Recent Tibetan History - Chinese OccupationWhen speaking of recent Tibetan history, we basically talk about the Chinese occupation that started in the 1950s, though China and Tibet have had a troublesome relationship for a much longer time. In 1950, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, became Tibet's spiritual leader, shortly after China invaded Eastern Tibet and captured Chamdo, the headquarters of the Governor of Eastern Tibet. The Dalai Lama assumed power to help Tibetans resist a Chinese takeover.
In 1959, a huge revolt forced the Dalai Lama to flee the country. He managed an escape to India and to receive protection. He continues to live there and work for world freedom and peace. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his extraordinary lifeworks of compassion and teachings. Over fifty years after Communist China invaded, its occupation, hostility, and anti-Buddhist reform underlies the recent peaceful protests by Tibetan monks. Their non-violent demonstrations were met with heavy fisted violence from the Chinese. The Chinese refer to the six million people who live in Tibet, counting the entire plateau, as "the Dalia Lama clique". Four million Tibetans live outside the present Tibet self-governing region, which is less than half of traditional Tibet. After a century of communist propaganda, the majority of Chinese people are convinced that Tibet rightfully belongs to them. Dalai Lama Views On Recent Tibetan History2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape to India. The dream of the Tibetan people with the Dalai Lama leading the way is freedom in their homeland. Due to his belief in the Buddhist faith, the Dalai Lama teaches and lives only principles of nonviolence. His goals include preserving the freedom of Buddhism in Tibet. He cannot passively agree to Tibetans surrendering their national identity. He views the Chinese policy demands as cultural genocide in an attempt to remake Tibet into China.
The Dalai Lama proposes self-government with the Chinese, offering a voluntary union to avoid bloodshed. He supports an agreement on the condition of receiving independence within the whole of Tibet. In his view, a "one-country, two-systems" arrangement requires a withdrawal of military occupation, along with economic freedoms. The Dalai Lama teaches each individual on the planet can learn to resolve issues in a peaceful, nonviolent way. He encourages the Chinese government to remain open to peace and show the world their strength through kindness instead of aggression. "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness". ~ Dalai Lama
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