1954
Redistribution of land in Kham and Amdo. Resistance to reforms towards the end of the year. Authorities attempt to confiscate arms, leading to more resistance.
1955-6
"High tide of collectivisation" in China . National minority areas are now to undergo the same socialist reforms as the rest of China [excluding central Tibet].
1955
Full-scale "democratic reforms" are launched in Amdo and Kham. Tentative measures to settle nomads in both areas.
1955/6
Sporadic uprisings lead to a major revolt in eastern Tibet . Authorities switch to a more coercive policy of reform. Attacks on Chinese cadres and workplaces. The "Kanding (Dartsedo) Rebellion" breaks out in Kham and is put down in 1956 by the siege and bombing of monasteries holding the rebels and other refugees fleeing from the fighting. Revolt spreads throughout Eastern Tibet . Refugees start pouring into central Tibet and India .
1956
Beginning of CIA involvement in Tibet
February - March 1956
During the Great Prayer Festival (smon lam chen mo) in Lhasa wall posters and leaflets appear denouncing the Chinese.
1956
The Dalai Lama goes to India for the Buddha's 2,500th birthday. The Chinese authorities fear that he may not return while some of the Tibetan exile community hope that he will stay in India and try to get support from international community, particularly the US , and denounce the 17-point agreement.
March 1957
The Dalai Lama returns to Lhasa . The Chinese government postpones reforms and some Chinese leaders criticise the chauvinist attitude of Han leaders and cadres in Tibet .
May 1957
A group of Khampa traders, including Gonbo Tashi, organise rituals for the long-life of the Dalai Lama, travelling to all parts of Tibet to collect contributions for a golden throne to offer the Dalai Lama.
July 1957
A ceremony is held in the Norbulingka to offer the golden throne to the Dalai Lama. The ceremony is seen as having political as well as religious significance. The group becomes the focus of the resistance movement.
Late 1957
Khampas start attacking Chinese garrisons and cadres working on road construction sites.
1957-8
The Anti-Rightist Rectification Campaign that is implemented throughout China , attacks the more moderate officials in Tibet who earlier warned of "Great Hanism", accusing them of encouraging Tibetan Nationalism.
Early 1958
More than 15,000 exile families seek refuge in Lhasa and the surrounding areas. Many move to the South-East and Lhokha where the pan-Khampa resistance movement "Four Rivers, Six Ranges " is organised, recognising Gonbo Tashi as its leader.
July 1958
The first CIA arms drop for the Tibetan resistance movement.
Early 1959
Anti-Chinese campaigns are initiated throughout Tibet .
February-March 1959
The Great Prayer Festival (smon lam chen mo) during which the Dalai Lama takes his final Geshe exam (the final public monastic exam).
3 March 1959
The Nechung oracle pronounces that the Dalai Lama should not venture outside.
5 March 1959
The last day of Monlam. The Dalai Lama moves to the Summer Palace , the Norbulingka.
7 March 1959
The Dalai Lama agrees to attend a dance show at PLA military encampment on 10 March.
9 March 1959
The Dalai Lama announces that he will be attending the dance show. There is confusion over protocol and the Dalai Lama is instructed to attend without his bodyguard and without his usual retinue of ministers and officials. Junior officials, with the oracle's pronouncement in mind, are concerned that the Chinese may detain the Dalai Lama, perhaps to force him to attend the April National People's Congress meeting in Beijing . They fail to persuade the Dalai Lama not to attend the dance show and rumours are spread throughout Lhasa that the Dalai Lama will be abducted by the Chinese.
10 March 1959
Several thousand Tibetans gather outside the Norbulingka by 10am , demanding to see the Dalai Lama. Tibetan officials believed to be pro-Chinese are attacked. Sampho, a signatory of the 17-point agreement and the highest ranking official in the Tibetan Military Commission is attacked when he appears at the Summer Palace wearing a PLA uniform. Khunchug Sonam Gyamtso, an official who is wearing Chinese clothes is beaten to death. The demonstrators move towards the centre of Lhasa , leaving a small group to guard the Norbulingka. Barricades are constructed by the crowd on the roads leading to the Summer Palace .
12 March 1959
Nearly 50 Tibetan officials, supporters of the revolt, gather in Shol, the village below the Potala. They proclaim themselves the "People's Assembly". Women protesters march through Lhasa . The Kashag authorises the distribution of arms from government arsenals.
13 March 1959
Thousands gather in Shol, the village below the Potala. Speakers denounce the Chinese and demand the restoration of Tibetan independence. The crowd denounces the 17-point agreement.
17 March 1959
The Chinese army begins to shell some areas as an intimidatory tactic. In the morning two shells land near the Norbulingka. In the evening the Dalai Lama escapes unnoticed.
20 March 1959
The PLA are ordered to retake the city.
20-22 March 1959
Two days of fighting.
23 March 1959
The Chinese flag is hoisted above the Potala. The Chinese media reports that "the Chinese National flag, symbol of light and happiness, flutters in the breeze over Lhasa , greeting the rebirth of this ancient city." [SWB, 1959 no.859: p.2]
28 March 1959
The Chinese government issues a statement signed by the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai stating that the rebellion had effectively "torn up" the seventeen-point agreement. The Tibetan local government is dissolved.
28 March 1959
The Dalai Lama receives confirmation that the Government of India is prepared to grant him asylum. This decision, taken by the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is against the advice of some Indian government officials.
30 March 1959
The Dalai Lama crosses the border into India and exile.
28 April 1959
Guerrilla leader Gonbo Tashi crosses the border into India and exile.
1960
The PLA gains control throughout Tibet . The CIA aids the Tibetans in setting up a rebel base in Mustang.
1960-2
Over 150 Tibetans are sent to America for training by the CIA.
1965
The CIA tells the Tibetans that they will gradually reduce funding, withdrawing altogether in 1968.
1973
The Nepalese government demands that the Tibetans surrender their arms and disband the Mustang base.
1974
The Dalai Lama instructs the Mustang rebels to give up their arms, signalling the end of the guerrilla resistance.
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