What’s the deal with Tibet??

Overview  History  Current situation in Tibet  Living in Exile  Why is this featuring at Limmud Oz  Tibetan Jewish Youth Exchange

Where is Tibet? (Ask China)

Tibet according to Tibetans

The Golden Age 7 th Century – Songsten Gampo  Independent Kingdom  Great military power  Huge empire in Central Asia  Promoted Buddhism  Tibetan bride, Nepalese Consort and then Chinese bride – Princess Wencheng.

Next King King Trisong Detsen (755-97)  Tibetan army at peak  Invaded China and several Central Asian countries.  763 – invaded Chinese capital (present day Xian)  Banished Chinese Buddhism from Tibet and established Indian form.

What goes up must come down  Warring princes, lords and generals contending for the throne  Dark period from 842 – 1247.

Lest we forget the Mongols  Mongols invaded most of Asia and parts of Europe, also reached Tibet.  The ruling Khan converted to Buddhism and invading force withdrew.  A Khan gave recognition of full sovereignty over three provinces in Tibet.  Different lineages ruled Tibet from

Dalai Lama – The Ocean of Wisdom  Sonam Gyatso, 1543 emerged as a great scholar of spiritual wisdom.  Founded monasteries, mediated between warring factions in Tibet and converted another Khan to Buddhism.

Priest-Patron relationship  1642, 5 th Lama assumed spiritual and temporal authority over Tibet.  Established present system of Tibetan government.  Ming Emporer received Dalai Lama as an independent sovereign and as an equal.  Dalai Lama influenced Mongols to acknowledge Emperors sway in China.

All good things must come to an end….again!  6 th Dalai Lama was an embarrassment – was not interested in state affairs and lead a frivolous life.  After his death (1705), civil war.  Struggle between various Mongols and Manchu dynasty as to who could exercise their influence over Tibet.  1720 – Manchus victorious.

Manchus in Tibet  Troops left Tibet, some officials left behind.  Kham and Amdo incorporated into China  1727 – Troops re-entered due to killing of Manchu nominee of Tibetan regent.  1749 – Invasion of Tibet to increase power of Manchu Resident.  1786 – Ghurkas (Nepal) invaded Tibet.  1792 – Manchus army enters (again).

Our favourite Imperialists - the British  Britain had close ties with China.  1876 – Sino-British convention.  Russian contacts in  1904 – British invaded Tibet.  Dalai Lama fled to Mongolia.  China capitalised on the opportunity and interfered once again!

Chinese revolution  Manchus overthrown in China  Tibetans overthrew Chinese and expelled in  Apology from Chinese President  Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s independence

The Invasion  1950 – China invaded East Tibet.  May 1951 – Famous 17 point agreement.  September troops entered Lhasa.

 Tibetan government continued.  Liberating serfs was not a priority  1955 – ‘Religion is poison’  Land reform implemented in Kham and Amdo.  1956 – unrest due to land reform.  1959 – Lhasa uprising,  Dalai Lama flees  Tibetans killed

Cultural revolution time  Secular education introduced  6000 monasteries destroyed  Estimated 1.2 million died?

Negotiations  Early 1980’s with Deng Xiaoping – open invitation for Tibetan refugees to return from exile.  1989 – Invitation to attend Panchen Lama’s funeral in Beijing.  Now – negotiations have receded.  Autonomy vs. Independance

Today  Most religious freedoms officially restored  Economic reform, but not political  PRC claims improvements from Tibetan feudalism.  Campaigning for improved human rights

Today  Demographic change  Schooling system  Chinese vs. Tibetan language  Cultural, religious and social subjects at school.  “patriotic re-education”  Unemployment

Human Rights  Chinese say ‘improvements since 1950’s’  Currently 700 political prisoners  Block of Human Rights Organisations  Kidnapping of Panchen Lama  Lack of: –Freedom of Speech –Movement and travel –Expression –Assembly

Where is the Galut?  India =  Nepal =  USA & Canada = 7000  Bhutan = 1600  Switzerland = 1540  Taiwan = 1000  Europe = 740  Oz and NZ = 220

Nationalism in Exile  Language  Flag  Anthem  ‘Tashi Delek’

Dharamsala  Little Lhasa  Government in exile  Head of state – DL  Income – voluntary tax, business revenue  Indian Registration Certificates

Central Tibetan Administration  Health services, cultural activities and economic development projects.  Tibetan Children’s Villages  Welfare services for refugees  2001 – democratically elected PM

Refugees  1000 per year  Via Nepal  Illegally

Arduous journey

Now, the Jewish Connection  Destruction of Religion  Threat to identity  Living in Exile  Minority in home land?  Greater Tibet?

Tibetan Jewish Youth Exchange  Aim: Strengthen identities of Jewish and Tibetan youth  Formed in 2000  Jewish model of informal education 

Longsho – ‘Rise Up’

Tibetan Jews?!!

Chanichim

Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People  Museum expertise  Child sponsorship  Arava project  International Tibet Support Network  mmerce.co.il/eng_ home.htm

Thank you