Date: April 4, 2008
North-east Tibetans' Solidarity Actions on Tibet & Chitue's program
Choephelling Tibetan settlement, Miao
Two Chitue reached Choephelling Tibetan settlement, Miao on March 27 and conducted public meeting on morning of March 28. In the meeting, both Chitue briefed public on current situation inside Tibet and formation of Tibetan solidarity committee. Huge banner showing various photos of China's brutal actions on Tibetan peaceful demonstrators was displayed too. Local Tibetan solidarity committee was formed on the same day and left for Dhargyayling Tibetan settlement, Tezu.
Dhargyayling Tibetan Settlement, Tezu - Briefing & Peace Rally
On March 29, public meeting was called and briefed them on as stated above. Tezu settlement had already formed their local solidarity committee. Huge banner showing various photos of China's brutal actions on Tibetan peaceful demonstrators was displayed. Tezu being headquarter of Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh state, Silence Peace Rally was organized in which more than 400 Tibetans including Tibetan students & few local people joined. Rally started from Camp no. 5 of the settlement with the singing of Tibetan national anthem and observance of one-minute silence for the death of those brave Tibetan freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in recent peaceful Protest in Tibet. March covered more than 7 kilometers covering whole town and district offices. In between, local people were briefed on current situation in Tibet in Hindi, Assamese & English languages. Chitue Karma Yeshi on behalf of Tibetan people thanked people & government of India as well as local people and concerned offices for supporting Tibetan people for more than four decades & appealed them to continue their support in future as well. The march concluded at Local ground with prayers for the rest of the soul of all those who sacrificed their lives for Tibet.
Peace Rally & Press Conference in Dibrugarh, Assam
On March 30 morning two chithue left Tezu for Dibrugrah town, headquarter of Dibrugarh district of Assam state. On 31 March, over 160 Tibetans from Miao Tibetan settlement, over 60 Tibetans from Tezu Tibetan settlement, over 20 Tibetans from nearby Tinsukia and over 100 Tibetans from Dibrugrah town participated in peaceful demonstration at Dibrugrah. A group of local Buddhist monks also participated in the march. Peace march began with singing of Tibetan national anthem. Two minutes silence was observed to pay our tribute to great martyrs of Tibet, who sacrificed their lives for Tibetan cause. Mr. Lekhi Dorjee, settlement officer of Tezu settlement also spoke on the importance of organizing this peace march in Tibetan. March covered distance of 5 kilometers by shouting slogans as prescribed by the high-level solidarity committee. The peace marchers were carrying Tibetan national flags, big posters, Buddhist flags, placards and more than 4000 leaflets in English were distributed to the local public. At important circles of the town, local people were briefed on recent peaceful protests in Tibet and China's brutal crackdown in Hindi, Assamese & English. Local public took great interest in the march. Before peace march, a group of delegation led by two chithues met Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh district and presented an original copy of memorandum to honorable prime minister of India through him. The ADC read the memorandum and listened to the appeal of the Tibetan delegation and agreed to submit original copy of the memorandum to the PM of India. Whole Tibetan shops in both Dibrugarh & Tinsukia towns remained closed to show solidarity with Tibetans struggle inside Tibet. A large group of local Nepalese (Nye-shang) participated in the rally and their market also remained closed for whole day. Later, March concluded at a ground right opposite to the office of District headquarter with a short speech by Chithue Karma Yeti and recited Dentist- monad prayer. Huge group of the representatives of local media & few representatives of national media like DD-TV, News line TV, and PTI & NE TV were present to cover the event.
Two Chitues (MPs) addressed the press conference at Disregard press club at 2 pm in the afternoon. About 15 media people were present at the conference. Both chithues briefed them on current situation inside Tibet & China's brutal reactions on Tibetan peaceful demonstrators. All media people asked their respective questions and both chithues gave their responses to all the questions and press conference concluded at 3.00 pm.
Tenzingang Tibetan settlement and Bomdila
On March 31 evening, two chithues (MPs) left Dibrugrah for Tezpur town and next morning left Tezpur for Tenzingang Tibetan settlement. On April 1 afternoon at 1.30 pm two chitue attended public meeting called on by settlement office. Both chithues (MPs) as usual briefed the meeting on current situation inside Tibet and formation of Tibetan solidarity committee. On morning of April 2, both chithues (MPs) left Tenzingang settlement for Bomdila and briefed Tibetans as above. The meeting was participated Tibetans from Bomdila, Dirang, Rupa & Tawang etc. Huge banner showing various photos of China's brutal actions on peaceful Tibetan demonstrators was displayed. Representatives of local Monpa people also attended Bomdila meeting. Whole Tibetan shops in Bomdila town remained closed for the last more than 10 days.
