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Tibetans and Taiwanese remember 1959 uprising

Tibetans living in Taiwan protest against China's human rights violations in Tibet yesterday in Taipei. PHOTO: AP

Tibetans and their Taiwanese supporters staged a demonstration in Taipei yesterday to commemorate an uprising 48 years ago and to demand self-determination for Tibetans.

Tibet was invaded by the People's Republic of China in 1950. On March 10, 1959, frustration with the Chinese occupation led to an uprising that triggered violent suppression by Chinese troops, killing tens of thousands, and the flight of the spiritual and political leader the Dalai Lama and his government.

Yesterday's demonstration, organized by Tibetans in Taiwan and their Taiwanese supporters, began with a ceremony to remember the uprising and was followed by a march through streets around Taipei City Hall.

"We urge all Tibetans around the world and Tibetans in Tibet to raise your voice against a government that has no right to dictate and rule Tibetans in Tibet," Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association chairman Rinzin Tsering said in a speech.

"Tibet belongs to Tibetans," he told the crowd.

In past decades, negotiations between the Chinese government and the Tibetan government in exile have been fruitless.

"The Dalai Lama has shown a very special interest in negotiating with the Chinese government ... but the Communist leaders have so far not shown any interest in negotiating with Tibet," Rinzin Tsering said.

For Tibetans, the need to solve the Tibet issue is urgent.

"We fear a new generation of terrorism will surface within Tibet in the near future if the Tibet issue is not revolved as soon as possible and while his Holiness [the Dalai Lama] is alive," Rinzin Tsering said.

Tibetans also expressed their concern over widespread human rights abuses in Tibet, such as imprisonments of monks and shootings of Tibetans trying to cross the border to live in exile.

Many Tibetan monks who openly support the Dalai Lama, which is forbidden in China, have been imprisoned. Last year, video footage of the Chinese military shooting Tibetans at a border crossing to Nepal shocked the international community.

Also threatened by China, many people in Taiwan decided to join Tibetans in their struggle.

"We [Taiwanese] should take Tibet's example as a warning," Chou Mei-li (周美里), chairwoman of Taiwan Friends of Tibet, said in a separate event.

"While we enjoy democracy and freedom, we should not forget our friends who live under oppression," she added.

Chou's view was shared by others.

"Whenever a person is treated with injustice -- whether we know that person or not -- it is relevant to all of us," a student who participated in the demonstration said.
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