(TibetanReview.net, Mar08’21) – Hundreds of people demonstrated in Taiwan’s capital Taipei on Mar 7 ahead of the 62nd anniversary Mar 10 of the Tibetan Uprising Day, reported focustaiwan.tw Mar 7 and taipeitimes.com Mar 8. The demonstrators, including dozens of Tibetans and Taiwanese lawmakers, called for stronger public advocacy against the decades of Chinese oppression in Tibet, the reports said.
The annual rally, held over the past 17 years, was organized by more than 30 groups, including the Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association, the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, the Taiwan Parliament Group for Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Congress Taiwan and Students for a Free Tibet, Taiwan, said taipeitimes.com Mar 8.
The rally began at Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station and marched to Xinyi Plaza near the Taipei 101 skyscraper. “Free Tibet, China out,” “Tibet belongs to Tibetans,” “Long live Dalai Lama!” they were reported ot have chanted as they marched.
Legislator Hung Sun-han of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) were stated to be among the participants in the event.
Besides, representatives from several other political parties as well, including the New Power Party (NPP), the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, and the Green Party Taiwan attended the event.
DPP Legislator Hung Sun-han, the vice chair of the cross-party Taiwan Parliament Group for Tibet founded in 2016, addressed the crowd before the march began. “In the past 50 to 60 years, Tibetans have been unable to go home,” Hung has said, calling it their “biggest wish.”
DPP Legislator Fan Yun, also a member of the Taiwan Parliament Group for Tibet, has said, “Tibet’s problem is Taiwan’s problem — to help Tibet is to help Taiwan.”
Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya of the SDP has said, “In the face of the brutality of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], our pursuit of progress and democracy must not stop even for a while because of resistance.”
Noting the presence of a “Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now” flag in the crowd, Miao has said: “Today, Taiwanese, Tibetans and Hong Kongers stand together. What we pursue is democracy, freedom and dignity.”
Also, Huang Cheng-han, head of the National Chengchi University Student Association, has told the rally that people should remain vigilant against China’s many tactics to suppress Tibet, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan and NPP Secretary-General Christy Pai were also reported to have joined the rally.
The organizers of Sunday’s event have said another gathering had been planned for Mar 10 at Freedom Square in Taipei, to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.
