Dharamshala, Aug. 8 -- As the Chinese Communist Party gears up for grand celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region" (TAR) on September 9, Tibetan advocacy groups have sharply criticised the move, calling it a facade that masks decades of repression, forced assimilation, and cultural destruction in Tibet, according to Phayul.

In a statement released on August 6, the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) denounced the anniversary, stating that Tibetans have endured 60 years of "calamity" under Chinese rule. "Instead of forcing Tibetans to put on a performance of gratitude, China must change course and put the interests of the Tibetan people ahead of their own compu...