Uprisings in Tibet and the subsequent Chinese crackdown are closely followed by the Tibetan friends, Dharma practitioners and human rights watch dogs in Latin America. Understanding the gravity of the situation inside Tibet and also the need to raise the voice in support of the people inside Tibet, the Latin American supporters of Tibet carried out public protests, candle-light vigils and silent protests in different cities in the Latin American region.
Mexico
On April 2, more than 800 Tibetan supporters, wearing white T-shirts with the names of those Tibetans killed during the recent unrest in Tibet, protested in Mexico City at two different important spots. Protesters demanded Chinese leaders to engage in dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to grant meaningful autonomy for Tibet. In an emotional rally, the Mexico protesters sang Tibetan National Anthem and displayed various placards reading “no torch in Tibet”, “China lies, people dies”, “in Tibet you are killed if you fight for your basic rights”, “in Tibet you are dead if you ask for the return of the Dalai Lama” etc. The protests were widely covered by the local and national media.
On the same day, a small but similar vigil was also held in Monterey, an important industrial city of Mexico in the north. A group of supporters of Tibet unfurled Tibetan National Flags and displayed various posters depicting atrocities committed by the Chinese authorities while cracking down the protests in Tibet. The members also educated the onlookers about the situation in Tibet. Pro-Tibet activities in Mexico are carried out by Mexican Tibet Support Group called ” Pensando en Tíbet” (Thinking About Tibet”).
Argentina
While the Beijing Olympic Torch was carried out in the Argentinean Capital of Buenos Aires on April 11, around 50-60 Tibet supporters staged a peaceful protest carrying Tibetan flags and placards reading “Peace in Tibet” and “Dialogue with the Dalai Lama”. Jorge Carcavallo, a journalist friend of Tibet, unfurled a giant banner reading “Free Tibet” near the city’s iconic Obelisk. A couple of Tibet supporters from Uruguay and Chile also participated in the protest.
On the same day, Argentinean Nobel Peace Laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel denounced the Beijing Olympic Torch as “Beijing 2008: The Olympic Death Torch” through a statement. In the statement, the Nobel Peace Laureate said: “Human Rights have no borders and today the consciousness of mankind goes further than ideologies or economical and political interests. The right of a nation for self-determination and sovereignty has to be demanded and denounced everywhere in the world because it affects the whole mankind”. He urged the people for solidarity with Tibet in order to find alternative ways that would help to knock down the wall of intolerance.
Peru
On April 3, the Tibet supporters and members of Amnesty International and National Human Rights Council staged a peaceful vigil outside the Chinese Embassy in Lima, calling for Peace and dialogue in Tibet. Around 100 people participated in the vigil.
Chile
On March 31, the Chilean Tibet supporters once again undertook a peaceful vigil out the Chinese Embassy in Santiago, as a part of the Global Action on Tibet. More than 100 people participated in the vigil carrying Tibetan flags and Free Tibet placards. Earlier on March 17, they also organized another vigil outside the Chinese Embassy in Santiago.
Costa Rica
On March 31, the Tibet supporters also held a peaceful rally outside the Chinese Embassy in San Jose. Around 100 protestors gathered initially at the Channel 7 Television Office and from there they marched to the Chinese Embassy carrying Tibetan Flags and placards calling for peace and dialogue in Tibet. The Costa Rican Tibetan Culture Association also brought out a one-page advertisement drawing attention on the situation in Tibet in “La Nacion”, the biggest national daily of Costa Rica
Brazil
On March 30, the Tibetan supporters in collaboration with the Municipality of Sao Paulo City organized a big vigil the Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo City calling for respect of human rights in Tibet. More than 200 people participated in the vigil.
On the same day, a group of 30 Tibet supporters also held a peaceful vigil at the beach of Leblón in Rio de Janeiro City. Protestors, carrying Team Tibet Beijing Olympic symbol and placards calling to “Stop Cultural Genocide in Tibet”, covered their mouth with black band to symbolize the brutal silencing of Tibetans in Tibet. The protest was initiated by two local intellectuals, a photographer, documentary film-maker and singer Leoni.
Earlier on March 28, a small group of Tibet supporters held a protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Sao Paulo City.
Uruguay
A lone active Tibet supporter, Aloma Sellanes, have been giving interviews with the local media about the situation inside Tibet and also organized talks to create awareness on Tibet among the local people.
