“Two revolutions and Tibetan resilience”
(Culture revolution and Tibetan peace revolution 2008)
During the ten-year Cultural Revolution in Tibet from 1966 to 1976, in the name of removing four old obstacles, “old thinking, old culture, old tradition, and old system,” to transform into “new Mao's ideology," The attacks mostly targeted Tibetan culture, language, identity, and a rich traditional way of life. Tibetan monks and nuns were forced to marry, which was totally against the oath they promised. The religious leaders were forced to wear normal dress as common laymen or sent to labor camps. The starvation at the camps was untold; even hardly getting human flesh to eat, there was no meat on dead bodies since all people were dead due to starvation; only bones and skins could be seen on those dead bodies. To get human flesh to eat was a big feast for them, she narrated.
They banned all our traditional and religious activities. Thousands of rich religious texts and books were labeled as poisonous weeds, and most were burned and thrown into rivers so that they could never be recovered. The Cultural Revolution ended with Mao's death in September 1976. More than 97 percent of monasteries and nunneries were destroyed, and the number of monks and nuns living in the monasteries was reduced by 93 percent, as shown in many research analyses.
On the other hand, millions of priceless ancient manuscripts were burned, and the precious statues made of gold, silver, and bronze were removed from the temples and shipped to China without any warning to the local authorities. Even I saw many large scales of empty walls of destroyed monasteries near my village in Tibet. The physical torture and psychological traumas were untold, and the imprisonments were beyond human comprehension. The number of Tibetan people who died or committed suicide in prison and at labor camps, including small children and old people, was untold. Even many years after the Cultural Revolution, the attack on Tibetan culture, religion, and languages continues. Since 2016, Larung Gar, the biggest Buddhist institution in Tibet and the world indeed, has been the target of a major assault and battery law. Thousands of monks have been evicted, homes demolished. The recent mass distraction of monasteries and local villages in Derge in the name of hydropower project construction on the Drichu River was another eyewitness.
The Tibetan Peace Revolution in 2008, also referred to as the 3.14 riots in Chinese media, The Tibetan Peace Revolution 2008 was a series of riots, protests, and demonstrations that began in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa. That revolution was widely and internationally known as the “Peace Revolution of Tibet,” since the nature of the movement was a non-violent and peaceful march and rebellion to overthrow the dictatorship and dictatorial government. The aim and objectives were to restore freedom, human rights, and democracy in Tibet.
Which
originally began as an annual observance of Tibetan Uprising Day, 10th March,
and turned into a street protest by monks in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet.
This unrest spread to other parts of Tibet in the Kham and Amdo regions. The
demonstrators peacefully marched through most cities and streets, while in some
areas, it turned a little violent as well.
My brother was one of the protesters in the streets of my village, Amdo Machu. He was detained in prison and beaten mercilessly for being involved in the protest. Not only him but there were so many Machu local people who were detained in prison and beaten mercilessly. Especially the two well-known warriors (powos), Jigme Yeshi from Sarwa Tsang and Kunchok from Shenkho Tsang, who voluntarily surrendered to the Chinese government on behalf of all the protesters (one on behalf of the monastery and the other from the local people's side) to sacrifice their own life for the sake of our country and people. Nobody could imagine the tortures they had received from long years detained in prison, and I am sure that they have already seen hell on this earth for the sake of our people and the great country of Tibet. There are many Tibetans who are still in Chinese prison or whose well-being and whereabouts are unknown to their family members.
According to the information received, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of March 2008, hundreds of Tibetans gathered, including young students, monks, and nomads. They carried the Tibetan national flags and images of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and marched down to the streets. The protest started peacefully as a march in the street, but somehow, several government buildings, the government petrol pump, police cars, and other symbols of state power were attacked as a retaliation to endless injustices by the Chinese government to the local people in Machu city.
Around
4 to 5 p.m. on March 18, 2008, all the protesters were brutally cracked down by
the Chinese government, and tanks and army trucks deployed the use of force and
gas to break up the demonstrations. Many Tibetans in Amdo Machu were injured
and troubled during that day.
