New York, December 10: The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of New York and New Jersey (RTYC NY&NJ) led a large army of New York Tibetans on the streets of New York City on 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to call for better Human Rights situation inside Tibet. A huge Peace Rally took formation at the Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn early in the morning and walked across the historic Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. The demonstrators rallied raising numerous slogans like: “Free Tibet”, “Release Gedun Choekyi Nyima”, “Release Tenzin Delek Rinpoche”, “Release Ronggye A’drak”, and “Boycott Beijing Olympics”.
The members of the Students for a Free Tibet and Tibetan Community of Philadelphia also joined the rally to highlight the dismal human rights situation in Tibet.
The demonstrators were seen distributing leaflets detailing human rights violations taking place inside Tibet to the onlookers and sympathizers as they rallied.
Onlookers and roaming tourists showing ‘Thumbs Up’ to the Tibetan demonstrators were a common sight all along the way. As the rally entered into the down town China town, the Tibetan activists began to shout “Free Tibet”, “Shame, Shame – China Shame” and “China out of Tibet” slogans even much more louder.
“Today’s rally surely made them (Chinese) think twice about the Chinese rule in Tibet,” one marcher notes referring to the size of the rally he was participating in.
In his speech before the UN Headquarter, the Regional Youth Congress President pointed out that the Human rights situation in Tibet is deteriorating and called upon the Chinese authorities to immediately stop all violations. Condemning Chinese Government’s recent regulation on management measures for reincarnation of “Living Buddhas” in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the RTYC President said it was a clear violation of religious freedom of Tibetan people and demanded immediate withdrawal of the same. He described the so called the “Order No. 5” as “not acceptable to Tibetans”. He further demanded for the unconditional release of Ronggye A’drak, Trulku Tenzin Delek and Gedun Choekyi Nyima”.
The Rally then continued to the Chinese Consulate through a crowded Time Square. At the Chinese Consulate the General Secretary of the RTYC read the Centrex’s statement. The RTYC of New York and New Jersey are set to organize similar event again on Tuesday starting at 10.00 AM from the UN headquarter.
Based on report by RTYC NY&NJ
