Peace March In Tokyo On Tibetan National Uprising Day[Saturday, 13 March 2010, 5:16 p.m.]

Tibetans and Japanese supporters pray during candle vigil at Gokokuji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, to mark the 51st Tibetan National Uprising Day/Photos by Nekonomimi

Tokyo: Tibetans
and Japanese supporters staged a “Peace March” in Tokyo’s Roppongi
street today to commemorate the 51st Anniversary of Tibetan uprising
against the repression and occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic
of China. Tibetan community in Japan supported by the Tibet
support groups organised the peace rally. The gathering started at
Roppongi Mikawadai Park with the singing of Tibetan national anthem. In
his welcome address, Kelsang Dhondup, the Tibetan community leader in
Tokyo, apprised the gathering about the deteriorating condition in
Tibet, and expressed his gratitude to the Japanese supporters for their
overwhelming support.Mr. Lhakpa Tshoko, Representative of
Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that Tibet issue is
not an issue of Dalai Lama and a few people around him as the Chinese
government tends to portray to the world. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama
and Tibetan Exile Administration has repeatedly said that the Tibet
issue is about the welfare of six million Tibetans inside Tibet. It is
an issue of people and its culture at the verge of extinction due to
Chinese colonial policy,” he said.Mr Tshoko appealed to Japanese supporters for their “continued support and encouragement”.

Expression of Japanese support for Tibet on the 51st Tibetan National Uprising Day

Mr
Lungtok, deputy secretary of the Liaison Office, read out the Japanese
translation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message on the occasion. Mr
Makino Seishu, Member of Parliament and Chairman of Japanese
Parliamentarians for Tibet, was the main speaker. He said the Tibetans
have unrelentingly fought for their rights and freedom for more than
fifty-one years and this has inspired many Japanese supporters. He
said although the Japanese government may not be very out coming, its
stand on Tibet issue from the human rights angle is positive and
supportive. He hopes that the incumbent Japanese Prime
Minister may meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in future to resolve the
Tibet issue to realise improved and sincere relationship with the
Chinese government. He concluded his speech with an “assurance
that Japanese people are and will always stand by the Tibetans at this
critical moment of their history”.Ms Honmaru of Chibekoro of
Heart of Tibet, a group by young Japanese on behalf of Japanese support
groups, urged the gathering to support justice and humanity with
compassion and not with anger and hatred. She said important point lies
in how we can convey our message to the Chinese people in a proper way.
A brief moment of silence was also observed to mourn and to pray for
all those killed and arrested in Tibet during the peaceful protests
since March 2008.Japanese and Tibetans, including some
westerners, marched from Mikawadai Park to Kogaikoen of Roppongi area
of Tokyo, carrying Tibetans national flags, placards and chanted “Free
Tibet and Human Rights in Tibet.” People in the street warmly greeted
the peaceful parade and showed their support by clapping. Pamphlets
were distributed in the street. Some local media has also come to cover
the event. The organiser reported that some 180 people including 24 Tibetans have participated in the event.Japanese
supporters expressed appreciation that the Tibetans in Japan are coming
forward to take the own initiatives and that the number of supporters
is increasing. Many expressed satisfaction for having been able to
participate in the event to show their support to the people in Tibet.
Some participants have come from neighbouring prefectures despite long
journey by train.At the end of the march, Mr Kalsang Dhondup
thanked the participants and requested for their continued support. A
candle vigil was observed in the evening at Gokokuji, Buddhist Temple
to pray for the people in Tibet and for world peace, in which some
seventy Japanese and Tibetans participated.(Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Office of Tibet, Japan)