Tibetans and supporters march in London on March 8
I am constantly moved by the incredible support that Tibetans receive from people of conscience all over the world. If it were up to the people, Tibet would have been freed a long time ago.
And, in times like these, when Tibetans inside Tibet are being so viciously terrorized by the Chinese authorities, global solidarity actions are like a light in the darkness - giving us all the morale boost we need to keep moving forward.
Already today, hundreds of people held an emotional rally at the Chinese embassy in Canberra while monks across Japan held prayer ceremonies and vigils for Tibetans suffering under Chinese rule. And Tibet Initiative Deutschland in Germany reported that 996 mayors will raise the Tibetan flag. They said last year the number was 922. This year, 11 dropped out due to Chinese government pressure but 85 new ones joined.
Taking Tibetan advocacy to a new level, Tibetans and supporters in many countries participated in the first-ever coordinated Tibet lobbying effort in their nations’ capitals. 150 Tibetans and supporters from across the U.S. had meetings with senators and congressional representatives from 24 states on Capitol Hill. And on Parliament Hill in Canada, around 60 Canadians met with members of parliament, senators and even officials in the Prime Minister’s office.
We understand that Chinese government officials have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to lobby government officials not to participate in these meetings or attend March 10th events.
In Washington, DC, a Member of Congress said that he’d been visited by Chinese officials and asked not to meet with his constituents about Tibet. And apparently Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has arrived in DC and will hold his own Tibet lobby day on March 11th.
In Australia, the Chinese Ambassador requested Michael Danby, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, not to attend the March 10th event in Canberra. Danby had this to say:
“I think the ambassador made a mistake. This is not exactly … diplomatic in an open society like Australia.”
And I’ve just read that Beijing has responded to a non-binding resolution proposed by the U.S. Congress to be passed on March 10th. AFP is reporting that foreign ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said this to reporters:
“We express serious concern over this… we believe the US Congress resolution proposed by a few anti-China representatives disregards the history and reality of Tibet…We request relevant US representatives to… stop pushing the Tibet bill.”
But luckily, it doesn’t work that way. China doesn’t get to tell the world what to do, especially not free and democratic societies where the government actually represents the people.
The Chinese Government collectively seems to think that to be pro-Tibetan, one must be anti-Chinese. As usual, nothing could be further from the truth. Leaders of the Struggle, including you, have taken great pains to make clear that our fight is not against the Chinese People. Indeed, a growing contingent of Chinese - not just famous dissidents like Wei Jingsheng or Harry Wu but everyday citizens endowed with nothing more that the ability to think for themselves - has joined the ranks of people of conscience everywhere to march in streets all over the world and cry out against the blatant affront to common human decency that is the Occupation! I have been involved in the Tibetan Freedom Movement since 1997 and have walked with your people nearly every March 10th since then. I can say in all sincerity that they are the most wonderful, down-to-Earth folk I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and there’s no one else with whom I’d rather march in the freezing cold, carrying a five-by-seven foot Tibetan flag and with my voice growing hoarse by the mile. For their part, the Tibetans, forged by a nonviolent culture and over half a century of unspeakable hardship, reciprocate by letting me know that my efforts are greatly appreciated and will not be in vain. For if I can educate one more person, dry one more tear or write one more letter to my elected officials, that will mean more to me than anything.
Free Tibet!!
Atrocities/Genocide by China gone unheard!!