TYC NORTH AMERICA WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING:

TYC North America Working Committee Meeting:

On December 3rd, 2023, the President and General Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress were warmly received at JFK Airport by the New York and New Jersey Regional Tibetan Youth Congress President and other members. The following day, they visited esteemed former TYC Centrex member and historian, Jamyang Norbu La, providing updates on ongoing campaign activities.

On December 6th, TYC expressed gratitude to Thupten Choenyi La, presenting a thank-you memento for his exceptional commitment to the cause of Tibetan Independence. President Gonpo Dhundup la participated in his one-day program, culminating in an evening public talk in Phildelphia.

 

20th North America Working Committee Meeting:

From December 9th to 11th, the three-day 20th North America Working Committee Meeting took place in New York. The opening ceremony featured TYC founding member Kalon Trisur Kungo Tethong Tenzin Namgyal la, Gen Jamyang Norbu la, Kungo Kunga Tashi la, and other former TYC Centrex members and the representatives of the NGOs. The meeting involved thorough reviews of chapter budgets, discussions on various agendas, and the adoption of crucial resolutions for the upcoming year. The event concluded with certificate presentations to participants and volunteers, followed by captivating cultural performances by the participants.

 

On December 11th participants of the North America Working Committee meeting protest outside the United Nations, condemning human rights abuses and genocide in Tibet. The protest was led by RTYC NY&NJ.

 

Minnesota Visit:

On December 15th, the TYC President and General Secretary were warmly received at Minneapolis airport by the RTYC Minnesota President and Vice President. The visit was in connection with the 25th Founding Anniversary of the RTYC Minnesota. On December 18th, they were invited as Chief Guests for the anniversary celebration, addressing critical situations inside Tibet and highlighting TYC campaign activities.

 

On December 16th, the TYC President and General Secretary visited TAFM’s Tibetan Culture School, addressing students during their morning assembly and touring classrooms.

 

 

On December 29th, TYC leadership, in collaboration with former RTYC New York and New Jersey members, met with New Jersey TYC members and former RTYC NY&NJ Working Committee members. Discussions centered on the pressing situation in Tibet and ongoing TYC activities. On December 31st, they engaged in a successful discussion and donation drive, strengthening campaign efforts. The meeting was attended by some of the former Centrex members, RTYC NY&NJ members along with representatives of the New York-based NGOs.

 

The year concluded with the TYC President and General Secretary attending the New Year’s Eve party organized by RTYC NY&NJ, where they served as Chief Guests.

 

The month-long series of events in the US concluded with a commitment to the Tibetan cause, reinforcing ties with regional chapters, honoring dedicated individuals, and strategically planning for the year ahead.

TAIWAN FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY DELEGATES VISITS TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS OFFICE

Tibetan Youth Congress had the privilege of hosting the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy delegate, President Haung Yu-Lin & Deputy Director Wu Ping-Tsung at the TYC office accompanied by Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa la. We discussed our yearly activities, Tibetan activism, and our vision for the future.
We’re thrilled to share that they were impressed by our work and commitment. We’re looking forward to future collaborations and their invaluable support.

Together, we can make a difference! 🕊️

TYC’S GENERAL SECRETARY, SONAM TSERING LA WAS INVITED AS THE CHIEF GUEST DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF A CONFERENCE OREGANIZED BY THE RTYC SARAH

TYC’s General Secretary, Sonam Tsering La, was invited as the Chief Guest during the closing ceremony of a conference organized by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Sarah.

 

During his address, the General Secretary stressed the need to protect and safeguard Tibetan culture, particularly in the face of ongoing cultural challenges and potential cultural genocide in Tibet. His speech resonated with the attendees, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and awareness.

 

As a token of appreciation for the hard work and dedication exhibited by the RTYC Sarah members, General Secretary Sonam Tsering La presented them with certificates of appreciation.

 

Gen Tsangtruk Top La, a Senior Lecturer on Tibetan History at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, provided insights into the importance of preserving  Tibetan culture. The Vice Principal of Sarah College also addressed the students, adding his perspectives to the discussions regarding the importance of preserving Tibetan heritage.

 

ASIA REGIONAL MEETING -JAPAN

Tibetan Youth Congress president Gonpo Dhundup joined a 3-day Asia Conference in Tokyo, Japan, organized by ITN. The event provided a crucial space for Tibetan activists and allies to have impactful discussions, evaluate the movement’s advancements, and strengthen our worldwide connections. The conference was also attended by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Delhi Samyeling president along with other Tibetan NGO representatives, Tibetan supporters, and activist across the globe.

