Report on Global Activities of Tibet Groups on the 50th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising.
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GLOBAL ACTION For the 50th Anniversary, Raise the Tibet Flag Campaign posted flag packs to 137 Tibet Support Groups in 49 different countries around the world. In addition to encouraging individuals to raise Tibet’s national flag, this initiative was focused on mobilizing international TSGs to urge their local governments, schools and businesses to raise the Tibetan national flag on the week of March 10th. The flag pack included large, medium and small sized Tibetan national flags, brochures with the symbolism of the Tibetan flag and a letter writing template. The aim for raising Tibetan national flags in prominent public areas around the world was to generate awareness and solidarity amongst Tibetans and Tibet supporters alike. (Report: Raise the Tibetan Flag Campaign) |
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AUSTRIA The mayors of 190 cities, towns and communities throughout Austria raised the flag of Tibet on their city, town and community centers as a sign of support for Tibet. VIENNA: Around about 200 Tibetans and Austrian supporters demonstrated in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna on 10 March. The residents of the building across the street from the embassy displayed the flag of Tibet from their windows. This was then followed by a peace march from the chinese embassy to the center of the city. The film "What remains of us" was screened to a full house to kick off "8 Days in Tibet" - a series of films on Tibet to be screened 10-17 March. Also, the films "Tibet - History of a Tragedy" and "Murder in the Snow" were screened in Vienna. Sergiu Matei, the Romanian climber and cameraman who filmed the shooting of Kelsang Namtso at Nangpala was the invited guest and he spoke to the audience about his experience. Below are photos and a video clip from the protest. |
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At protest in Vienna, residents of building opposite the Chinese Embassy in Vienna display the flag of Tibet on 10th March 2009. |
| GRAZ: 10 March: a rally for Tibet was held. ------------ LINZ: 11 March: a rally and peace march was held. Media coverage (in German, including pictures of the rally and march in Linz): http://www.rundschau.co.at/rsooe/ooe/story.csp?cid=5036107&sid=77&fid=55 (Reports: Save Tibet - Gesellschaft zur Hilfe an das tibetische Volk) |
| AUSTRALIA More than 250 Tibetans and Tibet supporters gathered in Canberra to mark the 50th Anniversary. The day began on the lawns of Parliament House. MPs and Senators from all political parties took to the stage and spoke passionately in support Tibetans’ right to genuine autonomy and in condemnation of China’s intensifying crackdown. From Parliament House the group marched to the nearby Chinese Embassy for an emotionally charged demonstration condemning China’s worsening human rights abuses in Tibet. Video: http://www.atc.org.au/content/view/929/1/ (Australia Tibet Council) |
| BELGIUM In Brussels, several hundred people, including many exiled Tibetans, marched in the vicinity of European institutions and close to the Chinese Embassy. Also 200 Belgian municipalities raised the Tibetan flag in solidarity. |
| CANADA VANCOUVER: About 200 people gathered at the Chinese Consulate for speeches, prayers, and chanting slogans for 3 hours. The protestors then marched through downtown Vancouver, stopping for a few minutes to demonstrate at the offices of Hunter Dickinson/Continental Minerals (a mining company with operations in Tibet, in collusion with the PRC). The event closed with prayers at the Vancouver Art Gallery. In the evening a smaller group gathered for a candle-light vigil at the Chinese Consulate. |
| Also several hundred people marched on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and a thousand people demonstrated at the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. |
| CHILE On 10 March the film "What Remains of Us" was screened in Santiago. The event included talks and poetry reading (including Woeser's poem "Fear in Lhasa"). On 11 March a cycle ride for Tibet was held through the streets of Santiago which culminated with a protest outside the Chinese Embassy. (Pro Tibet Culture) |
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| COSTO RICA A protest against Chinese government was held by supporters in Costo Rica on March 10. |
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| CZECH REPUBLIC International Campaign for Tibet and Amnesty International organised a protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Prague, which attracted almost 300 people, despite the pouring rain. Signatures were collected calling on the Czech EU presidency to take action on Tibet. Further events took place in Brno, Olomuoc, Ostrava and Pardubice. The Czech Republic once again joined the Flag for Tibet campaign, with the Tibetan flag appearing in 356 town halls and 23 schools all over the country. Video of protest: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1077846396929 Flag for Tibet (in English): http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/domov/zpravy/zeleni-vyvesili-tibetske-vlajky-na-snemovne-a-ministerstvech/364799?id=364857 (Report: Tibet cesky) |
