CTA holds Prayer Service for Peaceful Demonstrators of 1989

March 8, 2021

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The prayer service at Sikyong hall is attended by Chief guests: the Kalons, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice Commissioners and Secretaries of the departments in adherence to COVID-restrictions. Photo/Tenzin Phende/CTA

Dharamshala: The Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration, organised a prayer service in remembrance of the sacrifices made by peaceful Tibetan demonstrators who took part in the protests of 1989 against the Chinese government and their policies.

This year in keeping with the COVID-19 restrictions, the prayer service held at the Sikyong hall was attended by the CTA dignitaries comprising of the Kalons, Speaker-led members of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Tibetan Justice Commissioners, and the Secretaries of the various departments, simultaneously, the rest of the CTA staff observed it at their respective offices.

Speaking to media persons at the prayer service, Chorig Karma Gelek Yuthok said, “Since the 1989 peaceful demonstrations we have been observing the prayer service of 8 March to honour the peaceful protesters martyred in Tibet. It is in commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the tragic moment in history when Chinese authorities declared martial law that lasted for more than 13 months under which many of our Tibetans brothers and sisters, lay and monastic, young and old were killed, injured and imprisoned, many of whom might still be languishing there.”

“The annual service is our expression of solidarity for them, we must never allow it to be erased from our collective memory as long as our cause is alive.”

Thousands of Tibetans took to the streets of Lhasa to protest the Chinese government’s brutal and unjust policies against Tibetans and commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in 1989. In response to the protests, Chinese authorities declared martial law and opened fire on the protesters, killing hundreds and injuring even more.

Every year since then, CTA organises prayer service on 8 March to remember and pay tribute to the Tibetan compatriots who sacrificed their lives and limb for the greater cause of Tibet.