Organizers Press Release
The tibetan flags wave in the wind, under the Eiffel Tower. Two hundred people gathered saturday under the Parisian monument to ask for the release of the young Panchen Lama, detained by China for 10 long years.
A very symbolic place, since short time before its death, the previous Panchen Lama had privately said that he dreamed to see the Eiffel Tower one day, symbol of France which he thought as the country of human rights. The vigorous demonstrators listened with attention to the President of the Tibetan Community in France, Thupten Gyatso, who pointed out the importance of this day, the injustice of this arbitrary detention, and claimed for the release of the young Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, reminding to the Chinese authorities that money cannot buy the truth.
Christophe Cunniet, from France-Tibet TSG, asked the demonstrators to imagine what would occur if a lay state kidnapped the pope Benedict XVI just after his designation, to replace him by another pope. This is however what happened to the young Panchen Lama, three days after his designation by the Dalai Lama. Christophe Cunniet also protested, supported by the shouting of the demonstrators, against the statements of the Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in visit in China, where he supported the anti-secession law allowing the use of force against Taiwan, as well as the lifting of the European embargo on the sales of weapons to China.
Philippe Horellou, also from France-Tibet, reminded the campaigns for the release of the Panchen Lama, in particular the petition and the international call, which gathers nearly 400 personalities and NGOs.
Alexis, from Students for a Free Tibet in France, showing the dynamism of the young people for Tibet, also spoke to defend the young Panchen and all the other political prisoners.
Several political personalities also addressed messages of support for the demonstrators.
The demonstration, very visible and rhythmed by many slogans, marched towards the head office of UNESCO, where a letter was handled to the reception by a delegation of the organizing TSGs.
