Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration observed the 62nd anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising Day presided by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Pema Jungney of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, the Chief Justice Commissioner Sonam Norbu Dagpo, and attended by Kalons, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, CTA officials as well as media personnel in adherence to the local COVID-19 guidelines.
On the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising Day, CTA President Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay delivered his address in English and Tibetan respectively, remembering the countless Tibetan martyrs and those languishing in prison-like repressive environment under the Chinese authoritarian regime.
“Over a million Tibetans have lost their lives in the past six decades under Chinese rule. Today, we have come together to collectively mourn this loss. But we are also here to mark the undaunted resilience of Tibetans in Tibet. Even under the threat of losing their lives, they continue to protest by protecting and preserving our language, our religion, our land, and our identity,” he said.
Speaking on the unabated rights abuses in Tibet, he cited the recent cases of a 19-year-old monk from Dza Wonpo monastery arrested for peaceful protests in November 2019 and a 51-year-old tour guide Kunchok Jinpa who was serving a 21-years sentence for allegedly sharing news of protests to foreign media and both of whom died after injuries sustained in prison, to arrests incurred for free expression like the case of a 30-year-old nomad Lhundup Dorjee from Machin Golog Prefecture sentenced to one-year imprisonment for posting a video of His Holiness’ teaching on Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging site. While others go unreported for years due to the strong censorship and surveillance tools in place as in the case of 26-year-old Shurmo whose report of self-immolation protest got out 5 years after the event.
Sikyong stressed that this is the time for Tibetans to “collectively push the Tibetan cause on the global platform and ensure the sacrifices of the Tibetan martyrs are not in vain”.
Highlighting the growing international support for Tibetans as witnessed in recent times, he spoke about the enactment of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act 2018 and in particular, the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 that asserts that the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders are religious matters and all decisions pertaining to reincarnations rest solely on the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people and the Tibetan Buddhist community. Any Chinese authorities who interfere in this matter will face sanctions. The bill also formally acknowledges the CTA as the legitimate representative of the aspirations of Tibetans worldwide, and Sikyong as its President.
Sikyong thanked the United States government, Congress and the Senate, and especially the bill’s sponsors and co-sponsors, while acknowledging all the organizations and individuals who supported the swift passage of the bill.
Dr Sangay also thanked the US Secretary of State Blinken for assuring the speedy appointment of the Special Coordinator for Tibet issues, and urged the Biden Administration for the swift appointment of the US Special Coordinator and also for the further implementations of key legislations such as the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act 2018 and TPSA 2020.
Referring to Freedom House’s annual report on ‘Freedom in the World’, Tibet’s consecutive ranking of 2nd place for the last few years has dropped to 1st place tying with Syria, a reflection of the critical situation inside Tibet marked by the self-immolations of 155 Tibetans who resorted to such measures to express their resentment of these discriminatory policies that violate Tibetans’ basic rights.
While its 2020 report on internet freedom ranks China as the worst internet abuser in the world, Sikyong called it unsurprising given the ‘near impossibility of accessing information from inside Tibet under the tightened censorship and surveillance laws. He then welcomed the positive news of Tibetan language activist Tashi Wangchuk’s recent release and called for the release of all political prisoners of conscience led by the 11th Panchen Lama.
With the final round of elections approaching, he advised social media responsibility to the public to ensure the democracy gifted by His Holiness is protected and reminded of the obligation to honour the hopes and aspirations of Tibetans inside Tibet.
As this year marks the end of his ten-year tenure, Sikyong Dr Sangay said his administration has dedicated itself to further the cause and amplify the voices of the Tibetans in Tibet while also serving the welfare of the Tibetan diaspora and expressed his gratitude for the lifetime honour of serving the Tibetans and Tibet cause.
He expressed his gratitude to all the supporters across the world, especially the government and people of India for their continued generosity and support and leaders, governments, parliaments, organizations and individuals who cherish the universal principles of justice, equality and freedom and support Tibet’s just cause.
Next, Speaker Pema Jungney of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile addressed the gathering and shared the historical context of the Uprising Day that started with peaceful protests against the Chinese occupation and oppression which led to the massacre of thousands of Tibetans by the Chinese military forces.
He asserted, “Historically, Tibet has enjoyed the status of an independent nation with its distinct language, culture, religion and script, and as evidenced by its recorded history that dates from the era of kings, and its political relations with neighbouring kingdoms, to the theocratic rule from which the priest-patron relationship with Mongol emerged, to its conduct of foreign affairs under the 13th Dalai Lama that includes the signing of international treaties that is contradictory to China’s claims.”
He further added that ever since China’s occupation in 1949, Tibetans have continued to suffer relentlessly, especially, under the discriminatory laws the government has devised targeting all aspects of Tibetan identity, basic freedoms, in an attempt to sinicize the whole of Tibet.
He concluded by issuing an urgent appeal to the UN Human Rights Council to take the necessary actions against China’s repression of Tibetans, drawing upon the prominent case of recently released language activist Tashi Wangchuk whose condition is yet unknown and similarly for the release of all other political prisoners beginning with the abducted 11th Panchen Lama.
The official commemoration concluded with the singing of the ‘prayer of truth’.