For Immediate Release
March 10, 2008
TIBETAN EXILES LAUNCH HISTORIC MARCH TO TIBET
Dharamshala – Tibetans in exile marked the 49th anniversary of the 1959 national uprising in Tibet with the launch of a historic journey homeward today. The March to Tibet commenced from Dharamshala, the exile home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. This initiative, organized by five leading Tibetan non-governmental organisations based in India and launched less than five months before China is set to host the summer Olympics, is aimed at both fighting the Chinese occupation of Tibet and reinvigorating the Tibetan freedom movement.
"The demands of this March reflect the true aspirations of Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile," said Mr. Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress. "With the Olympics in China, and the Chinese Government using this platform to legitimize its illegal occupation of Tibet, we are demonstrating that Tibet belongs to Tibetans and we will never give up until Tibet is independent."
The March to Tibet includes 100 Core Marchers, consisting of monks, nuns, the elderly, and youth who were born in exile and for whom this march provides the opportunity to see Tibet for the first time with their own eyes. Thousands of support marchers, including Tibetans, Indians and Westerners, accompanied the March to Lower Dharamshala, showing their solidarity.
"The March to Tibet, launched as China prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games, is a landmark event showing the Tibetan people's desire to return to their homeland," said Dr. B. Tsering, President of the Tibetan Women's Association. "Through this action we are demonstrating our commitment to bring an end to the continued suffering of the six million Tibetans living under the brutal Chinese occupation."
The Chief Guest, Mr. Sergia Delia, Member of the Italian Parliament, flagged off the March to Tibet after expressing his support and encouragement to the Core Marchers. Mrs. Asha Reddy, a long time Indian Tibet supporter, was the Guest of Honor of the ceremony.
In preparation for the March, the Core Marchers, volunteers and Organizing Committee members attended a three-day training on Non-Violent Resistance and Discipline from March 6 to 8, 2008, at Dolmaling Nunnery, Dharamshala. Speakers at the workshops included Mr. Rajiv Vohra, a Gandhian and Director of Non-Violence Peace Force Asia, Delhi, and Anand Sharma, Director of the Shimla branch of the Human Rights Law Network. The participants said that the workshops helped them further strengthen their commitment to the principles of non-violence and their conviction in the vision of the March to Tibet.
The Tibetan People's Uprising Movement is a global movement of Tibetans inside and outside of Tibet taking control of our political destiny. The March to Tibet, the heart of the Tibetan People's Uprising Movement, aims to revive the spirit of the historic national uprising of 1959, and by engaging in direct action, bring about an end to China's 60 years of illegal and brutal occupation of Tibet.
For more information please contact:
Campaign Coordinators:
Lobsang Yeshi: 9418 390 416
Tsering Chodup: 9418 221 605
Sherab Woeser: 9418 394 426 Dhasa / 9868 332 883 Delhi
Contact:
Tsewang Rigzin: 9805 247 259 (President, Tibetan Youth Congress)
B. Tsering: 9418 792 810 (President, Tibetan Women's Association)
Ngawang Woebar: 9418 102 483 (President, GuChuSum Ex-Political Prisoners' Mvmt)
Chime Youngdrung: 9418 069 179 (President, National Democratic Party of Tibet)
Tenzin Choeying: 9816 368 335 (National Director, Students for a Free Tibet India)
Other press releases
INDIAN GOVERNMENT BLOCKS TIBETAN RETURN MARCH
TIBETAN EXILES LAUNCH HISTORIC MARCH TO TIBET
TIBETANS LAUNCH HISTORIC MOVEMENT AHEAD OF BEIJING OLYMPICS
