Italian Delegation to Join Tibetans for Prayers on 10 MarchSunday, 8 March 2009, 4:14 p.m.
Dharamshala: An Italian delegation will join Tibetans here for a candle light vigil to pay homage to all those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the just cause of Tibet since March last year, on 10 March, which also marks the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.The delegation will be headed by Mr Cologna Gunther, former president and the board member of Association of Italia Tibet.The gathering will hold a procession from the main bus stand to Tsuglagkhang, the main Buddhist temple at 5:30 p.m. A one-minute silence will be observed as a mark of remembrance of all the Tibetan martyrs.More than 220 Tibetans were killed and 1294 injured in the Chinese government’s ruthless crackdown on the peaceful Tibetan protesters across Tibet since 10 March last year.Around 5,600 people are still under arrest or detention and more than 1000 are missing.Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker of Tibetan Parliament will address the gathering.Members from the Italian delegation, Mr Gunther and Mr Pinter Roberto, a longtime regional council member of Trentino, South Tyrol and member of the board of Association of Italia Tibet.The memorial function will conclude with rendition of prayers by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.(Click here for programme)