History of the Controversy Regarding Tibet Versus China

Bodh Gaya, Jan. 9, 2010: The Dalai Lama today asked people across the world to visit his country under the "military occupation" of China to see for themselves the "sufferings" of Tibetans, as his five-day peace lectures ended with an "emphatic political" appeal.

"I request all of you to make a visit to Tibet to have your assessment of the situation. Particularly after 2008, the situation has turned worse in Tibet and your Tibetan fellow human beings are undergoing the worst-ever suffering under Chinese military rule," the Buddhist monk told a gathering that included hundreds of westerners. To read the complete article click here.

I realize that the 2008 Olympics are now over in China, but the abuse acted out toward the Tibetans continues. For a few months the Tibet issue was exactly where it should be on the front pages of our newspapers and high on the agendas of politicians and human rights organizations everywhere. I have decided to leave this lens up so that people can get educated about the heartbreaking situation of Tibetans who have experienced the worst repression and crackdown since the earliest days of the Chinese occupation. Your actions and prayers are needed on a continuing basis.

During the Olympics we witnessed an amazing display of solidarity between Tibetans from all of Tibet's regions.

As soon as the first protests happened China rapidly moved tourists, aid workers and journalists out of Tibet so that a much larger and systematic crackdown could begin without witnesses. By blocking information about the suppression of the disturbances from the media, Beijing once again backtracked from its pledges to give free rein to foreign media.