Tibet on Fire

WARNING: Contains Graphic Images

When many think of Tibet, they think of a world lost in time, an area isolated and untouched.  An image of harmony, Buddhist monks, and untouched landscape is what is fed to those outside of the region by China.  However, the Tibetan region has been an area of deep unrest and discontent.  Since China’s invasion in1949, Tibet has suffered over 60 years of Chinese Occupation.  The tension and hostility between the people of Tibet and China has forced Tibet’s religious leader, the Dali Llama, to live in exile in India since 1959.  Many of the Tibetan riots such as those recent in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, gave the Chinese government the opportunity to blame such violence on the supporters of the Dali Llama.  Peaceful protests by monks have turned into “bloody rioting and sparked demonstrations” as anger with the Chinese government flared.  Between 2011 and 2012, 16 monks, nuns, and protesters have set themselves on fire in self-immolation, causing an influx of Chinese soldiers sent into Tibet by the government.

The Chinese government has supported the policy of population transfer where there has been a huge influx of Hans Chinese moving into the Tibetan Plateau.  Han Chinese population has overtaken that of Tibetans in the area “reduce(ing) the Tibetans to a minority in theirown country”.  China’s tightening of security forces, and control of population and economy “threatens the very existence of Tibetan culture, religion and national identity”.  While the Chinese government continues its occupation of Tibet, their tactics include “sweeping signs of discontentunder the rug and repressing any group” that tries to shatter the harmonious façade they have made for Tibet. 

Clearly, the Roof of the World and Land of Snow isn’t as untouchable as once thought.