Tibetans Hold Prayer Service in Memory of Peaceful Demonstrators of 1989

DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration, held an hour-long prayer service in remembrance of the sacrifices made by peaceful Tibetan demonstrators who took part in the protests of 1989 against the Chinese government.

CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay attended the prayer service along with members of Kashag, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of Tibetan Parliament, Tibetan Justice Commissioners, Tibetan civil servants, monks of Namgyal Monastery and the local Tibetan community.

Speaking to media persons following the prayer service, President Dr Sangay said that it’s important to recall and highlight the sacrifices of the peaceful demonstrators of the 1989 protests against the Chinese government. He said that the protests were a spontaneous response to the imposition of repressive measures by Chinese authorities in Tibet. He added that even now, Tibet remains under lock down and Tibetans are forced to live under a series of repressive measures.

President Dr Sangay also expressed condolences at the reported self-immolation of Tsekho, a middle-aged man in northeastern Tibet’s Ngaba region yesterday.

Thousands of Tibetans took to the streets of Lhasa to protest the Chinese government’s brutal and unjust policies against Tibetans and commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in 1989. In response to the protests, Chinese authorities declared martial law and opened fire on the protesters, killing hundreds and injuring even more.

Since then, a prayer service is held annually on 8 March to recall and pay tribute to those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives and limb for the greater cause of Tibet.