By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, June 18: Five prominent Tibetan Non-Governmental Organisations, Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT), Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet and the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) held a joint press conference on Thursday to condemn China for the recent attack at the Indo-Tibet border on Monday where at least 20 Indian deaths have been reported.
“As we pay tribute to the courage of the Indian soldiers and offer our condolences to the bereaved families, we call on world leaders and their government to stand with India against this illegal aggression by Chinese troops on Indian soil and work together to counter China’s expansionism” read the joint statement.
The recent stand-off between the two Asian giants has stirred nationalistic sentiment from both sides. The violent confrontation at the Galwan valley in Ladakh is one of the deadliest clashes in the last 50 years. While China has made no confirmation of casualty on their side, ANI reported 43 casualties from the Chinese side.
The joint statement pointed out that India and Tibet shared peaceful friendship over centuries until China occupied Tibet in 1959. It asserted that it is time that India recognised Tibet as an “independent country” by inviting Tibet’s legitimate representation on the Indo-Tibet border agreement. It noted that China’s expansionist policy can be stretched to the whole Himalayan region and the world as it enhances the aggressive posture in different frontiers.
It noted India’s important geopolitical position in the current border debate, “India has an incredible duty to lead the neighbouring countries to challenge the illegal and aggressive initiation of China in such critical times.” As it remarked on the mishandling of the COVID-19 situation, the NGOs reasserted the need to take immediate action to prevent China from causing even more global instability.
The press statement concluded by urging the Indian government and the international community to take the following actions; Issue urgent public statements to condemn the Chinese military invasion of Indian territory; Recognize Tibet as a separate, historically independent country; Support Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Southern Mongolians, and Taiwanese people in their fight against the CCP; Join the grassroots movement to boycott “Made in China” products.
Tibet was independent of China before 1951 & historical records prove it. Chinese, Tibetan & Western historical records show Tibet was never part of China. The myth of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet was created by the CCP. All governments, especially India, should acknowledge the historical truth that Tibet was never part of China. Present occupation doesn’t make Tibet part of China either. Britain ruled India as a colony for many many years but India was never part of Britain. Chinese colonialism is the same.
See what it took for India to escape the grasp of British colonialism (and how long). As a matter of fact, every time you take a sip of that Darjeeling tea.
When China rolled its war machines into Tibet and killed 1.5 millions Tibetans and forced the Dalai Lama and 85 thousand other Tibetans to flee into India.
At that time Pandit Nehru’s government in India adopted a policy of appeasement towards China and contrary to historical evidence to the contrary, construed that Tibet is a part of China.
Veering from history facts the Nehru government’s this policy was a major betrayal of the Tibetan people’s aspiration to regain its independence.
To this day the government of India adheres to this fatal policy for which it has paid with human lives in border conflicts in 1962 and more lives now. The cost for India to defend the extensive Indo-Tibetan border as risen from $0 to billions per year from when Tibet was a buffer state to having China right next door.
It only makes sense for India to reverse this policy ASAP.
Somebody should ask the noodlemaker the role of Taiwanese funding. What percentage of Taiwan is now native populations versus resettlers who came from mainland China? And then ask why perhaps when they approached WHO regarding covid, their voice was not heard. As a matter of fact, look up the history of Quebec. Using minorities to stir up discontent as a political ploy is nothing new. It is then very telling how the majority chooses to respond.
China doesn’t even honor their dead. I suppose life is cheap in their Communist Utopia. If this gesture is meant to sue for peace, why invade in the first place? China will again claim that they are the victim, when, in fact, they are almost always the aggressor.