Long life Puja for Tibet by Gaden Rabgyayling Monastery
Later in the evening, Gaden Rabgyayling Monastery organized a long life puja for Tibetan people inside Tibet and for all those Tibetans working for Tibetan.
Peace Rally in Bomdila
Bomdila being headquarter of West Kameng district of Arubachal Pradesh, Peace Rally was organized on April 3, 2008. This peace rally began from Thubchok Gatsel-ling, popularly known as lower monastery at 9.30 a.m. with Tibetan national anthem. One minute's silence was observed to pay homage to great martyrs of Tibet. Later Chitue Dawa Tsering made opening speech. He stated that Tibet struggle is not only a struggle of Tibetan people, but it is a struggle for the survival of great Himalayan culture & identity. He also recalled sacrifice made by Tibetan martyrs in his speech too. Ven. Thupten from Gaden Rabgyayling monastery also spoke on the occasion. In his speech, he stated that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is guru of all Himalayan people and it is the duty of the Himalayan people to serve their guru & his people in time of need.
Slogans such as, "Long live - Dalai Lama", "China - Stop Killings in Tibet", "China - Stop torture in Tibet" etc were used during the peace rally. All speeches were delivered in Tibetan, Hindi & local monpa languages to widely inform all local people. Peace rally later gathered at Buddha garden. Tibetan delegations & local monpas led by two Tibetan members of parliament met Mr. Rinchen Tashi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of West Kameng district and submitted memorandums to honorable Prime Minister of India & honorable Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh; appealing them to support just cause of Tibetan people and pressure China to stop the crackdown in Tibet. Mr. Rinchen listened to the appeal of the delegation and agreed to deliver the memorandums to respective leaders. Later, Ven. Tsering Dhondup from Thubchok Gatsel-ling monastery also addressed the gathering in English urging people of the world to support Tibetans in fulfilling their demands. Chithue (MP) Karma Yeshi also addressed the gathering in Hindi thanking local administration and Tibetan supporters for showing solidarity with Tibetan people. He also reminded the gathering that His Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped Tibet through Bomdila in 1959 and thanked local people for receiving His Holiness at the time of need and for their support. He also strongly stated that time is not far when His Holiness and Tibetan people will return back to Tibet through same route and for this to happen, support from Himalayan communities is essential.
Rally covered a distance of 7 kilometers and concluded at Gaden Rabgyayling popularly known as upper monastery. Chit hue (MP) Karma Yeti addressed the audience in Tibetan at the conclusion function that this is just the beginning. He said we have yet to continue with our struggle with more enthusiasm and greater motivation. He appealed for Monpas' continued support. He also reminded the significance Bomdila town that this is the route His Holiness escaped through and once again enable His Holiness to make his return to Tibet through Bomdila route. Later Mr. Tsewang Dorjee, settlement officer of Bomdila/Tenzingang spoke on the occasion and thanked both local monasteries & local Tibet supporters for their solidarity & support.
Peace rally concluded with Dentsik-monlam prayer. More than 400 Tibetans from Tenzingang, Bomdila, Dirang, Rupa, Tenga, Itanagar & Dahung and monks from Gyuto Tantric monastery joined the rally. Over 300 local monks from both monasteries joined the rally. In the evening, all the participants joined Candle light vigil started from upper monastery and concluded a daylong peace rally & candle light vigil at lower monastery. Local Tibetan solidarity committee of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, organized this rally.
Briefing & Peace Rally in Shillong
Two chithues (MP) left Bomdila same day for Shillong via Gauhati. Following the formation of Shillong Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Tibetans in Shillong organized Peace Rally on March 31 and it was widely covered in all local print media. More peace rally will take place in the ensuing days. All Tibetan markets & restaurants will remain closed as a mark of respect & gratitude to brave Tibetans inside Tibet.
Switzerland -
There has been continued candle light vigil every night. First candle light vigil was organised by Swiss Tibetan Friendship, Basel with 3 Tibetan monks on 19th March where we had around 120 people. Second candle light vigil was continued on 26th March where around 50 Tibetans were present. Most Tibetans went to Bern, Zürich, Lausanne and Geneva to demonstrate hoping to receive more attention to the recent crisis in Tibet.
Third candle light vigil was more productive as many young Tibetans participated. We were fortunate that Jigme Rinpoche from Orissa was here to teach his follower and he could also join us along with 65 Tibetans. Local TV telebasel covered the action and telecasted on the next day.
