The Solidarity actions around the world in the support of present crisis in Tibet.

Date: April8, 2008

April 8, 2008

 

Varanasi -

Accumulative report on activities organized by Regional Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Varanasi:

10th March 2008: Monday

  1. 8:00 AM - Organized by the Tibetan Freedom Movement, the staff and the students of the Center for Higher Tibetan Studies, the local Tibetans observed the 49th Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising. At the same time, the Director of the CHTS read out the message of His Holiness and Kashag and explained the significance of the day.
  2. 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM, the students of the institute held debates and exchanged views on the issue related to Tibet in Atisha Hall. The function was presided over by the Ven. Jampa Samten.

 

  12th March 2008: Wednesday

  1. 3:00 PM - The mass observed the Tibetan Women's Uprising at Bodhgon Shedrub Doeguling, organized by the Tibetan Women's Association.
  2. 5:30 PM - Starting from the gate of the CHTS Institute, observed a candle light vigil till Duekhor Lhakhang via Sarnath Temple.
  3. More than 300 people participated in the above activity.

 

15th March 2008: Saturday

  1. 3:00 PM - organized by the Gelug Monlam Group, the mass observed a prayer festival at Dameka Temple. The activity was in dedication and to pay homage to all the Tibetans who were killed since the 10th March.
  2. More than 400 people participated in the above activity.
  3. Press conference was convened.
  4. From 5:30 PM - Regional Tibetan Youth Congress organized a candlelight vigil from Chorten till Dhuekhor Lhakhang.
  5. At 7:30 PM, students of the Institute resolved to organize a peace march starting from the school gate covering the main road, Hindu University and Ganga River.

 

16th March 2008: Sunday

  1. 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, staffs and students of Tibetan Institute, local Tibetans, students and people from Ladadk, Khunu, Spiti, Tawang, Sherpa, Mongolia, Russia, Bhutan, Tamang, Drejong and local Indians (totaling more than 500 people) observed a mass rally covering a distance of more than 45 kilometers.
  2. More than 2,000 leaflets were distributed on Tibet to tourists and passersby, and a speech delivered on the recent crisis in Tibet.
  3. The reasons for the activities and actions are explained below:
    • We dedicate all the non-violent activities we organized here to those innocent Tibetans who were killed in the recent crackdown and also as a mark of paying homage and expressing our sense of solidarity to the Tibetans both inside and outside for their non-violent struggle.
    • We also request the Indian government to not interfere in our activities or stop the activities like "peace march" which is completely based on the principle of truth and non-violent founded by the Mahatma Gandhi.
    • We were able to get news coverage on headlines in many newspapers like Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Pioneer, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Aaj, I Next, Compact. Similarly, we were able to gain coverage in press media like NDTV, Times Now, City Line, Star News, IBN7, News 24, India TV, TV Today, Janmat TV, News X, CNN.

 

17th March 2008, Monday

  1. At 7:00PM - Supporters observed a candle light vigil as well as protest from the main gate of the institute via Ashapur Shedo.
  2. Read the press release.
  3. More than 400 people participated in the activity.
  4. Under the organization of the Tibetan Freedom Movement, the staff and students of the institute organized a grand prayer ceremony in Atisha Prayer Hall.
  5. The regional Tibetan Solidarity Committee in Varanasi came into being in accordance with the policy of the Tibetan Government in Exile.

 

18th March 2008, Tuesday

  1.  5:00 PM - Organized by the Himalayan Students, more than 200 staff and students of the Institute observed a silent march from the main gate, circumambulating around Sarnath Stupa and then back. The activity was an expression of solidarity with the Tibetans who were killed under the Chinese brutality in the recent crackdown.
  2. At Atisha Hall, the people observed a mass and grand prayer ceremony.
  3. Under the leadership of the Regional Solidarity Committee, Varanasi, the whole group was categorized into the following groups:
    • Distribution of documents of Tibetan Solidarity Committee and arrangement of press release (10 people)
    • Organizer of the activities (5 people)
    • Fund raisers (4 people)
    • In charge of Emergency Medical Relief (9 people)
    • In charge of the flag and posters (6 people)
    • In charge of the press release (2 people)
    • Public relation officer or a coordinator amongst the staff (6 people)
    • Emergency substitute (20 people)

 

4.   20th March - Since the people in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, were not aware of the Tibetan issue and particularly the recent crisis in Tibet, the staff and students of the Varanasi institute conducted a peace march.

