Tibetan Uprising

Tibetan World
APR 25 - MAY 24 2008, Vol IV Issue 8

By Lex Pelger

The March to Tibet has been on the road since March 10 and now approach the Tibetan border. They likely will face another round of arrests in the next few days. You can follow their journey at the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement website: www.tibetanuprising.org

Tenzin Choedon wants to see her homeland for the first time. She declares, “I have always told my parents I was born in India but I want to die in Tibet.” The 24-year-old Tibetan girl gave up everything to be the nurse for the March to Tibet. She broke the contract for her first nursing job after college and will have to pay a 30,000Rs (750 USD) penalty to get back her nursing certificates. She left without telling her family because she knew they would not approve. “I have the world of my family, my schooling, my career and I have the world of freedom for my people. I choose to give up the first to work for the second.” She plans to cross the Tibetan border, facing torture or death from the Chinese police, and lances the blisters of monks and nuns along the way.

The March to Tibet began on March 10th when 100 Tibetan Buddhist monks, nun and laity started a walk to their homeland. Their plan: walk from Dharamsala through New Delhi and then cross the border into Tibet. Their demands: an end to the occupation of Tibet, a return of the Dalai Lama to his place as leader of the people, a release of all political prisoners and a cancellation of the Beijing Olympics. They want “to revive the spirit of the Tibetan national uprising of 1959, and by engaging in nonviolent direct action, bring about an end to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.”

Five Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) came together to form the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement that runs the March to Tibet. The Tibetan Youth Congress, the Tibetan Women’s Association, the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, the National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet, India had their first meeting to plan the march in November 2007. They said “the Chinese government is attempting to use the Olympic Games as a platform to gain acceptance as a global leader and to promote its propaganda on Tibet. Beijing sees this moment as an opportunity to legitimize its rule in Tibet once and for all. … It is time for Tibetans to take control of our future through a unified and coordinated resistance movement. We must now proclaim to the Chinese and to the world that the desire for freedom still burns in the heart of every Tibetan, both inside Tibet and in exile.”

The Beginning

The 100 core marchers (those planning to cross the border) woke the morning of March 10th to a meal of beans and puri before being loaded into the bed of two trucks, wearing the distinctive orange hats from the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. These bright hats proved quite useful later for identifying friends from a long distance. Each marcher carried the beautiful Tibetan flag with its distinctive sunburst and dual snow lions. As the trucks wound up the road to Dharamsala, the flags snapped smartly in the wind as these young peaceful soldiers stared forward resolutely into the rising sun.

The marchers filed through the cheering crowd at the Tsuklak Khang Temple in Mcleod Ganj and heard speeches to encourage them as they began their historic march. “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. “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” said Dr. B. Tsering, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association. The final speaker, Mr. Sergia Delia, a member of the Italian Parliament, flagged off the March to Tibet with words of encouragement to the marchers. Mrs. Asha Reddy, a long time Indian Tibet supporter, was the Guest of Honor of the ceremony.

Carrying a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading the march was the 67 year old Mewang Namgyal, an ardent Tibet activist ever since his escape from a five year stay in a Chinese labor camp at the age of 22. His message to his people: “On behalf of Tibetans in exile to all Tibetans inside Tibet, what you are doing under the Chinese guns we will appreciate and we’ll never forget you all.”

As the marchers filed out through the pressing crowd, everyone tried to shake theirs hands and shouts of “thank you” filled the air. Young men with painted faces condemning China stood next to families with Tibetan flags or older people with prayer beads in their hands. Some marchers stopped for blessings from the older people, crying on the edge of the crowd, who had not seen their homeland for so many years. The marchers walked silently in single file down the mountain followed by a roaring crowd of hundreds visible far up in the switchbacks of the road. Young Tibetan athletes led the crowd yelling Bhod Gya Lo while carrying the Torch for the Tibetan Olympics to be held on May 15 -25 in Dharamsala.

Problems began the first night when the Himachal Pradesh State Police issued a restraining order from the Central Government against the march for actions that may “culminate into endangering public tranquility and breach of public peace.” They were “not to leave the territorial jurisdiction of Kangra District till further order.” In front of the police, all 100 core marchers signed a statement of intent to continue marching. Tenzin Tsundue, the charismatic poet/activist emerged from the meeting with a wide grin and said, “The fight has just begun. We walk on!” …

The rest of this article is available in the current issue of Tibetan World.