| Video and photos of a Tibetan flag waving at the Ministry of Environment, Prague, Czech Republic |
| DENMARK The Tibet Support Committee, Denmark, organised a demonstration at the Chinese Embassy in Hellerup, a northern suburb of Copenhagen, on 10 March. About 60 people participated, including two members of the Danish parliament, Ms. Pia Christmas-Møller and Ms. Pernille Frahm, who both made speeches and voiced their strong support for Tibetan freedom. The Dalai Lama's 10 March statement was read out and the Tibetan national anthem was sung. Fifty candles were lit in remembrance of 50 years of hardship for the Tibetan people under direct Chinese rule. The Chinese Embassy even taped up their letter box so that messages could not be posted. However, they got the message anyway! The Association for a Free Tibet, Denmark, held a publci event with 'stories and pictures from Tibet 2008'. The group also sent letters to the Danish Government calling for support for Tibet. (Report: Tibet Support Committee, Denmark and the Association for a Free Tibet, Denmark) |
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FRANCE PARIS: Nearly a thousand demonstrators marched from Montparnasse at Place de l'Alma to the Chinese Embassy. STRASBOURG: On the initiative of Italian Liberal MEP Marco Cappato, hundreds of MEPs sat in a plenary session with a Tibetan flag placed on their desk |
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| GERMANY Almost 1000 mayors across Germany (995 to be exact) hoisted the Tibetan flag on 10 March in their towns and cities. (Tibet Iniative Deutschland) Further details (in German): http://www.tibet-initiative.de/de/aktionen/kampagnen/tid_flaggenaktion/teilnehmer/teilnehmer_2009_nach_laendern/ http://www.tibet-initiative.de/de/aktionen/kampagnen/tid_flaggenaktion/ |
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HONG KONG Students for a Free Tibet and supporters held a candle light vigil in HongKong in front of the China Liaison Office. |
| INDIA In Dharamsala, on 12 March, the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) commemorated 50 years of the Tibetan women’s freedom struggle. TWA's all day event was attended by approximately 1,000 individuals representing nations from around the world. The morning public commemoration began with the singing of the national anthem, followed by the TWA anthem and a two-minute mourning for the women martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet. Following the opening ceremonies, TWA unveiled a new photo exhibition consisting of 151 pictures detailing the initial inception, the re-establishment in exile, and the growth of the organization into a global entity. TWA also launched a total of seven new publications in Tibetan, Chinese, and English languages. The flagship release, Breaking the Shackles: 50 Years of Tibetan Women’s Struggle, chronicles the history of the TWA and the women’s movement in general. TWA also organized a public participation art piece, allowing participants to express what the Tibetan women’s struggle means to them. Artists of all ages and nationalities took part, creating a thirty meter wide banner to be displayed at the Tsulagkhang temple. The commemoration concluded with a candlelight vigil and the screening of "A Quiet Revolution". The 49 regional chapters of TWA also held events to mark the anniversary, as well as participating in the Raise the Tibetan Flag Campaign and the signature campaign to appeal the European parliament on recognising teh Tibetan Government in Exile. (Report: Tibetan Women's Association) |
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Video report from RFA of the March 12 Tibetan Women's Uprising Day in Dharamsala (In Tibetan)
| INDONESIA An exhibition on Tibet was held in Jakarta from 20 February to 20 March. Films on Tibet were also screened throughout the four weeks. On 21 March a closing concert was held, "Heaven in Exile" which attracted several hundred supporters. The exhibition proved so popular that it was extended for a further 3 days. (The Roof of the World Foundation) (A video at the photo exhibition is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNuSNNptBIU |
| ISRAEL Tibet supporters from all over Israel gathered in the Tel Aviv Cinematheque on 7 March for a talk organized by the Israeli Friends of Tibetan People (IFTIP) to mark the 50th anniversary. The event began with a prayer for world peace in Cinematheque square, after the prayer about 200 people heard a brief summary of the situation in Tibet by IFTIP spokesperson Ran Natanzon. The main discussion of the talk was held on the subjects: "Non-violent struggle - Success or Failure? Is a non violent struggle between countries feasible? How is the struggle portrayed in the media? What is the gain and loss for the Tibetans?" Concluding the event was a screening of the award winning television documentary film "Tibet: Beyond Fear", preceded by opening words by the filmmaker Mr. Michael Perlman. (Report: Israeli Friends of Tibetan People) |
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Israeli Friends of Tibet organised a deomonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv. |
