Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
An illuminating glimpse of the Tibetan experience is provided by
Freedom in Exile: The
Autobiography of the Dalai Lama
. With great humility the Dalai Lama outlines his personal
philosophy, his hope to be reunited with his homeland and the story of his life.
Kundun
by
Mary Craig is a biography of the Dalai Lama's family.
The Dalai Lama & the Search for Settlement
By the mid-1970s the Dalai Lama had become a prominent international figure, working
tirelessly from his government-in-exile in Dharamsala to make the world more aware of
his people's plight. In 1987 he addressed the US Congress and outlined a five-point peace
plan.
The plan called for Tibet to be established as a 'zone of peace'; for the policy of Han
immigration to Tibet to be abandoned; for a return to basic human rights and democratic
freedoms; for the protection of Tibet's natural heritage and an end to the dumping of nuc-
lear waste on the high plateau; and for joint discussions between the Chinese and the
Tibetans on the future of Tibet. The Chinese denounced the plan as an example of 'split-
tism'. They gave the same response when, a year later, the Dalai Lama elaborated on the
speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, dropping demands for full
independence in favour of a form of autonomy and offering the Chinese the right to govern
Tibet's foreign and military affairs.
On 5 March 1989, three months before the student demonstrations in Běijīng's
Tiān'ānmén Square, Lhasa erupted in the largest anti-Chinese demonstration since 1959.
Běijīng reacted strongly, declaring martial law in Tibet, which lasted for more than a year.
Despairing elements in the exiled Tibetan community began to talk of the need to take up
arms. It was an option that the Dalai Lama had consistently opposed. His efforts to achieve
peace and freedom for his people were recognised on 4 October 1989, when he was awar-
ded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In January 1989, after denouncing the Communist Party's policies in Tibet and while
visiting Tashilhunpo, the traditional seat of all the Panchen Lamas, the 10th Panchen Lama
died, triggering a succession crisis that remains unresolved. The Dalai Lama identified the
11th Panchen Lama in 1995, whereupon the Chinese authorities detained the boy and his
family (who have not been seen since) and orchestrated the choice of their own preferred
candidate. The Chinese began to toughen their policy towards the Dalai Lama and
