I just read an article regarding why there had been incessant independence movements taken place in Tibet since China's "invasion" in 1951. The author argued the root cause for demonstrations and strikes stemmed from staggering ignorance of Tibetians, nearly 95% of the total population had been illiterate, totally subjugated to the theocratic rule of lamas and landlords, the rest 5%. The plebs of Tibetians, actually slaves, were so ignorant to believe what had been told that they handed their lives over to their "savors", the lamas and the landlords, and hankered after the nirvana in other world. They even believed lamas' feces was kind of a cure-all. Tibet was thus a latter-day medieval Europe of Dark Age in modern world. But what does this have anything to do with Tibet Independence?
Since "liberation", China began to carry out a serial of measures, including land reform, to diminish the influence of the lamas and the landlords by depriving them of their "properties" and privileges. In the same time, China strived to diminish poverty and ignorance of Tibetians by establishing schools, highways, airports and ohter infrastructures,let alone the longest plateau railroad of the world, which connecting Tibet and Qinghai province and other inner provinces was successfully operated not long ago. Tibetians, especially school children, received an eviable positive discrimination in college entrance and financial aids. All of these enraged the lama and landlords, the vested interests, and engendered continual protests, which culminated in Communist's oppression and Dalai Lama's fleeing to India in 1956. Later in 1962, China vanished India's territorial dream over Tibet, which had been imperialist British's dreams also, by winning a landsliding victory of warfare between two countries in borderline area. Not until early 21st century did U.K. finally recognize China's soverignity over Tibet, and Dalai Lama finally relinguish the pursuit of Tibet Independence.
Unlike previous anti-independence articles I read in internet, which were almost written by the netizens from the Mainland, the author of this one claimed himself/herself was from Taiwan. If it is true, I think the viewpoint he/she was trying to convey is relatively plausible. The essay also reminds of the similarity of the independence movements between Tibet and Taiwan. The original diehard partisans of Taiwan Independence, it is said, were landlords and Japanese "royal citizens" who were the victims of "375 rental reducton" and "tenants own the land" programs, two moderate measures of land reform. Later, under the auspices of Japan and America, they became the vanguards of Taiwan Independence. Unlike their counterparts in Tibet, Partly because the Mainland has never owned the jurisdiction over Taiwan, they finally gained the ultimate power in Taiwan through democratic process. Yet they don't have the guts to declare de jure independence. Maybe that's why Dalai Lama is much of a companion for them to embrace.
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