Tibetans and Japanese
Mark Human Rights Day in Tokyo[Saturday,
4 December 2010, 3:22 p.m.]
TOKYO:
Around eighty Tibetans and Japanese gathered this morning at Shinjuku,
Tokyo and marched through the city to observe the Human Rights Day and
to seek public attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in
Tibet. Tibet Koryukai and Tibetan community in Japan along with six
other Tibet support groups organised the rally.Messages from Mr
Makino Seishu, Japanese Parliamentarian and Mr Ishihara Shintaro, Tokyo
governor were read out. The two leaders expressed their solidarity with
the Tibetan cause, and said that the Tibet cause is a just cause and
they will do their best in improving the human rights situation and to
realise the Tibetan dream of genuine autonomy in Tibet.Ven
Wakaomi of Japanese Monk Association appealed the gathering to come
forward to highlight the injustice that is going on in Tibet and urged
the Japanese government not to ignore Tibet issue. Mr Tsewang Gyalpo
Arya of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan &
East Asia read out the message of the Office in which Representative
Lhakpa Tshoko thanked the organisers and the participants, and explained
the critical situation in Tibet. Repression and martial law situation
that followed after 2008 March uprising in Tibet was highlighted in his
statement. Mr Arya drew the public attention on the recent Chinese
government’s policy to sinocise the Tibetan education system.”When
fifty years of indoctrination and oppression failed to subjugate the
Tibetan, Chinese government is now trying to eradicate the Tibetan
culture and belief by destroying the language. This is a very
threatening development in the cultural history of a nation,” said Mr
Arya and appealed the Japanese public and the government to urge the
Chinese leadership to refrain from destroying this rich language of
Tibet.The participants marched peacefully through the main city
of Shinjuku with Tibetan flags and placards demanding freedom and
respect for human rights in Tibet. A few elderly Japanese has also come
to participate in the march, a young Japanese mother participated in the
march with her baby in the trolley. An elderly Japanese man was seen
urging the young Japanese to continue to support Tibetan cause. Young
Japanese participants said they support Tibet’s cause, although they
couldn’t do much, participating in these marches give them sense of
satisfaction and purpose. Some came dressed in Tibetan chupas or the
traditional dress. –Report filed by the Office of Tibet,
Japan
