibetan philosophy and culture, have been destroyed. Over 100,000 Tibetans have been forced to undertake the perilous trek across the Himalayas to live as refugees in India or Nepal. The few million Tibetans who remain in Tibet have become a marginalized group in what used to be their own land. Socio-economic mobility as well as educational opportunity is seriously limited as most positions or institutions prioritize people of Han Chinese ethnicity. There has been a massive influx of Chinese settlers, threatening the integrity of the traditional Tibetan way of life. And finally, efforts to preserve the delicate environment of the Tibetan plateau have been put away to maximize economic profit as well as to support the Chinese military.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Dosh-is-a-Liar
posted 3/05/10 @ 9:52 AM CST
Doshi: Are you shamed of yourself for spreading these lies in your article? Just because you keep spreading lies will not make your lies true! One of these days, more and more people will know the truth and see through your slave-master nature. (Continued…)
James
posted 3/05/10 @ 2:19 PM CST
Thank you Tenzin Doshi. It is strange how the Chinese react so defensively to the truth. If their position were right and true they would not react at all. (Continued…)
Supporter
posted 3/05/10 @ 2:28 PM CST
Thank you, Tenzin Doshi, for a well-researched, factually based editorial. Regardless of what people think about the Tibet/China conflict, your editorial provides a good showcase of a particular point of view. (Continued…)
Truth
posted 3/05/10 @ 8:10 PM CST
Now let's correct a few things in Doshi's article. First, China di not occupy Tibet in 1959. The PRC took over Tibet about 10 years before 1959 (and Tibet has been part of China since the 1200s). (Continued…)
vjie
posted 3/06/10 @ 8:25 AM CST
Dalai Lama and his aristocrates wanted to go back to the old feudal system and sought help from the CIA to realize their dreams. The US was only too willing to help destabilise PRC, and saw this as a wonderful opportunity to make use of the Tibetans to launch guerilla warfare while parachuting arms into China, and providing logistics and communications support. (Continued…)
Shawn Greene
posted 3/07/10 @ 2:16 PM CST
Its funny that you can clearly tell by the content of the comments who has been brainwashed by Chinese propaganda and who actually understands the complex and historical aspect of the Tibet situation. (Continued…)
Elise Griffin
posted 3/07/10 @ 3:12 PM CST
Hello,
I would like to encourage everyone here who was so critical of Tenzin to own their comments here and write a public response in the Mac Weekly so we can have a more transparent and constructive conversation. (Continued…)
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