The colonization of Tibet continues inexorably under China's Communist Party leaders seeking to completely erradicate all vestiges of its history, religion and culture and with the clear purpose of transforming the demographics of the country and make its people disappear as a nation.
This strategy was already envisioned by former Communist Party Secretary Chen Kuiyuan when he blatantly ordered to: "Erradicate Tibetan Buddhism and culture from the face of the Earth, so that no memory of them will be left in the minds of coming generations of Tibetans, except as museum pieces."
This is not just talk. The Chinese government is acting with impunity to crush relgious freedom in Tibet, destroy the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and effectively wipe Tibet and Tibetans off the map, so future generations will never know they existed.
So far, more than 6.200 monasteries has been destroyed or damaged in Tibet, leaving less that 100 standing. Chinese Communist Party officials view Tibetan Buddhism as a major obstacle to controlling Tibetan's lives and they constantly target monks and nuns.
Tibet has existed for more than 2000 years. Through the centuries, the people of Tibet developed a unique civilization rooted in compassion and nonviolence. Their harmonious life came to a sudden and violent end when China's People's Liberation Army invaded Tibet in 1949. And the world remained silent.
The repression against Tibetans affects them in all aspects of their lives:
- Travel restrictions
No one gets in or out of Tibet without the Chinese government's permission. Furthermore, Tibetans cannot travel freely within their own country, specially if they want to attend religious festivities.
More than 7.000 Tibetans were denied their lifelong dream of attending the Dalai Lama´s Kalachakra Teaching in 2016 in an Indian encampment near the Chinese border.
- Erradication of Ancient Culture
Centuries of artwork, music, literature and devotion to peace are cultural manifestations that China's leaders consider subversive. Arresting journalists, indoctrinating Tibetan children, and spreading anti-Dalai Lama propaganda are among the many government practices of harassment and repression with a goal to extinguish the light of Tibetan culture.
Tashi Wangchuk was detained in January 2016 and falsely charged with separatism because he dared to ask why the Tibetan language was not taught in Tibetan schools.
- Violation of religious freedom
Chinese authorities have destroyed more tha 6.200 monastries and constantly target monks and nuns with prison sentences and other methods of harassment. The accelerated demolition of Tibet's Larung Gar Buddhist Institute to make way for a tourist center is among China's most recent affronts to Tibetans' religious freedom.
Many desperate monks have given their lives in self-immolations in recent years.
- Harassment and repression of peaceful demonstrators
Any Tibetan criticizing China's policies runs the risk of arrest and long term imprisonment. "Crimes" include calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet or taking part in peaceful demonstrations asking for a basic respect of their human rights. It is very difficult to get information about how many political prisoners are in Chinese jails, but those that are known are counted in the thousands.
- Serious damage to Tibet's environment with irrestricted exploitation of natural resources
The Tibetan Plateu is the largest repository of fresh water in any of the five continents, representing a critical resource to more than 1.5 billion people. But Chinese authorities are exploiting this and other natural resources with total disregard for the environment and with devastating consequences for the entire planet.
But the World looks the other way and befriends the Chinese oppressors without any apparent burden of conscience. Bussiness are bussiness! Let us not talk about Chinese "internal" affairs!
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