56th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising remembered in the European Parliament
BRUSSELS: Mr Thomas Mann, a German member of the European Parliament and prominent supporter of Tibet, raised the Tibetan issue during the human rights debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. He raised the Tibetan issue to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of 10 March 1959 in which thousands of Tibetans were killed by the Chinese military.
Many town halls in Hessen state of Germany hoisted the Tibetan National flag to commemorate the 10th March anniversary.
“I have brought with me the Tibetan flag from Hessen state to Strasbourg,” he said. “The European Parliament is the voice of human rights! We demand freedom of expression, fundamental human rights and an end to the oppression of a peaceful culture”.
“Our thoughts are with the 136 Tibetans who self-immolated and also those hundreds still detained,” he said.
Mr Mann is the President of the recently established Tibet Interest Group (TIG), a cross-party group of European Parliamentarians supporting the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people.
He said that the TIG in the European Parliament will continue to call for a substantive dialogue between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the government of the People’s Republic of China.
The only so-called crime of the Tibetan people, he said is standing up for their legitimate rights.
“We will continue our work towards the preservation of their language, culture and religious identity. And we remain committed to put an end to the suffering of the Tibetan people”, said Mr Mann.
Commemoration of the 56th Tibetan uprising day in Moscow and Kalmykia
The commemoration of the 56th Tibetan uprising day was held in the evening of 10 March 2015 in the Nicholas Roerich Museum located in the central part of Moscow. The commemoration event was organized by Tibetan Culture & Information Center with the support of Drepung Gomang Center (an official branch of Drepung Gomang Monastery in the Russian Federation) and the Moscow-based Save Tibet Foundation.
The new Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia and Mongolia Telo Tulku Rinpoche was introduced to the public by Mrs. Natalia Bespalova, director of Drepung Gomang Center (Moscow) that is currently holding a week-long program on Tibetan culture and religion in the Nicholas Roerich Museum with the participation of a group of traveling Tibetan monks for Drepung Gomang Monastery.
Addressing the ceremony, Telo Tulku Rinpoche thanked the public for attending the event and briefed the audience on the current situation of Tibet and the importance of Tibetan culture, language and religion for the world community at large, and in particular for the Russian Federation as a country where three republics have followed Tibetan Buddhism throughout several centuries. Tibetan culture based on such internal values as love, compassion, patience and forgiveness can be a priceless asset for today’s world where people are increasingly often resort to violence, said Telo Tulku Rinpoche.
Yulia Zhironkina, director of Moscow-based Save Tibet Foundation, read out the Russian translation of the statement of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay on the occasion.The copies of the statement in Russian version were also sent to Tibet Support Groups (TSG) in St. Petersburgh, Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva.
This was followed a prayer session led by Telo Tulku Rinpoche and performed by Tibetan monks for Drepung Gomang Monastery. The monks and lay participants to the ceremony prayed for the long life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama; peaceful resolution of Tibetan issue as well as the resolution of all conflicts wherever they may occur; peace, happiness and prosperity in Tibet and everywhere the world.
Local Buddhist communities, TSGs, Russian intellectuals and journalists attended the event in Moscow.
In Kalmykia, a big public prayer session in commemoration of 56th Tibetan Uprising Day was held in the main Buddhist temple “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni”.
The prayer session, as well a gathering at the historic Buddha Statue at the center of Elista, was organised by the local Friend of Tibet Kalmykia Group led by Mrs. Antonina Kookueva who informed the participants on the current situation in Tibet and read the Russian translation of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s statement. The Kalmyk Friends of Tibet Group also organised commemorial meetings at several high schools where Tibet Museums had been opened in previous years.
Tibetan Uprising Day observed in Bangalore
Mr T.B Jayachandra, Law, Justice, Human Right and Parliamentary Affair, Government of Karnataka presided over the 56th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day at Bonnapa Park in Bangalore. Addressing the gathering there he appreciated the Tibetans for their peaceful struggle to restore their freedom and advised them to keep the spirit alive and follow the peaceful path shown by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in achieving the freedom struggle. He further assured that Karnataka Government would continue to support the Tibetans living in Karnataka.
Mr Asif Iqbal, Hon’ble consulate of Suriname and Mr Murat, Vice President, Turkey Chamber of Commerce were the other guests on the occasion. They also spoke and expressed their solidarity for the cause of Tibet.
Mr Karma Singey, Chief Representative, CTA South Zone read out the statement of Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Hon’ble Sikyong. Its Kannada translation was also read out and distributed to the Indian public. The statement of Tibetan Parliament–in-Exile was also read out on the occasion.
Prayers were held in the morning to express solidarity with the Tibetan self-immolators and political prisoners suffering continued repression in Tibet.
Tawang joins World to mark Tibetan Uprising Day
Tawang joined rest of the world to mark the 56th Tibetan Uprising Day today by organising a peace march.
Hundreds of people carried a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan and Indian flags and chanted slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and save Tibet. The march assembled at Massang Dung Rhui Mey, Old market tawang at 1100Hrs. This was followed by a Public meeting at the venue.
At the invitation of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch in Tawang, the Abbots of Tawang Monastery and Sera Jey Jamyang Chhoekhor Ling Monastery joined the rally and called for the need to strengthen solidarity with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Mr Jambey Wangdi, Chairman DoKA Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, spoke on the first visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tawang in 1959 and his ensuing visits to this historic region. He called upon monks, nuns, scholars, intellectuals and people from all walks of life to come forward and continue with the good work of conservation and preservation of our culture with a sense of greater sincerity and motivation.
This was followed by a minute’s condolence for all those people who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet and chanting of prayer of truth. Mr Jampa Tsering, General Secretary of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch Tawang, thanked the Environmental Protection Society, Indo Tibetan Friendship Society, Tangyom Tsokpa Tawang, All Tawang District Students’ Union, the Humanity Group, Sheyon-Gyabkyor Tsokpa Tawang, Rangden Tsokchung Tawang and all the participants of the ‘Peace March’ for contributing in the meaningful and successful conduct of the programme.
