Category: 
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2008
Contact:
Tsewang Rigzin: +91 9805247259
Tenzin Choeying: +91 9410936743
Tenzin Choedon: +91 9756969133
50 MARCHERS ARRESTED CLOSE TO INDO-TIBET BORDER AS CHINA CHANGES TIBET OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ROUTE
Pithoragarh - Around 9:30am, Indian police arrested 50 Tibetans on their March to Tibet as they entered Dharchula, the last Indian township before the Tibetan border. In groups of 4, the marchers approached the blockade of police officers, attempting to break through in order to continue on their way. The 200 police officers forcefully loaded the groups one at a time onto two waiting buses. It is currently unclear where they will be taken.
“For 100 days we have marched in solidarity with our Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet who continue to suffer under China’s brutal crackdown,” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress. “The Tibetan nation is under siege at the moment and China’s parading of the Olympic Torch through our nation’s sacred capital Lhasa is adding insult to injury. We are as determined as ever to keep up our nonviolent struggle until Tibet is independent.”
Yesterday, Chinese Olympics officials announced another change to the Olympic torch relay. Beijing Olympic torch relay official Li Lizhi said that the torch would go to Xinjiang for the next three days, and then head to Tibet. Chinese officials have kept the new torch relay plans secret, refusing to confirm the date of the torch’s arrival in Tibet or the new route. Some media articles have cited sources in Lhasa reporting that the torch will arrive in the Tibetan capital on Saturday, June 21st. Chinese Olympics officials previously reduced the time the torch would spend in the Tibetan Autonomous Region from three days to a single day in Lhasa.
“In addition to tanks and troops in Lhasa, Chinese authorities are now shrouding the Tibet torch relay in secrecy,” said Tenzin Choeying, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet India. “The secrecy and repression surrounding the Olympic torch relay in Tibet betrays the fundamental insecurity of China’s brutal occupation.”
Following a 13 day stand-off with hundreds of Indian police at their camp at Banspatan, 265 Tibetan marchers resumed the March to Tibet on June 4th and were arrested the same day by police at Berinag, approximately 180 kilometers from the Indo-Tibetan border area. On June 9th, the 50 Tibetans arrested today restarted their march in Berinag, and have been constantly surrounded by Indian police since then.
According to sources inside Tibet, China has recently deployed additional military troops on the Tibet side of the border with orders to shoot any Tibetan who might come from Tibet toward the Indian border to support the marchers.
“After 100 days of marching, the Indian government has arrested these 50 peaceful marchers who are following Gandhiji’s tradition of ahimsa,” said Dr. B. Tsering, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association, who was arrested with the marchers. “India has the spiritual and moral duty to help Tibetans in their nonviolent struggle against Chinese colonization. The Indian government must recognize that these Tibetans are not a threat to Indian security. China is the real threat.”
The March to Tibet started on March 10th from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and reached Dharchula after traversing through many states. Tibetans living in exile in India launched the March to Tibet as part of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. On the same day that the march was launched, monks from monasteries in Lhasa, as well as in eastern Tibet, led nonviolent demonstrations, shouting slogans supporting the Dalai Lama and independence for Tibet. Chinese authorities brutally suppressed peaceful protests that continued for days, leading to rioting in the capital and a wave of large public demonstrations that have rippled across the country.
The March to Tibet and the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement aim to revive the spirit of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 by engaging in nonviolent direct action to bring about an end to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.
There are 19 comment(s) so far ;)
The dedication and resolve of all the marchers has profoundly effected world opinion about the necessity of a Chinese free Tibet. Let us all continue this struggle for justice and may the Tibetan Flag once again fly gloriously on every home in Tibet. Much thanks to all those that gave so much especially our dear brother, Pema Tashi, who gave his life. I will always smile when I remember his beautiful smile and happy way. To the elders thank you for never giving up. You have inspired me to live my life with purpose. When I walk and pray around the Stupa here on Maui, Hawaii I will always be walking with you back to Tibet. Please come for a visit and rest until the next march begins. Bod Gyalo
One aim for all and all for one aim..one and only one aim = a free Tibet.
