I have had an interest in Tibet since I was in the 7th grade. We were assigned a project to learn more about a world religion and I chose Tibetan Buddhism. I don't remember much of that project, what I do remember is that I enjoyed learning about a beautiful culture of peace and prayer. I was able to share what I learned with others at a World Day event and through giving my presentation to groups through roughly the 10th grade. I learned so much about the country of Tibet, the oppression that was occurring and had occurred there under China's rule, and the fleeing of the nation's leader, the Dalai Lama, to Dharmsala, India where the nation now has an exile government. I even used this image in an original presentation in 2000 as people were then preparing to boycott the 2008 summer Olympics in response to China's oppression of Tibet.

It wasn't until last week that Tibet came back to mind as I read on CNN the stories of peaceful protests ending in the deaths of dozens of Tibetans at the hand of the Chinese. I was certainly appalled but also reminded of what I had learned of this nation so many years ago.

For those of you who are not aware, Tibet is located in the middle of Asia, scholars disagree on saying it's located in Central or Southern Asia, but it is located in the center of the continent. It is called the "roof of the world" and is home to the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest which shares the Tibetan border with Nepal. The country has a rich history of culture and religion. In the 1600s the Dalai Lama figure, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, became the governmental leader of the nation as well. For many years the Dalai Lama has been chosen by the people of Tibet as the reincarnation of the previous Lama. There are numerous other religious and spiritual figures as well, including the Panchen Lama.

In 1949 tensions began to rise among China as the nation's new leader, Mao Zedong, ordered the so called "liberation" of the Tibetan people by the People's Liberation Army. Many nobles and working class people in Tibet cooperated with the People's Republic of China, but much turmoil took place over land reform and the Buddhist religion. Under mounting pressure and political distress the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual and religious leader, fled to India. The country is now considered part of China. The TAR, or Tibet Autonomous Region, is what the Chinese government (and most of the world for that matter) call Tibet. This region was created in 1965 for government reasons, but in all actuality comprises less than half of the historic Tibet. The United States and other industrialized nations recognize the TAR and China as the real Tibetan government and give no recognition the real Tibetan government in exile in Dharmsala.

Following the Chinese occupation rapid deforestation, mass killings, and destruction of the nation's rich culture and religion took place. Members of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) would go into Buddhist monasteries and nunneries and kill many. Hundreds upon hundreds within Tibet have been arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned for not agreeing with China's rule in Tibet. Many have died from torture, beatings, and harsh treatments; with some of the greatest numbers of death among Tibetan women. Orphans and illiteracy is rampant among the Tibetan population. The next Panchen Lama, one of the highest ranking Lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, was chosen by the Dalai Lama within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in 1990 following the 1989 death of the previous Lama. After his choosing the Chinese government denied the religion the use of this 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the real Lama and he and his family were jailed. The Chinese government search committee appointed their on Panchen Lama who is not recognized by followers of the religion. The Tibetan Government in Exile still believes that Nyima and his family are jailed. Some of the country's most valuable minerals, such as Borax and uranium, were ripped from the earth by the Chinese leaving broken and destroyed forests and country sides behind.

The Dalai Lama and his followers set up an exile government, as mentioned before, in Dharmsala, India just to the west of the Tibetan border. Here the Indian government have been kind enough to provide an area where Tibetans can escape religious and cultural persecution. Tibetan exiles can be found around the world, with a majority, 85,000 in India, 14,000 in Nepal, and 7,000 in Canada and the United States. The government also maintains International Offices of Tibet in Tokyo, Paris, London, New York, Zurich, and numerous other cities.

All of that is just a brief overview of the nation of Tibet without even explaining the rich culture of the country, the amazing traditions and beauty of Tibetan Buddhism, or offering more detail explanations of the human rights atrocities that have taken place in Tibet over the last four decades. All of this to say that the killings of many Buddhist monks the past several weeks is nothing new to the Tibetan people, but it is a reminder to those around the globe that China is still conducting evil practices in a nation that was wrongly occupied years ago. For those who don't know what occurred recently, on March 10, which is an official holiday of the Tibetan Government in Exile called Uprising Day, monks within Tibet began peaceful protests to China's occupation of the nation. These protest became volatile when Chinese soldiers tried to stop them with deadly force. As of today, the Tibetan Government in Exile has confirmed 80 deaths including many women and children that were killed as Chinese forces tried to end the protests. The protests became violent as Tibetan citizens began to through rocks and other debris at the Chinese. The Dalai Lama has called it a "cultural genocide" of his people. The protests and killings have negatively affected what the Chinese had hoped would be a smooth start up to this year's summer Olympics. Protests continue to break out across the nation as college and university students and other monks have began to fight against the Chinese occupation. The Dalai Lama has stated for years now that native Tibetans are seeking autonomy with the Chinese to preserve their "ancient cultural heritage" but with China's quick and deadly reaction, there culture, religion, and traditions are nearing extinction.

So why is this even important? Why do I find it necessary to take time to write something about Tibet? Because we must be aware of the denial of human rights that takes place in our world. Not just the killing of these peaceful protestors in Tibet, but the destruction of the Tibetan culture, the refusal to let Tibetan's practice their religion peacefully, and the blatant refusal to allow human rights by the nation of China. Not just Tibet, but genocide in Darfur and poverty in South America, hunger in the deepest parts of Africa, and sex trafficking in Eastern Europe and Russia.

I encourage you to look more into human rights and the lack of human rights around the world, especially in Tibet. I also encourage you to think about and learn more about the steps you can take to fight against the denial of human rights. From writing letters to your congressman, to donating money, to going and volunteering, to not buying Chinese products, to even boycotting this year's summer Olympics. We must stand up and say that all humans have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And we must be aware that we can indirectly fund agents of human rights denial if we are not aware of where we spend our time and money.

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REFERENCES

The Government of Tibet in Exile http://www.tibet.com
"Dalai Lama: China causing 'cultural genocide'" http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/16/tibet.unrest/

Labels: China, Dalai Lama, freedom, peace, Tibet