Wisconsin Tibetan Association march
A prayer for peace in Tibet
A prayer for peace in Tibet
By Heidi M. Pascual
It was a painful sight to behold — a group of people who couldn’t go
back to their “homeland” for fear of their lives; faces wrought with fear and
uncertainty for Tibetans left in a country ruled by another; a group of
people whose continuing struggle for freedom doesn’t have a clear end in
sight.
March 10, 2008 marked the 49th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan
National Uprising Day against China’s rule, which forced the Dalai Lama
and thousands of Tibetans to flee and seek refuge in India. A few days
before this year’s anniversary, however, was anything but peaceful in Tibet
when violent protests in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, left many Tibetans
dead (the numbers differed depending on who was reporting).
More than 400 Tibetans who now live in Madison, Wis. consider March
10 a day of mourning. As they do every year on this day, The Wisconsin
Tibetan Association (WTA) led by Lobsang Tenzin, marched to the Capitol
and expressed their sentiments: their gratitude to local supporters and their
plea to China to listen to Tibet’s grievances.
On March 15, Wisconsin Tibetans again gathered at the Library Mall for
a candle-light vigil on behalf of those who died in the Lhasa protests. Later,
they marched to the Capitol to pray for the dead, condemn the killings, and
to ask anyone who’d listen to support their cause.
WTA Pres. Lobsang Tenzin read a message from His Holiness, the Dalai
Lama, to wit:
“I am deeply concerned over the situation that has been developing in
Tibet following peaceful protests in many parts of Tibet, including Lhasa,
in recent days. These protests are a manifestation of the deep-rooted
resentment of the Tibetan people under the present government.
“As I have always said, unity and stability under brutal force is at best a
temporary solution. It is unrealistic to expect unity and stability under such
a rule and would therefore not be conducive to finding a peaceful and
lasting solution.
“I therefore appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and
address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through a dialogue with the Tibetan people. I
also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence.” (Note: The Dalai Lama threatened to resign as head
of the Tibetan government-in-exile if the violence continues.)
Tenzin’s own remarks, however, were pointed and directed to the Chinese, the Indian and the Nepali
governments. “We call upon everyone to condemn China for its continued violation of human rights and
denial of freedom (in Tibet),” Tenzin said. “We also call upon the Indian government who has given out
orders to arrest Tibetan participants in the ‘Return March to Tibet’ campaign starting in India. We also call
upon the governments of India and Nepal to release all politically detained Tibetans immediately. They
should stand up to their democratic ideals and not succumb to pressure from China.”
He deplored China’s “policy of encouraging Han migration to Tibet,” which, he believes, is a contributing
factor to increased tension there. He said Tibetans are frustrated with China’s repressive policies, anti-Dalai
Lama rhetoric, and religious restrictions. Tenzin added that China uses the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing
“to win acceptance for its repressive and restrictive policies in Tibet,” and called upon all freedom-loving
nations to condemn the killing of Tibetan demonstrators, lockdown of monasteries, and detention of Tibetan
monks and nuns who participated in the recent Tibetan protests.
View video footages at the following websites:
www.phayul.com
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/15/tibet.unrest/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/viedo_and_audio/default.stm
http://inthefield.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/14/tibet-in-turmoil/#comment-254
http://www.rfa.org/english/tibetan/2008/03/14/tibet_protest/
More information is available at:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org
http://www.savetibet.org
Summary of the Kashag Statement on the 49th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day
... “The mutually beneficial Middle-Way approach, which is envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama,
has been framed into a policy with the support of the great majority Tibetans in and outside Tibet. This was
further unanimously supported by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. On the basis of this policy, dialogue with
the Chinese government is ongoing. Subsequently, six rounds of talks have been conducted since 2002.
However, no concrete results have been achieved on the fundamental issue of Tibet. Moreover, there is
today, a heightened repression in Tibet and stepped up vilification campaign against His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. We are extremely disappointed by these unfortunate developments.
... “(W)e have categorically stated ... that we do not have any hidden agenda ... other than the basic
demand that they should implement the conditions for National Regional Autonomy as set forth in the
constitution of the People’s Republic of China ...”
also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence.” (Note: The Dalai Lama threatened to resign as head
of the Tibetan government-in-exile if the violence continues.)
Tenzin’s own remarks, however, were pointed and directed to the Chinese, the Indian and the Nepali
governments. “We call upon everyone to condemn China for its continued violation of human rights and
denial of freedom (in Tibet),” Tenzin said. “We also call upon the Indian government who has given out
orders to arrest Tibetan participants in the ‘Return March to Tibet’ campaign starting in India. We also call
upon the governments of India and Nepal to release all politically detained Tibetans immediately. They
should stand up to their democratic ideals and not succumb to pressure from China.”
He deplored China’s “policy of encouraging Han migration to Tibet,” which, he believes, is a contributing
factor to increased tension there. He said Tibetans are frustrated with China’s repressive policies, anti-Dalai
Lama rhetoric, and religious restrictions. Tenzin added that China uses the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing
“to win acceptance for its repressive and restrictive policies in Tibet,” and called upon all freedom-loving
nations to condemn the killing of Tibetan demonstrators, lockdown of monasteries, and detention of Tibetan
monks and nuns who participated in the recent Tibetan protests.
View video footages at the following websites:
www.phayul.com
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/15/tibet.unrest/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/viedo_and_audio/default.stm
http://inthefield.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/14/tibet-in-turmoil/#comment-254
http://www.rfa.org/english/tibetan/2008/03/14/tibet_protest/
More information is available at:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org
http://www.savetibet.org
Summary of the Kashag Statement on the 49th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day
... “The mutually beneficial Middle-Way approach, which is envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama,
has been framed into a policy with the support of the great majority Tibetans in and outside Tibet. This was
further unanimously supported by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. On the basis of this policy, dialogue with
the Chinese government is ongoing. Subsequently, six rounds of talks have been conducted since 2002.
However, no concrete results have been achieved on the fundamental issue of Tibet. Moreover, there is
today, a heightened repression in Tibet and stepped up vilification campaign against His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. We are extremely disappointed by these unfortunate developments.
... “(W)e have categorically stated ... that we do not have any hidden agenda ... other than the basic
demand that they should implement the conditions for National Regional Autonomy as set forth in the
constitution of the People’s Republic of China ...”