BRUSSELS: Over 4,600 Tibetans and friends of Tibet from more than 27 European countries gathered in Brussels to commemorate the 54th anniversary of Tibetan national uprising day on 10 March.
The rally was aimed to express solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet and seek support of the European Union and its Member States for the non-violent freedom struggle of the Tibetan people.
The peace march was held from Gare du Nord to Les Mont des Arts, Brussels city Center. It was led by His Eminence Kirti Rinpoche, Mr. Thomas Mann, MEP, Mr. Penpa Tsering, the speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information and International Relations, Ven. Thupten Wangchen and Ms. Chungdak Koren, members of Tibetan Parliament from Europe, Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen, Special Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Europe and Mr. Ngodup Dorjee, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Western Europe, Magreb and EU based in Brussels.
The massive rally at 5:30 pm was addressed by eminent speakers, including H.E. Kirti Rinpoche; Mr Thomas Mann, MEP; Tibetan Speaker Penpa Tsering; DIIR Kalon Dicki Chhoyang; Special Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen; Mr Leonadas Donski MEP; Mr Marc Hendricks, member of Belgian Flemish Parliament; Ms Mona Tang, a Chinese writer, artiste and human rights defender; Mr Henri Malosse, European Economic and Social Committee; Mr Matteo Mecacci, President of INPAT; and Mr Alexandra Clark, Assistant of MEP Mr Edward McMillan Scott. They spoke on prevailing tragic situation in Tibet, calling upon the European Union and the member states to facilitate a peaceful resolution of issue of Tibet and stand up in solidarity with the Tibetans who are dying and suffering in Tibet. Representative Mr Ngodup Dorjee read out the message of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay on the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day. Noted Tibetan artistes from across the Europe performed patriotic Tibetan songs during the rally.
The rally was a huge success and it received wide coverage from print media and television across Belgium and other parts of Europe.
The 10 March European solidarity rally was jointly organised by the Tibetan communities and organisations in Europe, International Campaign for Tibet, Brussels and European Tibet Support groups. The whole event was coordinated by the two members of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile with a committee of 11 members including the office of Tibet, Brussels.
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