Tibetan legislators endorse "Serfs Emancipation Day"

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-19-2009 12:24

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Tibetan legislators endorsed a bill on Monday to designate March 28th as an annual Serfs Emancipation Day, to mark the date on which about 1 million serfs in the region were freed 50 years ago.

Tibetan legislators endorsed a bill on Monday to  designate March 28th as an annual Serfs Emancipation  Day, to mark the date on which about 1 million serfs  in the region were freed 50 years ago.

Tibet, the roof of the world, is a land of beauty and spiritual wonders. But 50 years ago, this beautiful land was overshadowed by a serf system ruled by high-level monks and royal ranks.

At that time, 95 percent of people in Tibet were serfs. They were divided into three classes -- tralpa, duiqoin and nangzan.

Tralpa made up 60 to 70 percent of serfs. They tilled plots of land assigned to them and had to provide unpaid labor for the serf-owners. Tralpa could use the land, but they could not sell it.