New York, March 10 – Around 800 Tibetans and supporters thronged at the Union Square Park to mark the 47th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in New York. The event was organized by the Tibetan Community, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), United States Tibetan Committee (USTC), Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) and the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association of New York and New Jersey (RTWA). Mr. Gyatso, Vice President of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of New York and New Jersey gave an introductory speech portraying the essence of observing this very day. Master of Ceremony were Mr. Tendor from SFT and Mr. Tsering Wangyal from RTYC NY & NJ.
“This spectacular day, resembling the day of Autumn during this Winter stricken New York symbolizes that the most awaited day for Tibetans is at the threshold,” remarked Prof. Bob Thurman, a renowned Buddhist scholar and a professor of the Columbia University in New York. Mr. Tashi Lhakdar, President of the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey read the 10th March statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in English. Among other key speakers were Mr. Wangchuk Shakapa, representing USTC, Ms. Mickey Spiegel from Human Rights Watch, and Ms. Karma Choezom from RTWA. Dharma Bums band added heat to the event with their song “Rangzen.”
After 3 hours of speeches, slogans and songs, the demonstrators rallied toward the United Nations building in New York. Mr. Lhundup, former political prisoner of Tibet described a brief reason for observing this day all over the world, and also shared first hand account of information on March 10, 1959 in Tibet. One of the other speaker at Dag Hammerskjold (in front of the UN building) was Mr. Matt Browner-Hamlin from SFT.
The final venue for the demonstrators was the Chinese Consulate in New York. As usual, the official at the Chinese Consulate were compelled to pull their shutter down, yet the thunderous and strong slogans of the heated demonstrators managed to vibrate this tall Chinese building in New York.