“Tsendrok Tashi Choephel Ling Monastery” is one of the largest monasteries near my hometown. It is considered a holistic place for local villagers and one of the most trusted monasteries by thousands of local people. “Tsendrok Tashi Choephel Ling Monastery” is located 62 km from the south of main Machu city. The monastery was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century by the 3rd Tsendrok Khen Rinpoche Kunchok Thinley and later named by the 7th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Nyima. The current head of the Tsendrok Tashi Choephel Ling monastery in Tibet is the 6th His Eminence, Tsendrok Khen Rinpoche Tenzin Jamyang Gyatso, who lives in Nepal. He is the undeluded reincarnation of the 5th Tsendrok Khen Rinpoche, declared and recognized directly by His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.
His
monastery in Tibet is one of the best sites to learn and practice Buddhism for
the local people, and it has a long history spanning more than two hundred
years. So many great scholars also came out of this monastery, and their
contribution to the local people and Buddhism is noteworthy. During the
“Tibetan Peace Revolution in 2008," the monastery was flanked by
armies from all possible directions, and next to every door of the monastery
was blocked by two armies with mighty guns in their hands. They started to
access the prayer rooms in the name of surprise home checking for each and
every home in the monastery, which was never supposed to happen in any country
in the free world.
The possession of the Dalai Lama's image and teaching in a home resulted in immediate imprisonment and torture. I remember seeing a broken glass photo frame of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in my uncle's house. I asked him about it, but he told me in a low voice (whispered) that no one was around us at the time when I asked. This warns me of a clear message about his insecurity and the danger of the revolution that was left in his mind even after many years. He replied, “It was broken by the Chinese armies during surprise home checking in 2008." Despite the trouble, they are keeping it by hiding on the backside of the altar in his temple hall. He started telling me untold stories about the loss of ancient mantras, priceless manuscripts, and statues made of gold and silver that were shipped to China from his monastery, without any warning to the monastery community and local people. This is another story of the Tibetan peace revolution in 2008.
Therefore,
The Tibetan challenges and remarkable resilience are the consequences of all
these revolutions and rebellions. The Tibetan spirit, determination, and
resilience are not something that the Chinese can eradicate by force and
capitalize on. But it is the actual matter of the truth and the hearts of every
Tibetan, this sense of being a Tibetan and their mountain spirit of nationalism
is engraved into every gene, and it cannot be eliminated by any amount of
injustice or through the exercise of any force.
Tibetan people have unconditional respect and faith in their leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and their nation. That faith could never be accomplished through soldiers and military force. If this did work, then think of the case of the Tibetan people who were born and brought up inside Tibet. The Chinese government enforces a regime of threats and arbitrary detentions, no matter how true or justice the cause. All types of movements by Tibetans are brutally cracked down upon with severe violence and bloodshed.
Yet,
all manner of movements is still popping up, not just outside Tibet but
especially among Tibetans living in Tibet like recent large numbers of self-immolations.
The sense of spirit of Tibetan people is never fading away, although any act
deemed to be threatening by the Chinese government can be made a criminal
offense. The Beijing government has tried its level best to eliminate Tibet
from the world map and Tibetans from their land of snow. They have taken a
series of plans, processes, strategies, and different means of tactics,
including severe violence, peace, economic power, and military force.
Thousands of Tibetans were imprisoned on unclear and unspecified charges, with their families having no idea of their condition or whereabouts. In a recent interview with Voice of America, the monk called Jigmey from Amdo Labrang says, “This gun is made to kill the Tibetan people. I will shoot you if you try to move away a single step from the position where you are standing, and I will throw your dead body into garbage dumps as soon as you are killed.” This clearly warns and proofs that their precious life-worth in Tibet is not much equivalent to the value of a single bullet from Beijing's mighty guns.
Despite
the Chinese hardliners having always had this confidence and belief that the
Tibetan issue will be eliminated using a strict hand, for six decades and more
today, the violence and terror continue, yet the Tibetan issue still hasn't
been eliminated, and it turns into an international chapter is the truly
remarkable resilience so far.
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