Today, 10th of March, marks the 66th anniversary of the March 10, 1959 Tibetan National Uprising Day, when Tibetans from all three provinces rose up against the brutal Chinese invasion.
To commemorate the anniversary, an official ceremony held at the Thekchen Choeling Temple in Dharamsala, during which the Central Tibetan Administration’s Kashag(cabinet) and Parliament strongly criticized the Chinese government’s policies towards Tibet. They reiterated that the Tibetan people’s desire to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict through dialogue and non-violence, based on the Middle Way Approach, is reasonable and practical. Furthermore, they reaffirmed that Tibet has historically been an independent country and emphasized that if a mutually beneficial policy approach to Sino-Tibetan negotiations fails to resolve the issue, the Chinese government must bear full responsibility.
The event was attended by the chief guest, former President of Slovakia, Andrej Kiska, and the special guest, Juku-Kalle Raid, head of the Estonian Parliamentary Delegation, as well as members of the Estonian Parliament, officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, and hundreds of Tibetan monks and laypeople from the three provinces who reside in Dharamshala or were on a visit.
Meanwhile, distinguished guests, before participating in the official ceremony, this morning, had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the supreme leader of the Tibetan people. At that time, His Holiness spoke in connection with the March 10th anniversary, saying that so far the Chinese Communist Party has hoped to erase Tibet, but has not been able to.
And after the ceremony, the main guests, former President of Solovakia, Mr. Andrej Kiska, and the leader of the Estonian Parliamentary Delegation, Mr. Juku Kalle Raid, jointly held a press conference. At that time, the former President of Slovakia specially displayed a photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and himself together. While explaining the process of how his life changed and how he became interested in the Tibetan cause, he said that 30 years ago, he was very moved after reading a book written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a library. Later, after he became the President of Slovakia, he was able to benefit the people, and he was also happy to have been able to invite His Holiness to the country. During the time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama also made a donation to the children’s charity founded by him which he explained was a great kindness to the children of that country.
Similarly, Juku Kalle Raid mentioned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has visited Estonia about three times, and that those visits were meaningful. In particular, he recalled that when His Holiness visited the area in 1991, it was a time when the country gained independence from Russian communism. He also explained that he was saddened to hear His Holiness tell the story of facing Lhasa when he went into exile during today’s meeting. In addition, in response to questions regarding the issue of the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Juku Kalle Raid said that the Estonian Parliament would issue a public statement on the occasion of His Holiness’s birthday. While, former President of Slovakia said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama had decreed that his reincarnation should be born in a free country, not in China. There are many organizations around the world that support the cause of Tibet, and we welcome the need to launch a campaign to collect signatures from international leaders in this regard.
Immediately after the official ceremony this morning, four Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamshala, namely the Tibetan Youth Congress, the Tibetan Women’s Association, the National Democratic Party of Tibet, and the Students for a Free Tibet, jointly organized a gathering of more than 500 people, including local Tibetans and other supporters of Tibet, who painted the Tibetan national flag on their faces, wore black clothes, and wrapped black cloths around their foreheads. Likewise they were dressed in clothes with words written such as, Save Tibet, Free Tibet, holding banners in hand with slogans “Tibet independence is India’s security” “Tibet is not part of China” “Stop killing in Tibet” and marched all the way down to Kacheri (court, area of government offices) where with a large gathering of people commemorated the 66th Tibetan National Uprising Day.
Meanwhile, on the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day of March 10, more than 40 young Tibetan youth, organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress, staged a protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Delhi. According to the statement of Sonam Tsering, the Secretary of the Youth Association, the purpose of the movement is to send a message to the Chinese government that the Tibetan issue has not been resolved even after 66 years. In particular, it is an attempt to raise the demand for the withdrawal of the boarding school policy, which is being implemented by the Chinese government under the policy of destroying the Tibetan people in the face of the current urgent crisis.
Also, in solidarity with the Tibetan people, International dignitaries including former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Tibet support groups, and ethnic groups experiencing Chinese oppression expressed their clear support for the Tibetan cause with shared sympathy.
However on the March 10th Tibetan Uprising Day, Tibetans living in Nepal were not allowed to commemorate the anniversary due to Chinese government pressure. Yet despite restrictions, Tibetans in some areas gathered discreetly in their respective localities and showed their solidarity through religious ceremonies.