53RD FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS

TYC observed 53rd Founding Anniversary at Tipa:

On October 7, 2023, the Tibetan Youth Congress Centrex, in collaboration with the Regional Chapter Dharamshala, observed the 53rd founding anniversary of the Tibetan Youth Congress. The event was held at Tipa ground and included various activities and speeches to commemorate this significant occasion.

 

The function was honored by the presence of the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel la, who served as the Chief Guest. Special guests included former TYC Centrex members and the Regional Chapter members. Dignitaries from the TPiE standing Committee Members and civil societies in Dharamshala, as well as TYC supporters and sponsors, were also invited.

 

The event commenced with the singing of the Tibetan and Indian national anthems, followed by the TYC Unity Song sung by artists from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. A minute of silence was observed to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Tibetan martyrs.

 

After which the Guests were treated to traditional Tibetan rice, known as “Dresel,” and cake.

 

President Gonpo Dhundup la delivered a speech that emphasized TYC’s ongoing campaigns in line with its aims and objectives. He urged the Tibetan community to strengthen unity in the face of challenges posed by Chinese forces. The President also shed light on the critical situation inside Tibet.

 

Khenpo Sonam Tenphel la, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, expressed appreciation for TYC’s 53 years of dedicated service. Khenpo la thanked TYC for its contributions and encouraged its Centrex members to remain vigilant in decision-making, particularly in the face of external influences within the Tibetan community.

 

Local artists performed traditional dances, adding a cultural dimension to the event’s festivities.

 

A Tug of War competition between the TYC Team and the Norling Team added an element of friendly competition and physical activity to the event.

 

 

The TYC 53rd Founding Day observance on October 7, 2023, was a successful and meaningful event that celebrated the organization’s long history of service and activism. The presence of dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, added prestige to the occasion. The event also provided an opportunity for TYC’s President to address the critical situation in Tibet and emphasize the importance of unity.

 

The event was hosted by General Secretary Sonam Tsering la and TYC Vice President Tashi Targyal la gave a word of thanks.

 

 

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION OBSERVANCE – OCTOBER 1, 2023

On October 1, 2023, the Tibetan Youth Congress, in collaboration with the National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet-India, observed the Global Day of Action with a photo action event in McLeod Ganj. The primary purpose of this event was to protest against the Chinese Communist Government’s decades-long oppression and illegal occupation of Tibet, as well as to condemn their actions in other colonized regions, including Tibet, Uyghurs, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The photo action was the centerpiece of this observance, featuring five activists representing oppressed regions: Uyghurs, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Tibet. They were symbolically chained by a figure resembling Xi Jinping, to signify the suppression and subjugation these regions have endured under the Chinese regime.

A blood-stained statue with the number “74” was placed nearby to symbolize the countless lives lost and the bloodshed caused by the People’s Republic of China since its establishment.

The event commenced with a speech in Tibetan by the General Secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress, addressing the atrocities committed by the Chinese government in Tibet and expressing solidarity with other oppressed regions. The speech aimed to raise awareness of the ongoing struggles and injustices faced by these communities.

Following this, an activist from Students for a Free Tibet-India read a statement in English, emphasizing the need for global solidarity in addressing China’s oppressive policies. The statement highlighted the importance of advocating for human rights and freedom for Tibet and other colonized regions.

The event drew the attention of various news media outlets, both domestic and international, who covered the photo action and speeches. This media coverage was instrumental in spreading the message of the observance to a wider audience.

The event also attracted the interest of foreign tourists and local residents in McLeod Ganj, leading to a diverse audience. The engagement and support from those present contributed to the success of the event.

The Global Day of Action observance on October 1, 2023, organized by Tibetan Youth Congress, National Democratic Party of Tibet, and Students for a Free Tibet, was a successful event in condemning the Chinese Communist Government’s oppressive actions and advocating for the rights and freedoms of oppressed regions. The photo action and speeches effectively conveyed the message, and media coverage ensured that the event reached a broader audience. The engagement of diverse attendees, including tourists and locals, underscored the importance of raising awareness about these critical issues on a global scale.

 

TYC PROTEST IN NEW-DELHI (G-20 MEETING)

On August 8, 2023, just before the G20 meeting hosted by the Government of India, the Tibetan Youth Congress, in collaboration with RTYC Delhi Samyeling and RTYC Rohini, organized a protest event in New Delhi.

