Recent blog from Tibet |
A tourist who visited Tibet in 2010 wrote the following blog about her experiences. The account demonstrates the military presence in Tibet today.
I never thought a vacation could have such a powerful influence on me. All I knew when I hopped on the plane was that it is in China and some people have “Free Tibet” bumper stickers on their car.
I grew up on my trip to Tibet. Actually, that isn’t quite accurate. Growing up implies progress in a set direction. I grew sideways. Lopsided. I hung a bit to the left. Tibet changed my path. I was heading in a direction of perpetual discontent and destruction. Learning about Buddhism and being around Tibetan nuns made me realize that in many ways, I suck. And Im workin’ on it.
I learned more in Tibet than I probably did in grade school. Here are the highlights…
1. There is no such thing as a mere “military presence.”
What I mean is that if an area is being occupied by a country, there is not just a military presence. That phrase implies that there are a few soldiers standing about not really doing anything. A more accurate thing to say is that there is an active oppressive force at work. There is evidence of the Chinese oppression all over Tibet. In the last three weeks, I witnessed…
Snipers perched atop buildings watching everyone, dressed in full riot gear
Soldiers marching through the streets, breaking up any crowd of more than 5 people
Signs at public computers stating that “no religious, political, or pornographic material may be accessed”
Numerous checkpoints for proper permits and paperwork along roads
Fake plastic policemen holding real video cameras along the roads
Tibetan nuns brought to tears when the Chinese military is brought up, because they were tortured
The Dalai Lama (the highest Buddhist religious figure) is not allowed into the country
The Tibetans are not allowed to have photos of the Dalai lama
Teachers, monks, and nuns must sign contracts saying they are Communist
Videos cameras watching the monks in monasteries
The Chinese government gives incentives for Chinese people to move into Tibet, like no taxes for 5 years
A gaurd smashed a tourists camera because he took a photo of him
Fake tourist attractions with false historical information created by the Chinese
The Tibetan flag is banned
Some hotels are required to post pictures of the Chinese government
2. We are all products of our education.
The vast majority of the Chinese do not know the truth about their invasion of Tibet. They learn from a very young age that China freed the Tibetans from the oppressive Dalai Lama and monks. They are taught that the people were enslaved by them and that the monks took advantage of the people. They have no idea that the Tibetans did not want to be “freed” and they loved Dalai Lama. They do not know that the Chinese invaded Tibet in order to strip the land of its resources and utilize its rivers for their waning water supply. The Chinese know the Invasion of Tibet as the Liberation of Tibet, a joke to both Tibetans and foreigners.
