By Sanpo Tenzin
Milan, Italy April 17 – Together with the Tibetan Women’s Association, the Tibetan Community of Italy led a peaceful demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in Milan to voice against the continuing repression in Tibet.
Italian Radical Party representative Hon. Bruno Mellano joined the protest in support of Tibet. He condemned the authoritarian regime and called on all EU nations to take a firm stand against China’s repressive policy. Protestors demanded that Hu Jintao hold dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In his speech the Tibetan Community President, Mr. Thupten Tenzin lauded the courage and determination shown by the Tibetans in Tibet during the recent unrest and emphasized the need for the those in exile to commit more effort to our cause.
They also mourned the dead and a minute long silence was observed for the souls of the departed. A short prayer session was held at the venue with the Tibetan National Anthem being sung soon afterwards.
While the Chinese Embassy in Rome had invited representatives from various Italian regions at it’s headquarters April 17, to narrate their version of the story in Tibet, President Franz Pahl of the Autonomous Region of Sud Tirol Council in their Press Release rejected the invitation as a sign of protest against the CPC and violation of Tibetans peoples right. They also condemned Communist Chinese for illegally occupying Tibet and violating human rights in the nation.
President of the Tibetan Women’s Association, Dechen Dolkar led a separate group of protestors in front of the Chinese embassy and did manage to after all draw attention of those representatives who had accepted the invitation and assembled at the Chinese Consulate.
