Thank
you for your concern.. we decided to go with 5pm due to rush hour
timing.. We'll meet at 5pm and hold signs/posters and hand out
flyers/collect signatures to release political prisoners... around 6pm
we'll light up candles and recite mani's.. We are expecting Ven. Palden
Gyatso la and our new North America Chitue Tanam la to be there at
present.
We highly encourage folks to bring own signs if possible..to help
you out we have attached some signs, you can print them in color and
enlarge them at Kinko's. Don't forget to bring your flags and wear
chuba's if possible. Rain or shine we'll see you at the West lake
Center.
TIBETAN SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
PRESS STATEMENT
The Tibetan Solidarity Movement is
deeply saddened and moved by the recent tragic acts of self-immolation by monks
of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba District, North- eastern Tibet.
We are gravely concerned about the
deteriorating situation inside Tibet that has driven the Tibetans to such
desperate acts.
In solidarity
with the plight of the Tibetan people inside Tibet the Tibetan Solidarity
Movement will launch a series of activities from October 18- 21, 2011 to
highlight the situation inside Tibet.
· October 18: Members of
Tibetan Parliament in exile (TPIE) will hold a 24 hour Fast at Jantar Mantar,
New Delhi
· October 19: 3000 Tibetans from all over India and Nepal will take part
in the Global Solidarity Fast at Rajghat followed by Peace March led by Tibetan
Monks and Nuns
· October 20: Tibetan women will lead a Peace March from Samta Sthal to
Jantar Mantar followed by day long Prayers
· October 21: Young Tibetans will lead a Peace March Samta Sthal to Jantar
Mantar followed day long Prayers
(see attached program for more details)
Tibetan parliamentary delegations are visiting various
embassies and prominent Indian leaders to apprise them of the situation in
Tibet.
Tibetan Solidarity Movement’s Call for
Action:
· Strongly urge the People’s Republic of China to respect the
fundamental right of the Tibetans to freely practice their religion
· Strongly urge People’s Republic of China to review its existing policies
in Tibet in order to fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a truly
harmonious society
· Appeals to Governments and the UN to call on China to genuinely uphold the
international human rights standards.
· Calls on China to allow international independent fact-finding delegations
and media to visit Tibet and in particular Kirti Monastery
· Calls on China to completely withdraw Chinese military from the Kirti
Monastery
· Calls on China to clarify the condition and whereabouts of Lobsang
Kalsang(age18), Lobsang Konchok(19), Kelsang Wangchuk(17) and Norbu Damdul(19).
Background:
The situation inside Tibet has
been deteriorating since the 2008 uprising. It has become even more urgent with
increasing cases of self-immolation by young Tibetans who are using this
extreme method of protest to raise their voice against the oppressive Chinese
regime. Tibetans in Tibet are driven to these drastic acts to resist political
repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization and environmental
destruction.
The Kirti monastery in Ngaba
District in North-eastern Tibet is the site of seven self-immolations this
year. The monastery witnessed large scale non-violent protests,, many of whom
were subsequently detained. The movement of the monks is strictly controlled
and the monks are being subjected to “Patriotic Re-education campaign”.
Reportedly, there is a huge Chinese military presence inside the Monastery
where they have outnumbered the monks. This appears to be a long-term strategy
as residential quarters are being constructed within the premises of the
monastery.
The eight cases of
self-immolations are as follows:
· Lobsang Phuntsok, 20, set himself on fire on March 16 to mark the March
2008 uprisings in Tibet. He died the following day due to the burns and
beatings by the Chinese Security personnel. That resulted in more protests by
the local population in support of his sacrifice.
· Tsewang Norbu, 29, a monk from Nyatso monastery, Kham Tawu,
self-immolated and succumbed to his injuries on 15th August 2011.
· Lobsang Kalsang, 18. Lobsang Phuntsok’s younger brother, set himself
aflame on September 26. He was hospitalized, but no information has been made
available about his condition or whereabouts even today.
· Lobsang Konchok, 19, set himself on fire along with Lobsang Kalsang on
the same day. His condition and whereabouts are also not known.
· Kelsang Wangchuk, 17, a novice monk, set himself on fire on October 3
and sustained serious head injuries during detention. His condition and
whereabouts are also not known.
· Khaying, 18, committed self-immolation on October 7. Khaying was taken
to Bharkham hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day. The
authorities refused to hand over his body for fear of more public protests. His
family received only his ashes and bones.
·
Choephel, 19, set himself on fire
along with Khaying on the same day and died on October 11.
·
Norbu Damdul,19, a former monk of
Kirti Monastery set himself on fire in the Ngaba district market at 11.50 am on
October 15, 2011. He was taken away by the police and his condition and
whereabouts are still not known.
·
Tenzin
Wangmo, 20, a nun of Mame Dechen Chokorling nunnery (also known as Mame
nunnery) and from Shakoma Village in Ngaba, lit herself at a crossroads near
her nunnery around 1 pm on October 17, 2011. She is reported to have died at
the scene.
All the victims of
self-immolation have raised slogans demanding freedom for Tibet, freedom of
religion, language, movement, speech, end to discrimination and return of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.
Penpa Tsering
Speaker
Tibetan Parliament in Exile
Press
Contacts:
Thupten
Lungrig (Tibetan and Hindi Media): +91 99 10965887
Kelsang
Gyaltsen (Chinese Media): +91 98 16
851889
B.Tsering
(English Media): +91 94 18 792810
Youdon
Aukatsang (English and Hindi Media): +91 99 99 915061
Suggested
websites for further background:
http://www.hrw.org/node/102319
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/045/2011/en/83abb4ee-dc73-4a31-9208-d29d0ff7d190/asa170452011en.html
http://www.tibet.net/en
http://www.tchrd.org/
http://www.savetibet.org
http://www.voanews.com/tibetan-english/news/Tibetan-Woman-Set-Herself-on-Fire--131986838.html
On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 7:52 PM, lobsang chumbay
<lchu...@hotmail.com> wrote:
At 5pm it is still light and since this is a candlelight vigil, wouldn't
gathering at about 6:30pm be more appropriate? Just a suggestion....
Lobsang Chumbay
> Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:04:24 -0700
> From:
pres...@WASHINGTONTIBET.ORG> Subject: [SEATTLETIBET] Candlelight vigil
> To:
SEATTL...@TALK2.SEATTLE.GOV
>
> Dear Community members,
>
> As you all are aware of the ongoing situation in Tibet and sacrifices
> being made by our fellow Tibetans in Tibet as we speak, please ask your
> self—“what am I going to do for Tibet?”. As a community, lets show our
> solidarity with our brethren in Tibet by holding candlelight vigil at
> West Lake mall this Wednesday, 19th, at 5pm (Sharp !!!).
> Few of us board members joined by Ven. Palden Gyatso la will be
> traveling down to Olympia to submit memorandum at Governor’s office. If
> anyone wishes to join us please email me as we plan to leave at 10:30am
> and should be back by 2pm.
> Palden la will be joining us for the vigil as well in the evening.
> I would like to request all to at least attend the candlelight vigil.
> Bring flag, posters and come prepared for the weather.
>
> Bhot Gyallo !!
>
>
> Jampa Jorkhang
