Tibetan Uprising

Obituary for Pema Tashi

2008-05-11T14:58:01Z

A few days before his death, Pema Tashi told his best friend, Leki Dhondup, that “Tibet has given me so much and I want to give back to the cause. If necessary, I will contribute my life to the struggle.” On May 10, Pema drowned in the Kosi River at Kakri Ghat, Uttarakhand, during the March to Tibet.

Born in Arunachal Pradesh to non-Tibetan parents, he decided to become a monk by the age of six. Pema delighted his parents with his decision and journeyed down to Sera Mae Monastery to take his vows of monkhood. When he saw the announcement about the March to Tibet, he said, “I was happy because I had always wanted to see Tibet. I have lived in a Tibetan community for a long time and have always viewed Tibetans as compassionate people and this motivated me to join the march. Since I have made up my mind to go on this march, I am fearless.”

When arrested with the other 100 Core Marchers at Dehra, Himachal Pradesh, Pema said “I felt the agony and the status of a homeless refugee.” Once released from house arrest, Pema rejoined the march only to develop problems walking. They allowed him to switch to the tent building crew where he earned the reputation as a hard worker and a joker. In fact, everyone knew of Pema’s infectious joking and his friend Leki said, “he couldn’t be quiet for a minute.” He eventually got the nickname “Man of the March.” Other marchers would never refer to him as Pema. In fact, most didn’t even know that name. They simply called him “the Man.” It was said that without him on the march, there would be no joking.

As they approached what was to be Pema’s last campsite, he marveled at “the beauty of newly entered hills and felt a sensation of coming to his homeland.” After building the tents at the campsite, Pema jumped into the cold and cloudy water of the river, apparently hitting his head on a rock. He spent too long underwater and passed away a few hours later at the Almora Hospital. The entire march spent several hours in prayer for his soul and a team of monks stayed up all night praying over his body. His body was cremated the next morning with a mountain of katas.

To a hard worker, a lover of jokes and a warm person with a brave heart who died before he reached his home, everyone on the March to Tibet sends our prayers with you, Pema.

A Letter from Lhasa

2008-05-10T14:25:19Z

From Shadow Tibet
May 9, 2008

The following letter was written by a resident of Lhasa, who wishes to remain anonymous. It gives a personal account of the current situation and the tense atmosphere in the city:

Yesterday it was quite hot outside and the soldiers guarding one of the petrol stations had a big umbrella to protect them from the intense sunlight. Today it’s the opposite: cold, cloudy and even light snowfall as storm-fronts hover over the mountains and sometimes close in on the valley. Like the weather here in Lhasa the rules are quickly changing too. One day you can go nearly everywhere, the next, military checkpoints won’t let you pass. At the beginning of last week it seemed life was getting back to normal. Guards at the checkpoints relaxed and they seemed not as serious anymore, and overall, there was less military on the streets. But then suddenly heavy military presence was back. A few days ago, in the evening, I walked up Beijing Road. As I did, many military trucks passed me and there were patrols everywhere, only a few cars were to be seen driving around, and the streets were near empty of civilian people. The atmosphere was tense and made the young, normally childish looking soldiers, suddenly look scary.

Press Release: More Marchers Join March in Nainital

2008-05-09T13:30:49Z

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2008

More Tibetans join the March to Tibet as the March gets closer to Tibet:
48 new Tibetan marchers joined the March at Nainital

Nainital - 313 Marchers left today on the March to Tibet at 7 am from Nainital in Uttarkhand State after receiving more orientation on Non-Violent action for two days. The March will make its first day halt at Kainchi and will head towards Almora.

“As we get closer to the Tibet border, the Marchers are reinvigorated and more determined than ever to cross into Tibet and join our brothers and sisters to unitedly protest China’s brutal Occupation of Tibet” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress.

Photos from Nainital

2008-05-09T09:52:05Z

Biography of Marcher: Gedun Gyatso

2008-05-08T05:23:28Z

Gedun Gyatso, 27, grew up in the idyllic village of Podma in the Kham province of Tibet. He would spend his summers at the top of a mountain with five others young men protecting the village yaks from wolves and foxes with stones and slings. Gedun learned about Tibetan culture and history from his grandfather who had one relative killed and another imprisoned by the Chinese. Gedun grew up filled with anger at the Chinese and used his sling to break out the windows of Chinese military vehicles as they entered Tibet with soldiers and left with timber.

