For decades now, Mars has been a politically sensitive month for Tibetans when Chinese authorities have increased restrictions and security measures.
Indeed, a series of important events and acts of Tibetan resistance occurred during this month over the years, starting with March 10, 1959, against Chinese domination.
This year also, Beijing intensified security and surveillance measures through Tibet, performing inspections and organizing provincial, county and canton meetings to issue strict guidelines to take measures to “win the stability battle” in March.
Police and additional military forces were deployed in the capital of Lhasa, including religious sites such as the Jokhang temple and the Monastery of Sera, according to two sources in the region. Safety staff patrol even at 3 a.m., they said.
Social media censorship and internet closings prevent Tibetans from sharing information with the outside world.
What happened on March 10, 1959?
That day, 66 years ago, tens of thousands of Tibetans in Lhasa clashed against Chinese domination, which had started when the Communists of Mao Zedong invaded and forcefully annexed Tibet in 1950.
The revolt was in direct response to the growth of Chinese repression and fears for the security of the Dalai Lama. While Chinese forces rose to crush the rebellion, thousands of Tibetans died.
This prompted the Dalai Lama, 23 years old at the time, to flee to the north of India with thousands of other Tibetans, where he and a large community of Tibetans live to date in Dharamsala.
Since March 10 has been marked as the anniversary of the national day of Tibetan uprising, with marches and demonstrations in various places in the world. The Tibetans used the day to honor the courage of those who rebelled, press China to stop its repression of the Tibetans and express their hope for a homeland where they can live freely.
March 12: Women’s uprising day
On March 12, 1959, two days after the uprising, thousands of Tibetan women went to the streets of Lhasa to protest against violent repression and demand the freedom of Tibet. Many have been arrested, tortured or killed.
This movement remains a powerful symbol of Tibetan resistance and activism led by women. Today, Tibetans and their supporters organize marches and rallies around the world to honor the courage of these women.
This year, in cities and cities around the world, including in India, North America and Europe, the Tibetan women’s association organized marches that included students, Buddhist nuns and militants who amplified the voices of the former Tibetan patriots and claim the role of Tibetan women living in exile.
March 14: protest and repression of Lhasa
Several years later, on March 14, 2008, large -scale demonstrations broke out in Lhasa against Chinese domination and religious repression, the erosion of Tibetan culture and economic marginalization.
What started as a peaceful demonstration has quickly transformed the largest stakes in Tibet since 1959, triggering a violent repression, resulting in hundreds of arrests, disappearances and deaths.
March 16: Killing of unarmed demonstrators in Ngaba
Two days later, at least 10 Tibetans, including 16 -year -old schoolgirls, Lhundup TSO, were killed when the police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators after a morning prayer session at the Kirti monastery, which is in the Ngaba region in Sichuan province.
Many Buddhist monks and laity were then imprisoned and tortured. During the police raids in Kirti, images of the Dalai Lama and other religious figures were destroyed. In June of the same year, the troops made a descent into the SEY monastery, where they broke the portraits of the Dalai Lama and the harassed monks which were retired.
Ngaba remains one of the most strongly militarized Tibetan regions. Around March of each year, the Kirti monastery faces serious restrictions, the security forces closely monitoring the monks and local residents.
March 2012: 11 self-immolated Tibetans.
A wave of Tibetan self-immolations in Tibet began in 2011 and intensified in 2012. Desperate to show their opposition to the repressive policies of China, a total of 11 Tibetans burnt down in March 2012, the greatest number of these cases recorded in a single month.
They were aged 18 to 44 and seven came from Ngaba. Many seemed to have done it in March because of its meaning.
March 28: China declares the “serfs” day of emancipation “
In 2009, China declared on March 28 as “the day of emancipation of the serfs” to celebrate what Beijing declared to mark the “liberation” in 1959 of the “feudal system” of Tibet.
The Communist Party affirms that this day marks Tibet’s progress under Chinese domination, but the Tibetans reject it as state propaganda justifying Chinese occupation.
Chinese authorities organize parades and other events and alternative stories are deleted.
What does Dalai Lama say about the future of Tibet?
Beijing thinks that Dalai Lama wants to separate from the autonomous region of Tibet and other Tibetan regions of the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan from the rest of the country.
However, the Dalai Lama does not plead for independence but rather a “median way” which accepts the status of Tibet as part of China and exhorts greater cultural and religious freedoms, including reinforced linguistic rights which are guaranteed for ethnic minorities under the constitution of China.
Do Tibetans live in exile in March?
Yes. Each March 10, Tibetans and their supporters around the world organize solidarity demonstrations and events marking the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan national uprising.
These protests serve as a powerful reminder of Tibet’s continuing struggle for freedom and human rights.
Published by Tenzin Pema, Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.