FINDING THE LOST HORIZON: Update from the March to Tibet

“When the clouds part, you can see Tibet on the horizon,” said Ven. Ngawang Woeber.

He dipped his face in the river at Baanspatan, and joked that monks don’t need to use soap because they have renounced vanity. A couple of hours later, Ven. Woeber was arrested. A former political prisoner, he is the president of Gu Chu Sum, one of the five organizations coordinating the historic March to Tibet, which started in Dharamsala on March 10th. Along with him, five other leaders of the march were also arrested on Tuesday and formally jailed yesterday afternoon in Haridwar Jail. The other detainees are Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress; B Tsering, President of Tibetan Women’s Association, Chime Youngdroung, President of the National Democratic Party of Tibet, Tenzin Choeying, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet India, and Lobsang Yeshi, Coordinator of the March to Tibet.

The last few days have been tense and painful for the marchers. Hours after the arrest of the march leaders on Tuesday, the police confiscated their trucks and intensified the restriction on movement to and from the site, effectively cutting the marchers off from food and other supplies. The marchers are now considering the possibility of eating only one meal a day so that they can hold the ground for a little longer.

The day before yesterday, nearly one thousand police marched to the marchers’ camp and blocked the entrance. Sensing the likelihood of arrest, the marchers sprung into action, staging a Gandhian style sit-in while chanting prayers and singing the Tibetan national anthem. After a stalemate that lasted about an hour, the police retreated. Yesterday, the same thing happened again. Today, more buses and trucks brought more police reinforcements including a bus full of policewomen.

In the evenings, the atmosphere grows light again. Most Tibetan monks and nuns seem to have an uncanny ability to remain calm and happy even under great pressure. Or may be it’s because most of these marchers are actually Tibetans raised in Tibet who came to India in their late adolescence or early adulthood, and the problems they have faced so far on this march are nothing compared to what they had experienced growing up under Chinese rule in Tibet.

Most marchers and volunteers get to take a little breather in the evening, but one person never stops. Lobsang Army, so called because of his past stint in the military, is busy stitching shoe after shoe under a small blue tent. He is the march’s unofficial shoemaker. When he was in the army he had taken a shoe repair class – a skill he had forgotten and had to relearn once he realized that walking twenty kilometers a day was rough on people’s shoes. Lobsang has so far repaired about 200 shoes.

There is little doubt that the police will eventually arrest them, but the fact remains that no one can stop these marchers. “The police may arrest us today, but we will continue the march tomorrow,” said Tenzin Tsundue, a leading youth activist, who has lost much weight since I saw him last. “I heard that people have set off from parts of India to join us. We can’t wait to see them. The more people we have with us, the stronger our message to Tibetans inside Tibet, to China and to the world – we are committed to return and will never give up our struggle for freedom and justice.”

As the Chinese authorities work overtime to ensure a smooth Olympics, and attempt to hide the reality of their rule in Tibet behind a wall of silence and deceit, the movement of this group of unarmed men and women threatens Beijing’s massive propaganda exercise. They are a nonviolent force dedicated to their people, their nation and the truth. They refuse to be silenced at a time when China’s long arm of oppression and manipulation stretches around the world. Their journey north – towards the border across which so many Tibetans have crossed in search of freedom – demonstrates their commitment.

As the stand-off continues, marchers are calling for Tibetans from throughout India to join them in spirit and in person. And they are appealing for support from people around the world who value freedom, justice and peace. Visit www.tibetanuprising.org to follow news about the March. Send a message of encouragement to the marchers. Tell your friends and family about it. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. And keep the marchers in your prayers.

–dispatch from SFT’s Tendor, writing from Nainital, Uttaranchal, India

Day 35 Update from the March

After participating in the three days of protests organized by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, the marchers were given a day to rest.

The following are some photographs from the marcher’s past 3 days in New Delhi.

