By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, September 8: China has claimed that it has pulled out the Tibetan people from “Old and backward Tibet” to “Golden Age” as it marked 50 years of the so called Tibet Autonomous Region earlier today with much fanfare and festivity in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
“Although it has been only 50 years since the founding of Tibet Autonomous Region, great changes have taken place. Tibet is now in its golden age,” claimed China in a latest White Paper published two days ago.
The White Paper outlined economic developments it has brought to the plateau over the years and highlighted the prosperity and happiness of the Tibetan people who it said were deprived of the good life before their arrival. China established the “Tibet Autonomous Region” on 9 September, 1965, six years after the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama was forced to leave for India into exile.
Thousands of people dressed up in colorful clothes were seen parading with giant in front of the Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, in television programs aired live across various state-run channels today.
The White Paper, ‘Successful Practice of Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet’ claims transformation of “Old Tibet: Dark and backward” to a utopia where ideas such as “The People as masters of the country” are flourishing. It also asserts on “Protecting and Carrying Forward the Excellent Traditional Culture”, “Respecting and Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief” and “Promoting Ecological Progress” among others.
Despite upheavals in various parts of the Tibetan Autonomous Region especially Driru, Nagchu and others, China has declared in the document that “the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet Autonomous Region have achieved equality, unity, mutual support and harmony, and the system of regional ethnic autonomy has won the wholehearted support of all ethnic groups in China.”
The document also showed huge rise in statistical narration such as the “281 fold increase” in the GDP in the region that speaks for an economic ascendance, which the exile Tibetans argue is a far cry from the reality on the ground. Exile Tibetans say there is visible poverty in the ‘Tibetan ghettos’ in cities like Lhasa and Shigatse and many other areas in the TAR. The Borgen Project, reported, “Poverty in Tibet has a high rating in China, where 34 percent of the populations live in extreme poverty. The poorest villagers live on only $100 per year.”
China has vowed, according to the White Paper, to strengthen its fight against separatist movements. It also has launched fresh attacks on the Dalai Lama. “Dalai group’s separatist activities violate the Constitution of China and greatly damage the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in Tibet, which is why they have met strong opposition from all Chinese people, including those of all ethnic groups in Tibet,” the paper said.
143 Tibetans have resorted to self immolation as a form of protest against the Chinese rule and to call for the return of the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama to Tibet since 2009.