My deepest respect and gratitude to you all
just do it. We did in Paris. We are doing it and we will do it. We are always with you. Free Tibet.
bold and daring patroits
message is clear, heard by all
heart is nearby, indepencence is close by
move your heart, every step been counted
justice is only the weapon.
FREE TIBET
“According to sources inside Tibet, China has recently deployed additional military troops on the Tibet side of the border with orders to shoot any Tibetan who might come from Tibet toward the Indian border to support the marchers.”
You probably don’t want to make things up like this. The Chinese are smarter than this. They can just round you up exactly like what Indian police did. Why would they want to shoot you when torture might work much more effectively (they learned this from U.S.)? Also, you are just 50 un-armed people, why would they need “additional military troops” to take care of you? What do you you think you are? Commandos?
Make your case. But you shouldn’t make things up. You earn no respect, but despise, from people by doing that.
As I read about the Long March to Home, my fading dreams seem to revive and feel myself fired up to take a determined flight them and become a part of their outstadning courage and attempt.May goodness empower them with all the blessings. I salute them with all my heart.
Please, I know I have no right to ask but I ask you to never give up. Tibetans are teaching the world by example. Walk in peace, but never ever give up! You have much support around the world that you may not even know about.
I am not tibetan, or Buddhist, but my prayers and my thoughts and my heart are with you in your long struggle. Please continue for the sake of my Tibetan friends Pasang, Tenzin, Tsering and Nawang in London, dreaming of home.
Sylvia,
Yorkshire,
England.
Thanks you all brave marchers, beloved brothers and sisters, we all Tibetans in side Tibet are with you!
Bod gyallo!
walk on!
we pray for your wel being and for your freedom!
Bod Gyallo!
Such dedication and courage!
Bod Gyalo!
It is just ironic that what the British were doing to Gandhiji and the Indian freedom fighters are being done to the Tibetans today. The very sons and daughters of those protesters are now the one’s using force to break the Tibetans peaceful expression. India has to wake up, it is not the Tibetans who are posing a threat to India, it’s actually the very same country they are trying to help.
Truly this is a carzy world.
“You probably don’t want to make things up like this. The Chinese are smarter than this. They can just round you up exactly like what Indian police did. Why would they want to shoot you when torture might work much more effectively (they learned this from U.S.)? Also, you are just 50 un-armed people, why would they need “additional military troops” to take care of you? What do you you think you are? Commandos?”
(SEE PREVIOUS POSTING)
For someone who have not experience a death within the family line, or didnt have a direct experience with brutally so gross that it almost borders total madness will never understand the Tibetans. One does not make something up if it involves the most precious thing you have, your life. Knowing the Communist Chinese, going back thru all those years or more than a million death, and six times lives destroyed or changed forever is an extreme humble experience.
The Chinese government is desparate, there is no denying, if a government like China is afraid of a simple monk (the Dalai Lama) who teaches non violence or if this same government is afraid of a young girl that she should be tailed 24 hours in Beijing (Lhadong Thetong of SFT) then this same government could shoot 50 unarmed marchers. When a scared animal is trap or cornered, it would do anything. Same thing with China right now, it is on a defensive position whether they will accept it or not.
These Tibetans had earned respect from people worldwide. For someone to post such arrogant posting (see above) without knowing the facts and could not even list one’s name, more likely is the one overstating the facts. Who has been telling all the lies, these marchers or the one’s they are marching to.
They need our support, whether be financial support, or mental praying support or message support or whatever support for their safely reaching Tibet. This is Wake up call for entire exile Tibetan and supporters to stand up behind them.
Remember how Gandhi ji has successfully practised Satyagraha movement in India during British invasion on India. Our Tibetan peace marchers are another type of Satyagraha movement. This movement makes us all proud and it proves to the world that we Tibetan are peace lover and following non violence method. Dont get loose your heart.
I would like to clarify my points in response to Lester Padriga.
