Day firms up resolve for Tibet’s autonomy: CTA prez

Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 9

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1960, CTA president Lobsang Sangay said for the Tibetans the day meant disruption, illegal occupation and violent takeover of the Tibetan people.

He said the day marked the resolve for freedom and autonomy of Tibet.

On China’s intentions

Quoting the founder of Chinese communist party, Mao Zedong, who said “Tibet is the palm we take over, then we go after five fingers — Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh”, CTA president Lobsang Sangay said China’s ongoing efforts were in line with its long-held policies.

He said the Chinese military archives, wherein the violent occupation was documented, from the month of March 1959 to October 1960, 87,000 Tibetans were killed and 98 per cent of the monasteries and nunneries were destroyed, 99 per cent of the monks and nuns were disrobed.

Sangay said Tibet held strategic importance for the stability of China.

Sangay also drew attention to the economic significance of occupying Tibet, which covers 2.5 million square km of land, endowed with natural resources.

The CTA president rejected the claims of China’s officials that literacy in Tibet had risen from around five per cent to 85 per cent and that there had been major investments on infrastructure, schools and hospitals.

He said in comparison to that, the literacy rate of the Tibetan refugee community was 94 per cent.

He said the infrastructure development claims of China in Tibet had primarily benefitted the Chinese people, as “assimilation drive”.

“The railway line brings more Chinese to Tibet and takes more natural resources from Tibet to China. Similarly, the road the government has built is mostly connected to our natural resources. The airport also brings more troops, more Chinese,” he said.

On the question of fighting the difficult battle against China for the Tibetan cause, Sangay said despite the challenges, the Tibetan cause was at the forefront in today’s global fight against the Chinese repressive regime.

“So far, for the last 60 years, we have been standing on our feet, we are still pursuing nonviolence as our principle and genuine autonomy is still our goal. So, we are still here,” he said.