Nathan Crites-Herren
The Paw Print
The Chinese occupation of Tibet is almost non-existent for the majority of Americans. Like many other struggles against injustice, the people of Tibet have had to resist and suffer while their rightful demands have fallen on deaf ears.
In the 40 years of Tibetan Occupation it has been easy to for many global policy makers and influential government bodies to continue to be deaf to the issue of Tibet simply because they see no incentive to become involved. Going after China in order to create lasting positive results for Tibet would require finesse and may not produce the desired results, leaving many government officials with their hands tied on the issue.
First occupied in 1949 by the Chinese leader Chairman Mao, Tibet experienced a brutal and violent occupation, with over 1.6 million Tibetans dead and 6,000 monasteries destroyed. Within the decades of armed resistance that followed, Tibet’s spiritual and political leader the Dali Lama fled Tibet in fear of his life at the age of 24 on March 10, 1959. Tibet remains isolated from the international community, being victims of mass corruption, murders, police intimidation and discrimination has hardened their resistance and determination.
Despite inaction on the part of those in power, the people from around the world have rallied and created a Tibetan Freedom movement which has been gaining strength. The resistance to Chinese occupation outside Tibet grew with a large amount of exiles escaping Tibet and gaining political refugee status. Many of these political refugees arrived in the United States. Fortunately, Yeshi Dorjee a native born Tibetan and political refugee found his way to Adams State College.
Born in eastern Tibet in 1986 Dorjee, a Nursing student at ASC was forced to leave his brothers and mother behind in a dangerous and clandestine journey across the mountainous borders of Tibet and India. It took 21 nights of silent travel through secret mountain paths in the cold November air for 11 year-old Dorjee to cross into India. Arriving at an Indian refugee school, Dorjee began to construct a new life as a political refugee unable to return home. “We had to save money to pay the guide for our crossing into India, so I was the only one who could go…I had to leave my family behind,” added Dorjee.
The story of Dorjee’s escape is not uncommon; many Tibetan born political refugees crossed the border in similar fashion, fearing death or torture if caught. Dorjee, like other political refugees desires to return to a free Tibet, one in which the Dali Lama is allowed his rightful place and where the practice of Buddhism is not condemned.
Since 2009 increases in the Chinese governments crack down of Tibetan dissidents, combined with a drastic upsurge of self-immolation by Buddhist Monks, signifies that the situation is becoming more and more volatile in Tibet. Tibetans have held steadfast with the Dali Lamas wishes for the resistance movement to remain non-violent, but as Dorjee points out, “Tibetans are fed up, and if the Dali Lama dies there might be violence.”
Thinking globally and acting locally, Dorjee and other concerned students recently formed an ASC chapter of Students for a Free Tibet (SFT). A student lead organization which encompasses 650 chapters worldwide and its headquarters in New York, SFT is a powerful tool in the struggle for Tibetan independence. Among other actions, the newly formed chapter of SFT at ASC seeks to participate in direct action letter writing campaigns to political leaders, galvanizing much needed support for a free Tibet. In addition to political action, the club seeks to educate the community about the horrific injustices occurring in Tibet, in order to create a dialogue which can foster support for Tibetan refugees in the area and around the country.
Perhaps it is easy for those living privileged lives of convenience to ignore the struggles of the people of Tibet; it seems as if their situation has no significance on our own. This could not be farther from the truth, the Tibetan people represent an important part of the strength of humanity and all its diversity, and if their voice is continually silenced then humanity as a whole looses. Dorjee encourages all those interested in the club to become active, because “Tibetan Culture matters significantly, their method of non-violence and unique philosophy has much to teach the world.”
What’s Been Said…