53rd Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising observed in Brussels

The demonstration of the 53rd commemoration day in Brussels started at 13h15. Over 850 Tibetans and International friends of whom a dozen or so were Chinese from the Federation for a Democratic China, Germany, Sino-Tibetan Friendship association of Belgium and France gathered at Porte Jacquman in the north of Brussels.

The participants then moved in procession towards Place de la Bourse shouting slogans, the Brussels Stock Exchange, located in the city center which is very much frequented by the locals and the tourists alike. On their arrival at the venue, Ms Inge Hermans, President of Vrienden van Tibet (Friends of Tibet Flanders) thanked all those present and in particular, Mr Marc Hendrickx, Member of the Flemish Parliament for his presence and his support for the Tibetan cause. Then the members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress presented a short but effective sketch on the current situation in Tibet which moved the crowd including a journalist from Deutsche Welle to tears.

Mr Marc Hendrickx, Member of the Flemish Parliament, in his speech endorsed support to the restoration of freedom in Tibet and stressed the profound respect he has for the peaceful yet strong resistance the Tibetans have shown against the Chinese. He then added that the flame of freedom will never be extinguished as long as the Tibetans remained united and hopeful.    

Karma Choeying and Rigzin Choedon Genkhang of Bureau du Tibet, then read out Kalon Tripa’s statement for the day both in English and Tibetan.

Ms Tienchi Martin-Liao, President of the Independent Chinese Pen Center from Germany, in her speech said she felt deep sadness over the loss of lives of the Tibetans inside Tibet, shock and shame at the repressive policies of the Chinese government that caused the tragedy.  

Mr McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament, responsible for Human Rights and Democracy and Mr. Thomas Mann, President of the Tibet Intergroup in the European Parliament sent written messages as they were unable to join the demonstrators in Brussels.

Mr Tsaye Kelsang, President of the Tibetan Community lauded the large turnout and called on for unity.

The Tibetan hymn was sung followed by Mimang Langlu and Dentsig Monlem. And a few more slogans were shouted to conclude the day.

Some Free lance journalists and other journalists from AP, Deutsche Welle and Xinhua were present.

Brussels’ commemoration day was organised by the Tibetan Community in Belgium, Chushi Gangdruk, RTYC, Chinese-Tibetan Friendship association, International Campaign for Tibet, Les amis du Tibet and Vrienden van Tibet.

In addition, a vigil will be organised infront of the European Council and Commission on Monday evening.

The commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising was also observed in the Netherlands and Spain.

2,500 Tibetans and supporters rally for Tibet in Bern

Over 2,5000 Tibetans and supporters gathered in front the Swiss Parliament this afternoon to commemorate the 53rd anniversary Tibetan National uprising against Chinese rule.

This was one of the largest demonstrations by Tibetans in Switzerland. The rally started at Helvetiaplatz and end at Bundesplatz in front of the Swiss Parliament.

Young Tibetans carried 26 coffins draped in Tibetan national flag to mark the self-immolation by 26 Tibetans since February 2009.

A minute of silence was observed, followed by singing of the Tibetan national anthem and then Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay’s 10 March statement was read. This was followed speeches and musical contributions including testimony by a former Tibetan political prisoner.

Lobsang Shitsetsang, Vice President of the Tibetan Community in Switzerland & Liechtenstein said Tibet was currently experiencing the worst times it had ever known.


The demonstration was organised by Tibetan Community in Switzerland & Liechtenstein with supported for Tibetan Women Association, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association.

53rd anniversary of 10 March Tibetan National Uprising commemorated in Paris and French Cities

 

Close to a thousand Tibetans and Tibet supporters that included French, Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese and even a few from the Arab world gathered at the historic Palais de Chaillot at Place du Trocadero where the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948 to mark the 53rd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising on 10 March 1959.

Earlier on the eve of the 53rd anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising, the French Greens Party  Presidential candidate Ms. Eva Joly issued a statement condemning the Chinese policies in Tibet and called on China to respect the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people, terming the issue of Tibet as profoundly connected with the issue of environment and hence, the Greens.

The programme started with the singing of national anthem and soon after the Statement of Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay was read out in Tibetan and French languages.

French Deputies in National Assembly, Mr Lionnel LUCA and Mr Partick BLOCHE, who are also the President and the Vice President of the Tibet Group in the French Parliament attended the commemoration and addressed the gathering.

In his address, Mr. LUCA informed the gathering about the recent proposal of a Tibet motion that the Tibet Group had submitted in the National Assembly and deliberation on which would be held in the next session.

Mr BLOCHE underlined the importance of understanding the Tibetan struggle as not a conflict between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples, but of justice and truth against injustice and falsehood perpetrated by the communist regime in China in Tibet.

Mr Jean Marc Brule, a current Greens Party regional councilor and President of “Greens for Tibet”also showed up to express the Green Party’s solidarity with the Tibetan people.

