Tibet
The Solidarity actions around the world in the support of present crisis in Tibet.
Date: April 7, 2008
Bylakuppe - MONLAM CHENMO (Mass Prayer) On 6th April 2008, at Bylakuppe, about 8,000 Tibetans and supporters gathered at Old Palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the mass prayer day. The Settlement Officer read the Circular on Monlam Chenmo. At Kollegal, around 3,000 people gathered at Old palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Two prominent lamas, Ven. Bhakyoe Rinpoche & Ven. Tanak Rinpoche, settlement officers, other associations & organizations' heads all were present. At Hunsur, around 508 Tibetans gathered at Gyurmey Monastery hall at 8:00 a.m. All students, staffs, Abbot of Gyuermey monastery, Zongkar Choede Abbot, Ugenling monastery administrator all attended. 1,275 monks held Monlam Chenmo prayers at their respective monasteries. In the evening, around 700 peoples participated in the candle light vigil and 100 supporters shaved their head. They observed 2 minutes of silence for Tibetans brothers & sisters who lost their lives under the Chinese suppression. At Bangalore, roughly 200 people gathered at Tibetan Youth Hostel auditorium. Ms. Tsering Youdon, Member of Parliament-in-exile led the prayer session along with Mr. Wangdu Tsering, Representative, Dhondenling Tibetan settlement, Kollegal, OCR Staff, other organizations & associations, college students, students of ISTL, Nelamangala and general public all attended the prayer session. In the evening, 400 students from CST Bylakuppe, CST CVP Bylakuppe, SOS TCV Bylakuppe, CST Hunsur & CST Kollegal assisted by Bangalore local Tibetans carried out candle light vigil from Bananappa Park to Gandhi Statue, Cubbon Park, MG Road. Many media press were there to show their sympathy and curiosity at the sight of small children participation in protests against the Chinese Crackdown on Tibetan protestors. Ms. Tsering Youdon (MP), Mr. Kunga Dorjee (Chief Representative), Mr. Ngawang Dorjee (Principal of TCV Higher Studies) all addressed the crowd. The Chief Guest was Mr. Kanika Raj, Secretary of National Students Union of India, Karnataka State. Nepal - 1.Shabten recital during yesterday’s Monlam Prayer Congregation in accordance with TSC global circular ( 6th April, 2008):
2. NPTSC Pokhara had 500 participants for their mass prayer event. 3. Visit of French Senator Mr. Thierry Repenten “The struggle of the Tibetans is well known internationally and the people of France is also well aware of it. My presence here today is to show proof of the support to you from the people of France. My country supports your fight for your rights because you have adopted the non-violent way to achieving your goal. Your movement has received popular attention in France because international and French media too has shown and reported your protests and the harsh treatment you have received in Kathmandu. Your struggle has great support internationally and you have great support in France. 300 members of the French Parliament signed a resolution to support you and your movement. I, with some of my colleagues, have been to Lhasa and Shigatse 2 years back, in 2006 and I have personally seen what was happening there. Many of us, from the elective branch of the French polity, the members of the French Parliament are working on an agenda that the President receives and hosts His Holiness the Dalai Lama to France in August on an official level. This will be the first time of such an event. We are demanding China to immediately end the use of force in Tibet. And we are urging the United Nations to organize and dispatch an independent fact- finding delegation to Tibet to find and assess the true facts of the events that has occurred there. Finally I am going to hand-over to your representatives a Tibetan flag that I have brought from France. This is to symbolize my support to you. In France the Tibetan flag is hoisted and flying together with the French flag on the roof of many Town and City Halls.” (Tibetan flag unfurled and handed-over to Kungo Trinley la) On his way out, the Senator was crowded with Tibetans who expressed their grief and anguish for their brethrens in Tibet. 4. TSC Global Action: All women who were present at the prayer congregation were dressed in black chupa (Tibetan dress) and white blouse to express their solidarity. Fours barbers were hired by sponsor Khamsum Wangdue la to come to Baudha Welfare Office premises. (See pictures) 5. NTSC delegation meets with representatives from U.S. Embassy, Nepal: New York - The organizers of the Interfaith Prayer Ceremony include The Congregation of B'nai Jeshurun, The Interfaith Center of New York, Jewel Heart, the Buddhist Council of New York, The Temple of Understanding, New York Open Center, The Tibet Fund and The Gere Foundation. "This situation is indeed very, very sad. It is clear that the Chinese authorities have had complete control over Tibet for 50 years but have failed to win the heart of the people. My hope is that there be no violence and peaceful demonstrators arrested by the authorities are released immediately," said Ven. Gelek Rinpoche, Founder of the Jewel Heart.