Mundgod -
Dolma recital at all monasteries and nunneries are continuing. Special prayers are happening all around the villages and monasteries to keep the brave Tibetans in our hearts and mind. Mundgod Tibetan Solidarity Committee seeks support for Tibetan cause from Indian Government, Organizations. One successful method has been distributing countless (~50,000) pamphlets on five different issues in Belgaum city. Peace marches and hunger strike programs are some of the events to take place in the ensuing days.
Nepal -
Shabten recital of 3/4/08:
Total number of participants in the mass prayer was 1137.
- Dolma Gyeypa 3,45,764
- Dolma Dhueypa 3,42,885
- Dolma Zung 7,62,587
- Mani 30,36,051
- Vajra Guru 7,16,897
- Tamding Zung 1,69,904
The 2nd round of non-stop Dolma recital began yesterday morning at 9AM. This round of prayer will last another 80 hours, led by nuns of Kyidong Thugje Choeling.
Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Committee delegation meets Ambassadors:
Representing the Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Committee, the 3 Hon. Chithues (MPs), Kungo Trinley Gyatso la and Tashi Phuntsok today called upon His Excellency Finn Thilsted, Danish Ambassador to Nepal, His Excellency Gilles-Henry Garault, (HE had returned from China just 3 days back) French Ambassador to Nepal, Mr. Bernard Lelarge, French Consular their respective Embassies.
Urgent Appeals together with copies of the Appeal by His Holiness to the Chinese were handed over preceded by traditional Jaldhar from Kungo Trinley la. Chithue (MP) Dolma Stoma la briefed them on the crisis in Tibet and the delegation requested the attention of the Ambassadors to the Tibetans in Nepal, particularly in light of the baseless accusations by the Chinese Ambassador at a press conference from the other day. Both Ambassadors were well informed of the crisis in Tibet as well as the daily arrests of the demonstrators in Katmandu. Both Ambassadors informed the delegation on the stand of their respective governments on the issue of Tibet. Both the Ambassadors praised the decision of the NTSC appealing the voluntary demonstrators to halt their protest programs during the upcoming CA election in Nepal.
In the absence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Thailand, the delegation called upon the First Secretary of the Thai Embassy and handed over an urgent Appeal.
Ban galore -
On 3rd April 2008, about 600 monks from different monasteries in South India Tibetan Settlement of Bylakuppe, Hnnsur & Kollegal staged a 6-hour hunger strike in front of the Gandhi Statue, Bangalore. The hunger strikes commenced at 01:00 in the afternoon to 06:00 p.m. At the end of the strike, Tibetan People’s Deputy Ms. Tsering Youdon la & Dhondenling Representative, Mr. Wangdu Tsering la addressed the gathering. Local Media people widely covered the program.
Bylakuppe Tibetan Solidarity Committee organized an indefinite 24 hours relay hunger strike cum Green Tara prayer recitation from 2nd April, 2008 at 04:00 p.m. followed by Bike relay consisting of 400 bikes, 9 trucks, 20 jeeps & 4 tractors for Periyapatna Taluk Head Quarter.
Mr. Tashi Wangdu, Representative of Bylakuppe settlement briefed the gathering about the latest situation in Tibet and the on-going program devised by South Zone Tibetan Settlement Solidarity Committee.
Kullu Manali -
Chithue Dolkar Lhamo arrived in Kullu Manila and met with executive member of regional assembly committees, Settlement Officer, Tibetan Freedom movement, Regional Tibetan Women's Association, Regional National Democratic party for Tibet, and 11 other members and briefed them on the recent crisis and crackdown on Tibetans in Tibet. Her gratitude extended to those Tibet Supporters and at the same time appealed the Tibet Supporters to extend their help to Tibet. The above associations jointly send an appeal or a memorandum addressed to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Indian Prime Minister and Madam Louise Arbour, Director of the United Nation's Human Rights Commission.
Chithue Dolkar Lhamo guided the students of the Day school of Manali yesterday and then monks of Pang Ghang Gonpa. At 6 PM, a press release Chandratal Restaurant was held on the present crisis in Tibet and later in the evening, 6 more reports and journalists joined to cover on the issue.
Today, Chithue (MP) Dolkar Lhamo with the Settlement Officer paid a visit to Tashi ling, Pondah, and also to Sundernagar, Tso Pema and Mandi to briefly introduce on the ongoing brutal crackdown in Tibet and the role the Tibetan Solidarity Committee has been playing. On their way back, they addressed the Abbot of the Dechen Choekor ling, Bundhar on the same.
The above activities received wide media attention in several newspapers. Other than that, the Tibetans have been observing a candle light vigil twice a week in Manali settlement.