March 10 – Tibet Support Group, Belgium with RTYC Belgium and Belgian Tibetan Community organized a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Uprising of March 10 in Brussels. Hundreds of Tibetans and their Belgian friends gathered despite a very bad weather. After reading out the statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the speech of the President of TSG, Les AMis du Tibet, and speech of the Dutch language speaking coordinator, the crowd walked for about a half an hour, raising slogans against China to reach the Chinese Embassy.
There were around 400 people when the protestors reached the Chinese Embassy. The Embassy was empty even though it was office hours. It seemed that the Chinese authorities closed it because of the demonstration. The crowd continued demonstrating for three hours till they were joined by the cyclists.
Cycle rally from Antwerpen to Brussels: RTYC Belgium began a cycle rally from Antwerpen Central Station. There were 29 cyclists. This rally was focused to make people aware of the condition of Tibet. Between the two biggest cities in Belgium with a distance of 70 KM the cyclists distributed pamphlets all the way stating the failure of the Chinese Government to improve human rights. The cyclists after cycling for a full day in rain and storm reached the Chinese Embassy to coincide with the demonstration. Their arrival was heralded and strongly applauded by each and everyone present. After shouting slogans for an hour the demonstration ended with the singing of the Tibetan National Anthem.
Besides the demonstration, Les Amis du Tibet had contacted different cities all over Belgium asking them to show the Tibetan flag on March 10. One in four cities (155 among 589) in Belgium has agreed to display the flag.
Base on report by Nyima, Dhonden, Dakpa and Tendor