Nobody is denying or hinting the Chinese don’t want to shoot you. They probably want to shoot you a thousand times, even if they have killed your family as you claimed.
However you should have already though about, I doubt whether many people will believe that the Chinese will need additional military troops to take care of you 50 unarmed men. Your location and activities are well publicized. You are unarmed. Nobody in their right mind of thinking will believe additional military troops
are needed to take care of you. Local authorities would be quite sufficient. That’s not to mention that even if they do want to shoot you, they probably don’t want to shoot you now. Why don’t they round you up and keep you at a secret location and then use it as a bargain with Dalai Lama? I am sure Chinese leader would be quite tempting with that option as well.
What you are doing is pretty much a publicity stunt. You knew they won’t shoot you now. You knew you will be stopped/arrested by India police. You knew you won’t have to face the bullet. You keep pressing because you desperately need the attention.
You have mentioned one thing right. China is on a defensive position. What’s your position? Offensive? Provocative?
That’s why when you make such claims, you do not get respect. Tibetans have gotten a world of sympathy, but respect? I doubt it. I am sorry, Dalai Lama got the respect, but people like you don’t. And when you over spend the sympathy, you get nothing but the opposite.
If you want to impress the word, you still get a lot to learn.
Tibetan brothers and sisters,
Please see below the link to a u tube video done by a young brave Roman student, Agostino, concerning the march for Tibet freedom that took place on sunday, in Rome, and that was organized by the Tibetan Community in Italy, the Association of Tibetan Women in Italy and the Laogai Research Foundation Italy.
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=A81oFjAMAes
Thousands of students, citizens, people from all sides of the political spectrum including personalities like actress Tiziana Foschi, Parlamentarians like Lucio Malan, Bruno Mellano and Matteo Mecacci representatives of Rome Municipalities like Marco Clarke, Andrea Antonini, Ugo Cassone and Daniele Giannini marched, shouting loud and clear “Free Tibet” !!!
We were all marching in spirit with all the Tibetan Martyrs and the brave Tibetans marching towards the India-Tibet frontier. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LHASA AND IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AS MILLIONS OF HEARTS BEAT LOUDLY FOR TIBET FREEDOM… !
FROM ROME TO LHASA UNITED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM ! THIS IS OUR OATH : TIBET SHALL BE FREE !!
Toni
Bravo all the marchers. Our hearts and minds, as always, are with you. Through you we can feel the beauty of our country, the rivers, the mountains, the flocks of sheep and our brothers and sisters walking the fields and green pastures…
Tibet, the land of our ancestors, our home for thousands of years, is just a stone’s throw away from you. Thank you so much for your sacrifice, your hard work and keeping us the flame of Tibet freedom alive in all of us…Your sacrifice will not go wasted. Keep march for Tibet. We will follow you till the end of the world…
You have shown to the world that there is an alternative to hatred and violence by your peaceful and non-violent campaigns. I am sure the Indians will be proud to see that Tibetans have ensured the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi…
Seeing your determination and passion for Tibet, I am happy that Tibet is in safe hands…
Don’t get me wrong, I am not like you who want respect by posting pretentious ideas. I never mentioned I want respect, I am insignificant. What I want is respect for the Tibetan people self determination. Don’t be so defensive too, my posting is not meant to take any of your invincibility. I know what I’m doing; you should start to do so also.
Set up strong diplomatic relationships with India.
Be a part of the IndoTibetan Border Force. Now is not the time for peacefull marches and protests.
We need more tact/wit/deep inner strength to keep Chinese off Tibet.
Remove the fear in the Chinese at a deeper layer in their physce(minds). Once that is removed they themselves will become peacefull.
Regularly send them articles of love and messages of peace. Help them to reform themselves spiritually.
Help them to come out of the shadow of Mao.
With Indians opening up Chinese Trade , they will be Money forces comming into play.
We need more Tibetan businessmen and enterprenuers. Not just selling insence sticks.
Denouncing China needs more diplomatic effort at the UN and constant lobbying.