Tibetans organise protest to mark 60th Uprising Day

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 10

Tibetans-in-exile today organised a protest on the 60th anniversary of their Uprising Day against China in 1959. The protest march started from the main temple of the Dalai Lama in McLeodganj and ended in police ground in Dharamsala.

The Tibetan exiles and their supporters from across the world participated in the protest march.

President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Lobsang Sangay said they would observe 2019 as year of commitment for return of the Dalai Lama to the Potala Palace where he belongs.

Sangay said the Kashag dedicated 2018 as the “Year of Gratitude.” Accordingly, we began with “Thank You, India” and ended with “Thank You, America” programmes, he said.

To ensure that Tibet’s freedom struggle marches forward, the Kashag today officially declares 2019 as the “Year of Commitment.”

He said 60 years ago on this very day in 1959, the Tibetan people rose up against the occupying Chinese army. “Over the last six decades, the government in Beijing has brutally repressed the Tibetan people, denied us our basic rights and has consistently pursued systematic policies to crackdown on Tibetan language, culture, unique identity, and spiritual practices. In essence, China has deliberately aimed to eradicate Tibet’s civilization from the face of this earth, he said. “The assaults on Tibet and her people have always been multi-pronged. Over two million Tibetans, particularly nomads, have been forcibly removed from their ancestral land and relocated into large-scale ghettos without any alternative opportunities to lead a dignified and traditional life”, Sangay said.

“As a resentment to these harsh and repressive policies, 153 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009 with the most recent one committed by a 23-year-old man named Dopo on November 4, 2018. While committing self-immolation, the protestors have called to restore freedom for Tibetans and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet”, Sangay said.

“The CTA today represents the aspirations of Tibetans inside Tibet and Tibetans-in-exile scattered over 40 countries around the world. It oversees 71 Tibetan settlements, 276 monasteries and nunneries and 68 schools. Our 13 offices of Tibet serve as official liaison channels in as many countries”, Sangay said

He said the Chinese government assumes that the issue of Tibet will fade with time. “But our experience of over half-a-century makes us believe otherwise” he said.