New Delhi, 22 October, 2011: In solidarity with the recent incidents of self-immolations in and around Kirti Monastery, Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, Tibet; Tibetan Parliament in exile launched Tibetan Solidarity Movement on 12 October.
On 13 October, a delegation of TPiE members led by Speaker, Mr. Penpa Tsering and Deputy Speaker, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel lobbied Indian Government officials, political party leaders and 17 foreign embassies based in New Delhi, India.
Tibetan Solidarity Movement’s Call for Action:
1. Strongly urge the People’s Republic of China to respect the fundamental right of the Tibetans to freely practice their religion. 2. Strongly urge People’s Republic of China to review its existing policies in Tibet in order to have a truly harmonious society. 3. Appeal to International governments and the United Nations to call on China to genuinely uphold the international human rights standards. 4. Call on China to allow international independent fact-finding delegations and media to visit Tibet and in particular Kirti Monastery. 5. Call on China to completely withdraw Chinese military presence from the Kirti Monastery. Call on China to clarify the condition and whereabouts of Lobsang Kalsang(age18), Lobsang Konchok (19), Kelsang Wangchuk(17) and Norbu Damdul (19).
TPiE led a four day mass solidarity movement on 18th October with a 24 hr fast by 35 members of Tibetan Parliament in exile. More than 1000 monks and nuns joined the fast and led a prayer sessions throughout the day. Several Indian supporters also joined the fast and expressed their solidarity with the movement. Former MP and Tibet supporter Kiran Rijiju reiterated his commitment in working for Tibet and said that it was in India’s interest to resolve the Tibet issue.
At 3.00 pm, TPIE Speaker, Mr. Penpa Tsering held a press conference attended by scores of media persons. News reporters of the following media were present at the conference: AFP, Reuters, German Radio Network, Spanish News Agency, Wall Street Journal, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Asian Age, Tribune, UCA news, Amar Ujala. In addition reporters from Tibetan media were also present there.
19 October, 9.00 am, the Tibetans who came to participate in the movements from the different corners of India and Nepal gathered at Rajghat and took part in the inter-faith prayer for Tibet wherein religious leaders from seven different faiths: Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Jainism, Islam, Hindu and Bahai were present. More than 1500 Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns led the mass rally of above 3000 Tibetans from Rajghat to Jantar Mantar.
Among the Indian friends who visited Jantar Mantar to express their support were: Member of Lok Sabha Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh from Rashtriya Janata Dal; Former MP, former Convener of APIPFT and advisor to Bihar State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bashisht Narayan Singh; Rajya Sabha member and Convener of APIPFT, Mohan Singh; Rajya Sabha member, Vice Chairman of BJP, and former chief minister of Uttarakhand, Bhagat Singh Koshayari; Journalist and veteran Tibet supporter, Vijay Kranti; Tibet supporter based in Chennai, Asha Reddy; President of BJP Youth Association, Arun Kumar; Social Activist Swami Agnivesh; Youth President of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Sanjay Kanaujia.
20 October, around 1000 women including Tibetan Parliamentarians, nuns, students, professionals, mothers and activists led a mass peace rally from Ramlila ground to Jantar Mantar. Several prominent Indian supporters visited the action site and expressed their support: Former Convener of APIPFT and Rajya Sabha Congress MP, Satyavarth Chathurvedi; Former MCD member, Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch, Mahesh Chadha; lawyer and advocate, J.P. Sharma; National Convener of Himalayan Parivar, Bupinder Kansal; Secretary of Youth Wing of Bharatiya Janata Party, Arvind Garg; National Secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Surinder Kumar; Journalist and convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause, Dr. N. K. Trikha; Dr. Manoj Kumar from Indo Tibetan Friendship Society; Former General Secretary of Samata Party, Jaya Jaitley; Renu Gambhir of ITFS; Usha Yadav of President Women’s’ Cell of Samajvadi Party; Pritush Nandan – JDU All Indian Student’s President; Ladhaki Student’s Union President Mr. Rigzin; and Anil Gupta and Mrs. Madhuri Satnam Sondhi.
21 October, Around 1000 Young Tibetans led a mass peace rally from Ramlila ground to Jantar Mantar. Many youths had creatively painted their bodies with the names of those Tibetans who had recently emblazed themselves in extreme frustration under the repressive Chinese regime. Among the prominent Tibet supporters who addressed the gathering were Former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and BJP Sr. Vice-President Shanta Kumar; Rajya Sabha member, Former MP and Vice President of Samajwadi Party, Brij Bhushan Tiwari; Dr. Thin Swe of Burmese Democratic Alliance; Vice President of VHP, Shri Bal Krishna; Journalist, Shri Avdesh Kumar; Executive Member of Samajvadi Party, Shyam Gambir; and Ladakh Phuntsok and Diwanji.
Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, Ven Khenpo Sonam Tenphel thanked all the supporters and participants in making the four-day mass solidarity movement a success.
International response to the pressing conditions in Tibet
The United States State Department spokesperson, Mark Toner on 17 October expressed serious concern about the self-immolations, a string of nine by Buddhists since March that had set off protests and a government crackdown. “We urge China and its leaders to respect the rights of Tibetans, to address some of the policies in these Tibetan areas that have created tension and to protect the Tibetans' unique religious culture and linguistic identity,” Toner said. Australian Green Party leader Senator Bob Brown gave a press conference on 21 October in Hobart, calling on the Australian government and world leaders to speak up for the Tibetans. The German government on 21 October made an appeal to China to change its policy in Tibet to reduce tensions. The speaker of the German foreign ministry, Mr Andreas Peschke said the federal government was appalled at the rising number of self-immolations in the Tibetan regions of Southwest-China. The Foreign office urged China on Friday to shape their policies in a way that existing tensions are relieved. Speaker Andrea said the federal government was in permanent contact on different levels and had repeatedly urged China to allow for transparency access to the monastery.
