[New Delhi : 10th March, 2009]
Today is the 50th year anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. On this historic day in Lhasa on 10 March 1959, thousands of Tibetans rose up against China's illegal occupation of Tibet. It was on this day when the Tibetan people rose up to protect our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to defend our nation from dying a silent death.

Tibetan Youth Congress commemorated the day in Delhi with a Rangzen March from Rajghat to Jantar Mantar and by initiating a 50 hour Hunger Strike by 50 Tibetans to protest the illegal occupation of Tibet. The 50 hunger strikers are all young Tibetans between the ages of 20-35. The march was inspirational, witnessing huge participation from Tibetans in exile. Regardless of their age or sex, the marchers some in their 70's and others as young as 5 participated in the march. Many protestors wore black to symbolize the mourning of the death and imprisonment of their brothers and sisters inside Tibet.

Tenzin Norsang, Joint Secretary of TYC read out the Tibetan Youth Congress's 10th March Statement and urged Tibetans to take greater responsibility in our struggle for Tibet's Independence. He also appealed to the Indian Government and the International community to step forward for the Tibetan Cause. Chief Guest, Dr. Tirka, the National Convener of Tibet addressed the Tibetans and said that “Tibet's Independence is not only the issue of Tibet, it's a matter of Indian Security and Human Rights.”

Around 800 Tibetans from various Tibetan settlements in North India, school and college students, monks and lay person alike participated in today's event. Members of RTYC's of Shimla, Kullu Manali, Purwala, Tsering Dhondenling, Dharamsala, Paonta Sahib, Bir, Chauntra, Nanital, Herbertpur, Pondho and Delhi participated in today's protests in Delhi. Moreover, many Indian brothers and sisters including some students of Delhi University expressed their genuine concern for Tibet and support for the Tibetan people. Tibetan people were greatly honored when a handicapped Indian man in his 50's joined the march.

Many protestors felt that this year was a special year for the Tibetan struggle and emphasized on the need to make firmer resolutions and to adopt a firmer stance on the part of Tibetan government in dealing with China. Many also felt it important to remember the kindness of India government and its people towards Tibetans in these past 50 years.

Since last March, the spontaneous non-violent peaceful protests that erupted across the Tibetan plateau in major cities, monasteries and in remote areas of Tibet have been brutally suppressed by the use of force. The Chinese police and armed forces resorted to the use of violent beatings, open firing on peaceful demonstrators and the arbitrary detention of thousands of Tibetans. However, time and again, reports of non-violent protests by individuals and small groups throughout this year and the immediate crackdown on these individuals show that Tibet continues to remain brutally terrorized. The undeclared Martial Law imposed in Tibet is also an indication of China's failure in addressing the genuine grievances of the Tibetan people according to the international norms.

More than 250 Tibetans have lost their lives since last years protests. China officially relaunched the “Strike Hard” Campaign in Lhasa this January. The launch of this brutal campaign prior to the 50th anniversary of the largest resistance against China’s occupation of Tibet which culminated in the Tibetan National Uprising Day on 10 March 1959 and the one year anniversary of the unprecedented protests inside Tibet since 10 March 2008 are to suppress the Tibetan people’s all elements that may erupt in protests.

Concerned with the grave and deteriorating situation inside Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Congress resorts to Indefinite Hunger Strike today in front of the Chinese Consulate in Brussels, Belgium. The hunger strikers will continue until the demands of the hunger stikers receive satisfactory consideration.

Demands of the TYC led Hunger Strike: