Nagpur, March 10 – Tibetan Peace March for Free Tibet started from Tibetan settlement, Gottangaon, Gondia district on March 1, 2004 under the leadership of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and Regional Tibetan Women’s Association of the settlement. There are altogether 80 participants ranging from 16 years to 80 years of age. One Indian staunch supporter of Tibetan cause Mr. Sandesh Meshram joined the march right from the beginning.
On the way marchers covered many Indian villages and towns. Local Indian shown tremendous support and sympathy to the marchers while proceeding towards Nagpur city. Marchers were received with the presentation of flower garlands at different places.
Marchers reached the city yesterday afternoon. Tibetan supporters of Nagpur city welcomed the marchers at Jain Dharamsala, Pardi Naka. While resuming the march, the participants walked towards the city and were received by local buddhist groups such as Anand Buddha
Vihar and Chandha mani Buddha Vihar. On our invitation, Mr. Karma Yeshi, editor-in-chief of Voice of Tibet, Dharamsala and former Vice President of TYC (Centrex) joined the march. Marchers halt their night stay at Chandha mani Buddha Vihar in Nagpur city. On the eve of Tibetan National Uprising Day, the organisers organise a press conference at the city
Press Club on March 9. Press conference was addressed by Mr. Karma Yeshi, Editor-in-Chief of Voice of Tibet, Mr. Kalsang Choedak, President of RTYC and Mrs. Tsering Wangmo, President of RTWA. While addressing the conference Mr. Karma urged International community to put pressure on China in respecting the very basic human rights of Tibetan people in Tibet. He also urged Indian political parties to address the issue of Tibet by raising the same in their political manifesto. Karma further stated that Independence of Tibet is
must for security of South east Asia countries and appealed the government of India to review its foreign policy on Tibet.
Tibet used to be a free nation before 1959. Tibet was illegally occupied by the People’s Republic of China in 1959 and Tibetan people raised their voices against the mighty China on March 10, 1959. Since then, we Tibetans observe this day as Tibetan National Uprising day.
Today March 10, being Tibetan National Uprising, the marchers began their march from Chandha mani Buddha Vihar in the morning with prayers followed by Tibetan and Indian national anthems. Marchers observed one minute mourning silence in respect to the martyrs who sacrificed their life for Tibetan cause.
Today Tibetan peace marchers marched towards the collector’s office by shouting slogans such as, “Free Tibet”, “Long Live Dalai Lama”, “Tibet’s Independence, India’s security”. Pamphlets and literatures on Tibetan issues were distributed to the local people. Peace marchers got together infront of the collector’s office and had an interview session with the media people. Peace march delegation consisting of Tibetans and Indian supporters met the
deputy collector and submitted a memorandum seeking India’s support to Tibetan cause.
Peace marchers then began their march and proceeded towards the Variety Chowk. Peace march concluded at variety chowk by singing Tibetan uprising song. Altogether this peace march covered 200 kilometers covering many villages and towns of three major districts namely Gondia, Bhandara and Nagpur. As said before, this march was also joined by Mr. Karma Yeshi
and he made many public addresses.
The major demands of the march are as below:
1- Seeking support for making Tibet a free country to secure India’s national interest.
2- Seeking support in releasing all the Tibetan political prisoners serving prison term in various
Chinese prisons.
3- Seeking support from United Nations and asking them to send their representatives to Tibet to monitor the real situation in Tibet.
4- Seeking support from International community and Indian public in particular in making Tibet a zone of peace to bring peace in Asia.
5- Seeking support from all the political parties in India and asking them to raise Tibet issue in their political manifesto.
Local people shown their support and provided every necessary helping hand to the peace march. Members of the local Tibet support group such as Indo-Tibet Friendship Society, Bharat Tibet Sayog Manch and People’s Democratic Movement. Local representatives of Indian political parties such as Bhartiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena also
joined us in our conclusion programme.
We are once again thankful to the people and Government of India for their support towards Tibetan Refugees for the last more than four decades. We hereby, strongly appeal to the government of India to review their foreign policy on Tibet and support the just demand of six million Tibetans in their struggle for FREE TIBET.
Issued BY:
Ven. LOSANG TENPA
Executive Member
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Bhandara
Mrs. TSERING WANGMO
President
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Bhandara
