The Solidarity Rally is a wake-up call to the United Nations and the International Community: CTA President in New York

NEW YORK CITY: To mark International Day of Human Rights, thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters from across the United States and Canada took part in a mass solidarity rally in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City on 10 December.

The rally, organised by a committee chaired by Pema Chagzoetansg and Tsewang Rigzin, the two members of the Tibetan Parliament representing North America, was part of the ‘Year of Campaign’ declared by the Kashag on 10 March this year.

President Dr Lobsang Sangay of the Central Tibetan Administration, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and many Chinese scholars and dissidents including Prof Ming Xia, Chinese activist Chen Guangchen, democracy activist Yang Jianli, attended the rally.

Addressing the rally, President Dr Lobsang Sangay, appealed the United Nations to protect the basic fundamental rights of the Tibetan people and said that the issue of Tibet bears worldwide ramifications. He said that the rally was a wake-up call to the UN and the international community, explaining that ignoring the just cause of Tibet is akin to ignoring human rights, democracy and violence.

“For the last six decades, Tibet has been suffering under a brutal occupation. And that is unacceptable. Tibetans are suffering and they are saying it’s unbearable. They are burning themselves; not just one or ten or twenty, but one hundred and fifty Tibetans have burned themselves asking for basic freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet,” Dr Sangay said.

Citing William Herschel’s quote “you may choose to look the other way but you cannot say that you didn’t know,” President Dr Sangay said, “We are here today in front of the United Nations to tell you today about the tragedy unfolding in Tibet.”

“Next year marks the 70th year since the Universal declaration of human rights was made. But where are our human rights? Where is our basic freedom? That’s why we are here today in front of the UN headquarters to tell the UN and the international community about what is going on inside Tibet for the last sixty years.”

Dr Sangay also underlined the ongoing demolition of Larung Gar and Yarchen Gar by Chinese authorities as trampling on the rights of the Tibetan people and said that China should immediately stop the demolitions and restore the monastery to its original settings.

“Larung Gar monastery with more than 12000 monks and nuns was demolished from last August to this August. From 12000 monks and nuns, it was reduced to just 5000. 7000 of the monks were expelled, never to return again. Three nuns from Yarchen Gar committed suicide. Such is the situation inside Tibet. So, is there any justice? No. Sixty years is too long, demolition of Larung gar is unacceptable, demolition of Yarchen gar is unbearable. We want the UN and the international community to know that the tragedy of Tibet is real, and the sufferings of the Tibetan people are real,” he said.

President further emphasised that Tibetans in Tibet have clearly protested the political repression, economic marginalization caused by the Chinese government’s policies. “The issue of Tibet not only concerns the 6 million Tibetans but that 1.4 billion people in Asia that depend on Tibet’s rives,” said Dr Sangay.

Speaker of Tibetan Parliament, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, recalled the contribution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan people and to the world. He highlighted the current critical situation in Tibet, pointing out the cases of Tashi Wangchuk, late Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and Larung Gar as examples of how China was mistreating Tibetan people and destroying Tibetan culture and tradition. He spoke about the past resolutions on Tibet by the United Nations and sought its support to the Tibetan people, including in the resumption of dialogue with the Chinese leadership.

Richard Gere, Actor and Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet, who was unable to attend the rally, sent a written message expressing his solidarity with the Tibetan people. He expressed his hope that everyone can “be united in our nonviolent struggle to fulfil the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and honour the voice of Tibetans inside Tibet.” Saying that there were many people who care deeply about Tibet, he said ICT remains committed to being proactive on the issue of Tibet.

Tibetan Parliamentarian Pema Chagzoetsang offered her gratitude to all those who had helped with the organization of the events. Tibetan parliamentarian Tsewang Rigzin said all the participants should go back home knowing that they were successful in delivering the three objectives that he had outlined that sent strong messages to China and the international community.

The day-long rally began from the United Nations building, through the streets of New York, and culminated in front of the Chinese consulate. Participants raised slogans of peace, human rights, non-violence, dialogue and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during the rally.

Since the declaration of 2017 as ‘Year of Campaign’ by the Kashag, over 30,000 Tibetans residing in North America have organised and participated in various rallies and campaigns to highlight the Chinese government’s atrocities in Tibet and have called for the resumption of dialogue between Chinese representatives and envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.