At 13, he fulfilled his childhood dream and entered the Podma Monastery near his village. After protests for independence at the nearby Sevo Monastery, the government intensified their “patriotic reeducation” campaign with the monks, stressing:

The monks should not follow the Dalai Lama.
They should not follow the Tibetan government-in-exile.
They must listen to Chinese officials.
The monks must love the People’s Republic of China.

Marchers reach their next destination

2008-05-06T13:52:20Z

Phayul
May 6, 2008

By Tenzin Chodon

Dharamsala - After sixteen days of tireless walking in the North Indian summer, marchers have finally reached Nainital, a town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Nainital or ‘Lake district of India’ was the only route mentioned by the organizing committee on their march to Tibet.

The 270 marchers who arrived in town this afternoon were welcomed by the Sweater Sellers Association and the Tibetan Khampa Association with ceremonial Tibetan scarves. Residents carried Tibetan flags and cheered the marchers as they made their latest stop. Regional TYC along with the other two associations have arranged for their stay as a gesture of goodwill and encouragement.

Biography of Marcher: Gyaltsen Wangchuk

2008-05-08T05:24:06Z

At the age of 16 with his political awareness already resolved, Gyaltsen Wangchuk set out for Lhasa on the morning of March 3, 1989, with three fellow student monks from Nyethang Monastery. They started marching around the Tibetan capital waving the banned Tibetan flag. People began joining them in droves. This was the beginning of the Tibetan People’s Uprising of March 1989 - the most broad-based and significant citizen’s revolt by Tibetans against Chinese rule until the uprising of this year. For three days, these four teenage monks from a rural monastery roamed the sacred city, stirring up the emotions of the people. By day four, with a police station burned, police vehicles vandalized, rocks being hurled at Chinese security police and soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army, Gyaltsen and his companions slipped back to their monastery. They were arrested there on April 3, 1989 by local police with submachine guns who recognized him from photographs from the protests. Six jeeps came to take them away in handcuffs.

Marching For a Free Tibet

2008-05-06T12:41:12Z

The Daily News Journal
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

May 5, 2008

Pema Richeson and her parents moved to Rutherford County in 1996. These days, the 2003 Oakland High School graduate is thousands of miles away in India, marching to Tibet with a group of freedom marchers.

The 23-year-old is involved with Tibetan Freedom Movement and is a communications/media team member for the March to Tibet. As China prepares to host the Olympics this summer, international attention and activism has increased surrounding Tibet, a region that has long sought freedom from China’s control.

“The March to Tibet is an initiative launched by five leading Tibetan non-governmental organizations in Dharamsala, India, exiled-home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile,” said Richeson from India. “(It) currently has 250 core members who are committed to walking to Tibet, and eight Western support marchers. The aim of the march is to raise awareness about Tibetans’ plight.”

Day 57 Update from the March

2008-05-06T11:49:20Z

The marchers started as usual at 6am and walked 20 kilometers through woods, and began marching uphill into the foothills. The weather was extraordinarily pleasant with a light shower and cool breeze. Along the way, the marchers sang patriotic songs and enjoyed the cool weather.

The Additional District Magistrate of Nainital permitted to the marchers to camp at the Public Works Department rest house in Jeolikote, Nainital District. Mr. Govind Rawat, the village leader generously provided water for the marchers.

Many marchers found the evening particularly cold after the heat of the plains.

Biography of Marcher: Tenzin Dawa

2008-05-08T05:24:18Z

At 17 years old, Tenzin Dawa is the youngest member of the March to Tibet, and represents well the young generation of Tibetans concerned about their future. He grew up in the Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement in Dehradun with his mother and two older siblings. His mother supports them by weaving Tibetan aprons. Tenzin attended Tibetan schools with a focus on the language and culture of his homeland. He has traveled throughout India and Nepal singing Tibetans songs at concerts. Tenzin plans to join the orchestra division of the Indian army to improve his skills while earning money for his mother.

With an easy laugh and a passion for football, he has made many friends since he joined the march at New Delhi, especially among the monks. Tenzin says he joined the march because while in India, “You’re not in your own country and you haven’t seen your own country. I always wonder when I can see Tibet and often pray that I can see Tibet as soon as possible. If I am able to cross the border, I would be able to see Tibet. But on both side there’s a possibility of prison but I will bear any suffering.” Tenzin is an inspiring and determined young man who’s fun to be around.