The protest was primarily attended by college students and residents of Delhi Samyeling. The intention of the protest was not to disrupt or protest against India hosting the prestigious G20 meeting but to voice concerns about the Chinese government’s continuous implementation of repressive and oppressive policies in Tibet.

 

The primary objectives of the protest were as follows:

To appeal to the Prime Minister of India and world leaders to prioritize the Sino-Tibet issue during the G20 summit.

To demand that China address human rights abuses in Tibet and cease practices that erode Tibetan cultural identity.

To seek global solidarity in resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict and promote unity in addressing the challenges facing Tibet and its people.

The protest began at 11:00 AM, with a presence of news media and police barricades around Majnu ka Tilla. Police presence was substantial, and the barricade were set up to ensure security.

Protestors marched and chanted slogans, carrying handwritten banners with our demands and messages to the G20 leaders. The protest took place within the barricade compound and succeeded in making our demands and voices heard by prominent Indian and international media outlets.

The TYC president also addressed the protest rally, emphasizing that our protest aimed to expose Chinese expansionist policies and atrocities in Tibet. He congratulated the host country for organizing the prestigious meeting and wished for its success.

Media Coverage:

The protest campaign successfully gained global attention on Tibet amid the G20 meeting. It received extensive coverage from more than 100 news outlets worldwide, making it a significant success in terms of raising awareness.

Overall, the protest organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress, RTYC Delhi Samyeling, and RTYC Rohini effectively achieved its objectives of raising awareness about the Tibet issue and garnered extensive media coverage during the G20 meeting in New Delhi. It was organized peacefully and helped to amplify concerns about Tibet’s situation on the international stage.

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TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS CONVENED ITS 53RD ANNUAL WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING

The Tibetan Youth Congress convened its 53rd Annual Working Committee Meeting from August 7 to August 12, 2023, at the Tibetan Cooperative Hall in Choglamsar, Ladakh. This significant event witnessed the participation of various dignitaries, youth representatives, and members of the Tibetan community.

Day 1 – August 7, 2023: The first day commenced with a warm welcome to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, on his en-route to attend the 50th anniversary of Lamdon Model Senior Secondary School and the Yarchoe Chenmo Celebration.

Day 2 – August 7, 2023: In the afternoon, the Tibetan Youth Congress inaugurated the 53rd Annual Working Committee Meeting. Notable attendees included 34 RTYC (Regional Tibetan Youth Congress) Representatives. The inaugural session featured Sheri Tashi Gyalson, Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh, as the Chief Guest, and Rigzen Dorjey, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Youth Wing, as a special guest. The event was also graced by Mr. Dhondup Tsering, Speaker of the local Tibetan Assembly, Vice President of LBA Women Wing, and representatives from various youth organizations.

Sheri Tashi Gyalson acknowledged TYC’s proactive roles and expressed his delight in observing the active participation of Tibetans from both Ladakh and exiled Tibetan Communities in leadership positions. He assured his continuous support for the Tibetan community in Ladakh and highlighted the core visions of the LAHD Council.

In the subsequent days, the President of TYC, Mr. Gonpo Dhundup, along with executive committee members, led discussions on the financial annual reports of both TYC Centrex and TYC Regional Chapters. Detailed deliberations took place regarding the resolutions adopted in the previous Working Committee Meeting.

The participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on various matters of importance, addressing issues related to the Tibetan community, youth empowerment, and the overall mission of the Tibetan Youth Congress.

Day 7 – August 12, 2023: The culmination of the meeting saw the adoption of 23 resolutions, carefully reviewed and unanimously approved by all the attendees through a democratic process. This collaborative effort underscored the organization’s commitment to addressing critical concerns and working collectively for positive change.

In line with the commitment to leadership and succession, Mr. Tenzin Jamphel, President of Jampaling RTYC in Nepal, was elected as the new TYC executive member to fill a vacant position.

On August 13, 2023, TYC organized a group pilgrimage tour to Alchi and Likir monasteries. The same day witnessed TYC members being granted an audience with His Eminence the Kundeling Tatsak Rinpoche, who shared insights about the significance of TYC activities during a talk at Ladakh Leh Gawa Ling Hotel.

The Tibetan Youth Congress successfully concluded our 53rd Working Committee Meeting with productive discussions, significant resolutions, and meaningful engagement. The commitment of TYC to advocating for the Tibetan cause, youth leadership, and community development remains steadfast, reflecting its ongoing role as a vital and proactive organization within the Tibetan community.

