Advertisement

A look at daily life in the Tibet Autonomous Region

China this year is marking 50 years since the founding of what it calls the Tibet Autonomous Region. Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1950 and that its rule has brought prosperity and equality to a once-backward region.

However, rights groups and exiles say China governs with an iron fist and represses Tibet's Buddhist people, which leads to periodic outbreaks of violence and anti-Chinese protests.

China blames exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama for unrest in Tibetan parts of the country, including a wave of self-immolations. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama denies Chinese charges he wants Tibetan independence or that he promotes violence, saying only that he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet. (Reuters)

Photography by Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Find more news-related pictures in our photo galleries and follow us on Tumblr.