Tibetans in NY Mark 2008 Uprising Anniversary

March 14^th, 2010- Despite heavy rain around 100 Tibetans and supporters held a demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in New York to mark the anniversary of the 2008 uprising in Tibet. The protesters called for the release of Tibetan political prisoners and for an end to China’s occupation of Tibet. Activists also collected signatures for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. The protest was organized by the 5 New York Tibetan organizations.

Click here for video of the protest by RTYCNYNJ

Click here for more photos

More photos from March 10th Protest in Dharamsala

All photos © Wasfia Nazreen

SFT Taiwan Represents at Tibetan Uprising Day march

SFT Taiwan members join Tibetans and their supporters in Taipei on March 14th to commemorate the 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising.

Become a friend of SFT Taiwan’s on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SFTTW.Fans
Visit SFT Taiwan’s blog: http://sft-taiwan.blogspot.com/

March 10th: I am Tibetan because

Tibetans in NYC on March 10th express their Tibetan pride. Since the “I am Tibetan” video from Amdo, Tibet uploaded to YouTube, Tibetans around the world have been responding with similar videos and messages. Watch SFT India’s video.

March 10 in India

Dharamshala, India

Organized by TYC, TWA, GuChuSum, NDPT and SFT India

Tsuglakhang (Main Temple), Dharamshala

Kacheri, Dharamshala where Padma Shree Awardee, Dr. Kshama Metre of CORD addressed the gathering.

A young Tibetan waves the Tibetan National flag on March 10 in Dharamshala

Kolkata, West Bengal

Tibetan Students and supporters at a candle light vigil in Kolkata (SFT Kolkata)

March 10 Vigil in Kolkata (SFT Kolkata)

Pune, Maharashtra

Tibetan Students in Pune organized an International Student’s solidarity meeting for Tibet (SFT Kolkata)

Press Release: Global Demonstrations Mark Tibetan Uprising Day; New Resistance Movement Takes Root In Tibet Despite Continued Repression

STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET

For Immediate Release:
March 10th, 2010

Contact: Tenzin Dorjee, +1 646-724-0748
Kate Woznow, +1 917-601-0069

GLOBAL DEMONSTRATIONS MARK TIBETAN UPRISING DAY; NEW RESISTANCE MOVEMENT TAKES ROOT IN TIBET DESPITE CONTINUED REPRESSION

New York – Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in dozens of countries will take to the streets today, March 10th, to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day and to show solidarity with a new nonviolent resistance movement gaining momentum in Tibet. Today also marks two years since monks began protest marches in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, that sparked the largest uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959. Chinese security forces are now a permanent presence in Tibetan towns and villages and a new “Strike Hard” campaign was launched in Lhasa in advance of this sensitive anniversary with hundreds of Tibetans being interrogated and harassed in recent days.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters in at least 100 cities worldwide, including in the USA, Belgium, Poland, UK, France, Germany, India, Australia, and Taiwan are marking the historic day fifty-one years ago – when Tibetans rose against Chinese rule – with protests, marches, candle light vigils, and government lobbying initiatives. In response to a new “I am Tibetan” campaign originating from Tibet, Tibetans in exile will also be recording messages of support dedicated to Tibetans living inside Tibet as part of their Tibetan National Uprising Day activities (1).

“In spite of China’s repression, there is a powerful new movement being led by the young generation inside Tibet. They are using creative, non-violent tactics to empower themselves and their communities and to challenge Chinese rule,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “March 10th is a day for Tibetans everywhere to be proud of being Tibetan – proud of our ancestors who died protecting our homeland, proud of our brothers and sisters inside Tibet who continue to resist Chinese oppression, and proud of the new generation of Tibetans who are raising the flag of Tibetan freedom around the world.”

China has heightened security in Tibet in advance of today’s anniversary with journalists and most foreigners effectively barred from the region. Tibet advocates have also noted increased efforts by the Chinese government to silence international support for Tibet in recent days. Tibetan refugees have been preemptively arrested in Nepal, and in the United States, Chinese officials have attempted without success to pressure municipal governments to revoke annual proclamations of support for Tibet.

“As the Chinese government continues its brutal repression inside Tibet, we call on leaders of free countries to take new, bold and coordinated approaches to help secure a just and fair resolution for the Tibetan people,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet.”

