On 1 July 1997 Hong Kong’s democratically elected Legislative Council will be replaced by a Beijing
backed provisional body. Plans to amend laws so as to ban protests on the grounds of “national security” have prompted grave concerns that Hong Kong will be subjected to many of repressive policies imposed on Tibet.
While China has vowed to allow Hong Kong a large degree of autonomy, similar promises were made to Tibet in the 1950’s by the committee overseeing Tibet’s integration into Communist China. As Free Tibet Campaign commented on 24 June, 1997, “Tibet has since been treated much like a colon, with large-scale resettlement of Chinese and the imposition of Chinese laws, language and doctrine.”
The following letter, dated 20 June 1997, was able to be smuggled from Lhasa, Tibet. Addressed to the United Nations it is a plea to the world to look at the brutal colonial rule in place in Tibet.
To: The Chairman of U.N.
The Newsroom of V.O.A., C.N.N.
and B.B.C.
We are Tibetan Independent and Freedom Party (T.I.F.P.). We write this letter to you from Tibet on behalf of six million Tibetan people.
Now Hong Kong is handling over to China from British. All over the world are paying attention to this affair! But not any country or organization realize Tibet- Chinese colony. No one reports about Tibetan condition! We think our country Tibet is a colonial country. Tibetan people are under colonial rule. China is colonialist! So we make our urgent appeal. We are asking Chinese government to give up colonial rule in Tibet. Especially this time when China is taking back Hong Kong from the British hand.
Tibet has been getting too much trouble since 1950. We almost lost all of our civilization. Forty years gone now. We are still living in the bitter Chinese colonized domination. But no one pays attention about China’s colony- our country Tibet! As you know we have more than two thousand years independent history before 1950. Tibetan people are expecting for free and independent from China since 1950 up to now- especially this time! British gave up Hong Kong’s colonized ruling!
So we, most of Tibetan people also demand China that China should give up colonized rule in Tibet! We think that get free is our Tibetan right! Tibet not belong to China like Hong Kong not belong to British! Why China can take Hong Kong from British colonized rule but don’t give up its colonized rule in Tibet! This is for human right! For humans dignity and freedom! Including Tibetan people!
That we most of Tibetan special requiring Chinese government. Finish Chinese colonized rule in Tibet. Set Tibet free! We are also asking U.N. and all of the world to pay close attention to Tibet situation. We are expecting from you support and help! We are one type of humanity. We also need dignity and free lige!!!
Yours faithfully,
(name withheld)
Lhasa