Commentary: A day to remember, for Tibetans and all

Source: Xinhua | 01-20-2009 08:07

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tibet's regional legislature decided on Monday to commemorate the end of feudal serfdom every year on March 28 -- the day the Chinese central government dissolved the aristocratic local government of Tibet and freed more than 1 million serfs.

Herdsman Nuri (R) of the Tibetan ethnic group talks with  Briton Fredi at home at Jiaga Village in Damxung County,  southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 12, 2008.  The People's Congress (legislature) of Tibet Autonomous  Region endorsed a bill on Jan. 19, 2009 to designate March  28 as the Serfs Emancipation Day to mark the date on which  about 1 million serfs in the region were freed 50 years ago.  On March 28, 1959, China's central government announced it  would dissolve the aristocratic local government of Tibet  and replace it with a preparatory committee for establishing  Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Chogo)

Does the "Serfs Emancipation Day" go down in history as a milestone for social progress and human rights improvement in Tibet, or, as some people claimed, a "mockery of history" and "unequalled humiliation of Tibetans"?

These are some of the distinct voices heard since the proposal for the commemorative day was put on the table last week.