Minnesota Tibetan community’s support for the People’s movement begins with a record-breaking gathering at the fundraising event organised by its regional youth Congress chapter
St. Paul, MN, July 27: More than five hundred local Tibetans gathered at a fundraising event organised by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Minnesota (RTYC-MN), earlier on Sunday here.
The event was organised to support the ongoing Indefinite Hunger Strike in India and the larger People’s Movement, both initiated by Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC).
Today marks the 20th day for fourteen Tibetan men and women on Indefinite Hunger Strike in Delhi, India. The Hunger Strike is an effort to put direct pressure on the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to respond to their demands. If China fails to respond to the demands of the TYC by August 7 2007, a massive public gathering of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans will then demand the PRC to allow Tibetans-in-exile to go into Tibet and witness the present situation in their homeland.
TYC states that unless a satisfactory response is given by the PRC, the movement will continue and China will be held responsible for any eventual consequences. They call it “The People’s Movement: A March Forward,” which is set to begin on August 8, 2007. The day would also mark the one-year countdown to the opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Several local Tibetans volunteered several hours for the fundraiser event.
Penpa Kura Amji, President of RTYC-MN, began the evening event by urging all Tibetans to come together and support the movement. He called attention on how the hunger strikers have set aside their personal commitments and family responsibilities, by drawing upon an example of one of the hunger strikers who had left behind four small children and a sick mother at home for the greater cause of Tibet.
“We have a purpose”, said Dr. Tsewang Ngodup, President of TAFM, as he emphasised the importance of individual responsibilities in raising awareness of Tibet’s struggle. He thanked and commended RTYC and TWA (Tibetan Women’s Association) for their continuous hard work.
The hall became silent as the video speech by Kalsang Phuntsok Godrukpa, TYC President, was projected onto the screen. Loud, thunderous applause erupted as Mr. Godrukpa called for “… all Tibetans to come together and participate in a massive public movement in order to bring the Tibetan struggle to a new level.”
A slide show of the hunger strikers was then shown, with stirring patriotic songs providing the backdrop. This half hour presentation by Jigme Ugen, RTYC General Secretary, raised everyone’s spirit creating an inspiring and emotional atmosphere. Then, the younger Tibetans girls and boys, led by their music teacher Ten Nawang, took to the stage to sing a Tibetan song called Punda Tso, Chik dri ki (unite brothers and sisters).
As the fundraiser was in progress, numerous RTYC volunteers were signing up hundreds of people for a Mid-West People’s Movement planned on August 8 along with Tibetan associations in Wisconsin and Chicago, and various other Tibetan NGOs and Tibet Support Groups.
“There should be at least one person to represent a family for this action”, said Sonam Wangdue, as he wrote his wife and their two daughters’ names on the sign-up sheet. “We can spare a day for Tibet, can’t we?” he demands.
The Minnesota Tibetan Community contributed more than US$ 17, 000, during the evening fund raising event. The entire amount will go to the Tibetan Youth Congress based in India. In an act of overwhelming response, one high school girl donated her entire summer allowance to support the movement.
The evening room was booming with loud discussions as petitions were signed and colorful literature was handed out – mass movement has already sparked off here.
Based on report by Deden Doma and RTYC-MN
