I decided to write about Tibet and what has been going on their recently simply because I could not ignore it and I really wanted to share this information with you (ignorance is no a good excuse). It pained me so much when I spoke with and listen
ed to the shopkeepers, nuns and other Tibetans I met in Mc Loed Ganj, telling me their accounts of how they got here in India, what they went through to get here and why they left Tibet. I voluntarily taught English to some Tibetan refugees in Mc Loed Ganj and heard more stories; I also visited the Tibetan museum here and learnt a lot, so this is what my knowledge is based upon.
ed to the shopkeepers, nuns and other Tibetans I met in Mc Loed Ganj, telling me their accounts of how they got here in India, what they went through to get here and why they left Tibet. I voluntarily taught English to some Tibetan refugees in Mc Loed Ganj and heard more stories; I also visited the Tibetan museum here and learnt a lot, so this is what my knowledge is based upon.In the late 1940's the government of Tibet informed the world of an immenent threat, namely the invasion of their country by China. Furthermore, the Tibetan government specifically called upon the UN, US, UK and India for help. Their calls were tragically ignored, i don't know why but China's timing was perfect. It was just after World War II and most countries were busy reconstructing themselves. Regardless, the perceived threat was real, their calls were ignored and what follows is my understanding of what happened next and is ongoing today!
You must understand that Tibet is a very old country. It has been an independent country for more than 2000 years with its own civil services, legal system, currency, army and police force. There are even archaeological findings tracing human settlements as far back as 8000 
years ago. Today there are 6 million Tibetans dispersed among different countries. Commonly known as the "Roof of the World", lofty snow capped mountains, rocky ranges, large plateaus and forests make up the natural landscape. A country rich in natural resources, more than two-thirds the size of India (2500km long east-west), with five of Asia's greatest rivers originating here including the Mekong and Yangtze. Tibet is vast.
years ago. Today there are 6 million Tibetans dispersed among different countries. Commonly known as the "Roof of the World", lofty snow capped mountains, rocky ranges, large plateaus and forests make up the natural landscape. A country rich in natural resources, more than two-thirds the size of India (2500km long east-west), with five of Asia's greatest rivers originating here including the Mekong and Yangtze. Tibet is vast.The relationship with China dates back a long time. In the 8th century Tibet occupied
the ancient capital of Xian, other times China had influence over Tibet, both were for a time under foreign rule but Tibet was never ever a part of China. Until recently one of the first tasks announced by the newly-established People's Republic of China in 1949 was the 'liberation' of Tibet. Strange, they were already free! Soon after they invaded. On October 7th, 1950, China invaded Tibet with 40,000 soldiers under the pre-tense of 'economic liberation'. (What bullshit). Attempts made by the 6000 strong poorly equipped Tibetan army to resist the Chinese advance failed, whilst the Tibetan government tried to halt the invasion through diplomatic means. This also failed and in May 1951 Tibet was forced to sign a 17 point agreement which declared the 'peaceful liberation' and annexation of Tibet to China. How is this possible? How is this allowed by the international community?
the ancient capital of Xian, other times China had influence over Tibet, both were for a time under foreign rule but Tibet was never ever a part of China. Until recently one of the first tasks announced by the newly-established People's Republic of China in 1949 was the 'liberation' of Tibet. Strange, they were already free! Soon after they invaded. On October 7th, 1950, China invaded Tibet with 40,000 soldiers under the pre-tense of 'economic liberation'. (What bullshit). Attempts made by the 6000 strong poorly equipped Tibetan army to resist the Chinese advance failed, whilst the Tibetan government tried to halt the invasion through diplomatic means. This also failed and in May 1951 Tibet was forced to sign a 17 point agreement which declared the 'peaceful liberation' and annexation of Tibet to China. How is this possible? How is this allowed by the international community?To date China's efforts to control Tibet has entailed mass-scale physical destruction of some 6000 monasteries, temples and precious scriptures, worse still the systematic eradication of Tibetan culture and religion which is ongoing today. Chinese policies are aimed at erasing the Tibetan culture, religion and ultimately its identity. The exploitation of Tibet's nat
ural resources, damming of rivers and the massive deforestation for timber are happening now. Parts of Tibet are also now used as nuclear test sites and dumping grounds for nuclear waste. Tibetan protesters are arrested, tortured in prison and held captive for a number of years before release. So far 1.2million Tibetans have been killed by the Chinese and day by day the Chinese are diluting the local population already having more Chinese in Tibet than Tibetans and one policeman for every 20 Tibetans.
