Tibetan Movement 2008

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

Date: March 28, 2008

Nepal –
A) Delegation to meet Country Representative of UN-OHCHR

A delegation on behalf of the Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Chithue Yungdung Gyaltsen la, Chithue Dolma Tsomo la, Chithue Gyalnor Tsewang la, Chief Co-ordinator Trinley Gyatso la and Tashi Phuntsok called on the Country Representative of the UN-Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Richard Bannett at his office at Chhauni, Kathmandu, Nepal at 0830 hours. Mr. Bannett was accompanied by 2 of his colleagues. The meeting lasted 1.5 hours.

An urgent Appeal addressed to the Secretary General of the UNO and signed by 6,459 Tibetans in Kathmandu and Pokhara was handed-over to Mr. Bannett together with a cover letter addressed to him. The cover letter, in addition to the main issue of the present crisis in Tibet, drew his attention to the un-ending arrest and beatings suffered by Tibetan peaceful demonstrators in Nepal from the Nepal police. The trio was very responsive to our concerns. Mr. Bannett promised to deliver the Appeal to the Secretary General in New York and also brief Madam Louise Arbour, share information with Mr. Ian Martin in Kathmandu. UN-OHCHR-Nepal has a team in place under Mr. Johan Olhagen, Head of Kathmandu Regional Office to help the Tibetan protesters. They shared copies of their Press Release of 17&24/3/08 emphasizing on the right to peaceful assembly and expressions and showing concern on wide spread arrests in Nepal. Particular reference was made to “deportation or threat of deportation”. They advised us to let them know immediately if any such incident occurs, indicating that they are in a position to stop such unfortunate incidents.

B)    Planned activities decided at today's NTSC Meeting.

1.      Following directive from TSC black-cloth arm band shall be tied at 9 am on 30/3/2008 by all Tibetans.
2.      Tibetan Flag hoisting on every Tibetan house is left on the will and choice of every individual in view of the sensitivity of the matter in Nepal.
3.      A Candle Light Prayer March is to be organized to around the Lingkor of
Swoyambu.
4.      Starting from Sunday (30/3/08) a non-stop 72 hour Dolma recital is to be commenced. The number of attendee during night will be limited.

C)    Arrests and injured (28/3/2008)

1.      21 protesters, mostly students of Srongtsen Brikuti High School climbed over the wall of the UN complex in Pulchowk and delivered petitions. They were arrested and released at 1600 hours. No injury.
2.      38 protesters were arrested at Baudha and released at 1400 hours. No injury.
3.      88 protesters were arrested from Pulchowk UN complex area and kept at the Police Hospital complex at Maharaj Gunj. All released at 2100. No injury.
4.      11 protesters arrested at Pulchowk and detained at Jawalakhel. Released at 2100 hours. No injury.
Total arrested today 158. All released. No injury.

D)    Shabrim recitals on 27/3/2008:

1.      Dolma Gyeypa 1,53,745
2.      Dolma Dhueypa 3,50,207
3.      Dolma Zung 1,63,855
4.      Mani            76,99,778
5.      Vajra Guru 12,19,879
6.      Tamding Zung 11,26,105

Australia - TIBETAN PEACE RALLY and PRAYERS

The Tibetan communities of New South Wales and the ACT will hold a peaceful rally on Friday, 28 March from 11.00 am at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra to protest against the crackdown on Tibetan human rights protesters and China’s more than five decades of oppression in Tibet.

The rally will include speeches by former Tibetan political prisoners, the singing of the Tibetan national anthem and the delivery of a letter to the Chinese Embassy. It will be followed by a march to Parliament House at 12:00 noon for prayers and the reading of the names of Tibetans killed in the protests, which have been confirmed at 1:30 by the Tibetan Government in Exile.

‘We are here today to be the voice for the voiceless inside Tibet,” said protest organiser Tenpa Dugdak. “We are here to condemn unequivocally the Chinese Government’s policies in Tibet. We are also here in the nation’s capital to urge the Australian Government to do more to stand up for human rights in Tibet.”

Despite international calls for Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to engage in genuine dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Chinese leadership continues to launch baseless attacks on the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and continue its crackdown in Tibet.

However, with the eviction of all foreign media from Tibet and China’s dark record of torturing Tibetan political prisoners, there are grave fears that the Chinese authorities will extract a vicious revenge on the thousands of monks and ordinary Tibetans who have stood up for their human rights since protests began on March 10, the 49th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day.
“By banning independent media in Tibet, the Chinese Government is trying to hide its actions behind a great red wall of propaganda,” said ACT Tibetan Community President Tsering Deki.

“For the sake of the hundreds of arrested Tibetans who are in real danger of torture and horrible mistreatment, the international community, including the Australian Government, must pressure the Chinese Government to allow independent fact finding delegations into Tibet to uncover the truth behind China’s repression of Tibet.”