 

 

WORLD GOVERNMENTS AND W.H.O. MUST WAKE UP TO STOP CHINA FROM INHUMAN HARVESTING OF HUMAN ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANT BUSINESS

International experts condemn Chinese government and Chinese medical institutions for sale of vital human organs, extracted from prisoned Uyghurs, Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, Christians and poor Chinese citizens

News Report by VIJAY KRANTI

New Delhi, Washington DC, Dharamshala:  18 Dec

As the business of selling human organs, extracted from live and illegally detained prisoners by the Chinese government is going on unchecked, it is the moral duty of medical practitioners across the world, governments and universal bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) to put a stop to this inhuman and disgusting practice. Also, there should be an international law to declare it illegal and action be taken against those medical practitioners and institutions who refer their patients to China for organ transplant. Experts in an international webinar on “Forcible Harvesting of Human Organs in China” also warned the world community that while this gory practice in China had been so far limited to extracting human organs from Falun Gang, Uyghur, Tibetan and Christian prisoners, the ever growing business competition among Chinese medical institutions and the greed of Chinese officials is now giving rise to a new crime of kidnapping teenagers from poor Chinese families and killing them for organ extraction.

This webinar was held on late evening Saturday 17 December and was organized jointly by the Centre for Himalayan Asia Studies and Engagement (CHASE) and Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC). The experts were Dr. Enver Tohti Bughda, a former medical doctor from Urumchi of Xinjiang in China; Ms. Jennifer Zeng, a former Falun Gong practitioner and a researcher at a leading Chinese institute; and Ethan Gutmann who is an American writer and a senior researcher who has authored two books on this subject. Vijay Kranti, an Indian Tibetologist and Chairman of CHASE moderated the discussion.

All three experts expressed surprise over the fact that while patients in other countries have to wait for months and years and have to spend huge money to get transplant of their heart, kidney, lungs, cornea or other organs like pancreas and spleen, they can get these organs at a short notice and that too at a much lower price in China. The growth history of this ‘business’ in China, as discussed by the participants in their respective presentations, shows that till late 1980s the practice was limited only to extracting organs from the bodies of freshly executed convicts and prisoners of conscience. But it gained the real momentum in 1999 when President Jiang Zemin started a countrywide crack down on Falun Gong, a highly popular organization whose members believed in living a simple and healthy life through meditation, Yoga-like physical exercise and total abstention from smoking and drinking alcohol.

Recalling her own one year long detention in a labour camp of Falun Gong followers, Jennifer Zeng, now a popular TV anchor in USA said, “Detailed medical history and blood profile of each of about two million Falun Gong prisoners was conducted and a national data base was prepared for the use of hospitals with organ transplant facilities.” According to Ethan Gutmann, “By 2002 it had become a common practice that patients from rich countries like Germany could fly into Shanghai and get their liver transplanted within four hours with a fresh liver of perfectly matching blood profile. This simply means that the victims, identified through the blood profile data from the data bank, were picked up from detention centres and supplied to the hospital for organ harvesting.” Referring to the communist government’s ‘supply-on-order’ system he said, “Our research shows that in many cases, live Uyghur ‘donors’ from western China were flown out to some Gulf countries to supply ‘fresh’ and ‘halal’ organs for rich Sheikhs.”

Giving details of results of satellite imaging of Uyghur detention camps and first hand witnesses from the region, Gutman said, “In 2018 the Chinese authorities established nine new crematoriums attached to each such camp which were manned by 50 Chinese guards each at an unusually high monthly salaries equivalent to US$ 1200.I wonder why they needed crematoriums for their Muslim subjects who are supposed to be only buried after death? It only shows that after extracting the organs the Chinese authorities burn the bodies to wipe out any trace of the killings,” he said.

Dr. Enver Tohti recalled his days as a doctor in Xinjiang where criminals on death row were executed by the Chinese police. “When the liver and kidneys of the executed person were taken out I used to think that it was ‘normal’ and ‘good’ that these organs were extracted so save life of some patients. But only after migrating to Britain I realized that it was a crime against humanity. When I started going through official sites of some Chinese hospitals I was shocked to see their way of advertising their services for patients from other countries. They would offer any organ, matching with the patient’s blood profile, within one week. For liver transplant some of them offered matching liver within four hours of your arrival. In many cases their offers were ‘buy one, get one free’ like ordinary consumer goods. I know as a medical practitioner that no human organ can survive out of the body for a long time. So it means that they had enough stock of live humans of different blood profiles. It was just like the restaurants offering you fish of your choice among ones swimming in their glass tank.”