19th March 2008, Wednesday

  1. Several members proceeded towards the local authorities to receive the consent for organizing the forth-coming activity.
  2. Involved in activities like listing the names of the volunteers for distributing documents and press releases, and making new banners.
  3. Collecting donations from local Tibetans and monasteries.
  4. 5:00 PM - Observed candle light vigil and made press releases in several local newspapers.
  5. Since 7:30 PM - Under the direction of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, we recited prayers and mantras. However, since the program of the following next day coincide with the Indian Festival Holi for two consecutive days, we were not able to work out in accordance with the program scheduled.

 

20th March 2008, Thursday

  1. 2:30 PM - The people observed a prayer ceremony in the Dameka Temple and disseminated information to all passersby who were unaware of Tibet.
  2. 7:00 PM at Atisha Hall, the staff and students of the Varanasi Institute recited prayers.

 

21st March 2008, Friday

  1. 9:00 AM- Coinciding with the Holi Festival, the staff and students of the Institute recited prayers.
  2. 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, everyone observed a peace march from the main gate, and then towards Choten Rinpoche and ended at Tibetan Monastery.
  3. More than 300 people participated in the above activity.
  4. We were not only able to make coverage in press and media and but also campaign on our future activities.
  5. From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, prayer recitation was done.

 

22nd March 2008, Saturday

  • From 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, more prayer recital occurred.
  • More than 400 staff and students were present
  • Ven. Geshe Beri Jigme and Mr. Tenzin Gonpo (members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile) paid visit to our place. In the evening, they explained the reason for Tibetan Solidarity Committee and what this campaign is about.

 

23th March 2008, Sunday

  1. Activities organized were distributing press release, informative documents on Tibet, signature campaign written to the UN urging and appealing them to send a fact-finding delegation into Tibet.
  2. With over 500 participants, a candle light vigil was observed.

 

24th March 2008, Monday

  1. From 7:30, daily prayer recital was carried out.
  2. 9 AM - Read out the press statement of Kashag (delivered on 22nd March) to the public, and as planned earlier, left for Lucknow to observe the peace march.

25th March 2008, Tuesday

  1. At 3:30 AM, the staff and the students of Varanasi Institute left for Lucknow. Peace march began in the afternoon headed to the local assembly office.
  2. Read press release among 16 different newspapers and 10 different medias.
  3. The above activity was participated by more than 250 people led by Geshe Beri Jigme, Gen. Jampa Samten, the Head of the Tibetan Freedom Movement.
  4. Guru Charan Singh, the head of the Himalayan Youth Association put his best effort without which the activity would not have been as successful as it had.

 

26th March 2008, Wednesday

  • From 7:30 PM, as usual, prayers recital continued. As suggested by the Director of our Institute, we were not able to participate in the event for three consecutive days i.e. (26th March to 29th March) due to University Exams.

 

30th March 2008, Sunday

1.  From 10 AM to 8 PM, Organized the following activities at Ganga River:

  • On inviting Mr. Tsering Lhundup and Mrs. Tenzin Yangkyi from the Department of Information and International Relations and the members from the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, we organized an exhibition where we displayed (or showcased) more than 70 pictures of the Tibetans who were brutally murdered and also a brief history about Tibet. More than thousands visitors came for the exhibition.
  • Around 7:30 PM, the Tibetan Solidarity Committee showed 45 minutes in length documentary film (in Hindi) on Truth and Facts of Tibet.
  • The Governmental Organization as well as Non-governmental Organization warmly received the participants of the All India Bike rally started from Mysore.
  • The daylong activities were able get a wide coverage in many newspapers in their respective languages. The whole activities were covered by both press and media and highlighted in their publications.

31st March 2008, Monday

More than 300 staff and students participated in today's candle light procession.

1st April 2008, Tuesday
The usual candle light procession took place. Member of the Tibetan Parliament, Beri Jigme read out the program and activities planned by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee for the masses.

3rd April 2008, Wednesday
More than 280 staff and students left at 9AM to participate in a mass hunger strike. At Kacheri, another 24-hours hunger strike was observed.

4th April 2008, Thursday
At 9:30 AM, Ven. Beru Jigme, the member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, after providing a fruit juice to the hunger strikers, concluded the activity. He also finally thanked the Tibet Supporters.

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Poanta, Simour -

Mr. G. R. Thakur, the secretary of the Indo-Tibet Friendship Society, chairperson of four local assemblies, the settlement officers, the Principal of Central Tibetan school Poanta and presidents of Governmental and non-governmental organizations gained consent from the District Commissioner to observe peaceful demonstrations.

Several monks from Shalu Gonpa, along with staff and students from CST Poanta, Tibetans from four different settlements totaling to more than 350 people observed non-violent protests.

Following the demonstration at the main market in Nahan town, the procession concluded at the town's bus stop.