Note to editors
(1) Examples of the “I am Tibetan” movement include a homemade video from eastern Tibet posted to YouTube in late December, 2009 titled “I am Tibetan” as well as poems and a hip hop music video posted online by Tibetans that have been translated here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/03/new-generation-hip-hop-music-video-from.html and here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/02/i-am-tibetan-by-woeser.html

-30-

March 10th, 2010 Updates via Twitter

Please share your updates, mobile photos, breaking news, or inspiring moments from March 10th, 2010 (or the lead up to). Use the #m10tibet hashtag in your tweets and your updates will appear on the M10 twitter wall above.

Example: 500 Tibetans and supporters just arrived at City Hall to commemorate 51 years of resistance to China’s occupation of Tibet. #m10tibet

You can also tweet photos to the M10 twitter wall using Twitpic, Yfrog, and Tweetphoto.

To view tweets older than 24 hrs click here

Video & Photos from Rebkong (Amdo) HHDL Obama Celebration

From Reuters:

Buddhist monks in Tongren, an overwhelmingly ethnic Tibetan part of northwestern Qinghai province, said they were celebrating the meeting in Washington, which is going ahead despite warnings from Beijing that Obama’s act will hurt Sino-U.S. ties.

Tensions with Washington have already risen over issues ranging from trade and currencies to a U.S. plan to sell $6.4 billion of weapons to self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province.

The midnight display of fireworks along a valley dotted with Tibetan Buddhist monasteries was a bold and noisy reminder that, in spite of Chinese condemnation of the Dalai Lama, he remains a potent figure in his homeland, and his meeting with Obama will be noticed here by both supporters and opponents.

“My heart is filled with joy,” said Johkang, showing off an enormous smile, standing at his monastery in this arid and mountainous part of the Qinghai province, which lies next to the official Tibet Autonomous Region.

“It is so important for us that this is happening, that the U.S. has not given in to threats and will meet our leader,” added the monk, who like many ethnic Tibetans goes only by one name.

Qinghai, called Amdo by Tibetans, is where the Dalai Lama was born in 1935. He fled into exile from Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, and since then has campaigned for self-rule for Tibetans. China brands him a separatist.

(more…)

Media Round Up: Dalai Lama “Very Happy” With Obama Meeting

The Independent quotes SFT’s Executive Director Tenzin Dorjee:
“As the leader of the free world, President Obama is uniquely positioned to help broker a negotiated resolution that will give the Tibetan people the freedom they long for and deserve,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director

of Students for a Free Tibet: http://is.gd/8GMkN

The White House has released this great photo of this morning’s meeting between the two Nobel Peace laureates. View the photos and read CBS’s coverage of the meeting here: http://is.gd/8FVfx

SKY News has also posted a video of His Holiness applauding the United State for upholding universal moral values: “Since my childhood I always admire America – not economy but mainly as a champion of Democracy, freedom, human value, human creativity: http://is.gd/8G2eH

More celebrations reported in Tibet by Phayul.com:  Thousands rejoice in Tibet as Obama meets Dalai Lama

2009 in Tibet: The Uprising that China Feared

As the New Year begins and we reflect on the events in Tibet last year, we are reminded that 2009 was indeed a year of resistance. From the No Losar movement, to the farming boycott in Kham, to solo protests in Kandze, Tibetans made 2009 another year of uprising.

Since January 2009, Tibetan protests for freedom, human rights, and independence have taken place in more than 30 known areas of Tibet. In addition to protests and actions we have also seen a sharp increase in creative resistance through technology in Tibet. In 2009 Tibetan bloggers and “netizens” flooded the internet with writing expressing their discontent under Chinese rule.

Civil protests by Tibetans who were scammed by Chinese companies and discriminated in the Chinese educational system have also been on the rise.

In 2009 China learned that despite increased repression and a crackdown on all political activities, Tibetans are determined to fight for their fundamental rights.

