Jun Hao 
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Photos/Videos of Tibet, People are fighting for rights
This year marks 75 years since Chinese forces entered Tibet in 1951. Beijing calls it a “peaceful liberation.” Many Tibetans and independent observers call it the beginning of occupation and systematic control on Tibet.
Foreign journalists still face strict restrictions when visiting the region. The Associated Press recently joined a government-organised media trip. Officials chose the locations in advance and accompanied the reporters at all times. Independent movement and free reporting were not allowed. This controlled access itself reveals the reality of Chinese rule in Tibet.
The visit included famous sites such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Yamdrok Lake and Yumbulagang Palace. Tourists and worshippers were present. Yet these carefully selected images of temples and scenic lakes do not show the deeper picture. For decades, Tibetan language, religion and identity have faced heavy pressure. Monasteries operate under close state supervision. Political loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party is demanded. The Dalai Lama remains banned, and any open support for him is treated as a serious offence.
China has encouraged large-scale migration of Han Chinese into Tibet. Cities and towns have changed. Economic development has brought new buildings and roads, but many Tibetans feel their culture is being diluted and controlled. Freedom of expression, religion and movement remains tightly limited.
The 1951 agreement that Beijing often cites was signed under military pressure. The 1959 uprising that followed was crushed. The Dalai Lama fled into exile, and tens of thousands of Tibetans lost their lives or their freedom. Since then, campaigns of political re-education, surveillance and cultural assimilation have continued in different forms.
Even on a tightly managed tour, the basic truth is difficult to hide. Real openness would mean free access for journalists, unrestricted religious practice, and the right of Tibetans to discuss their own history and future without fear. None of these conditions exist today.
Seventy-five years after Chinese forces entered Tibet, the region remains under firm political control. Beautiful mountains and ancient temples cannot hide the restrictions placed on a people and their culture. The gap between China’s official story and the lived reality of many Tibetans continues to define the situation.
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Karma Ngawang 
