by Dhondup Chomphel Gelek
Turin – “No Olympics to China 2008” had been the hit-hard campaign for years by the Tibetan communities worldwide and also that of the numerous Tibet support groups(TSGs) all over the world. The voice is even more heard and strengthened the determination of the NGOs from the day when the international Olympic Committee decided to give the status of the host nation to the world Olympics 2008 to China on 13-july-2001 which the China morally and in all the ways doesn’t deserve it.
With the winter Olympics 2006 destined to be held in Torino, Italy in a couple of days, Torino has itself recently undergone a metamorphosis to lift up to the expectations of the world members pouring in to participate in the events that is to start from 10th feb which last until the closing ceremony on 26th feb.
Torino has successfully turn it into a centre of attraction to the world at least a couple of weeks yet the promising image with the high-tech transport systems to let in-out everyday thousands of people and the struggling “piemontese”(Torino people) speaks out more than that. They feel it in the long run too, given the fact that Torino has turn into a significant spot with the world attention drawing in and the innumerable cameras and the journalists worldwide concentrating in the area. Besides it is also presumed that the most of the participants and the representatives of the respective nations involved are already being present in the very city. Furthermore, the day 4th feb, is the day of inauguration of the Torino’s first ever in the history “The Torino’s Subway-Metro”.
Despite the ever increasing tight security posed by the fear of the terrorists, the Tibetan Community in Italy, together with more than 21 Tibet support groups (Italia-Tibet Association, Solidarity Campaign with Tibetan people – Torino to single out some), and SFT Italy have rushed to the area and effectively organized a manifestation and a protest to call upon the citizens of the world to the ongoing and the ever-increasing repressions of the Tibetans in Tibet, violations of human rights, right to expressions, the birth right to preserve the rich ancient culture and the right to say “yes” to the choice of one’s religion which the peace-loving Tibetans had been deprived of in their own country invaded and suppressed by brutal Chinese communist regime. One of their strong objective is to specifically call-upon the International Olympic committee to reconsider its decision and the China be held responsible for its hide and seek immoral activities with the world clandestinely and publicly in Tibet and China at large.
The Tibetans and the numerous Italian Tibet-friends were summoned at 2pm local time to the Torino, Piazza (square) “Palazzo di Città”. It took several minutes to get into the real action to ensure the voice heard in and around. It was joined also by the Sermig LA PACE (peace group) and the Chinese FALUN DAFA group with their playful drums and the colorful banners reading “China’s New Era begins” “Quit CCP” and many more. Their presence not only added to the numbers but rendered the protest even more stronger and visible. The strength of their drums naturally brought many more eye-witnesses. Yet the Tibet community members present there made their way to it shoulderly and unitely with some of them dressed in monk, lay and the Chinese red army and played a dramatic role in front of the eyes of the world by bringing physically the brutal scene still suffering by the Tibetans in Tibet.
From the square together they marched through the “Via Garibaldi” until the Torino monument which is of approximately 400mts. Even the passers-by and the tourists in the already overcrowded street joined the protest and shown their open solidarity which in China is impossible. Either they get arrested for long torturing investigations or quickly expelled, many of them witnessed until the end of the protest. The key guest speakers invited, apart from the organizing committee, were Mr Bruno Mellano from “Provinces & Regions for Tibet”, the representative of the “Italian Inter-parliamentary Group for Tibet”. The protest actually ended nearly around 5.30pm. I personally witnessed the event a grand success, its implications and the fathomless far-reaching consequences .
The particular voice of the young Tibetans and their frustrations are still once again heard in the square. The young Tibetans are witnessing the fading away of their faith in “Non Violence”. It nearly seems to them that the violence is the only alternative to fight back. Some says: “50 years is a lot. Are we dreaming? Violence to fight back is not at all an unlawful act against the Chinese regime like it is justified kicking off the uninvited guest from your house. Time is tickling fast and hard for the Chinese regime”.
