Unrecognised Genocide of Tibet: Crying for justice

Over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as direct result of China’s invasion of Tibet. This report aims to highlight that the genocide in Tibet committed by China against Tibetan people between 1949 and 1976 must receive an official recognition from the international community, particularly from China.

This report will also cover about how China has committed genocide and why people of Tibet deserve an official apology from China and an official recognition from the international community.  (Moynihan, 1998)  (CHOESANG, Outlook, 2015) (Asia, 2017)

History of Tibet

Tibet remained an independent, sovereign state for more than 2000 years. Tibet has cultivated and maintained a unique culture, written and spoken language, religion and political system for centuries, making itself the world’s 10th largest nation and Tibetans are a uniquely distinct race, different from all the surrounding peoples. However, China justifies its invasion by claiming that Tibet has been part of its territory without proving facts.   (CHOESANG, Outlook, 2015)

Occupation Brought Death of 1.2 millions

Starting in 1949, Tibet was invaded by 35,000 Chinese troops that caused deaths of an estimated 1.2 million Tibetans out of about six million, one-fifth of the country's population. Since then over 6000 monasteries have been systematically destroyed, and thousands of Tibetans have been imprisoned. The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama repeatedly said that China is committing a form of 'cultural genocide’ in Tibet: consciously, deliberately and with intent. However, the totalitarian state, or even democratic ones for that matter, rarely signal their intent to commit genocide-cultural, economic or otherwise in actual overt policies.  (CHOESANG, Outlook, 2017) (BBC News Services, 2011)  (Moynihan, 1998)

The Current Situation

Schools in Tibet focus on teaching mostly Chinese subjects while millions of Chinese are moving to Tibet. The process of fully integrating Tibet into China is known as Sinicization. The policies, stem from a wide range of factors such as, violent political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation, ethnic discrimination, nomadic displacement and environmental destruction. In 1959, after a failed anti-Chinese uprising, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet and set up a government in exile in India. tens of thousands of Tibetans followed the Dalai Lama into exile. In 1960 he established his government-in-exile in Dharamsala, a former British hill station in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, where he continued to reside.  (Moynihan, 1998)  (CHOESANG, Outlook, 2017)

Conclusion

In 1959, after a failed anti-Chinese uprising, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet and set up a government in-Exile in India. However, severe crackdowns on Tibetans including monks and rights activists in Tibet still very much alive and the Human Rights situation in the region is deteriorating and worsening every day.  (CHOESANG, Outlook, 2017) (BBC News Services, 2011)

References

BBC News Services, 2011. Asia. [Online]
Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15617026
[Accessed 16 10 2018].

BBC News Services, 2017. Asia. [Online]
Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16689779
[Accessed 18 11 2018].

CHOESANG, Y., 2015. Outlook. [Online]
Available at: http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/outlook/opinions-and-columns/4643-china-is-guilty-of-mass-genocide-against-12-million-people-of-tibet
[Accessed 16 10 2018].

CHOESANG, Y., 2015. Outlook. [Online]
Available at: http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/outlook/opinions-and-columns/4533-genocide-in-the-20th-century-massacres-in-tibet-1966-76
[Accessed 16 10 2018].

CHOESANG, Y., 2017. Outlook. [Online]
Available at: http://thetibetpost.com/en/outlook/opinions-and-columns/4961-from-the-legal-standpoint-tibet-has-not-lost-its-nationhood
[Accessed 16 10 2018].

Moynihan, M., 1998. Opinion. [Online]
Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1998/01/25/genocide-in-tibet/27c0891c-57f1-4a7c-b873-a1071d93cbfd/?utm_term=.5d7e5be6d648
[Accessed 18 11 2018].