TIBETANS RALLY ON HISTORIC 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL UPRISING
EXILE NGOs CALL ON INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STRONGER STAND ON TIBET
Dharamshala – Tibetans and supporters in the hill town of Dharamsala are marking the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising by holding mass rallies, demonstrations and vigils. Similar activities are taking place in hundreds of other cities around the world, from Delhi to New York, Sidney to Vancouver, Kathmandu to Taipei. This year’s anniversary is particularly significant because it marks a half century since the Dalai Lama was forced to flee into exile, and exactly one year since last year’s nationwide Tibetan uprising and the subsequent crackdown by Chinese authorities.
“We are here to speak out for the Tibetan people in Tibet, who for more than half a century have lived under the iron fist of Chinese rule,” said Chime Youngdung of the National Democratic Party of Tibet. “That the occupation of Tibet has unresolved for so long is one of the great disgraces of the modern world.”
In spite of the massive military presence in Tibet and severe restrictions in the lead up to this year’s 10th March commemoration, at least five reported incidents of protests involving hundreds of Tibetans have already taken place in eastern Tibet. In 2008 more than 120 incidents of protests, the overwhelmingly majority of which were peaceful in nature, took place in over 50 towns and villages across the Tibetan plateau following the 10th March anniversary. In the resulting crackdown more than 200 Tibetans were killed, thousands detained, hundreds imprisoned and more than 1,300 missing.
“We are calling on the Honorable Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and the people of India to support our struggle for freedom,” added Kelsang Dolma, Regional Tibetan Women’s association of Dharamshala. “India should publicly back the Dalai Lama’s initiatives at finding a peaceful solution to the occupation of Tibet. It is time for the international community to act and ensure China ends its oppressive rule in Tibet.”
China invaded Tibet in 1949. The Chinese government’s brutal suppression of the Uprising in 1959 resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Tibetans and led to the Dalai Lama’s dramatic escape into exile. Tibetans have resisted Chinese occupation for 50 years.
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TWA (Centrex & RTWA Dhasa), GuChuSum, NDPT, SFT India, RTYC Dharamshala
