Poland: Tibetan solidarity demonstrations were organized in three major Polish cities last Friday to commemorate Tibetans killed by Chinese police “in bloody Friday in Lhasa last week”.
The biggest gathering was held in Polish capital Warsaw, organized by Tibetan Programme, where in over 800 people, including Tibetans, silently prayed and lighted candles in front of the Presidential Palace. (Click here to watch the video from the Warsaw vigil)
Pro-Tibet Demonstration was also organized in Gdansk, city famous worldwide as the birthplace of the Solidarity movement which, under the leadership of Gdańsk native Lech Wałęsa, played a major role in bringing an end to communist rule across Central Europe in 1989.
Similar demonstration was also organized in Lodz, which is the second largest city in Poland.
Few hours before the demonstrations were held; Polish President Mr. Lech Kaczynski issued statement about the situation in Tibet.
In the statement, he supported peaceful dialogue between Chinese leadership and the Dalai Lama and stressed that it should be symbolic before Olympic Games in Beijing.
“Olympic Games are, and I hope will remain, a symbol of peaceful coexistence and dialogue of people all over the world. I believe, they will not be shadowed by accidents which are opposite for the spirit of solidarity among people,” he wrote.
Earlier last week, Polish Prime Minister Mr. Donald Tusk declared he would not go for the Opening of the Beijing Olympics, saying he was the first head of state “to declare not to go to the Olympics Opening”. Instead, Mr Donald said he would meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he visits Poland on invitation from Speaker of Senate Borusewicz, saying it would be a “great honour” for him.
Special letter to His Holiness the Dalai Lama had been sent by President of the Constitutional Court in Poland, Mr. Jerzy Stepien, expressing sympathy for Tibetan plight.
Mr Jerzy had also called for the need of International observation mission to Tibet.
In upcoming days, Polish Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection, Mr. Janusz Kochanowski, is organizing a special meeting for human rights organizations concerned about situation in Tibet.
According to Piotr Cykowski, Tibetan Programme Coordinator and member of International Tibet Support, the Polish Senate Speaker had already issued an official invitation for the Dalai Lama on behalf of the Polish Senate.
For more information, visit: www.ratujtybet.org / www.tibetnetwork.org
