Taipei – Hundreds of people in support of a free Tibet took to the streets in Taipei on Saturday, marking a year since last year’s bloody crackdown on Tibetan protesters in Tibet. In addition to the Tibetan Youth Congress’ Taiwan chapter, more than 30 student and civic groups marched with the Tibetans in solidarity.
In addition to protesting China’s continuing occupation of Tibet, the protestors also called upon the Taiwanese government to permit the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan.
Shouting slogans such as “China, get out of Tibet” and “Free Tibet, Go Taiwan”, the protesters marched and raised the Tibetan flag and portraits of the Dalai Lama.
The chairman of the Taiwanese chapter of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tashi Tsering, said, “Tibet is a mirror of Taiwan,” and warned that Beijing’s ultimate goal is annexing Taiwan.
The Dalai Lama visited Taiwan twice in the past, once in 1997 and again in 2002. However, President Ma Ying-jeou, who took power last May and is trying to improve Taiwan’s relations with China, has ruled out a visit by the spiritual leader of Tibet for now, saying it is not a good time for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan.
