Tibet’s "Autonomy"

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 14

Tibet’s "Autonomy"

China’s decision to restore a measure of selfgovernment to Tibet means two things: the Chinese rulers are satisfied that the communisation of the country is now securely under way, and they are confident that the spirit of rebellion among the Tibetans has been crushed. Signs of an impending declaration of Tibet as an autonomous region within China were first seen last year. Elections for local councils were held in some villages, though apparently the Chinese were not prepared to take this risk in all parts of the country. Toward the end of the year the Dalai Lama, living in exile in India, was removed from his nominal position as chairman of the committee set up to prepare the way for the final merging of Tibet with China; and the Panchen Lama, second of the two leaders of the dominant Buddhist sect and a reluctant tool of the Chinese, was removed from his vice-chairmanship of the committee. Two Chinese continued to lead the process of " socialist transformation ”.

It is now 15 years since Peking announced the “ liberation ” of Tibet and the consolidation of China’s western frontier as one of the main tasks of the People's Liberation Army. The invasion of Tibet began on October 7,1950, after China had claimed that the Panchen Lama had appealed for liberation. He was then 13. The 1951 agreement between the Governments of China and Tibet provided that the “ local ” Government of Tibet would assist the Chinese army—with which Tibetan troops would be merged—to occupy Tibet, and that the Tibetan people would exercise “ national regional autonomy “ under the unified leadership of the Central People’s “ Government ”, Sporadic uprisings against the Chinese reached a climax in 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled to India, leaving behind him a rebel Government founded on the resistance movement. The Dalai Lama had initiated reforms in Tibet’s feudal system: but these were not to the liking of the Chinese. The resistance leaders also had a programme of reforms; but they were overrun by Chinese troops.

Chinese reports of last year’s meeting of the preparatory committee said that a campaign for “ class education in the countryside ” was its main theme. Apparently not all Tibetans are yet reconciled to the new system. The Chinese military commander in Tibet. Chang Kuo Hua, has forecast a class struggle that will be “ protracted and complicated and at limes even violent ”. The removal of the religious leaders from even their nominal positions also suggests that the Chinese will continue, perhaps even intensify, their efforts to reduce the influence of Tibet’s religious leaders. There is, in fact, nothing about the proposed “ autonomy ” to suggest that this unfortunate country is about to enjoy a new-found freedom.