With the international spotlight burning brighter than ever on Chinese oppression of Tibet in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics, Australia’s Tibetan community will continue to voice its objection to the Chinese Government’s policies, including with a peaceful demonstration during the Canberra leg of the Olympic torch relay on April 24.

Hungary -

Hungary Human rights group protests against violations in front of Chinese embassy
Budapest, March 28 (MTI) - Members of Freedom Circle, a human rights group including politicians of the main opposition Fidesz party, released white doves in front of the Chinese Embassy in Budapest on Friday in protest against violations of Tibetans' human rights.

Jozsef Szajer, head of the Fidesz delegation in the European Parliament, noted that human rights were being grossly violated in China, including Tibet.

Zoltan Balog, head of Parliament's human rights committee, said that human rights are universal rather than the internal affairs of any country. It follows that those who speak out for their enforcement are not interfering in internal affairs.

The doves set free carried slips of papers on their legs with inscriptions, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right of assembly, freedom of the press.

Also, this morning at 0930, seven Tibetans and Tibet supporters gathered at compound of Hungarian Olympic office for peaceful demonstration and we submitted petition concerning the recent violent crisis in Tibet. We request to consider Tibet situation before attending Beijing Olympics in August.

There was also significant news that Hungarian Human rights Committee and Left wings party held peaceful demonstration in front of Chinese Embassy against recent Chinese brutal crack down in Tibet. They also threatened the Chinese Embassy to change Hungary’s policy towards China if Chinese government does not obey international human rights law.

Switzerland -

On Tuesday 25th March Tibetan Community in Switzerland & Liechtenstein and supporters (over 500 people) held a peaceful demonstration through Geneva city to UNHRC where they delivered a memorandum to the Human Rights High Commissioner. They proceeded further to UNO Office where Swiss National Parliament member Mr. Ueli Leuenberger (Green) and Chithue Sonam Monkhar spoke about present crisis in Tibet and called for immediate action from UNO, Swiss Government and international community. A memorandum for UN Secretary General was handed over to UNO official.

Before my arrival here Tibetan Community in Switzerland & Liechtenstein had carried out following actions:

On 14th March 2008 observed 49th anniversary of TENTH MARCH 1959 in front of Chinese Embassy in Bern. Over 600 people
On 15th March demonstration in front of Chinese Consulate General in Zurich, over 1300 people
On 18th March candle light prayer gathering at Helvetia Platz in the middle of Zurich city. Over 1500 people

For photos please visit www.tibetswiss.com

Ladakh -
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES:
1. 27th March 2008: Fifty people from camp number seven sat for 24 hours hunger strike.
2. 28th March 2008: Fifty people from camp number eight sat for 24 hours hunger strike.
3. 28th March 2008: Sixty local people from Leh sat for 24 hours hunger strike organized by the Ladakh Parents Association to express their solidarity to the ongoing Tibetan movement.
4. As per the guidelines of Tibetan Government, the public in general is regularly doing prayers at their respective camp's community hall.

Dharamsala -
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES:
1. 28th March 2008: Prayers are continued to organize at Tsuglakhang along with Sangsol at Lhagyalri.
2. Over 1500 people gathered at Tsuglakhang to mourn for the crisis in Tibet. An official from Kirti monastery briefed the gathering over the Chinese activities where hundreds of Chinese soldiers conducted a thorough search of the entire monastery complex of Kirti monastery in Tibet.
3. Later the candle light procession was carried from Tsuglakhang to Mcleod bus station.

Bangalore -
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES:
1. 28th March 2008: 500 Tibetan women from Bylakuppe, Hunsur and Kollegal sat for hunger strike from 9 am to 5 pm. They also depicted a short play to demonstrate the Chinese killing and torturing of Tibetans in Tibet.
2. The objectives and the guidelines of Tibetan Solidarity Committee and the ongoing movement were translated into Kanada and the same were distributed.
3. The Chairman of the Regional Solidarity Committee Tsering Youdon, MP addressed the gathering over the issues concerning guidelines of Tibetan Solidarity Committee and the activities of the Tibetan movement.

Spiti -
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES:

28th March 2008: A letter signed by Mr. Phuntsok Rai (Former Minister of the State of Himachal Pradesh), Ven Lobsang (Head lama of Tabo Monastery) and the heads of Panchayat Samiti's, Zila Parishad's, Pradhan's, Mahila Mandal's and especially the Bhikshu Sangha of five major monasteries of the Lahaul and Spiti district was sent to the honourable Prime Minister of India which refers the following issues concerning present situations in Tibet:

China should stop killing in Tibet.
HH the Dalai Lama is only demanding Autonomy, not complete independence for Tibet.
China should hold talks with HH the Dalai Lama who is the temporal as well as spiritual head of the Tibetans.
"Human Rights should be upheld in Tibet". We join with world community in raising this voice.
China is a member of the Security Council of U.N.O., so, the UNO should ask China to be true to the principles of this august world body.

The letter further added that India being immediate neighbour of Tibet - should pressure upon China on all above lines.