Robert W. Ford
Encyclopedia
Robert Webster Ford was a radio operator and British diplomat who worked in Tibet
in the 1950s. He was one of the few Westerners to be appointed by the Government of Tibet at the time of independent Tibet
, before the Chinese invasion of 1950. He spent five years in Tibet, and declared he "had the opportunity to witness and experience at first hand the reality of Tibetan independence."
Robert Ford was a radio technician of the Royal Air Force
during World War II
and worked in England
and in India
. In 1945, he joined the British Mission in Lhasa
as a radio officer and had an audience with the 14-year-old 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa. The same year he was transferred to Gangtok
, Sikkim
, where he worked on British India relations with Tibet. When India became independent in 1947, Robert Ford returned to Lhasa and was appointed by the Government of Tibet, becoming the first foreigner to be given an official rank in the country.
Following one year in Lhasa, he was requested to go to Chamdo
, capital of eastern Tibet (Kham
), to establish a radio link between Lhasa and Chamdo, which he managed successfully. In 1949 Ford and three wireless operator students left for the city. They helped the Governor General of Kham
, Lhalu Tsewang Dorje, improve defense in Chamdo and the surrounding area. In addition, a direct link was established for the first time between Lhasa and Chamdo. Early in 1950, Lhalu requested Ford shorten the training of the wireless operator students. At that time, new arrival of arms and instructors arrived and training in the use of Bren guns. Robert Ford wrote that "the Tibetan Army began to look a little less like something out of the Middle Ages."
He was arrested in 1950 by the invading Chinese army, along with the Governor General of Kham, Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, and other Tibetan officials. The People's Republic of China
accused him of espionage, spreading anti-communist propaganda and causing the death of Geda Lama. He spent nearly 5 years in jail, in constant fear of being executed, and was subjected to interrogation and thought reform
. Only in 1954 was he allowed to send a letter to his parents. At the end of 1954 his trial was held and he was sentenced to ten years jail. He was eventually released and expelled in 1955.
In 1957, he published the book Captured in Tibet about his experience. The book was reissued in 1990 with a preface by the Dalai Lama and an epilogue by the author entitled "The Occupation".
In 1956 he was appointed at the British Diplomatic Service and served in the Foreign Office in London, Vietnam, Indonesia, United States, Morocco, Angola, Sweden, France and finally as Consul-General in Geneva. He retired in 1987 and was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
in the 1950s. He was one of the few Westerners to be appointed by the Government of Tibet at the time of independent Tibet
Tibetan sovereignty debate
The Tibetan sovereignty debate refers to two political debates. The first is whether the various territories within the People's Republic of China that are claimed as political Tibet should separate and become a new sovereign state...
, before the Chinese invasion of 1950. He spent five years in Tibet, and declared he "had the opportunity to witness and experience at first hand the reality of Tibetan independence."
Robert Ford was a radio technician of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and worked in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1945, he joined the British Mission in Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
as a radio officer and had an audience with the 14-year-old 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa. The same year he was transferred to Gangtok
Gangtok
Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of . The town, with a population of thirty thousand belonging to different ethnicities such as Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered...
, Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, where he worked on British India relations with Tibet. When India became independent in 1947, Robert Ford returned to Lhasa and was appointed by the Government of Tibet, becoming the first foreigner to be given an official rank in the country.
Following one year in Lhasa, he was requested to go to Chamdo
Chamdo
Qamdo , or Chamdo, officially organised as Chengguan of Qamdo County , population in 1999 about 86,280, is a major town in the historical region of Kham in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The capital of Qamdo County and Qamdo Prefecture, it is Tibet's third...
, capital of eastern Tibet (Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
), to establish a radio link between Lhasa and Chamdo, which he managed successfully. In 1949 Ford and three wireless operator students left for the city. They helped the Governor General of Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
, Lhalu Tsewang Dorje, improve defense in Chamdo and the surrounding area. In addition, a direct link was established for the first time between Lhasa and Chamdo. Early in 1950, Lhalu requested Ford shorten the training of the wireless operator students. At that time, new arrival of arms and instructors arrived and training in the use of Bren guns. Robert Ford wrote that "the Tibetan Army began to look a little less like something out of the Middle Ages."
He was arrested in 1950 by the invading Chinese army, along with the Governor General of Kham, Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, and other Tibetan officials. The People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
accused him of espionage, spreading anti-communist propaganda and causing the death of Geda Lama. He spent nearly 5 years in jail, in constant fear of being executed, and was subjected to interrogation and thought reform
Thought reform
Thought reform can refer to:* Brainwashing, efforts aimed at instilling certain beliefs in people against their will.* Coercive persuasion comprises social influences capable of producing substantial behavior and attitude change through the use of coercive tactics and persuasion, via interpersonal...
. Only in 1954 was he allowed to send a letter to his parents. At the end of 1954 his trial was held and he was sentenced to ten years jail. He was eventually released and expelled in 1955.
In 1957, he published the book Captured in Tibet about his experience. The book was reissued in 1990 with a preface by the Dalai Lama and an epilogue by the author entitled "The Occupation".
In 1956 he was appointed at the British Diplomatic Service and served in the Foreign Office in London, Vietnam, Indonesia, United States, Morocco, Angola, Sweden, France and finally as Consul-General in Geneva. He retired in 1987 and was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire.