Budapest (Hungary), June 01: A nine-day Free Tibet Cycle rally from the Hungarian capital city of Budapest to Vienna in Austria, kick-started at 06:30 this morning from the Hero Square here.
A team of 14 strong riders for Tibet are to complete the rally in Vienna on June 9 after covering several distances between the two countries.
This is the ever first time to hold such a large scale nation to nation cycle rally for Tibet in Europe.
The cyclists rallied within the Budapest city for nearly 45 minutes carrying large Tibetan national flags and simultaneously shouting Free Tibet slogan repeatedly.
The group made its first major stop at the Chinese embassy in Budapest today to show solidarity for Tibetan freedom
In front of the embassy, Mr Choegyal Tenzin, former member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile made a brief introduction of the importance and objective of cycle rally. After Mr Choegyal’s speech, Tibetans sang Tibetan national anthem before the Chinese embassy. The group even raised slogans like “Long live the Dalai Lama,” “Free Tibet” and made calls demanding immediate and sincere negotiation with the exile Tibetan Government.
The protest demonstrations before the embassy lasted for half an hour before the rally headed again towards Vienna while passing by the Hungarian Parliament House on the way.
The Free Tibet Cycle rally’s campaign leaflet calls for mass support and solidarity for Tibetan cause.
The rally from Hungary is led by Mr Choegyal. On June 8, the rallying group will be received in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna by the Tibetan community there led by Mr Lobsang Gyalpo.
Based on report and campaign leaflet forwarded by Choegyal Tenzin from Hungary via email-choegyaltenzin@hotmail.com
