- Goal
of presentation is to show Sino-Tibetan relations in history
- 7th
to 9th c.: Tibetan empire. Introduction of Buddhism. Great cultural
flourishing
- 13th-14th
c. China and Tibet integrated in Mongol empire but Tibet is not a part of China
“Priest-patron” relation between the Mongol emperor of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty
and Tibetan hierarchs
- 14th-17th
c.: Ming Dynasty in China proper (1368-1644). Mongols dominate Central Asia:
give title Dalai Lama to Tibetan Gelug hierarch (1578), then temporal power on
Tibet (1642)
- 17th-early
20th c.: Manchu rule in China as “Qing dynasty” (1644-1911). Extend
their dominion to neighbouring countries. Manchu envoys supervise Tibetan
government in Lhasa
- 1913:
13th Dalai Lama proclaims Tibet independent
- Traditional
Tibetan society: hierarchical, locked into its traditional lifestyle, mainly
subsistence farming, some herding and trade. Importance of Buddhism. Strong
feeling of Tibetan identity
- 1950:
Invasion and occupation of Tibet by PLA
- 1951:
17-Point Agreement
- 1956:
Uprising in eastern Tibet following forced collectivization
- 1959:
Uprising in Lhasa (10th March) violently repressed. Escape of Dalai
Lama to India
- 1965:
Creation of the Tibet Autonomous Region (Central Tibet + eastern Kham)
- 1966-1976:
Cultural revolution
- 1980s:
Economic and political reforms. Relative religious liberalization
- 1987:
no more restriction to Han migration in Tibet
- 1987-1989:
demonstrations in Lhasa led by monks and nuns
- From
1992 onwards: “socialist market economy” with heavy subsidisation fromCentral
government. Growth benefits predominantly to the Chinese city-dwellers.
Rural-urban gap widens
- 1995:
Chinese authorities refused new Panchen Lama after regular recognition by Dalai
Lama and impose their own. Patriotic re-education campaigns in monastery and
general population until now
- From
2000 “Development of the west”. Increased integration and sensitization of
Tibet through infrastructure (train, road), exploitation of mineral resources
- 2008:
Olympic Games in PRC. Demonstrations across the whole Tibetan plateau. The
answer is repression and propaganda
- MEP
question the expert of Tibet, Katia Buffetrille
- Question
1: Why is it necessary to know history?
- The
Chinese authorities based their legitimacy on Tibet on their own
interpretation
of history that pretends that Tibet was since very long
time an integral part
of China
- Question/Comment
2: Tibet as an entity: Tibet has sovereignty. Is there a concept in mind of Tibetans of having power over their own land?
- Yes
there is. Before 1951 Tibet had never been governed as
"an integral part
of China" and Tibetans never considered their
country as "an integral
part of China"
- Question
3: What is the current level of oppression?
- It
is high. The situation is extremely tense and people are scared. Many chekpoints have been set up on the roads, much more
police and spies everywhere, work
groups were sent to monasteries to conduct propaganda
- Question
4: There are territorial, linguistic and religious identities and which one of
these is/are the most important in Tibet?
- The
feeling of national identity is very strong among the population: Buddhism,
language, scripture, a common culture are among the factors that sustain the
feeling of identity
- Final
remarks by Thomas Mann, president of the Tibet Intergroup:
- On
10th of March there is Tibet day
- The
president of the EU-Parliament will present a declaration regarding this topic