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| JAPAN 0n 10 March several hundred protestors gathered in Tokyo to mark the 50th anniversary. Many Buddhists organised a day of prayers for peace in Tibet. On 14 March nearly 400 protesters marched in the districts of Shibuya and Aoyama. |
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HUNGARY Tibet Support Association Sambhala Tibet Center and Tibetans commemorated the 50th Tibetan National Uprising Day. (Video footage of the protest) |
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LATVIA Latvia Tibet Supporters organised protest and candle light vigil to observe March 10, the 50th Tibetan National Uprising Day. Below is photos and a vido clip from the gathering. |
| MEXICO To mark the 50th anniversary, "Pensando en Tibet" (a Mexico City TSG) with the support of a group of climbers, carried the Tibetan flag and placed it on top of the third highest mountain/volcano in Mexico City. This mountain/volcano is called Iztaccíhuatl. The group of climbers, guided by David Dozal Domínguez, climbed 5220 meters above sea level,in order to place the Tibetan flag at the top. Pensando en Tibet also placed Tibet banners around the most busy avenues in Mexico City. With the banners, the group intends to inform citizens alike in Mexico City about the Chinese ocupation in Tibet, and about the suffering Tibetan people have gone through during the past 50 years. Photos of the climb: |
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| MORELIA, MEXICO Tibet support group, 'Pensando en Tibet's Morelia chapter organised a small film festival as well as chadle light vigil on March 10. |
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| NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND: 50 members of the small Tibetan community and Friends of Tibet (NZ) protested peacefully in front of the Chinese Consulate. For the first time the Chinese Consulate put up barbwire on top of their fence and had special security and a guard dog inside the gate. Later supporters gathered to hear Green MP Keith Locke speak about the issue of Tibet. Led by the Tibetan monks, about 150 members marched up the main street. In the evening a wreath was layed at the Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph to remember the brave Tibetans who lost their lives as direct result of Chinese occupation of Tibet. A minute's silence was observed, followed by the reading of the Dalai Lama's statement, prayers and the singing of the Tibetan national anthem. |
| WELINGTON: Protest outside the Chinese Embassy, leaflet distribution and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Wellington to lay wreath for the Tibetans who lost their lives. The Gyuto monks said prayers for Tibet. CHRISTCHURCH: A silent vigil for Tibet was held and information leaflets on Tibet were handed out. NELSON: The Dalai Lama's statement was read out on the church steps. DUNEDIN: Film screening of “Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion”. (Report: Friends of Tibet - NZ) |
| NORWAY 10 March was observed in many parts of Norway, including Alta, Trondheim, Stavanger, Lillehammer and Oslo. In Oslo the protest started at the Chinese Embassy followed by a rally. A film screening of "Leaving Fear Behind and a panel discussion was also held in Oslo. (Report: Norwegian Tibet Committee ) |
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PHILIPPINES (Report: Circle of Friends, Tibet) |
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POLAND On 10 and 11 March, over 27 cities in Poland held actions supporting Tibet. The most visible element of the all-Poland campaign was (15 km of) yellow & black “TIBET – OCCUPIED TERRITORY” tape. The tape was seen everywhere; on main squares, streets and monuments. In some cities actions for Tibet was organized for a first ever time. The actions were combined with lobbying activities. In Warsaw, the Chinese Embassy was symbolically 'occupied' when it was surrounded by the tape. A demonstration and canle-lit vigil were also held outside the Embassy. Other cities hosting TIbet actions included Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan and Katowice. In Gdynia a concert for Tibet was held. Organisations such as the Better World Association, Youth Wroclaw and Amnesty International also participated and supported the actions. There was a significant amount of national and media coverage. |
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| PORTUGAL In Lisbon, an evening protest took place outside the Chinese Embassy on 10 March. About 60 people took part. Speeches were made by Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete members, the China Group Director of Amnesty International, and a representative of the Portuguese Buddhist Union. Tibetan Buddhist mantras were sung and there was much chanting of slogans, such "Free Tibet" and "Human Rights for Tibetans". Background music of Tibetan music was played throughout the evening and the atmosphere was permeated with Tibetan incense. Five Chinese Embassy staff members came out to film the activities. Letters, calling for the release of Dhondup Wangchen, were sent to Chinese officials and a petition was signed calling for the implementation of the July 2000 European Parliament resolution. (Report: Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete) |