ural resources, damming of rivers and the massive deforestation for timber are happening now. Parts of Tibet are also now used as nuclear test sites and dumping grounds for nuclear waste. Tibetan protesters are arrested, tortured in prison and held captive for a number of years before release. So far 1.2million Tibetans have been killed by the Chinese and day by day the Chinese are diluting the local population already having more Chinese in Tibet than Tibetans and one policeman for every 20 Tibetans.During my voluntary teaching in Mc Loed Ganj, one Tibetan girl recounted to me in detail her personal and traumatic journey to India from her country. This girl is now 21, but she was a 19 year old student when she was arrested by the Chinese for protesting at their occupation of her country. She told me how they tortured her, handcuffing her hands behind her back, tying her to the ceiling and beating her. She told me she fell unconscious several times during these torture sessions. The girl seemed quite numb and expressionless. My heart just wanted to reach out to her and remove all this pain. She was held prisoner for three years. When finally released she returned to her village and family but didn't stay there l
ong. She wanted to leave her country to try and find a better life, so she made the journey, like 100,000 Tibetans have tried to make, to Nepal, Bhutan or India. She headed for India via Nepal. It took her 18 days to get to Nepal; she sold her clothes for food along the way and was also robbed of her belongings while asleep. Once finally in Nepal she got a bus on to India and Mc Loed Ganj. She is now being supported and regaining her life with help from the Tibetan government in exile and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet.
ong. She wanted to leave her country to try and find a better life, so she made the journey, like 100,000 Tibetans have tried to make, to Nepal, Bhutan or India. She headed for India via Nepal. It took her 18 days to get to Nepal; she sold her clothes for food along the way and was also robbed of her belongings while asleep. Once finally in Nepal she got a bus on to India and Mc Loed Ganj. She is now being supported and regaining her life with help from the Tibetan government in exile and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet.Separately, a shopkeeper i became friends with told me about his persecution in Tibet by the
Chinese and finally his decision to leave. He walked for 29 days, over mountain ranges, across rivers, before he got to Nepal and onto India. Although now a shopkeeper with wife and children, looking into his soul, reading his body language, he was a very sad and broken man. I can see him now when I write this. I can see them both. Despicable and sad.
Chinese and finally his decision to leave. He walked for 29 days, over mountain ranges, across rivers, before he got to Nepal and onto India. Although now a shopkeeper with wife and children, looking into his soul, reading his body language, he was a very sad and broken man. I can see him now when I write this. I can see them both. Despicable and sad. What disturbs me most about all this is that it is going on in the 21st Century. I know this is not an isolated incident; hey we got America in Iraq. The thing is Tibet is a Buddhist country and has a culture of no harm, non-violence. If the world 'allows' China to walk in and take over a country, who is going to stop them doing it again or another country from doing it? The UN? (I must read up one day and find out what all these tax free income earners actually do at the UN for us with our money). It is absolutely criminal in this day and age, with the UN, the EU etc, that this is overlooked, allowed to happen. I'm disgusted by this.
Regarding the future of Tibet, Tibetans echo the wishes and tireless work of the Dalai Lama, to have a free independent democratically run Tibet again. The very minimum should be an autonomous zone of peace before the Tibetan identity is completely destroyed
and Tibet as a nation disappears from this world. Today we are witnessing the genocide of the Tibetan culture and identity. However both India and Nepal have shown and offered great support to the Tibetans in helping them re-build and regain their country. Furthermore with the growing support by many Chinese for Tibet’s independence and continued international pressure we must get China out of Tibet. It’s our duty as fellow humans to support the Tibetan people and their fight for freedom, just as you and I enjoy and might sometimes take for granted.
and Tibet as a nation disappears from this world. Today we are witnessing the genocide of the Tibetan culture and identity. However both India and Nepal have shown and offered great support to the Tibetans in helping them re-build and regain their country. Furthermore with the growing support by many Chinese for Tibet’s independence and continued international pressure we must get China out of Tibet. It’s our duty as fellow humans to support the Tibetan people and their fight for freedom, just as you and I enjoy and might sometimes take for granted. That is why i shared this with you, so you could also be aware and speak and act accordingly.
If you would like to learn more visit http://www.thetibetmuseum.org/
Of course feel free to write me any comments you may have.