The commemoration which lasted for almost four hours included a march from Place du Trocadero  culminating at Avenue Marceau, about 50 meters away from the Chinese Embassy in France, which was cordoned off heavily by the French Police.

Earlier in the morning, a special Monlam prayer was held under the aegis of Tibet Compassion International, a Tibetan Buddhist Center to pay tribute to the brave Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the greater cause of Tibet, particularly remembering those 26 Tibetans who have self-immolated to protest the Chinese rule in Tibet since 2009. It was presided over by Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa of Central Tibetan Administration.

The anniversary was also marked by solidarity marches, vigils, film screenings, seminars and flying the Tibetan National flag on town halls in other French cities of Bordeaux, Beurville,  Caen, Cesson,  Mourenx,  Mulhouse,  Nantes, Pau,  Vitrolles and Toulouse. There are around 700 French municipalities who fly the Tibetan National Flag to commemorate the 10 March uprising.

The municipality of Saint Laurent sur Var marked the anniversary by holding a ceremony of “adoption” of Kumbum, the place of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birth, to express its support for the Tibean people. This is the fiftieth French municipality to adopt a Tibet town/village since the campaign was launched.

Tibetan National Uprising Day Commemorated Across Russian Federation
 
The 53rd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 against the Chinese misrule and the fourth anniversary of 2008 mass protests in Tibetwas observed on 10th March in several cities of Russian Federation.
 
In Moscow, the commemoration of the event began with introductory speech on the current situation in Tibet by Mr Dimitrie Nikiforov, Director of Moscow Buddhist Center of Lama Tsongkapa.  Paying homage to all Tibetan martyrs, Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia,  Nawang Rabgyal, spoke on the nature and significance of  Tibetan people’s peaceful struggle. It was followed by reading the statement ( Russian translation) of  Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay on the 53rd Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. While offering tribute to 26 Tibetans who have set themselves on fire since 2009, Geshe Jampa Thinley, Teacher of Buddhist Centers in Russia, spoke on the importance of  preserving the Tibetan Buddhist cultural heritage. The commemoration of the event was attended by Tibetans, Russian Dharma friends and supporters of Tibet and Tibetans. From 12.15 pm   to 5.30 pm they observed  the fast and conducted prayer and  mantra recitation for the victims of Chinese police firing and self-immolation in occupied-Tibet.
 
In St. Petersburg, the capital of Russian Tsar before 1917, the Tibet Support Group led by young activists Elena Kim, Daniil Terentyev and R. Kristian, organized demonstration at Bolshaya Moskovskaya, carrying banner  “Free Tibet” and ” Issue Russian Visa to the Dalai Lama”.
 
In Elista, capital of Kalmyk Republic, Tibetans and supporters of Tibet organized a mass meeting in the center of the capital. Carrying picture of 26 Tibetans who self-immolated, they prayed for the victims of Chinese repression.  President of Friends of Tibet Society, Mrs Antonina Kookueva, read the statement of Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay. The event was also observed in the capital of Tuva and Buryat Republics. And the fast and prayer was organized by Buddhist centers led by Geshe Thinley.

Tibetan National Uprising Day Commemorated in Taiwan

Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters marched in Taipei city from the Zhongxiao Fuxing metro station to Taipei’s land mark tower 101 to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day.

The function began with the recitation of prayer (Monlam) by the Tibetan monks followed by rendition of the Tibetan national anthem. A minute-long silence was observed to mourn the Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet.

Many politicians from Democratic Progressive Party also took part in the March and voiced their support and urged the Government of Taiwan to speak out on Tibet. Mr Sonam Dorjee, Secretary of Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, read out the Chinese translation of Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay’s statement on the 53rd Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day.

36 Tibetans carried 18 model coffins covered with Tibetan national flags with pictures of the 28 Tibetans who have self-immolated since March last year, 18 of whom have died by calling freedom in Tibet and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. In addition to Tibetans and Taiwanese supporters, there were also foreign students who showed their support and participated in the march.

On the way the Tibetan marchers and Tibet supporters lay down for 3 minutes outside the Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in remembrance of Tibetan martyrs who have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet and Tibetan people. The march procession concluded at Taipei 101 tower.

 

 

 

 

Tibetan National Uprising day in Paonta Tibetan Settlement

The 53rd Tibetan national uprising day was commemorated by the Sirmour district Tibetan settlements comprising of Paonta Cholsum Tibetan settlement, Sakya Puruwala, Satoun and Kamrao Tibetan settlement on March 10 2012 with a peace procession.

Members of the Tibetan community as well as the staff and students of the Sambhota Tibetan school and monks of the nearby Shalu monastery participated in the procession.

The statement of the Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay was read out to the public at the gathering before the procession began.

After the peace procession, a small refreshment was hosted for the local Indian officials, Tibet supporters and the local media at the Yamuna hotel of the Himachal tourism board to express the Tibetan community’s heartfelt gratitude.