New York, March 28, 2009 -Thousands of Tibetans gathered in front of the UN here today (Saturday, March 28, 2009) to condemn what China calls the “serf emancipation day” and to observe 50 years of enslavement by the Communist China. The rally, according to the organizer, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, NY & NJ, is “to protest the 50 years of Chinese occupation and to tell the world the truth about suffering of the Tibetans inside Tibet.
“This new holiday is nothing more than a transparent attempt by the Chinese government to re-brand 50 years of brutal occupation as ‘liberation’ but no amount of Chinese government propaganda can hide the terrible truth and the suffering they brought,” said Tsering Palden, the president of the RTYC, NY & NJ.
After observing two minutes’ silence to pay respects to the Tibetan martyrs, the gathering sang the Tibetan national anthem and the Tibetan Uprising song. The Tibetan protesters then walked towards the Chinese consulate led by three prominent ex political prisoners, Ngawang Sangdrol, Choeying Kunsang, and Pema.
A gigantic banner that read, “50 years of Enslavement in Tibet by China preceded the rally. A street reenactment of Chinese atrocities and the Tibetans’ suffering drew attention of passersby at the world famous Time Square in Manhattan. TYC members dressed as Tibetan prisoners and Chinese soldiers depicted to the Manhattan residents and tourists what China is hiding from the world.
The key speaker was ex political prisoner and former minister in the Tibetan government in exile, Kasur Shewo Lobsang Dhargyal, who shared his own experience during the Chinese invasion and its aftermath. He also made it clear to the crowd that at no time in the history of Tibet had Tibetans legally agreed to the Chinese rule.
The other speakers included Tenzin Dorjee, the deputy Director of the SFT and Wangchuk Shakabpa, the grandson of former Finance Minister of independent Tibet, Tsepon Shakabpa Wangchuk Dedhen.
“Chinese Communist regime may try one propaganda after the other, one lie after the other. Tibetans and supporters will expose the lie, whatever it takes. Tibetans will never give up the fight for freedom, the fight for truth,” said Pema Gyalpo, vice president of RTYC, NY&NJ.
RTYC, New York and New Jersey is a chapter of Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro independence group in the diaspora Tibetan community.
