Tibetan Solidarity Committee’s Global Movement on Tibet
Tuesday, 22 April 2008, 12:30 p.m.
Dharamshala: On 27 March 2008,
Mr Karma Yeshi and Mr Dawa Tsering, members of Tibetan
Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), visited Miao Choephelling Tibetan
Settlement in northeastern State of Arunachal Pradesh to began the
global action of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee.
 KarmaYeshi(left), Mr Zubeen Garg, a renowned Bollywood singer (center) and Dawa Tsering(right), members of the Tibetan Parlaiment-in-Exile in Guwahati, Assam, Northeast India |
On 28 March, a meeting was conducted where both the members of the TPiE
briefed the Tibetan people on the current situation inside Tibet and
the formation of Tibetan Solidarity Committee. Local Tibetan Solidarity
committee was formed on the same day in Miao Choepheling settlement.
Dhargyeling Tibetan Settlement, Tezu
On 29 March, both the members reached Tezu Dargyeling Settlement
in Arunachal Pradesh and addressed the public on current situation
inside Tibet and the Tibetan Solidarity Committee.
Peace rally was held in which Tibetan students and few local
people have participated. A minute silence was observed for the death
of those brave Tibetans who sacrificed their lives in the recent
peaceful protests in Tibet. The march covered the whole of town and
district offices.
Mr Karma Yeshi, on behalf of all the Tibetans, thanked people
and government of India as well as local people and concerned offices
for supporting Tibetan people for more than four decades and appealed
them to continue their support in future as well.
Peace Rally and Press Conference in Dibrugarh, Assam
On 31 March, Tibetans from Miao, Tezu, Tinsukia and Dibrugrah
town took part in peaceful demonstration at Dibrugarh. A group of local
Buddhist monks and local Nepalese(Nye-shang) also joined the march.
Lekhi Dorjee, settlement officer of Tezu spoke on the
importance of carrying out this peace march. A group of delegation led
by two members of the Tibetan parliament submitted the memorandum to
additional deputy commissioner of Dibrugarh district in the name of
prime minister of India. The additional deputy commissioner read-out
the memorandum addressed to prime minister of India and agreed to
submit the original copy of memorandum to him.
A large number of the representatives of local media and few
representatives of national media like DD-TV, Newsline TV, and PTI and
NE TV were present to cover the event. In the afternoon a press
conference was held where the two members of the Tibetan Parliament
answered media’s queries on the current situation inside Tibet.
Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement, Bomdila
On 1 April, the two members of the TPiE visited Tenzingang settlement in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.
Huge banners showing the photos of China’s brutal actions on
Tibetan peaceful demonstrators were displayed in Tenzingang and
Bomdila. Representatives of local Monpa people attended the meeting.
Later in the evening, Gaden Rabgyaling Monastery in Arunachal
Pradesh organised a long life puja for the Tibetan people inside Tibet
and for all those Tibetans working for the Tibetan cause as a gesture
of Monpas’ solidarity with Tibetan people.
On 3 April, peace rally was organised in Bomdila where more
than 400 Tibetans from Tenzingang, Bomdila, Dirang, Rupa, Tenga,
Itanagar and Dahung and monks from Gyuto Tantric monastery joined the
rally. A minute silence was observed to pay homage to the great martyrs
of Tibet.
Mr Dawa Tsering in his opening speech underlined that the Tibet
struggle is not only a struggle of Tibetan people but it is a struggle
for the survival of great Himalayan culture and identity.
Delegation of Tibetans and local Monpas led by two members of
the Tibetan Parliament submitted the memorandum to Rinchen Tashi,
additional deputy commissioner of West Kemang district addressed to the
Indian prime minister and chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh. The
memonrandum appealed them to support the cause of Tibetan people and
pressure China to stop repression in Tibet. Mr Tashi agreed to forward
both the memorandum to the respective heads.
Meanwhile, Mr Karma Yeshi addressed the large gathering in
Hindi thanked local administration and Tibetan supporters for showing
solidarity with the Tibetans. He said that time is not far when His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans will return to Tibet through
Bomdila route and for this to happen support from Himalayan communities
is essential. He urged the people of Himalayan region including local
Monpas to continue their support for Tibetans struggle.
Peace rally in Shillong
On 4 April, the two MPs visited the Tibetan community in
Shillong and the local Tibetan Solidarity Committee was convened after
meeting with the people.
On 5 April, under the leadership of Karma Yeshi and Dawa
Tsering, Tibetans in Shillong organised Peace Rally and candle light
vigil.
