On March 10, Taipei commemorated the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising with a vibrant parade featuring over 100 participants, including Tibetan communities, NGOs, and political groups. They marched proudly under the Snow Lion Flag, starting from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station, passing by significant landmarks like the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, ultimately concluding at the Xinyi Smoke-Free Demonstration Plaza.
Participants voiced their calls for freedom with chants such as “Free Tibet” and “Tibet belongs to the Tibetans.” Speeches were delivered by Tibetan community members and NGOs, urging awareness of China’s human rights abuses in Tibet. Gesang Gyaltsen, the Chairman of the Dalai Lama’s Tibetan Religious Foundation, highlighted the grim impacts of the 1951 peace agreement imposed by the Chinese Communist Party, resulting in over 1.2 million Tibetan deaths, destruction of temples, and the exile of Tibetan leaders.
This year marked the National Human Rights Commission’s inaugural participation, with Deputy Commissioner Wang Youling stressing the universal importance of human rights. Wang drew a parallel between the Tibetan struggle and Taiwan’s own rights concerns, asserting that “today’s Tibet may be tomorrow’s Taiwan.”
The event paused for a reflective moment at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, where a traditional Tibetan prostration ceremony took place. This act, described by Tashi Tsering of the Tibetan Taiwan Human Rights Alliance, symbolizes unwavering courage in memory of those who fought for Tibetan freedom.
The celebrations concluded at Xinyi Plaza, with a candlelight vigil planned at Freedom Square later that evening. The Tibet Taiwan Human Rights Network recounted the tragic historical context, noting that the 1951 Chinese invasion led to the severe curtailment of Tibetan culture and traditions, culminating in the Dalai Lama’s exile following the catastrophic uprisings of March 10, 1959.
Taipei commemorated the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising with a parade involving over 100 participants who called attention to human rights abuses in Tibet. Demonstrators marched under the Snow Lion Flag, chanting slogans and delivering powerful speeches. Notably, the National Human Rights Commission joined, reinforcing the message on the universality of human rights, while a traditional prostration ceremony took place to honour those who suffered for Tibet’s freedom.
The 66th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising in Taipei served as a vivid reminder of Tibet’s ongoing struggles under Chinese rule. With speeches calling for global awareness of human rights abuses and acts of remembrance for the dead, the event amplified the message that human rights are universal. Participation from the National Human Rights Commission highlights growing solidarity and concern for the plight of Tibetans, linking their struggle to broader human rights issues.
Original Source: www.tribuneindia.com
