The Solidarity actions around the world in the support of present crisis in Tibet.

Date: April 9, 2008

April 9, 2008

Grieving Tibetans Shaved Heads in Solidarity

Bylakuppe -

NEARLY 3000 TIBETANS SHAVED THEIR HEADS IN BYLAKUPPE TIBETAN SETTLEMENT

Mr. Kunchok Gyurmey, a hairdresser at Neelamangala in Bangalore volunteered to shave heads for free of cost. From April 2 to 6, 2008, he has shaved more than 2000 heads and on 7th April, shaved another 650 heads.  In total, nearly 3000 Tibetans have shaved their heads to mourn for the suffering Tibetans and those who were killed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Tibet.

Mussoorie - 50 Heads Shaved Off

April 7, 2008 – An action led by Tibetan Solidarity Committee of Mussoorie, fifty Tibetans today in Mussoorie shaved off their heads as a mark of solidarity for Tibetans in Tibet who continue to experience repression under China. At five in the evening, 200 Tibetans gathered at the main library, the venue for the indefinite 24 hrs relay hunger strike, which completed its 21 days course today.  The program began with Ms. Tashi Dolma, Executive member of Regional Tibetan Women’s Association highlighting the present crisis in Tibet and reporting on the continued peaceful protests organized by Tibetans in Mussoorie. She said, “this shaving of heads is to mourn the death of 140 Tibetans in our homeland and to express solidarity to the Tibetans living in Tibet.” This was followed with the reading of the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Tibetans in all three languages so as to reach every audience in the street. Finally mass prayers were held.  

A day earlier, on International Prayers day, the Tibetans in Mussoorie gathered for a daylong prayer session at Shedup Chophelling temple in Happy Valley. The prayers lasted from 8AM to 4PM, during which 1,000 butter lamps were offered. The day culminated with Monlam and grand soltsok (food offering) organized by Tibetan Homes Foundation in the evening where another 1,000 butter lamps lit and 1,000 water bowls were offered. 

Since March 15, 2008, the Tibetan Community in Mussoorie has regularly held protest march, hunger strike and community prayers for the brave men and women of Tibet who lost their lives in brutal Chinese crackdown and for the immediate resolution of the Tibetan issue with reunification of Tibetans in and outside of Tibet in their homeland.   

England -

6 APRIL: OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY IN LONDON

The full 31 miles of Olympic Torch relay route was covered by the pro-Tibet protestors demanding that the Olympic Torch should not be allowed to go to Tibet and China must keep its promise to improve the human rights records in China and in Tibet and immediately start negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to secure a lasting political settlement for the Tibetan people.

The event was jointly organised by the Tibetan community in Britain, the Tibet Society of UK, Free Tibet Campaign, Tibetan Youth UK and Students for a Free Tibet.

Many Tibetans came from all over Europe to participate in this day of action. They came from Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, etc. Throughout the day, the whole route was covered with Tibetans, supporters, and the Tibetan flag fluttered high in the air with pride and glow.

Tibetan Freedom Torch Rally (an alternative Olympic torch)
Location: Argyle Square, London WC1
Time: 14.15 pm    
          
Tibetan Freedom Torch rally included speakers as Norman Baker MP, Tibetan MP Sonam Frasi, Kate Hoye MP, Actress Joana Lumbly, former political prisoner Ngawang Sandrol, Students for Free Tibet director, Lhadon Tethong. Protest songs by the Drapchi nuns, Joe Driscoll and the Tibetan Community Dance Group.

Tibetan Freedom Torch march to St Pancras Station from Argyle Square
Time: 16.30 pm              

Members of Team Tibet and the Drapchi nuns took the Tibetan Freedom Torch to St Pancras Station for its onward journey by Euro star to Paris for the next leg of its relay for freedom and justice for Tibet.

Key messages: “Stop the killings in Tibet” “No torch in Tibet” “Brown boycott opening ceremony” “China: talk to the Dalai Lama” “Red Cross to Tibet”
         
Nepal -

NTSC delegation comprising of Chithue Gyalnor Tsewang la, Chithue Doma Tsomo, Chief coordinator for Nepal Kungo Trinley Gyatso la and Chairman Local Tibetan Assembly – Gyalsa Mr. Tashi Phuntsok la met with three delegations from the Canadian Embassy to Nepal consisting of Mr. Kenneth Macartney, Minister Counselor, Mr. Edward Doe, Counselor of Development & Consul, and Ms. Ayesha Rekhi, First Secretary (political and Economic Affairs) at 3:30 pm this afternoon. The Canadian diplomats were updated with the urgent situation in Tibet and also in context with the Tibetan situation in Nepal. The meeting lasted for over an hour.

In Dharamsala -  

Over a hundred people gathered at Lhabsoeri for sangsol. Dolma recital prayer had over 1500 participants at Tsuglakhang. 22 students (11 girls, 1 foreigner female, and 10 male) from Norbulingka Institute shaved their heads in solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet. The expressed shaving head is their act of protest against the Chinese repressive policy in Tibet. 
Relay hunger strike will reach its one-month course in few days. Yesterday, more foreigners have decided to join in the relay hunger strike. The candle light at night had over another 1500 participants. A large number of westerners have been regularly joining in the prayers and candle light processions.
450 volunteers from Dharamsala departed to Delhi to assist in various activities to occur on April 10, 11, 12, and 150 students from Sherab Gatsel Ling School also volunteered to help. Another 50 Tibetans left to join the Delhi hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.

Hungary -

Christians to pray, hold nighttime vigil for Tibet
Monday, 07 April 2008
Budapest, April 7 (MTI) - The Votive Church of Szeged, S Hungary, will be the scene of an ecumenical prayer and all-night vigil for the Buddhist victims of violence in Tibet, a local Christian Democrat youth official told a press conference in Szeged on Monday.
Peter Miklos, who said the vigil would be next Saturday, noted that China had been oppressing Tibet for decades and persecuting Buddhists, who have been advocating Tibetan independence.
'We are witnessing a huge communist state that espouses atheism, persecuting a small, freedom-loving nation and its free religion. It was not long ago that the situation was similar in Hungary,' he said.
The event will be attended by Catholic Diocesan Bishop Laszlo Kiss-Rigo
Click below page:
 http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6797&Itemid=159

Mumbai -

The delegation of Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Government-in-Exile (Mrs. Gyari Dolma and Serta Tsultrim Woser), Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Mundgod (Mr. Ngawang Norbu), Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Bandara (Mr. Sangpo) attended meeting with several thousands of Indian Buddhist here in Mumbai (Maharastra). 
Deputy Speaker Mrs. Gyari Dolma appealed the gathering for their support over the cause of Tibet. Ven. Mahathero Rahaul Bodhi expressed the support from all the Ambedkhariates (Dr. Ambedkhar’s followers) and he has showed his gratitude to His Holininess the Dalai Lama for his contribution and promotion of Buddhism all over the globe. 
In separate meeting with RSS Chief Shri Sudharshanji reiterated his full support for Tibetan cause. He have accepted our invitation to grace the Inter Religious Prayer to be held in the evening of 11th April 2008 at Sane Guruji Maidan, behind Siddhi Vinayak Mandir, Prabhadevi in Mumbai (Maharastra)  
The 3 days series of prayer meetings, candlelight vigils and marches in Mumbai, in which about 2000 Tibetans including over 1000 Tibetan monks, along with other Indian supporters, friends and human rights NGO's are expected to participate which will start from tomorrow (10th April, 2008).