By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 10: Tibetan diaspora across the world commemorated the 62nd anniversary of Tibetan uprising day on Wednesday. The five Dharamshala-based NGOs marked the uprising by holding a massive demonstration with around 1000 protestors from all age groups and walks of life here today. The Tibetan government-in-exile, known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), marked the anniversary by holding an official event attended by President Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Pema Jungney and other CTA departmental heads.
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay addressed the event by marking the importance of 62nd anniversary, “Tibetans from all strata of society in capital Lhasa, being of one thought and feeling, rose in an unprecedented, spontaneous act of peaceful protest demonstration against the communist Chinese. It was a historic event whose effect touched the very essence of its purpose and opened a new chapter in the history of Tibet. It is therefore most important that this event in history be remembered for the sacrifices made by the patriotic Tibetan men and women of outstanding bravery for the sake of Tibetans’ religious heritage and temporal governance.”
Tibetan Youth Congress President Gonpo Dhondup told the demonstrators ahead of the peace march that the day is “crucial for the freedom movement which China claims to have disappeared from the Tibetan community”. Citing the recent custodial deaths of Kunchok Jinpa, Tenzin Nyima, Lhamo, and arrest of Tharpa in the Chinese prison, he said that these incidents proved the ongoing oppression in Tibet. He further urged the world leaders, parliamentarians and civil society groups to call out the CCP for committing genocide in Tibet, and help release all the political prisoners including the Panchen Lama.
Mass protests were reported from all across the globe, spearheaded by Taipei’s demonstration ahead of 10th March, with other events virtually recorded on various Tibet support groups’ social media accounts. According to Voice of Tibet, 50 TYC activists have been detained after storming the Chinese embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday. Moreover, the Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue also joined the March 10 event at Jantar Mantar after he finished his #WalkAMileforTibet campaign on Tuesday.
The CCP-mouthpiece Global Times on Wednesday also released an article titled, “70 years after peaceful liberation” that said their work in the past 70 years should be celebrated for its “historic progress in economic, social and human rights fields under the leadership of Communist Party of China (CPC).” It also claimed that some ‘anti-China’ forces have turned a blind-eye to the remarkable process, “They keep using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs.” It also accused the Tibet Policy Support Act for denigrating “China’s ethnic and religious policies” and for interfering in the “normal reincarnation process” of the next successor of the Dalai Lama.
