Tibetan Advocacy Groups Condemn 60th Anniversary Celebrations of Tibet Autonomous Region

As China prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region's founding, Tibetan advocacy groups have criticized the celebrations as a façade for continued repression. The International Campaign for Tibet denounces the event, urging China to prioritize Tibetan interests over control and power.

As China gears up to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) on September 9, Tibetan advocacy groups have condemned the event as a facade for ongoing repression. According to the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), the celebrations disguise decades of forced assimilation and cultural destruction in Tibet.

Formed in 1965, TAR comprises less than half of Tibet's traditional territory. ICT points out that its formation followed broken promises after China's 1950 military invasion and the 1951 17-Point Agreement, which promised autonomy and cultural preservation. Despite these promises, no Tibetan has ever held the top political post of Party Secretary, which remains under Han Chinese control.

Tibetans face severe restrictions, such as criminalizing the Dalai Lama's image and imposing Mandarin in schools, despite ethnic language rights. Reports highlight forced assimilation through boarding schools, and ecological relocations of Tibetan nomads. Rights groups urge the global community not to be misled by the upcoming official celebrations, which they argue whitewash six decades of oppression.

(With inputs from agencies.)