Manuel Bauer

Escape from Tibet, Tibet 1995

The Himalayas, Wall between Occupation and Freedom

After years of Chinese occupation, the country of Tibet still suffers the consequences. Tibetan culture is disappearing and thousands of Tibetans are still subjected to humility, discrimination and even torture. Those who try to resist, often face the death penalty. More unfortunate in the long-run, is the fact that since 1959, the year the Dalai Lama fled to India, drawing over 80,000 Tibetans with him, the flow of refugees from Tibet has not receeded.
The Dalai Lama's wishes are for them to remain in Tibet, since the more people leave, the weaker the less chance there is of ever seeing again, a free Tibet. Those who decide to leave the country, face an almost impossible task of crossing the Himalayas with many accounts of those perishing in the process.

Manuel Bauer was the 1st ever recorded photographer to brave this journey, accompanying a father and his daughter from Lhasa to Dharasalam in India.
The journey to freedom, took 22 days in all with accounts frost-bite and malnutrition.