Cycling campaign takes off in Taipei ahead of 58th Tibet uprising anniversary

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Tibetan rights advocates hold up a Tibetan flag outside the Legislative Yuan building in Taipei. (Photo courtesy: taipeitimes.com)
Tibetan rights advocates hold up a Tibetan flag outside the Legislative Yuan building in Taipei. (Photo courtesy: taipeitimes.com)

(TibetanReview.net, Feb07, 2017) – A group of nearly 30 Tibetan and Taiwanese cyclists rook off on the streets of Taipei on Feb 1 as a part of efforts to raise awareness about Tibet ahead of the annual march for a Free Tibet next month, reported Taipei Times Feb 2. The cyclists gathered outside the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial square, shouting for a “Free Tibet” and the return of the exiled Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Tibet’ as they took off.

The protesters’ plan was to continue a weekly Wednesday cycling runs until the Tibetan national Uprising day on Mar 10. They planned to hand out tracts and deliver speeches to Chinese Tourists during the course of their cycling, the report said.

India-born Tibet activist Mr Tashi Tsering, founder of Cycling for a Free Tibet, was quoted as saying, “We hope Chinese can come to understand the true situation in Tibet”. He also said, “Because there is no way to protest like this in China, we want to represent Tibetans with our cycling”.

The report said the turnout of the two wheeled protest in support of Tibetan rights had doubled since the first venture of cycling around Taipei was begun in 2011.

“In the past, The world’s high esteem for the Dalai Lama has helped Tibet’s plight gain substantial attention, but there is now a danger that the cause will be silenced by China’s rise,” Covenants Watch chief executive officer Huang Yi-bee was quoted as saying. “At this difficult time, it is important we stand up and say no to worldwide backtracking on democracy and human rights.”

She has called on Taipei to show official concern over the human rights issues in Tibet and towards the Tibetan who wish to study and work in Taiwan.

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