China marks 70th anniversary of its occupation of Tibet
DHARAMSALA, 20 Aug: China has marked the 70th anniversary of its occupation of Tibet with a grand celebration declaring that Tibet can achieve development and prosperity only by following the CPC leadership and pursuing the path of socialism.
Calling the occupation of Tibet a “peaceful liberation”, the Chinese state media, Xinhua reported that a grand gathering was held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet at the Potala Palace Square in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital on Thursday.
Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee has led the celebration and presented congratulatory plaques and banners with an inscription written by Chinese President Xi Jinping that read “building a beautiful and happy Tibet and together fulfilling the great dream of national rejuvenation.”
Wang has stated in the report that the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951 is “a major victory in the cause of liberation of the Chinese people and China’s reunification,” and declared that “it marked a historic transition with epoch-making significance for Tibet.”
“Only by following the CPC leadership and pursuing the path of socialism, can Tibet achieve development and prosperity,” Wang has said.
To stamp the CCP’s rule on Tibetan Buddhism, Wang has presented the Panchen Lama (appointed by China) with a commemorative plaque at the ceremony.
While China boasted that the celebration was attended by 20,000 people from various ethnic groups, Tibetan Youth Congress(TYC), the largest Tibetan NGO in exile that strives for the restoration of free Tibet has condemned China’s “attempt to coerce Tibetans into celebrating the events as victory and liberation,” and declared that “Tibetans continue to suffer under the CCP’s authoritarian and oppressive rule.”
“In stark contrast to Chinese propaganda claims of peaceful liberation, Tibet under its draconian rule is undergoing the worst period of its history,” read a statement issued by the TYC.
“Despite China’s lofty claims of having liberated and developed Tibet, mass uprisings including spates of self-immolations in protest against China happen all over Tibet,”
TYC further argued that 157 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009 under Chinese rule calling for the ‘return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet’. ‘Independence for Tibet and Preservation of Tibetan Religion, Culture, and Language’.
“Sadly, all these efforts are being met with more and more harsh repression by the Chinese government.”
