Tibet as
early as 1063 BC was a thriving civilization, and eventually became a prosperous
kingdom. It has evolved as a nation, free and independent. Though there are
some brief instances when it has forged alliances to some foreign powers, such
as the Mongol empire etc. nevertheless is has always asserted itself as a free
and independent nation. Tibet was from being ruled by kings, then later by
the Da Lai Lama and now the New Tibetan Parliament managing the political affairs.
For
centuries Tibet evolved as a true nation actively engaged in international
relations, this was until the Communist China, without any provocation, invaded
Tibet in November 17, 1950. The fourteenth Da Lai Lama was forced to sign the “17-point
Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet”, which though was
an evidently a pro-Chinese treaty. Not a single provision of the said treaty that was
in favor to Tibet was made to effect. Despite the Tibetan resistance of the
Chinese occupation, it has continued up to the present day.
Since then up to this day
Tibet has suffered wanton oppression. Basic human rights of the
Tibetan People are being violated out in the broad daylight, their religious
freedom was suppressed, and Buddhist temples that have stood there over the
centuries were being demolished. Tibet for a long period of time is being raped
and violated by a foreign power. It has become a theatre of human rights violation;
political and civil rights are nothing but a taboo in the land. Yet all these
things are happening while countries around the world lay passive, or have
turned to be audiences of the Tibetan tragedy.
While many nations opted to
remain silent, including the United Nations who could have been the vanguard of
the Tibetan freedom, many independent efforts of private citizen groups,
religious organizations and some NGOs opted to take the stand. For the past
years several groups calling themselves as Friends of Tibet have actively
organized programs and activities aimed in bringing the Tibetan plight to the
consciousness of all the people around the world.
Among these efforts are
currently being organized in the Philippines one of which is called the
Tibet-Philippine Support Network. Another group called the Friends of
Tibet-Cebu has recently conducted activities such as free concert and candle
lighting calling for the freedom of Tibet.
The Tibet-Philippine Support
Network is organized with the help of the office of Senator Miriam Defensor
Santiago. While some programs have been launch by the group in the past, more
activities are expected to come. On July 27, 2012 a Forum on the Human Rights
Violation in Tibet will be held in the University of the Philippines wherein
the representative of the Da Lai Lama in Asia will be present.
All these efforts around the
world shout for one message, freedom for Tibet, and respect for the human
rights of the Tibetan. For Tibet was never, is not, and will never be part of
China.
References:
