Trouble in Tibet

                People everywhere have a lack of faith in those who govern them, whether their leader is from the same part of the planet or not. Imperialism doesn’t always take place across the globe, often times it’s quite the opposite. Most times in history when a territory is taken over it’s by another group of people neighboring the territory, not by a foreign superpower eager for global domination. This was certainly the case in Tibet in the 1950’s, when the People’s Republic of China took over Tibet and annexed it as a part of China. Not surprisingly, this didn’t go over very well with the natives, and their unrest culminated in the failed Lhasa uprising of 1959. Since then, there have been countless protests, freedom marches, and international debates as to what the solution for a peaceful Tibet could be. At the forefront of most of these debates is the Dalai Lama, a native of Tibet and a global symbol for peace.

                As with most imperial conquests, the incentives boil down to the economics of the situation. Tibet has an overwhelming plethora of underutilized natural resources, as well as countless square miles of space for urban development. However, many of the natives in Tibet live by humble means, and the thought of skyscrapers filled with outsiders looking to take advantage of their land is less than appealing. Not to mention the basic human rights that the natives have been robbed of, including the right to practice religion and the right to speak freely. The political police are always present as a violent, oppressive force not to be questioned, as the consequences can often mean death to offenders. The police are kept incredibly busy, as there seems to always be a lingering chance of rebellion. I don’t think it would come as a shock to anyone why Tibet is in such turmoil if they knew the circumstances Tibetans faced.

                So what can we learn from their seemingly perpetual strife? The stripping away of rights is one reoccurring factor. One thing is certain; whenever a group of people feels a strong connection to the land in which they live and that land is taken over or invaded, there will always be conflict. It seems that a peaceful resolution is nearly impossible to bring about when the desire for capital gains and the desire to preserve ancient cultural customs clash in one territory. People are compelled to act in their own self-interest, and I can’t think of a single instance in human history when the interests of a conquered people is taken into account, and they have certainly never been held in a higher regard than the interests of those doing the conquering. Would you trust someone who was forcing you out of a place that you considered sacred, simply for their own personal gain? I didn’t think so.

Bibliography:

The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet's Struggle for Freedom. Dir. Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin. Perf. The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Tsundue. Arch Communications, White Crane Films, 2010. Documentary.