In Western Tibet, the Chinese had created the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" and left it pretty much alone.
Faced with a central government that was cooperating with China, Eastern Tibet's militia, the Chushi Gangdrak, bypassed it completely (at the time the Dalai Lama was teenager). They contacted the US, the rather new UN, and the Indian government.
Eisenhower took interest, but wanted an official okay from the Tibetan government before they'd supply a rebellion. The CIA did train Tibetan soldiers in Colorado. Eventually the US gave up on hearing from anyone in the Tibetan government and supported the rebels anyhow.
Refugees poured from eastern Tibet into western Tibet, and finally the other half of the country woke up. That's the uprising you hear about in movies with Brad Pitt and whatnot.
Anyhow, this history is all moot. The Tibetan Government in Exile is democratically elected and has been for the last forty years. The role of the Dalai Lama is as spiritual leader, symbol, and uniting force. He's proposed that the next Dalai Lama also be democratically elected.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 08:55 am (UTC)Faced with a central government that was cooperating with China, Eastern Tibet's militia, the Chushi Gangdrak, bypassed it completely (at the time the Dalai Lama was teenager). They contacted the US, the rather new UN, and the Indian government.
Eisenhower took interest, but wanted an official okay from the Tibetan government before they'd supply a rebellion. The CIA did train Tibetan soldiers in Colorado. Eventually the US gave up on hearing from anyone in the Tibetan government and supported the rebels anyhow.
Refugees poured from eastern Tibet into western Tibet, and finally the other half of the country woke up. That's the uprising you hear about in movies with Brad Pitt and whatnot.
Anyhow, this history is all moot. The Tibetan Government in Exile is democratically elected and has been for the last forty years. The role of the Dalai Lama is as spiritual leader, symbol, and uniting force. He's proposed that the next Dalai Lama also be democratically elected.