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A Short History of TibetTibet was once one of the world's most remote and peaceful civilizations. Then, in 1949, Chinese troops invaded and quickly defeated Tibet's small army. Most countries considered the invasion and occupation unjust. They voted in the United Nations for Tibet's right to self-determination. However, China's forces have never left. 1959: Destruction In March of 1959, a mass Tibetan uprising against the Chinese was brutally crushed. The Dalai Lama—spiritual and political leader of Tibet—and 80,000 Tibetans fled to India and Nepal where they remain as refugees. In the following years and during the Cultural Revolution (1966 to 1976) thousands of monasteries and temples were plundered and destroyed. Tens of thousands of Tibetans were sent to labor camps and never seen again. After Mao's death, wholesale destruction came to an end, however, China still denies Tibetans their basic political, cultural and economic rights while continuing to exploit Tibet's fragile environmental resources. 1960–1990: Resistance and Reconstruction: In 1987, following the Dalai Lama's presentation of a Five-Point Peace Plan to the U.S. Congress, Tibetans began to demonstrate openly against the Chinese occupation. These actions have brought numerous crackdowns and a period of brutal martial law which lasted 13 months. They also increased international awareness about the real situation in Tibet. In 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his unswerving commitment to non-violence. Meanwhile, the refugee community in India has attempted to reconstruct and preserve the many ways of Tibetan culture which had suffered immeasurably in Tibet. Since 1960, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, initially led by the Dalai Lama and now a democratically elected body, has fostered the growth of an extensive number of cultural and economic institutions in an effort to sustain their unique traditions while Tibet remains occupied by Chinese forces. Today and Tomorrow: Hope for a free Tibet has been renewed by people from around the world who have spoken out for Tibetan freedom to their governments, fellow citizens and the Chinese. The Dalai Lama declared 1991 as the "International Year of Tibet" to celebrate the country's unique history and culture. As the world continues on it's current path of change, Tibetans believe that it will soon be there turn as well. |  |
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A Short History of Tibet |
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