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A: The feudal serfdom under a theocracy constituted the ruling power of old Tibet.
The Tibetan people suffered from harsh political oppression, cruel economic exploitation
and had a generally miserable existence. In 1951, the central government and the
local government of Tibet signed the 17-Agreement. Taking into consideration Tibet's
history and social conditions, the agreement ruled that Tibet's social system
must be reformed. However, there would be no compulsion on the part of the central
government, of Tibet of its own accord. The central government's patience and
efforts in re-education and persuasion were regarded by the reactionary clique
of the upper Tibetan strata as a sign of weakness. They staged an armed rebellion
in 1959. In accordance with the wishes of the Tibetan people, the central government
quickly quelled this rebellion, and began instituting the democratic reforms and
abolishing the feudal serfdom. A million of Tibetan serfs were liberated, and
would henceforth no longer be sold, transferred, or forced to labor as chattel.
Serfs and slaves who had hitherto been treated as "speaking beasts of burden"
cast off their shackles and became, for the first time, "men" in the true sense
of the word, the masters of their own and Tibet's destiny. This was of epoch-making
signified immeasurable progress in the history of human rights development. Within
Tibet's democratic reform, estate-holders were treated differently. The means
of production of serf-owners who participated in the rebellion were confiscated
and distributed to slaves and serfs. Serf-owners who did not participate in the
rebellion were subject to the peaceful reform that was implemented, and a policy
of redemption was adopted in terms of their means of production, whereby it was
purchased by the people's government and then redistributed to slaves and serfs.
Thus, democratic reform garnered the understanding and cooperation of the majority
of the upper strata. |
