I. Democratic reform in Tibet was a great m ilestone which marked the beginning of the region’s journey toward a brighter and more prosperous future. The year 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of democratic reform in Tibet. Before the reform, Tibet was ruled by a system of feudal serfdom in which there was no separation of religion and politics. The ruling class imposed ruthless political repression and economic exploitation upon the serfs and slaves. Merely surviving was a challenge for the suffering population, and Tibetan society fell into a state of extreme poverty and cramping isolation.