Geneva, March 10 – Over 35 Tibetans set off a peace march on 6 March 2006 from Zurich to Bern in order to publicize Tibet’s sad human rights situation. In an interview to VOT, Gangshontsang Lobsang, President of Tibetan Community and Liechtenstein said that they received enormous support and sympathy towards Tibet’s problem from the local people. And also received significant coverage in local media and newspapers about the march.
The marchers walked in average 25KMS everyday to cover distance of 126KMS. Despite bad weather, some of the elders aged over 70 though confronted difficulties determined to walk continuously with the group.
On morning of 10 March, they reached the Chinese Embassy in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland and delivered a memorandum in which expressed their concern over present human rights situation in Tibet and calls on Chinese leadership to take serious on the current dialogue process with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve longstanding political problems. The peace march was formally concluded in Bern and then left for Geneva where the official commemoration of the 47th Tibetan National Uprising Day will be observe.
In the afternoon, about 250 Tibetans and friends of Tibet gathered at La Maison des Association in Geneva. The organizer after welcoming the gathering held a press conference. Then the protesters took to the street in queue escorted by local police and arrived at the United Nations.
The main speakers for the day were Ms. Maria Roth- Bernasconi, Member of Parliament, Mr. Leuenberger, Member of Parliament, Ms. Ruth Gonseth, President of Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association, Mr. Regis de Battista, Director of La Maison des Assocaitons, Mr. Tenzin Samphel, on behalf of Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Geneva.
Ms. Maria Roth-Bernasconi, Mr. Leuenberger and Mr. Regis de Battista had expressed their continued support for Tibet and appreciate non-violent approach adopted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and peoples of Tibet as a means to resolve Tibet’s political problems with Chinese leadership.
Mr. Tenzin Samphel, on behalf of Representative read His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s nationwide 10 March Statement before the gathering.
As a token of appreciation and gratitude, representatives from Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, Tibetan Women Organization and Lhasa Boys Association offered traditional scarf to all the peace marchers.
The day concluded with long life prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan National Anthem.
Organizer of the event: Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein Tibetan Women Organization in Switzerland Tibetan Youth Association in Europe Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association Committee of Solidarity for Tibet La Porte du Tibet