Below is a list of places in Tibet and China where known acts of resistance by Tibetans took place:

• Rabgya (Amdo)

Large protests by Tibetans in western China -Los Angeles Times

Monk kills self in Ragya, residents protest -Phayul

• Derge (Kham)

Situation in Derge “Critical” after Residents Distribute Tibet Independence Pamphlets -Tibet.net

• Drango (Kham)

Tibetan Monk Beaten to Death -RFA

• Kandze (Kham)

Tibetans Stage Farm Boycott -RFA

Protester arrested in Kardze -Tibetinfonet.net

Woman arrested in Kardze -Tibetinfonet.net

China arrests two nuns of Dragkar Nunnery in Kardze -TCHRD

Details of Kardze Protests Emerge -Tibetinfonet.net

Tibetans Refuse State Dance Troupes -RFA

Two monks, three teenagers held for protesting -Voice of Tibet

A solo nun stages protest march in Kardze -RFA

• Lutsang (Amdo)

Tibetan Monks in Protest March -RFA

Tibetan monks stage new year protest in China, report says -Monsters and Critics

Tibetans forgo New Years celebrations in protest -CTV

• Nyagrong (Kham)

Tibetans Protest in Sichuan -RFA

• Tsolho (Amdo)

• Ngaba (Amdo)

More Protests in Tibet -Beijing Wide Open

New protest today in Ngaba after officials ban prayer ceremony -ICT

Tibetan monk killed by Chinese police after setting himself on fire -Asia News.it

China arrests Tibetan writer in Ngaba -TCHRD

• Nagchu (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetan Bloggers and Citizen Journalists -High Peaks Pure Earth

• Xining (Amdo)

Tibetan monks stage sit-in protest in front of Chinese court -TCHRD

• Machu (Amdo)

Tibetans clash with Chinese soldiers, several injured -Phayul

• Labrang (Amdo)

School students demonstration in Labrang County -TCHRD

A video appeal from a Tibetan inside Tibet to the International Community -TCHRD

• Markham (Kham)

Face off between Tibetans and Chinese security forces over gold mine -Phayul

Standoff at Tibet Gold Mine -RFA

• Nangchen (Kham)

Tibetan national flag was raised in Nangchen county, eastern Tibet - Tibet Post International

Protesting children beaten in Yushu -Tibetinfonet.net

• Lithang ( Kham)

Clash Over Tibet Has County in Lockdown -Washington Post

Tibetans Protest in Sichuan -RFA

Fifteen Tibetans arrested in Lithang after a peaceful protest -TCHRD

• Kaykundo (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetan man flies flag on tree, police launch hunt -Phayul

• Chamdo (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetan schoolboy arrested for anti China protest -Phayul

Act of defiance -Enriching thoughts

Seven monks arrested, abbot missing in Chamdo -Tibetinfonet.net

Schoolboy held in Chamdo after holding lone protest -Tibetinfonet.net

• Dzogang, Chamdo (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetans in Chamdo Protest China’s Patriotic Education, 6 Detained -Tibet.net

• Chentsa County (Amdo)

Protesters Call for United Stand Against China’s Wrong Policy in Tibet Tibet.net

• Baygen County (Amdo)

China expels disciplinary head of Amdo Jaqung Monastery -TCHRD

• Jodha County (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetans in Jodha county, eastern Tibet continue to refuse to plant crops -Tibet Post International

Tibetan woman stages sit-in protest to demand her husband’s release in Tibet’s Jomda County -Tibet.net

• Tawu (Kham)

6 Tibetan women injured in Tawu police firing -Phayul

• Lhasa (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetans ignore New Year -Tibetinfonet.net

• Meldro Gongkar (Ü-Tsang)

Tibetans in Meldro Gongkar clash with miners, 3 injured -Phayul

• Diru County, Tsashul Township (Ü-Tsang)

Two sentenced for bringing down Chinese flag, Ngaba Tibetans forced into renovation -Phayul

• Sog County (Ü-Tsang)

3 Tibetans arrested for posting Dalai Lama contents on chat website -Phayul

• Sershul (Kham)
  

20 Tibetans arrested in Sershul for “dissent” -Phayul

• Matoe, Golog (Amdo)

China arrests eleven Tibetans in Golog over subversive VCD - TCHRD

• Nagchukha (Kham)

Tibetans protest over jailed monk in southwest China -CTV

Tibetans continue with fasting and protest, situation extremely volatile in Nyachuka -TCHRD

Tibetan Protest Over Monk -RFA

• Chengdu (China)

Tibetans continue with fasting and protest, situation extremely volatile in Nyachuka -TCHRD

*The above list is not meant to be a event by event summary but rather a list of protest locations. If there are any corrections or additions please comment.

Advertisement Two sentenced for bringing down Chinese flag, Ngaba Tibetans forced into renovation