Tibetan Uprising

For Immediate Release
February 17, 2008

TIBETAN PEOPLE’S UPRISING MOVEMENT TO REINVIGORATE
THE TIBETAN FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Deckyi Tsering Hall, Lower TCV School, Dharamshala, India

Forty grassroots activists representing twenty-five Tibetan communities all over India were given an Advanced Training on Grassroots Activism and capacity building from February 15-17, 2008 at Lower TCV School, Dharamshala. This workshop strengthened the coordination of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement organized by five leading Tibetan NGOs; Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet, and Students for a Free Tibet (India).

Besides the heads of the five Organizations, the 3-day workshop was also deliberated by Mr. Karma Yeshi, Member, Tibetan Parliament in Exile and Editor in Chief, Voice of Tibet, Ven. Lobsang Jinpa, Editor, Sheja (Tibetan Newsletter), Mr. Tendor, Deputy Director, SFT Headquarters, New York and Mr. Lobsang Yeshi, Former Vice President, Tibetan Youth Congress. The training subjects include the Importance of Co-ordinated Movement, Contemporary Chinese Political Scenario, Strategy and Vision, Situation inside Tibet, Olympic politics, Media and Messaging, Non-Violent Direct Action and Fund-Raising Strategy.

The Return March to Tibet will form the crux of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. The March will show the world and China that even after five decades, Tibetans long to return to our homeland and live in a Tibet governed entirely by Tibetans. “The desire for a free and independent Tibet still burns in the heart of every Tibetan, both inside Tibet and in exile”, said Mr. Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress.

China is trying to use the spotlight of the Olympic Games to cover its atrocious human rights records and to legitimize its brutal occupation of Tibet. “With our coordinated uprising movement, we will steal the spotlight and expose the true face of China’s repressive regime”, adds Mr. Rigzin.

With the Olympics only six months away, it is time for Tibetans to take control of our future through a unified and coordinated resistance movement. “The 3-day training for the grassroots activists is a step towards attaining the coordinated mass movement” said Dr. B. Tsering, President of Tibetan Women’s Association. The workshop primarily focused at informing the grassroots leaders about the vision of the Return March to Tibet and at enabling them to represent the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement to their respective communities.

“I feel equipped to communicate the vision of the Return March to Tibet to my community members. This training empowered me as a grassroots organizer”, said Ven. Lobsang Tenpa, President of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Bandara.

Ms. Palmo, President of Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Mundgod Tibetan Settlement while participating in the workshop also stated, “I feel awakened about the Tibetan situation and the struggle and the need to contribute my utmost by being a part of this return march”.

The 2008 Olympics will mark the culmination of almost 50 years of Tibetan resistance in exile. The Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement will reinvigorate the Tibetan freedom movement and bring our exile struggle for freedom back to Tibet. Through tireless work and an unwavering commitment to truth and justice, we will bring about another uprising that will shake China’s control in Tibet and mark the beginning of the end of China’s occupation of Tibet.

Media Contact:
Mr. Tsewang Rigzin: +91 9805 247 259
Dr. B. Tsering: +91 9418 792 810
Ven. Ngawang Woebar: +91 9418 102 483
Mr. Chemi Youngdrung: +91 9418 069 179
Mr. Tenzin Choeying: +91 9816 368 335

Co-ordinators:
Mr. Tsering Choedup: +91 9418 221 605
Mr. Sherab Woeser: +91 9418 394 426
Mr. Lobsang Yeshi: +91 9418 390 416