| SWEDEN On 7 March, Tibetans and supporters held a candle light vigil where Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen, special envoy of H.H. the Dalai Lama attended. Mr. Gyaltsen and Mr. Tsering Tashi, representative to London visited Swedish parliament. ------------------- On March 10 Tibetans Community in Sweden held a demonstration in front of the Chinese embassy. (See photos below) |
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| SWITZERLAND BERNE: Over 2500 protesters commemorated the 50th anniversary in Berne, the capital of Switzerland. In the square in front of the Swiss Parliament protesters called upon the Swiss Government to actively support a European-wide petition on Tibet. Tibetans and supporters then marched to the Chinese Embassy joined by monks of the Rikon Monastery and the local folkloric dance group. Fifty coffins were carried by young Tibetans to symbolically reflect the fifty years of Chinese suppression and to commemorate the victims of China's occupation of Tibet. (The rally was organised by the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the Women's Organisation in Switzerland, the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and the Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association.) Media report and video of protest: http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/2500-Tibeter-demonstrierten-auf-... ZURICH: On 27 March the first Tibetan film festival for short films took place in Zurich. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising, the organisers included in the programme the documentary "Undercover in Tibet". The festival, organised by Filming for Tibet in collaboration with the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and to become an annual event, focuses on short films that are produced by Tibetans or where Tibetans have played a major role as producer, scriptwriter or cameraman. |
| Also, across Switzerland, 120 buildings (including municipal buildings about hotels) flew the Tibetan flag. |
| TAIWAN Two cities and one county in Taiwan marked 10 March as "Tibet Day" to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The two cities were Kaohsiung City and Tainan and the county was Pingtung County. A function to commemorate the 50th anniversary was held at Central Park, Kaohsiung, attended by Madam Mayor Chen Chu, Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen, Representative of the Dalai Lama Mr. Dawa Tsering, Chitue Khedrup Thondup, President of Taiwan Friends of Tibet Chow Meili along with hundreds of Tibetans and Taiwanese supporters. |
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Here are video clips of media coverage received for the rally held in Taiwan on March 10 and March 14. March 14 rally: March 10 in Kaohsiung and March 14 in Taipei. March 10 at Liberty Square, Taipei |
| UNITED KINGDOM Approximately 1000 Tibetans and supporters marked the 50th anniversary on 7 March with a protest at the Chinese Embassy, a march through central London and a rally at Trafalgar Square. The special guest of the day was former political prisoner Palden Gyatso who addressed the crowds. In an emotional moment at the rally, as a gong was struck 50 Tibetans fell down as if dead in memory of those killed by the Chinese government since 1959. This was followed by a forceful ‘Uprising Song’ to which the prostrated Tibetans rose to their feet, each holding aloft the Tibetan flag. On 10 March a mass lobby took place at the Houses of Parliament, with 300 Tibetans and supporters turning out to call on their Parliamentarian to take action on Tibet. Earlier in the day a wreath was laid outside Westminster Abbey to remember those Tibetans who had died during the Uprising and occupation of Tibet. The day ended with a vigil outside the Chinese Embassy. (The march, rally, vigil, wreath-laying and mass lobby were organised by a coalition of UK Tibet groups: Tibetan Community in Britain, Tibet Youth UK, Tibet Society, Free Tibet Campaign and Students for a Free Tibet UK.) |
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| On 10 March a group of six young Tibetans staged a small "die-in" protest in the heart of London's Chinatown. The Tibetans lay on the ground for several minutes, each one holding a "missing" poster of a recent Tibetan or Chinese victim of Beijing's repressive policies towards those who speak out on the Tibet issue. The Tibetan cases highlighted by the protest were Paljor Norbu, Norzin Wangmo, Dhondup Wangchen and Tapey, a monk who self-immolated on 27 February. The Chinese cases were Liu Xiaobo and Hu Jia, both Chinese human rights activists who have been vocal in their support of Tibet and are both currently in detention. (Report: Students for a Free Tibet UK) |
| A mass lobby of Parliament was held on 10 March, with 300 Tibetans and supporters turning up at the Houses of Parliament to lobby their MP. Over 100 MPs were directly engaged, with supporters raising their concerns and calling for meaningful action on the Tibet issue. The day began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial for Innocent Victims of Torture to remember all those Tibetans who lost their lives fifty years ago and who have been tortured and killed ever since spanning half a century of Chinese government oppression. Following the lobby a delegation comprising of representatives from the coalition of UK Tibet support groups and former political prisoner Palden Gyatso visited Downing Street to deliver a letter to Gordon Brown. The day concluded with a sombre vigil opposite the Chinese embassy with candles and prayers. (Coalition of UK Tibet groups) |
