I could hear the droning of the weaving machines as I inched towards the Tibetan women seated in the handicraft centre. They were carding the sheep wool to make spools of thread and balls of yarn, essential materials required for the weaving of rugs and carpets. "Can I take a picture of you?" One of them smiled shyly, then got back to what she was doing attentively. As the wooden planks clapped in unison, the weft was strung through the warp in a series of swift, practised movements, gradually forming a beautifully hand-woven tapestry. Behind every masterpiece, lies many hours of hard work and concentration. It is their means of livelihood while engaging in productive labour every day. Tibet has a rich national history, sharing a border with neighbouring China for centuries. In 1950, the newly established Chinese Communist regime decided that Tibet must become part of the People's Republic of China. An invasion of Tibet's territory was then launched by the People's Liberation Army.
During China's occupation, there were state policies aimed at eroding Tibetan culture, religion and ultimately, its identity. Tibet's natural resources were heavily exploited for China's massive economic developments, to gain a competitive edge in the growing globalised world. Being subject to human rights violations that included executions to torture in labour camps, many Tibetans fled and escaped to the neighbouring countries like Nepal and India. They reside in refugee camps that are set up in a foreign land, get in touch with their fellow countrymen and rebuild their communities again. It must have taken them years to trust people all over again. It must have taken them immense courage, calculated risks and resilience to arrive in a foreign land. Their journeys have been rough, riddled with a dozen obstacles and many heartbreaking stories to tell. Are we listening to them? I sincerely wish for a world that is kinder to refugees and in lending them support whenever we can, within our means.
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