RTYC Protests Against Genocide in Tibet

Mangaluru: Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Mangalore organised a protest against the genocide in Tibet at the Nehru Maidan here, on March 10.

Speaking on the occasion, President of Tibetan Students Association, Tenzin said, “It’s the day for Tibetans all over the world, to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s National Uprising Day against the Chinese occupation in Tibet. Around 1949, communist forces began to enter north eastern Tibet and by 1950, more than 5000 Tibetan soldiers had been killed. Taking the prevailing situation in account, the Chinese government chose a policy of peaceful liberation, which led to the signing of the 17 points agreement and its annexure in 1951.

However, from 1956 onwards, the ultra-leftist policy of Chinese government forcibly and deliberately violated the terms of the 17 point agreement, and their heavy handed tactics increased day by day. These desperate developments left the Tibetan people with no alternative but to launch the peaceful uprising on 10 March, 1959.”

“In India we have freedom to enjoy our rights, but in Tibet we will be jailed just for carrying the Tibetan flag. China has destroyed around 6000 Buddhist monasteries and have killed around 1.5 million Tibetans. Thousands of Tibetans languish in Chinese jails,” he added.

Since China occupied the entire territory of Tibet in 1959, the communist government of china has carried out a series of cruel and barbaric policies directed at destroying the Tibetan people’s religious tradition, language, culture, rich natural resources and so on. Besides they have started killing, torturing, imprisoning and harassing Tibetans.

Ever since, Tibetans in Tibet and exile have countered the Chinese actions with an equally relentless series of peaceful protests directed at protecting their fundamental rights and freedom to restore their national sovereignty. Likewise, in 2008, Tibetans across the land launched the peaceful uprising protests of the Earth-Mouse year. In particular, to this day, some 149 Tibetans- including monks, nuns and lay people, as well as the young and old have immolated themselves while protesting against the policies and occupation by the Chinese government, raising demands that the Dalai Lama, their supreme leader, be invited back to his homeland and Tibet’s freedom and independence be respected. In 2015 alone, seven Tibetans have immolated themselves while carrying out peaceful protests.

On February 29, a young Tibetan student aged 16, Dorjee Tsering la and a young monk aged 18, Kalsang Wangdue la immolated themselves in India and Tibet respectively for the freedom and independence of Tibet.

However, since the devolution of political authority by the Dalai Lama, the current cabinet secretariat under the leadership of Sikyong Lobsang Sangay has made far reaching accomplishments in the international arena. While it makes us pleasantly proud, we remain eternally grateful to Dalai Lama for successfully creating this democratic society and keeping alive the Tibetan struggle through his far-sighted vision and guidance.

Eventually, we grasp this opportunity to offer our heartfelt tribute to all our heroes for their patriotism, courage and struggle for the Tibetan cause. At the same time, we express our immerse gratitude to the people and the government of India as well as all the other governments, organizations and individuals internationally who in body and spirit have provided us genuine support.