Dr. Tohti recalled, “In Urumchi when the local Uyghurs found that a doctor who was an Uyghur and who spoke their own language then many of them would quietly bring their teenage child to me and ask me to check if any of his organ was taken out during the child’s detention in the Chinese camp. Out of about one hundred such cases, brought to me, I was shocked to discover that in three such cases the boy had surgery marks on his belly and one of his kidneys was missing.” Sharing results of his research and study of the Chinese medical system in past few years, he said that small Chinese airports have come up near some Uyghur detention centres in Xinjiang. “These airports are proving handy for delivering freshly harvested organs on demand from various Chinese hospitals in distant cities. Many times live ‘donors’ are flown out to other countries for delivery of ‘fresh’ organs,” he said.

Jennifer Zeng, who now hosts her own China focused YouTube channel “Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng” and her blogpost ‘jenniferzengblog.com’ from America, said that she started practicing Falun Gang exercises and meditation regularly in Sichuan. She found it very useful after she discovered that her health had improved in a big way and she could come out of complications of Hepatitis cause by bad blood transfusion at the time she give birth to her baby. “But in 1999 the CCP realized that with 70 to 100 million practitioners across China, Falun Gong was becoming more popular than the Party. Then President Jiang Zemin ordered a heavy crackdown on Falun Gong and millions of practitioners were arrested. I too was arrested and lived in a labour camp with about 900 inmates for about a year. We were made to work hard in production which, sometimes would go on non-stop for 24 hours because the products were to be delivered next day for a flight. Once I was taken to a hospital for health checkup, blood test and X-Ray scanning of lungs along with many other inmates. They did not tell us about the results and no follow up was done either. May be my blood test was not good due to my old Hepatitis-C. I don’t know what happened to others.”

After Jennifer managed to escape to Australia in 2001 she could understand the severity of the organ business from other escapees. She said that Chinese government has been always avoiding mention of the real source of the human organs. Initially they used ‘dead prisoners’ as the source of organs. But to circumvent criticism later, they started claiming that all organs were from ‘voluntary’ donors. “However, the Chinese authorities cannot explain how can they supply so many organs every year on the strength of a very small number of registered volunteers? Since their hospitals offer organs belonging to any desired blood group and matching specifications in a very short time, that simply shows that millions of people have been killed over the years to run this dreaded business,” she said.

“In initial years when Falun Gang raised this issue then some medical practitioners from China and other countries blamed it for ‘tarnishing the image’ of transplant profession and the professionals. But soon many doctors in the West started realizing the truth. I know of one doctor in USA whose patient, who was asked to wait for a year for his turn for heart transplant, came to inform him that he was going to Shanghai for transplant where his appointment was fixed on a coming day. The doctor was shocked because the human heart cannot survive beyond a four or six hours. Then how could the Chinese doctors be so sure about the date and time unless it was going to be taken out of a live donor?” said Jennifer.

Jennifer pointed out to a new alarming trend in China which is finding roots in the human organ trade. She referred to a recent case in which two high school boys suddenly disappeared and there has been no trace of them. In another case a mother in Sichuan province sent her teenage son to drop garbage downstairs but he did not return for days. Finally his mutilated dead body with vital organs missing was discovered a few kilometers away from home. “The news about disappearance of school children and university students are common now. It appears that in view of business competition and greed for money some Chinese hospitals have started hiring individual criminals and mafia gangs to kidnap young boys and children,” she said.

During the question-answer session the experts were of the opinion that it is high time that world governments, especially the WHO should seriously investigate the reality of organ transplant business in China and take strong remedial measures.

TIBET’S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA IS ALSO FOR NATIONAL SECURITY FOR INDIA AND PEACE FOR THE WORLD

TIBET’S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA IS ALSO FOR NATIONAL SECURITY FOR INDIA AND PEACE FOR THE WORLD

International experts, China observers and advocacy groups review China’s colonialism in Tibet, East Turkistan and Southern Mongolia

Report by : VIJAY KRANTI

New Delhi, Dharamshala, Washington DC, Bern, Singapore – 15 Feb                  While people of Tibet and other colonies of China are struggling for freedom of their countries from Chinese occupation, their struggle is also aimed at ensuring national security of countries surrounding China, especially for India, and peace for the rest of world from a belligerent China. This was a common observation of experts and advocacy groups who shared a common platform to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the ‘Declaration of Independence of Tibet’ by the 13th Dalai Lama in 1913.