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CHICAGO: About 600 people, including many young Tibetans, gathered in Chicago to take part in a vigil, prayers and a protest march for Tibet on 10 March. Participants came from the surrounding areas and states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky. After walking through the streets of downtown Chicago, the group proceeded to China's Consulate where they stayed in the pouring rain for more than 3 hours. The protesters recited prayers, chanted slogans, and sang Tibetan national songs at the Consulate. Speeches were given by leaders of Tibetan groups and Tibet support groups. Two TV stations filmed the event. (The event was coordinated by the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, Wisconsin Tibetan Association, International Tibet Independence Movement, Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, Regional Tibetan Women's Association of Minnesota, Students for a Free Tibet chapters of Minnesota, Madison, and Chicago, and Minnesota Tibetan Youth Congress.) |
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LOS ANGELES: The Tibetan Association of Southern California and Los Angeles Friends of Tibet co-sponsored a March for Tibet to commemorate March 10. Approximately 100 Tibetans and supporters gathered in front of Los Angeles City Hall for a brief demonstration and prayers, which was covered by TV and print media (both American and Chinese). After remarks by TASC and LAFOT officers, the monks then led a colorful procession of supporters with banners, signs, and Tibetan flags, for three miles through central Los Angeles to the Chinese Consulate. After reaching the consulate, a further demonstration was held, followed by further prayers and the singing of the Tibetan national anthem. Also on March 10, in Washington DC, TASC President, Namgyal Kyulo, joined Tibetans from northern California in the first “Tibet Lobby Day.” The group met with California senators and representatives to encourage support for Tibet issues. (The Tibetan Association of Southern California and Los Angeles Friends of Tibet) |
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| New York City, NY Thousands of Tibetans and supported started march across the Brooklyn Bridge and through Times Square headed onto the United Nations' Headquarter, where they held rally. The protesters continued their march toward the Chinese consulate. |
| SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA: On 10 March, in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Team Tibet - a coalition of five Tibetan and Support organisations - led a total crowd of nearly 1000 Tibetans and Tibet supporters in a series of events to commemorate the day with rallies, demonstrations, skits, songs of freedom, poetry reading and a range of speeches. A rally was held at Berkeley's City Hall, which flew the Tibetan flag throughout the day. The crowd then marched to the Chinese Consulate where a demonstration was held for a couple of hours. In the evening over 600 Tibetans and supporters gathered at the Union Square plaza at the heart of downtown San Francisco for the final event of the day, which included speeches and music by the Dharma Bums. The programme finished with prayers and a candlelit vigil. Videos: http://tanc.org/content/view/216/99/ Photos: http://tanc.org/march_10th/09/index.html |
| WISCONSIN: The Governor of the State of Wisconsin, Jim Doyle, issued a proclamation, recognising March 10 as Tibet Day and said "it is fitting that we recognise Wisconsin's Tibetan community and their plea for justice on this 50th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day". |
| WASHINGTON DC: On 10 March, hundreds of Tibetan and supporters demonstrated outside the White House and the Chinese Embassy. They were joined by Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng and former Tibetan political prisoner Ngawang Sangdrol. A Tibet Lobby Day was also held, where supporters met with their representatives on Capitol Hill. On 11 March the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary which, among other things, called upon the Obama Administration to recommit diplomatic, programmatic, and multilateral resources to promoting a solution for Tibet. Despite the Chinese government’s call to have the resolution scrapped, the vote was 422 to 1. |
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| URUGUAY In Montevideo, Tibet Patria Libre held a talk about Tibet and screened the film "What Remains of Us?" to commemorate the 50th Anniversary. The film screening was part of a film festival, "Four Days For Tibet", being held in Montevideo. Other events included a concert, readings and a talk by Dr. Namgyal Tsering. Present for the events was Tsewang Phuntso, the Liasion Officer of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Latin America. (Tibet Patria Libre, www.tibetpatrialibre.vox.com) |
by: Spring Digital