55th Tibet Uprising Day marked in many countries

0
5

(TibetanReview.net, Mar19, 2014) – The 55th anniversary Mar 10 of the Tibetan National Uprising was marked by Tibetans and supporters across the free world while the only repression, outside Chinese occupied Tibet, was carried out by the government of Nepal. The following are based on online media reports of the commemoration.

UNITED STATES
Santa Fe (New Mexico): Gov. Susana Martinez declared Mar 10 as “Tibet Day;” the proclamation was read by State Secretary Veronica N Gonzales at the state Capitol. A peace march was held at the Santa Fe Plaza after the morning ceremony in the Rotunda, with the participation of about 70 people.

New York City: A large number of Tibetans and supporters gathered on the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations headquarters, carrying Tibetan national flags, after having marched across the Brooklyn Bridge. Those who addressed the gathering included prominent Chinese blind activist Chen Guangcheng who expressed hopes that the Middle Way Approach to seek a genuine autonomy for Tibet within China will bear fruit one day.

The participants later marched through the crowded streets of New York City towards the Chinese Consulate, passing through the Times Square which was bustling with tourists. Before the consulate, the participants were addressed by Mr Yan Jianli, a Chinese dissident and Tiannamen Square activist in 1989. The president of the Initiatives for China said he was honored to become a part of Tibet’s extraordinary struggle for freedom which had won worldwide respect.

Northampton (Mass.): Close to 100 Tibetans and supporters marched on Main Street in Northampton, shouting slogans, on Mar 10 night, reported wwlp.com Mar 10. They carried signs saying “end the occupation of Tibet” and “allow the Dalai Lama to return”.

Bloomington (Indiana): A dozen Tibetans and supporters gathered on the steps of the Monroe County Courthouse, carrying lighted candles and Tibetan national flags and singing the Tibetan national anthem in unison. The group had earlier gathered at the Indiana’s University’s Sample Gates and marched to the courthouse, stopping to speak with passersby or to pass out flyers.

Portland (Oregon): More than 100 protesters marched through downtown Portland in solidarity with Tibetans living under Chinese rule, reported oregonlive.com Mar 10. The march began and ended at the City Hall and was addressed by Mayor Charlie Hales before setting off.

San Francisco (California): Tibetans and supporters gathered on the steps of San Francisco City Hall where they were addressed Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin who had met with the Dalai Lama days earlier. The events drew the support of Bay Area lawmakers, including US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), US Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo), who each sent representatives to read statements on behalf of the legislators, reported abclocal.go.com Mar 10.

The participants later marched to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, followed by another march to Embarcadero for a candlelight vigil. Another event was held in Berkeley.

Chicago and Minneapolis (Minnesota): Several hundred Tibetans and supporters, carrying Tibetan national flags, marched in downtown Minneapolis to commemorate the day, reported minnesota.cbslocal.com Mar 10. Hundreds of Tibetans from across Minnesota had, earlier in the day, staged a rally in front of the Chinese consulate in Chicago.

CANADA (Toronto): Waving Tibetan national flags, holding protest signs and chanting slogans such as “Tibet belongs to Tibet” and “China out of Tibet now,” hundreds of Tibetans and supporters marched to the Chinese Consulate on St. George Street in the Canadian city of Toronto. Participants in the rally performed music and staged short plays depicting human rights violations in Tibet, reported insidetoronto.com Ma12. The protesters also hoped to encourage the Canadian government and other world leaders to focus more on the treatment of Tibetans by the Chinese government and stand up against the injustices being perpetrated, the report added.

FRANCE (Paris): Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters, carrying Tibetan national flags and shouting slogans, marched through the streets of the French capital for over three hours. Mr Andre Gattolin, a member of the Tibet Group in the French Senate, was among those who addressed the gathering. He called on the French President, Mr Francois Hollande, to officially receive the Dalai Lama, as US President Barack Obama had done a couple of weeks earlier.

CZECH REPUBLIC: A total of 599 municipalities, towns, districts and regions as well as 99 schools, including the capital Prague and Brno, the second largest town in the Czech Republic, hoisted the Tibetan flag to mark the Tibetan uprising day. They also included the University of Pardubice in east Bohemia and Masaryk University in Brno.

According to Edita Kleckerova, head of the organization Lungta, “The campaign is not only backed by towns and schools. The flags have also appeared on companies, houses, churches, libraries and many other places.” Kleckerova has added that a number of public events were held across the Czech Republic to commemorate the occasion.

Also in Prague, dozens of people held a gathering outside the Chinese embassy in late afternoon in a event organized by the Czech branch of Amnesty International. They also released “Free Tibet” balloons in the air.

BELGIUM (Brussels): A large number of Tibetans and supporters gathered at the Schuman Circle in front of the European Commission to commemorate the occasion. This was followed by a rally carried through the city centre to the Chinese embassy.

More than 56 towns and municipal authorities throughout Belgium raised the Tibetan flag to show solidarity with the Tibetan people, said the exile Tibetan administration at Dharamsala on its Tibet.net website Mar 14.

UNITED KINGDOM (London): Several hundred Tibetans and supporters took out a Freedom March from Downing Street, Westminster, which passed through the streets of Central London to the embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here