The webinar was organized jointly by the Centre for Himalayan Asia Studies and Engagement (CHASE) and Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) on the evening of Monday 13th February. The experts who presented their perspectives were Mr. Bhuchung Tsering, Interim President of International Campaign for Tibet who participated from Washington DC; Dr. Uwe Meha member of the Board of Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association GSTF who participated from Switzerland; Ms. Youdon Aukatsang, Member of Tibetan Parliament who participated from Singapore; Ms. Tenzyin Zochbauer, Executive Director of Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) who participated from Berlin; and Gonpo Dhundup, President TYC who joined in from Dharamshala.

Bhuchung Tsering dwelt upon all the five points emphasized by the 13th Dalai Lama in his Declaration. He said that the Declaration not only reiterated the independent status of Tibet but it also presented a much larger vision of the Dalai Lama about the future of Tibet. “While the point-4 declared that Tibet had regained its independence after a short spell of Manchu army’s invasion of Tibet, points-1 and 2 emphasized over preserving and promotion of Tibetan national identity. Similarly points-3 and 5 explained how the Tibetan officials should govern Tibet and work for social welfare of Tibetan masses”, he said.

He said the historic declaration of 1913 becomes far more significant when considered along with the Shimla Agreement between Tibet and British India and his 1932 prophecy about future of Tibet. During the Shimla convention between Tibet, China and British India the representatives of China refused to sign the treaty because Tibet had raised the issue of those areas of Eastern Tibet which China had occupied and Tibet demanded their return. In his 1932 prophecy the 13th Dalai Lama had warned the people of Tibet about the lurking danger from the Chinese communists and carelessness of Tibetan officials about governance and the national interests.

Dr. Uwe Meya in his presentation underlined the danger of world community borrowing the Chinese narrative on Tibet without examining or challenging it. He said, “In the media, and also in political debates, ‘Tibet’ is mostly referred to, if at all, as ‘TAR’. Even worse, many media use official Chinese language when reporting on Tibet and just call it ‘a region in southwestern China’. They are unaware that with this, they implicitly and unknowingly acknowledge that Tibet has been part of China for all the time. Moving to politics, we notice that most governments now do not challenge China’s “one-China” standpoint and thereby fall into the trap of accepting to treat Tibet as China’s “internal affair” and thereby weakening the Tibetan position in negotiations. Moreover, Beijing uses these statements as ‘evidence’ for its claim and uses the international community’s statements as substitute for legitimacy to rule over Tibet. The other trap that the Western world – politicians, the media and general public – falls into is calling the Tibetans a ‘minority’ and using euphemisms such as ‘the Tibet issue’. We must realize that Tibetans were made a minority only by the Chinese occupation.”

Ms. Youdon Aukatsang reminded the people that when the 13th Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s independence it was after defeating the Manchu army which was not ‘Chinese’. She said that over the history the relations between the Manchu kings and Tibet were of patron and the priest and did not mean that the Manchus were the rulers of Tibet. This simply means that this was a friendly relation. Giving modern example of Bhutan and India relations she said that although Bhutan is a protectorate of India but both countries respect each other as independent countries.  She said although China claims that it ‘liberated’ Tibet but the reality is that Tibet is an occupied country.

Ms. Tenzing Zochbauer said that this day would be celebrated in the best way if the Tibetans use it to counter the Chinese propaganda and inform the world that Tibet was never a part of China. She emphasized the need of educating and training the young Tibetan generation about the true history of Tibet. She spoke about the campaign of her organization TID which has been successful in enrolling more than 450 German city councils to hoist Tibetan flag on their office buildings every year on 10th March. She said that Tibetans and Tibet supporters are working towards a day when the flag of free Tibet will be hoisted on Potala palace and the Dalia Lama will return to a free and independent Tibet.

Gonpo Dondup in his presentation and his vote of thanks said, “TYC and all Tibetans are celebrating this historic day which very clearly underlines that Tibet has been always an independent country and that the Chinese occupation of Tibet is illegal. China is using its propaganda machinery to establish a false narrative in the international discourse against the truth of independent status of Tibet. It is therefore the duty of every Tibetan, whether in exile or those living under the colonial occupation of Tibet, to fight back this Chinese propaganda. While people of Tibet are struggling for a Free-Tibet they are actually fighting for the national security of India and other countries surrounding China and also for the restoration of peace for the rest of world.”, he said.

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