Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As the Tibetan people bristle under a lack of control over their own communities and re-
ligion, China reminds the Tibetans that it has brought in education, health and infrastruc-
ture to the plateau, and spent millions renovating monasteries. Tibetan groups maintain
that it is mostly Chinese immigrants who run Tibet's businesses, and that monasteries re-
main under tight political control and exist largely for tourism. The Chinese counter that
they are just trying to bring economic prosperity to one of its most backward provinces, at
a large financial loss. (At this point, everyone storms out of the room.)
Environmental Challenges
Perhaps the greatest loser in Tibet's race towards economic development has been its once-
pristine environment. Urbanisation projects, hydroelectric dams and urban expansion are
rapidly changing the face of Tibet. In the last few years alone hundreds of thousands of
Tibetan nomads have been resettled into modern housing communities, effectively bring-
ing an end to a traditional way of life. China says it is protecting the grasslands from over-
grazing, protesters (often jailed) say it is a cynical move by the government to gain access
to mining and drilling rights. A short drive around Tibet will reveal dozens of new mines
and quarries, dug by outside entrepreneurs racing to capitalise on local resources in an at-
mosphere of economic free-for-all. On the high plateau short-term economic gains are
starting to leave long-term environmental scars.
Dark Days
Tibet's long-simmering tensions boiled over on 10 March 2008, the anniversary of the
Dalai Lama's flight into exile, kicking off several days of protests by monks from Lhasa's
big monasteries. As protest turned to violence, at least 19 people, mostly Han Chinese,
were killed and disturbances quickly spread to Tibetan towns in Gānsù, western Sìchuān
and Qīnghǎi, marking the worst political unrest in Tibet for 20 years.
In the wake of the riots Tibet remains a tightly controlled place, with armed riot police
posted on every street corner in Lhasa's old town. Basic religious and political freedoms
are lacking and political propaganda campaigns and surveillance programs are pervasive.
Monastery populations are tightly limited by the government, which forces monks to un-
dergo frequent 'patriotic education' and 'civilising atheism' campaigns. In recent years
political management teams and security personnel have set up barracks in hundreds of
monasteries. To show support for the Dalai Lama continues to result in long jail sentences.
