By Jigme Ugen
Washington DC, April 20 – Parked on F street adjacent to the Willard hotel, in the heart of the nation’s capital, was this large bus festooned with Tibetan flags, outsized “Free Tibet” stickers on all sides and an extra large colorful pictographic banner “Release the Panchen Lama” pasted on the rear, attracting all curious passer-bys. The bus had arrived early this morning from Minnesota after crossing borders across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland, traveling more than 1,100 miles for over 22 hours.
The bold travelers seated behind those tinted glasses were here clearly with one sole mission – to stage a demonstration against the Chinese leader Hu Jintao on his first official visit to the White House as president.
Hu Jintao made much of his political reputation during his four-year tenure as China’s Party Secretary of The Tibet Autonomous Region where he oversaw a brutal crackdown on the Tibetans and the imposition of martial law in 1989 to repress nonviolent demonstrations by Tibetans against China’s illegal occupation of their country.
The bus door opened to a vibrant group of around forty Tibetans of all age. Each smiling face somehow revealed a different story but every pair of eyes looked focused and determined in accordance.
The youngest rider, 21 years old Ngawang Paljor, remarked, “I requested to be on this bus because as a Tibetan it’s my obligation to all our suffering brethrens in Tibet. Today, we will echo the halls of the White House with our ‘Free Tibet’ chants. We are blessed with democracy and it’s our duty to uphold it.”
After living in America for over 14 years, Tashi Gyaltsen decided to make this his first ever protest of any kind here. When asked why now, Tashi replied, “Hu’s record of tyranny was good enough a reason. Fact is Tibet’s occupied by China and China is a brutal force of evil always conspiring and ever deceiving. We have to stand firm on our moral principles of Buddhism to preserve our values and protect our identity. We have to hold people like Hu and other Chinese leaders accountable.”
Tibet was invaded by China in 1995. More than 1.2 million Tibetans have reportedly died under the Chinese occupation and Tibetan Buddhism is continually assaulted which has resulted in the destruction of 6,000 monasteries, nunneries and temples.
Jetung Gompo, a 68-year-old retired music teacher from Teju sat next to his wife Lhamo. “We need to keep adding pressure because it seems to be working. I support the position the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress has taken and will maintain it until China stops genocide in Tibet, until every political prisoner is freed and until Tibet is free,” said Gompo.
Established in 1970, Tibetan Youth Congress, based out of Dharamsala, India, is the largest non-governmental organization within the Tibetan community with 78 regional chapters across the globe fighting for the complete independence of Tibet.
Lobsang Palden, an Afghanistan war veteran added softly, “No one should suffer like how our people in Tibet do, I’m here to honor them. I’ve already fought a war for America, now America and President Bush must help my fight. We need to Liberate Tibet.”
The situation in Tibet continues to deteriorate with the reintroduction of Patriotic-Re-education campaign. Thousands continue to languish in the Chinese dungeons in Tibet. To this day, reports claim the Chinese government in Tibet continues illegal detention, torture, rape, and execution of Tibetans who protest from freedom and basic human rights.
After a short prayer, the entire bus instantaneously jumped out of the door armed with colorful Tibetan flags and banners like a bright energetic explosion. Cars driving through the morning traffic honked and waved as these activist chanted from the side street. They then marched on towards Lafayette Park, across from the White House, where thousands of other anti-Chinese protestors greeted and welcomed them.
“When we first got there I was pained and shocked to see so many red flags, dancers and other cheerful Hu supporters,” recalled Paljor later, “but when all the Tibetans assembled we were undeniably the loudest and the most energetic.”
Hundreds of NY/NJ Tibetan Youth Congress, Students for a Free Tibet and some Philadelphia and Virginia Tibetans shortly after joined the Minnesotans and swarmed the protest area with more flags, banners and drums. An enormous Tibetan flag was unfurled directly facing the White House, which initially made the police anxious.
Media from all over the world gave unprecedented attention to the Tibetan protestors who had been completely delimited by the police and the secret service. Even the Chinese dancers welcoming Hu seemed disoriented by the thunderous drumbeats, wailing sirens and bullhorns.
In an interview to a Tibetan radio station, Pema Sapna stated, “Everyday our sisters and brothers in Tibet die fighting for independence. So how could we, living in the most democratic country in the world remain silent? Especially when Chinese leaders are here to meet the most powerful man in the universe, the President of America. It would have been disgraceful, disappointing and disloyal to those suffering in Tibet.”
The Taiwanese-American groups, organizers of the rally, had a podium on the park across and offered that exclusive platform to the Tibetans. The President of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Minnesota, Penpa K. Amje spoke of China’s habitual stark contradictions between its pronouncement and actions during negotiations with the Tibetan Government in Exile since 1979. “We urge and demand the Chinese leadership to drop all preconditions for negotiations with the TGIE and start sincere and substantive negotiations for a just and lasting political solution.”
Jigme Ugen, General Secretary of RTYC Minnesota, read a statement from Prof. Larry Gerstein, President of the International Tibet Independence Movement. Then, Prof. Bob Yang, Chairman of World United Formosans for Independence, joined Ugen to present him and the ITIM with “China out of Tibet” banners and stated that both Tibetans and Taiwanese are fighting for independence from the same foe.
“His Holiness always advises every one of us to be involved and contribute in every way for the Tibetan cause,” said Tsering Namgang, Ex-President of RTYC-MN, “it just isn’t the time to stand by the sideline anymore. Having no Tibetan presence in DC would have meant Tibet has no problems. Other freedom fighters were in thousands from all over the world for this unique opportunity to have their voices heard by the highest officials from China. Our presence was crucial.”
Towards the evening, protestor still packed the exit streets chanting and waving Tibetan flags as President Hu’s motorcade drove towards the Marriott Wardman where he was scheduled to address Chinese and US business leaders. Some RTYC and SFT members were already waiting inside and outside the hotel, which perhaps led security to use converted entrances; but it was literally impossible for the visiting Chinese delegates to avoid hordes of angry demonstrators everywhere they went around DC.
“I am glad and proud we were there to represent our country and stand along other freedom fighters from Taiwan, East Turkistan and Southern Mongolia, and Falun Gong practitioners. What sadden me most was when the Chinese dancers were dressed as Tibetans totally misrepresenting our culture and falsifying our identity, even though all of us booed, I then realized why we were here – to represent Tibet,” said Tsering Topden over the microphone, bringing tears, smiles and cheers as the large bus slowly drove the weary but pleased passengers out of Washington DC on a long ride back to Minnesota.
