TORONTO – Local exiled-Tibetans and supporters will gather tomorrow at the People’s Republic of China Consulate to welcome the arrival of 14 Tibetan and 2 Canadian bike riders from the US. The International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM), Peace for Tibet-Minnesota, and Tibetan Cultural Center are organizing this special “Peace Ride for Tibet’s Independence” event to mobilize support for a Free Tibet and raise awareness about the human rights and environmental abuses in Tibet. The bike riders have already begun their two-week long journey, which started from the PRC Embassy in Washington, D.C. on April 10 and will end at the PRC Consulate in Toronto, Ontario on April 24. The distance of the journey is more than 950 kilometers.
The Tibetans plan to cycle the entire distance, completing a strenuous, long journey through Maryland and the mountains of Pennsylvania and New York. Jigme Norbu, the son of Taktser Tulku (oldest brother of the Dalai Lama) will co-lead this Bike Ride as a way to further his father’s lifelong effort to regain Tibet’s independence. Bike Riders will enter Toronto via Lakeshore Blvd W, turn to Spadina Ave., reach Bloor and head towards the PRC consulate on St. George St. It is expected that the Bike Ride will be a great success in terms of educating people and securing their support for Tibet, and obtaining major media attention for the cause. For many, the event will be an inspiration and a symbolic way to commemorate those that fought for peaceful independence and perished during Chinese occupation.
The Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) groups from the University of Toronto and York University along with the Toronto Tibetan Youth Congress will be organizing the welcoming of the bike riders at PRC Consulate, which will include speeches by organizers of the Peace Ride and a protest rally against the human rights violations in Tibet. The goals of this protest rally are to demand the immediate release of political prisoners Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and the Panchen Lama and to demand that Canada adopt a policy on Tibet that is consistent with Canadian democratic values. The demonstration will take place between 11am – 1:30pm at the Consulate and continue from 2pm to 4pm at the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Place. The demonstration at the University is in response to the appearance of PRC Ambassador, Mei Ping who will speak at the ‘Canada-China Relations: An Evaluation’ conference co-sponsored by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will also be arriving on April 24 to offer the highly anticipated Kalachakra teaching in Toronto from April 25 – May 5.
WHO: 14 Tibetan and 2 Canadian Bike Riders from Washington, D.C, local Tibetans and supporters
WHAT: ‘Peace Ride for Tibet’s Independence’ – welcoming of bike riders after their two-week long journey and a protest rally against the human rights abuses in Tibet
WHEN: Saturday April 24, 2004 (11am – 4pm)
11am: Gathering of Tibetans and supporters in front of PRC Consulate
12pm: Bike Riders arrive
12 – 1:30pm: Speeches by various organizers of the event and leaders of the Taiwanese and Eastern Turkestan independence movements. Protest and rally
2 – 4pm: Demonstration at ‘China-Canada Relations’ conference, University of Toronto
WHERE: In front of the PRC Consulate in Toronto, 240 St. George St. (11am – 1:30pm) In front of Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Place (2-4pm)
Onsite Contact: Sonam Dhargye (416) 533-4336, Carmen Ng (416) 833-1218
Bike Ride: Larry Gerstein (317) 506-2249, http://www.rangzen.org/
Media Contact: Hedy Ip (647) 284-7750
