I'm not going into the whole history of China's annexation of Tibet, but before the Chinese
occupation in 1949, Tibet
was comprised of three provinces known as U-Tsang, Amdo, & Kham. When the
Chinese refer to Tibet
they mean the Tibetan Autonomous Region (T.A.R.) which was established in 1965.
This area comprises all of what Tibetans call U-Tsang & parts of Kham. The
traditional Tibetan areas of Amdo & the remainder of Kham were incorporated
into the Chinese Provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, & Yunnan. Within these
Chinese Provinces there are Tibetan areas divided into various Prefectures
subdivided into Counties or district level administrative areas.
As recently as
August 6, an important religious festival in Tibet
was invaded by a host of unwelcome visitors: China’s Paramilitary Armed Police. As festival goers & religious
dignitaries gathered at a sacred location near Lhasa they were stopped & submitted to
body searches by a solid perimeter of armed security forces.
The Shoton festival can be traced back to the 15th century.
It unites Tibetan lay-people & religious communities in celebration of the
passing of the summer retreat, where monks seek solitude to avoid accidentally stepping
on summer insects. It also signals the beginning of the milking season. In the
past the festivities has drawn dancers from all over Tibet, but this year the
only performance allowed is from the Chinese state-approved Lhasa Singing &
Dancing Troupe.
This harassment is just part of a continuing campaign
against freedom in Tibet
& against music & musicians in particular. Last month a popular singer
in eastern Tibet,
Kalsang Yarphel, was arrested. He is still in detention, apparently because his
songs celebrating Tibetan identity & language offended Chinese authorities.
The father of three had already been interrogated several times following his
appearances at concerts promoting the Tibetan language. One particular song “Tibetans”
seems to have been deemed too political by authorities:
“Tibetans, we learn Tibetan, speak Tibetan, it is our duty to do so
Tibetans, we unite, unite all three areas of Tibet together
Tibetans, we being brave, being brave reminding ourselves
that years are
mixtures of happiness and sorrow
Tibetans, we express our joy and woe,
thinking of the future of Tibet, we chase
our dreams
Tibetans, we hold national pride, march forward proudly shoulder to shoulder
Tibetans, we work hard,
we are the future inheritance of Tibet's new generation”
The detention of Kalsang Yarphel follows the conviction
& sentencing of three other singers this year. Pema Tinley & Chakdor
were sentenced to two years in prison in February following the release of
their album The Pain of an Unhealed Wound.
The same month, Lolo was sentenced to six years, apparently
as a result of his patriotic songs. His crime was recording an album of 14
songs that called for Tibet's
independence, unity of the Tibetan people, & the return of the Dalai Lama.
He had no known links to protests or other activism.
Various – Songs of Tibet, World of Music Records,
2000.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Auspicious Verses of the Secret Aja Griva
The Practice of Chöd
Kui. Kyon. Pan (The Praise to Tara)
Ganden la Ghiema (Prayer to Lama Tzong Khapa)
Djam Mon (The Prayer of Universal Love)
Tamdrim Yangsa Shagpa (Confession & Purification of Secret Hayagriva)
Dag Shen Ma (Exchanging Oneself with Others)
Kui. Kyon. Pan (The Praise to Tara II)
Geua Nguoa (Dedications of the Merits of the 10th Chapter of the Bodhisattvacary)
The Long Life Practice of Mandarava
Free Tibet,
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ReplyDeleteThank you.
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