Expressing his support for the event, Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Founder of the Interfaith Center of New York said, "The interfaith community of New York: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Native Americans, are honored to support the Tibetan People in their struggle for religious and cultural freedom." Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Tashi Wangdi expressed his profound disappointment over the continued crackdown on Tibetan people and urged the Chinese leadership to bring an immediate end to the brutality against Tibetans. "The gathering was, without a doubt, a very successful and moving experience for everyone who attended. I believe this was a truly special occasion which showed that the people of the world stand with the Tibetan people and support their aspirations for freedom, human rights and justice. We are honored to forward The Joint Statement of Religious leaders to the UN High Commissioner of Refugees and members of congress in Washington, with a copy for President Bush. We believe that it will make a significant impact on the rising tide of concern being voiced around the world." Said Mike, who drove all the way from Upstate New York to show support and offer prayers for Tibetans, whom he calls 'my brothers and sisters.' Beginning March 10, 2008, the 49th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day against the Communist Chinese rule in Tibet, Tibetans all over Tibet have bravely staged a series of peaceful demonstrations to voice their long standing resentment over the repressive policies of the Chinese government. The Chinese government has responded with brute force, with their security forces beating protesters and firing live ammunition into crowds, which included women and children. Tibetan areas and monasteries have been cordoned off, curfews imposed, phone lines shut down, and house-to-house manhunts begun, as large military deployments moved in. Tibetan sources confirm that at least 148 Tibetans have been killed and countless more are missing, many of who are feared to be dead. According to official Chinese sources, at least 1,080 Tibetans have been arrested or have turned themselves in Lhasa area alone. Felice Gaer, representing, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, while emphasizing the need for religious freedom in Tibet, highlighted her organization's press release which called on President George W. Bush not to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer unless there is substantial improvement in respecting Tibetans' religious freedom, including by opening direct and concrete talks with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual leader. Mr. Rinchen Dharlo, President of the Tibet Fund and organizing committee member for the service presented the concluding remark of the service with Action Alert note for the ongoing crisis in Tibet, followed by presentation of khada (Tibetan ceremonial scarf) to the religious leaders and speakers by the leader of five prominent organizations of New York and New Jersey comprising of Tibetan Community, Youth Congress, Women's Association, USTC, and SFT. The five organizations that have been organizing regular protests in New York since March 10 provided all necessary assistance for the service – manual and financial. The event concluded with a Candle Light Vigil and singing of 'We Shall Overcome', creating a moment of catharsis on many who marched towards the Roosevelt Park. England - The event was jointly organized by the Tibetan community in Britain, Tibetan Freedom Torch Rally (an alternative Olympic torch) Tibetan Freedom Torch rally with speakers to include Norman Baker MP, Key messages: "Stop the killing in Tibet" "No torch in Tibet" "Brown Delhi - Mass Protest Head Shave and Blood Donation camp in solidarity with the Tibetan nonviolent movement The Tibetan Solidarity Committee- Delhi Chapter organized a mass protest head shave and a simultaneous blood donation camp at Jantar Mantar on April 7, 2008 from 11 am onwards. Enthusiasm and energy was high among the Tibetans. About 305 people including 10 women and 5 children shaved their heads in solidarity with the Tibetan non-violent struggle inside Tibet and as a protest against the brutal crackdown by the Chinese authorities. 83 people donated blood in a compassionate gesture to save lives of people needing blood in India as a tribute to those killed and injured in Tibet. Both the activities stand evidence to the non-violent and peaceful struggle of the Tibetan movement.Tibetans joined the Freedom of Press seminar organized by the Delhi Journalists Association and the Himalaya Parivar organized meeting on "Current Situation in Tibet- The Role of India". In the evening, some 100 Tibetans joined the Himalaya Parivar organized candle light vigil at the India gate, which was disrupted by the Police before taking off. 16 Tibetans were detained at the Tilak Marg Police Station. Mundgod - 6th April 2008 - Mass prayers continued to at various places in the settlements. Donations were also raised. Press conference was convened at Hunlir where around 30 different media groups attended. On the 7th April 2008, three additional staff was sent to assist the political activities in Mumbai. Six volunteers successfully completed the work of flier distribution in Sirsiru. The national action the Drive to shave heads was carried to express solidarity to Tibetan people who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause. Peace protest march also continued to carry out from Margo to Kolwa. Following the march, a press conference was convened. Dharamsala - BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES: 1. 7th April 2008: Over a hundred people gathered at Lhabsoeri for sangsol. 7. Daily offering of oil lamps (one thousand) continued.
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accompanied by Mr. Philippe Brault, Executive Secretary and French Ambassador to Nepal. Mr. Gilles-Henry Garault visited the Baudha Welfare office premises where about 2800 Tibetans were assembled. The French delegation was received by Chithue Yundrung Gyaltsen la, Chithue Gyalnor Tsewang la, Chithue Doma Tsomo la, Kungo Theley Gyatso and Mr. Tashi Phuntsok la. After a brief update from both sides, Senator Repenten addressed the Tibetan people at the prayer congregation. 
Up to 673 Tibetan men, youths and boys had their heads shaved today expressing their solidarity for the Tibetans in Tibet. The total number is likely to be more as many Tibetans had already shaved their heads since yesterday. 
Richard Gere, President and Founder of the Gere Foundation who read out the 12-point appeal letter signed by a group of 30 Chinese scholars, earlier said "We're speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. We're talking about the violation of each Tibetan's right to religious and cultural freedom. For those who care about human rights, who care about our Tibetan brothers and sisters, who care about our Chinese brothers and sisters, it is our responsibility to speak out on behalf of those who have been denied these rights. It is an honor to join this special group of people of so many faiths and express our solidarity."
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