Introduction to Tibet #1

Tibet was independent nation before Communist China invaded Tibet in 1949. Traditionally, Tibet constitute of three provinces- U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham. Tibet has land size of 2.5 square million kilometers ,which is almost big as whole eastern europe put together.

Dalai Lama is Tibet's spiritual and political leader for centuries until recently he retired from his political leadership and ended more than few centuries old Dalai Lama institution. Dalai Lama is still most popular figure in Tibetan Buddhism and he revered by more than 95% of Tibetans in and out of Tibet.

Thousands of Tibetan left Tibet since 1959 into many neighbouring countries as a refugee. There are thousands of Tibetan refugees in India, Bhutan, Nepal, many European countries and US. Many of these Tibetan refugees had to cross Himalaya to seek better livelihood and education. Exiled Tibetan constantly advocates for religious freedom, human rights issue inside Tibet.

Inside Tibet, Tibetans treated as second-class citizen in their own country. There are now more Chinese inside Tibet than Tibetan due to massive influx of Chinese immigrants. As a minority in their own country, cultural asssimilation, economic marginalization, political repression and environmental destruction are huge problems. Tibetan have to learn Chinese language to get jobs and give up their religious practice. More than 6000 monasteries were destroyed so far and thousands of nomads are relocated to build their commercial factories, nuclear plants etc.

Last few years, hundreds of Tibetan burned their precious human life and self-immolated to protest against Chinese invasion and hard-line policies in Tibet.

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