In the afternoon both the members of the Tibetan Parliament briefed the local media.
On 6 April, the worldwide prayer day was observed to show
solidarity with the Tibetans who have lost their lives during the
recent Chinese crackdown in Tibet.
Tibetans in Northeast India observes “Three-day Peace Procession”
A three-day peace procession was held in Northeast region of the
Tibetan Settlement, starting 8 April 2008 to 10 April 2008 to mark the
completion of one month non-violent protest inside Tibet.
On 8 April, around 500 Tibetans from Tezu, Miao, Kalaltang,
Tuting, Tenzingang, Itanagar, Tawang, Dirang, Rupa, Tenga and Bomdila,
Shillong, Dimapur and Kohima, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh led by two members
of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile under Tibetan Solidarity Committee
along with Lhakpa Tsering, representatives of four NGOs gathered in
Dighalipukhri Paar, Guwahati to observe a day-long hunger strike.
People voluntarily shaved their heads to show their solidarity followed by candle light vigil.
 Tibetans demonstrating mock funeral in northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh |
On 9 April, demonstration of mock funeral was conducted
symbolizing the dead people in Tibet. The funeral ceremony began with
the Tibetan and Indian national anthems followed by two minutes silence
to pay homage and respect to the martyrs of Tibet.
On 10 April, demonstration of Skit show depicting China’s
brutal torture in Tibet was conducted where the demonstrators began
with the slogans like “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama,”
“China-Lift media Ban in Tibet,” and so on.
Many Indian supporters expressed their solidarity towards the cause of
Tibet. Thousand of leaflets in both English and Assamese were
distributed to the local people.
Mumbai
A three-day peace procession in Mumbai
The delegation of Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Gyari Dolma and Serta
Tsultrim Woser reached Mumbai in Maharashtra on 2 April 2008. On 3
April, they attended a meeting with thousands of Indian Buddhist in the
city.
The deputy speaker appealed the gathering for their support
over the cause of Tibet. Ven. Mahathero Rahaul Bodhi expressed the
support from all the Ambedkhariates (Dr. Ambedkhars followers) and
showed his gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his
contribution and promotion of Buddhism all over the globe.
A three-day programme, including prayer meetings, candlelight
vigils and peace marches were held in Mumbai. Around 2000 Tibetans,
including over 1000 Tibetan monks, along with other Indian supporters,
friends and human rights NGOs participated in the programme.
This is the first time where huge of Tibetan monks and lay
people ever held a peace procession in the heart Mumbai. The procession
carried on for 2 hours where vivid images of the recent killings and
tortured in Tibet were displayed with chanting of prayers in the
backdrop.
Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari gave interviews to the media. She
spoke about the aims and objectives of the procession and the present
situation inside Tibet.
 Tibetans praying for all those people who lost their lives in the recent peaceful protests in Tibet |
On 10 April, candlelight vigil for human rights – “Tibet Needs You” – was held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
The deputy speaker gave a talk on importance and objective of
holding this candlelight vigil. She urged the media and international
community to support human rights in Tibet. The chief guest, Mr. Kelly
Dorjee, actor/model said he is overwhelmed by the courage and hard work
of Tibetan people inside and outside the Tibet. He said he is obliged
to be the part of this event and extend his full support towards the
Tibetan Cause.
One minute mourning was observed for the people inside the
Tibet who were brutally killed by Chinese. Following the minute
silence, wife of Danny Denzongpa and Mr. Kelly Dorjee lit the first
candle of world peace and marched for over half a mile to show their
solidarity and support for human rights in Tibet.
On 11 April, the prayer session was held where Tibetan Buddhist
monks, Tibetans and supporters joined in the traditional Buddhist
prayers for the martyrs killed during their peaceful demonstrations.
Indian Buddhists, including followers of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar also
joined the procession. Several thousand of monks, nuns and lay people
joined the event.
On 12 April, at the holy site of Chaitya Bhumi, Meenatai
Ambedkar, daughter in law of Dr. B. Ambedkar, president of National
Buddhist Society of India and other executive members expressed on
behalf of their society and all the Ambedkariates Buddhists of India,
their solidarity with the Tibetans and the Tibetan cause.
The deputy speaker thanked them for their support and she
further requested for their continue support till the issue of Tibet is
resolved.
The three-day program in Mumbai concluded successfully with
extensive media coverage and support from various people on the issue
of Tibet.
