The 48th commemoration for March 10th in Toronto, Canada began with a “Free Tibet Action Week” organized by the Toronto Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC). This Free Tibet Action week is a weeklong protest from March 4th till March 10th 2007 and is held at Queen’s Park (Toronto) in front of Ontario’s Legislative building to increase the pressure on China and to alert the world about the ongoing human rights violation in Tibet by the Chinese government.
On the opening day guest speakers, Senator Consiglio Di Nino and Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Cheri DiNovo with about 100 Tibetans braved the –9oC freezing temperature from 9am till 5pm on the first day of this action week.
The day’s program started with special prayers by Lamas for the long live of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Khata offerings on the throne by the guest speakers and the head of the Tibetan associations here in Toronto. Mr. Phurbu Tsering la, the president of the Tibetan Youth Congress in Toronto made the opening remark by reading the statement of the Tibetan Youth Congress. It was followed by a speech by Thupten Wangyal la, former official of the Centrex TYC in India. He emphasized on the hastening of the negotiation between the Chinese government and the Tibetan government in Exile.
Senator Consiglio Di Nino showed his solidarity with the “Free Tibet Action Week” by braving Toronto’s harsh winter temperature and gave a very moving speech. He pledged to double his efforts to help the Tibetan cause and promised to support the Tibetan cause until Tibet gains its freedom back. He urged the protestors to keep the Tibetan spirit alive and to never abandon the Tibetan cause and to never let the flame die. He spoke about how everyone has a role and that the success of the Tibetan cause will be from a united effort from many different fronts.
Member of Provincial Parliament Cheri DiNovo spoke of her absolute and complete support of the “Free Tibet Action Week”. She spoke of their efforts in trying to attain a place of worship for members and to use that space during Dalai Lama’s September visit to Ontario.
The president of Toronto’s Students For Free Tibet chapter Gelek Badetsang talked about how being present at the “Free Tibet Action Week” is a humbling experience for all the Tibetan protestors. He said how standing and protesting outside the legislative building today in the freezing temperature was a reminder to everyone as to how Tibetans from Tibet every year crosses the Himalayan range suffering frostbites to get a glimpse of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to get his blessing. He spoke of keeping all of our spirits united. Tsering Norzom Thonsur, President of Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario spoke about the growing sense of frustration among Tibetans in Exile for the lack of response from the Chinese government. She asked Senator Di Nino to urge the Canadian government to influence the Chinese government to have a dialogue and negotiation with the Tibetan government in Exile.
Toronto’s Tibetan Youth Congress urges the Canadian government to pressure the Chinese government on the following demands: “that there be a dialogue between President Hu Jintao and His Holiness the Dalai Lama without any preconditions; that all political prisoners of Tibetan should be unconditionally and immediately released and the emphasis was on 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima and Tulku Tenzin Delek. TYC also urges the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rescind the hosting of Olympic 2008 by China until there is a marked improvement in human rights situation in Tibet and in China.” Request letter with these demands from the Toronto’s Tibetan Youth Congress has been addressed to Senator Consiglio Di Nino and Member of Provincial Parliament Cheri DiNovo.
A daylong prayer by the crowd followed the speeches in the morning. Eight Tibetan volunteers: Sonam Phuntsok, Ngawang Khenrab, Tenzin Soepa, Tenzin Gyaltsen, Karma Kunsang, Thupten Yeshi, Kunga Choedak and Gen Thardoe have volunteered to participate during the entire duration of the “Free Tibet Action Week”. The Tibetan Youth Congress honored them with Khatas. There was also signing of petitions for the release of the Panchen Lama and Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and also a petition to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rescind the hosting of Olympic 2008 by China. The day ended around 5pm with singing of the Tibetan national anthem.
