 |
| March from Chinese Embassy to the White House on Mar. 10, 2015 |
Thursday, March 10th, 2016 marks the 57th anniversary of the mass Tibetan uprising against the Communist China’s illegal occupation of Tibet in 1959. Tibetans and tens of thousands of Tibet supporters from across the free world will mark the occasion by organizing rallies, demonstrations, marches and protests. By doing so, they hope to bring attention to the People’s Republic of China’s continued use of brutality to deprive the Tibetans of their basic human rights.
Around 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of Communist China’s repression, torture, starvation and imprisonment. Tibetans in Tibet, to this day are being denied of their basic human rights and freedom. More than 6,000 monasteries were partially or completely destroyed during the Chinese invasion. Chinese officials continue to repress Tibet’s culture and religion with impunity. Tibetans are treated as second class citizens and are now a minority in their own country with Han Chinese outnumbering Tibetans. The persecution of the Tibetan people has become so extreme that 143 Tibetans have self-immolated since February 27th, 2009, calling for greater freedom and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.
Here in Washington DC, Tibetan-Americans from the Capital Area Tibetan Association, Capital Area Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Charlottesville and Philadelphia Tibetan Associations, along with Tibet supporters will protest in front of the Chinese Embassy, Washington, DC. They will then march to the White House to appeal to President Barack Obama and other political leaders to press China to address the legitimate grievances of Tibetans and change its failed policies in Tibet.
The group demands freedom, justice and human rights in Tibet, and call upon China to start earnest negotiation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama or His representatives to resolve the Tibet issue. In addition, China should stop the arbitrary arrests, torture, imprisonment and disappearance of Tibetans in Tibet. They also call on the freedom loving people of the world to speak up on injustices happening in Tibet and press China to end its crackdown on non-violent Tibetans. World leaders must hold the Chinese government accountable for its actions and demand that they follow the international rule of law.
Media contact:
Tenzin Jigme
General Secretary, Capital Area Tibetan Association
Phone # (703) 424-0015