Colonialism and Cultural Genocide

We've been talking in class about colonialism of America, what happened to the Indigenous People of this country when the Europeans came and how the history books haven't been and still continue to be dishonest when recounting the events.

This led me to take a look at current colonialism with a global perspective. The people of Tibet and the oppression that they are experiencing is tragic. I found an article in the New York times recently that highlights the ongoing struggle of Tibet and China and how India is playing one of many roles. One being, the Dali Lama is protected while in exile in India but China seems to be on a mission to restrain India's power regarding Tibet.

The situation of tibet is a critical issue because it deals with basic human rights and the ethnic preservationof an entire population. The Tibetan culture is being raped of its cultural values. They have and continue to ask for sovereignty but to no avail.

Some Background on Tibet:

· China’s colonization of Tibet:

Ø They acquired through military force and suppress people who oppose

Ø Impose social and cultural values claimed to be more ‘civilized’

Ø Exploit natural resources

Ø Manipulate the demographics by moving the Chinese into Tibet

Tibet was independent at the time of China's invasion (1949): The country possessed all conditions of statehood under international law:

1) a defined territory 2) had a population 3) a functioning Government.

There was an unplanned uprising of Tibetans against Chinese rule that killed over 87,000 Tibetans from 1959-1960. The Dalai Lama fled the country under the protection of Tibetans on the same day his compound was attacked by the Chinese Army. Plus, thousands of Tibetans gathered around the palace to protect the Dali Lama were killed and tens of thousands were taken to concentration camps and died. Tibetan cultural and religious buildings were destroyed and the population was subjected to massive ‘re-education’ efforts.

Although there’s been 60 years of occupation, Tibet still considers itself an independent country under illegal occupation.

Issues:

· Human Rights

Ø 1.2 million Tibetans killed and 80,000 in exile

· Religion and National Identity

Ø Tibetan national identity is its religion =Buddhism

Ø Monasteries, temples, and cultural centers were robbed and destroyed

Ø Of the 6,259 monasteries and temples in 1959, only eight had escaped some form of Chinese destruction by 1976

Ø Admission to monasteries are controlled and the # of monks limited

Ø Tibetans identify with non-militarization yet China has placed dozens of nuclear warheads within Tibet and conducts nuclear testing, weapons production and uranium mining

Ø They honor the environment but forests and grasslands are now used for agriculture by Chinese settlers

· Population

Ø Tibetans are greatly outnumbered by Chinese settlers

Ø All political, econ, social and even cultural power is under Chinese rule

Ø Chinese gov’t offer incentive programs for Chinese to relocate to Tibet

Ø This presents the greatest threat to survival of the Tibetan people and their culture…a form ofcultural genocide

Article found in the NY Times 9/04/09:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/world/asia/04chinaindia.html

China and India Dispute Enclave on Edge of Tibet

By Edward Wong

· Area that’s disputed is on the edge of Tibet= Tawang (birthplace of VI Dali Lama)

Ø Current DL passed through this valley when he fled to exile in ‘59

Ø This region is part of India b/c in 1914 there was a treaty signed b/w Tibet and then British-ruled India

Ø However, China refuses to acknowledge the treaty

Ø China occupied this region in ’62 during a war w/ India which killed over 3,000 Indians

Ø Last year, the DL proclaimed Tawang as ‘part of India’

· The issue= Tawang falls b/w the 2 most populated countries in the world >India & China

· India asked for a huge loan from an Asian bank and China blocked it b/c India was going to use part of the $ to work on flood projects in the highland region of Tawang

· India has now proclaimed China as more of a national threat than Pakistan.

· India will add addition 50-60,000 troops over the next several years and immediately deployed 4 fighter jets to the region

This represents severe ethnic unrest for an entire region. Not to mention a major threat to the rest of the world due to huge aggressive actions taken by the two most populated countries in the world!

I know the American government has stood behind Tibet and has formally asked for their freedom from China. But, until the Unites States of America comes forward and formally apologizes for its heinous acts of terror on the original inhabitants of this country and changes the history books in the light of honesty, how can our word mean anything regarding sovereignty of another??