Third Day of Protests in Delhi

The three day mass activity organized in Delhi came to a promising conclusion this evening with the participants from north Indian Tibetan communities returning back to their respective places pledging to reinvigorate the movement initiated by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee.

the slogans of ‘Long live Dalai Lama’ and ‘Stop killing in Tibet’ as the endless line of humanity paved its way through the busy streets of Delhi to reach Jantar Mantar. The marchers also took part in the march. (more…)

Third Day of Protests in Delhi

The three day mass activity organized in Delhi came to a promising conclusion this evening with the participants from north Indian Tibetan communities returning back to their respective places pledging to reinvigorate the movement initiated by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee.

the slogans of ‘Long live Dalai Lama’ and ‘Stop killing in Tibet’ as the endless line of humanity paved its way through the busy streets of Delhi to reach Jantar Mantar. The marchers also took part in the march. (more…)

Delhi commemorates one month of non-violent protests inside Tibet

The marchers who arrived in Delhi on April 9th after the month-long march to the capital, were officially welcomed by over 3500 Tibetans at Jantar Mantar. They had gathered in the capital on April 10th to mark one month of non-violent protest inside Tibet. The crowd included members of the Tibetan community in Delhi as well as Tibetans from neighboring states of Uttarakand, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Following the reception of the marchers, prayers were offered on behalf of all the Tibetans killed under the Chinese crackdown. (more…)

Tibetans end Dharamsala-Delhi march - and begin protest plans

New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) Declaring that they would somehow bypass security and demonstrate against the Beijing Olympics torch relay in the Indian capital, 200 Tibetans Wednesday ended their month long march from Dharamsala to Delhi. The gurdwara near northeast Delhi’s Majnu ka Tilla, where the Tibetan refugee colony is, wore a different look with the marchers setting up camp. Monks, dressed in their maroon robes, dotted the entire place, crowded with rucksacks, sleeping mats and photographs of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal head of the Tibetans.

The ‘March to Tibet’, which saw 30 women among the 200 protestors took one month to complete the journey from Dharamsala - the Himalayan abode for the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile - to New Delhi. (more…)

Day 31 Update from the March

The marchers left Hargovind Singh Gurdwara at 6am to complete the final 15 kilometers to Majnu ka Tilla, the Tibetan Refugee Settlement in New Delhi.

While walking into Delhi, the marchers had a Delhi Police escort to ensure their safety while walking along the busy highway leading into the city.

The marchers arrived at the Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla around 11am where they will stay during their time in New Delhi.

Day 30 Update from the March

The Marchers left Chowanjoshi at 6:00am and walked 25 kilometers. They are staying at the Hargovind Singh Gurdwara for the night and are only 19 kilometers away from Majnu ka Tilla, the Tibetan colony in Delhi.

Hargovind Gurdwara has a large pool of holy water in which Sikhs take a dip in order to cleanse their sins. Mr. Dilbagh Singh, Incharge of the Gurdwara, gave all the marchers permission to take a dip in the holy pool. All the monks really appreciated this kind gesture. It was truly inspiring to see Tibetan Buddhist monks taking a dip in Sikh holy water.

Day 29 Update from the March

The March started at 6:30am from the Jain temple and covered 20 kilometers during the day. The marchers reached Chowanjoshi around midday, camping out there for the night.

As part of the daily news briefing, the marchers were shown footage from the London and Paris Torch Relay protests. The marchers cheered for all the Tibetans and Tibet supporters who protested China’s Olympic Torch.

Day 28 Update from the March

The marchers left Shiva at 7:00am this morning and walked 22 kilometers to Gannaur where they are staying in a Jain Temple.

Today’s walk was pleasant. The marchers took a break along the way for chai and biscuits.

When the marchers reached the Jain Temple, they had lunch and were treated to a guest talk by Khamtrul Rinpoche. Highlighting the critical timing and nature of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement, Rinpoche stated that while he cannot join the March physically, he is incredibly proud of all the marchers and their commitment to the Movement. Rinpoche presented each marcher with a khata (white scarf) before leaving and donated money for the marchers to have a nice dinner tonight. The marchers and the March organizers thank Rinpoche for this and his previous donations to the March