BBtv WORLD (Tibet): Inside Lhasa

BBtv online: http://tv.boingboing.net. Today's episode of Boing Boing tv is a new installment of our "BBtv World" series, in which we bring you first-person accounts of life around the world. In this episode, I travel to Lhasa during an annual Tibetan Buddhist festival.

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The first thing that hits you when you arrive in Lhasa is just how close to the heavens you are. Literally. The average elevation in Tibet is 16,000 feet. The fact that this place is known as the "Roof of the World" makes sense as your newcomer lungs and blood struggle to adjust to the altitude.

Beijing says Tibet is historically part of China, not a sovereign nation. China's army invaded Tibet in 1950. Years of bloody conflict followed. In 1959, Tibet's traditional spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, fled into exile in India. China has governed over Tibet since then.

During the fourth lunar month in the Tibetan calendar, ethnic Tibetans celebrate the annual festival of Saga Dawa. Tibetan Buddhists believe that on the full moon in this month, in various years of his life, the Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment, and died.

A large armed police presence surrounded the festival during the year I shot the footage you'll see in this episode. When we asked one pilgrim why, she said "Because when too many Tibetans gather in one place, they are afraid we'll rise up."

In 2008, Saga Dawa fell on the heels of a violent government crackdown on pro-independence protesters throughout Tibet, during the run-up to the Olympics. Thousands of armed troops filled Lhasa and outlying towns, and large numbers of "suspects" were rounded up and jailed. Widespread reports of human rights abuses filtered out, despite a virtual communications blackout. This year's Saga Dawa festival also fell near the anniversary of the Tiananmen democracy protests, and authorities cited fears that this would inspire more protest in Tibet.

While first-person accounts were hard to come by, there were many reports of ethnic Tibetans being blocked from the traditional pilgimage route around Lhasa in the name of state security.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• BBtv
• World
• Lhasa
• Tibet
• indigenous
• vlog
• world
• xeni
• jardin
• China
• Olympics
• boingboing
• boing
• buddhism
• buddha

[ChinaKillsNunsLoots]

correction

Dispatches Undercover in Tibet is still available on Google Video but its location has changed. Please go to

viddler. com/ explore/starmeteor/videos/5

(take out the spaces)

and see the very best video about modern Tibet. It covers many human rights issues in Tibet including the Nangpa La shooting and Tibetan refugees escaping Tibet to freedom over Nangpa La pass.

[ChinaKillsTibetans]

sonamtw888 from

tibet. com/whitepaper/white5.html (remove space)

Over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet. Today, it is hard to come across a Tibetan family that has not had at least one member imprisoned or killed by the Chinese regime. According to Jigme Ngabo, "after the suppressions of 1959 and 1969, almost every family in Tibet has been affected in some way".

There is heaps of good information at

tibet. com/whitepaper

[FalunGongIsAmazing]

@ChinaKillsNunsLoots

Dispatches Undercover in Tibet

has been removed from viddler. com But its on youtube now and elsewhere.

[eastern2western]

@starverson you only speak for yourself, please do not use we, use I is more correct

[Ganeschar]

@fdoca - In Asia Han CCP aka Neo fascist Regime, North Korea and Burma are Terrorist Regime and a threat to the entire world.

[fdoca]

@starverson Common sense and fair judgement !!! Research ! NOT PROPAGANDA few intest people spam on Utube WHO START THE RIOT? killed 197 han majority people? Tebiten terrorist that trained in Virginia by the CIA, now 14 tebetin terrorsit from Quantanomo still in VA

Central gorvrmt mandated all provincial to help developping tebit and XinJaing, 1000 milliom RPM raised, 4,000 million RMB in 2rd phase to help, Total 1.8 trillion rmb in budget year to help, Only Chinese gorvmt can do this.

[starverson]

@fdoca I see that you only know what the Chinese want you to know, this discussion does not lead anywhere, call me when you have documented well without any infulencia, until then .. bye

[fdoca]

@starverson U are lying and fxxx traider, Common sense, WHO START THE RIOT? that killed 197 han majority people? Tebiten terrorist that trained in Virginia by the CIA, now 14 tebetin terrorsit from Quantanomo still in VA and nobody want them...

before 1950 is under Lama's dark age rule, ur propoganda is disgusting !!

Chinese killed tebiten? Central gorvmt treat all 56 ethanic same, Law regulated, U ARE LYING

[starverson]

@fdoca Hi chinese, 1st we never ask to chinese to become rich

2nd We are self-sufficient, we don't need to be rich...

3rd about your "supposed" statistics on incidents of the Olympics ... is nothing compared with what has happened to us during the decade of the 50

4th We are terrorist??? lol if we are terrorist you fking chinese are satan

5th Don't talk about what you don't understand

[fdoca]

@ChinaKillsTibetans Fxxx stupid comment, China suprem court only sentanced 6 tebiten people to death PER RECORD !! because the terroist type riot leaders by tebiten,

1950 cars damaged, 197 majority han killed, 250 buses burn, 23 banks broken and robbed, 200 stores detroyed, 5 girls burn to death in one store, Even beat up old senior women repeatly, search video to see