By Conall Watson,
Students for a Free Tibet UK

London, UK - A vocal march from the Chinese embassy in London to the British prime minister’s residence in Downing Street marked the 48th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. Hundreds of Tibetans and Tibet supporters came together in the capital to call for freedom from the ongoing Chinese oppression and to commemorate those who died in the 1959 uprising, when Tibetans took to the streets of Lhasa in defence of the Dalai Lama. This year’s international commemorations are believed to be amongst the biggest since 1959.

The day began with the delivery of a letter to the Chinese embassy, co-signed by Free Tibet Campaign, Tibetan Community in Britain, Tibet Society, Students for a Free Tibet and Tibetan Youth UK, calling for a commitment to genuine dialogue, improvements in human rights before the Beijing Olympics, and demanding a full investigation into the 2006 Nangpa-la shooting, in which Chinese border guards opened fire on unarmed Tibetans, killing a young nun.

Following the commemoration song and chants of “Free Tibet, China Out”, the march set off towards Trafalgar Square with drums, whistles, healthy lungs and a dancing yak. The procession was lead by children sporting target signs and actors dressed as Chinese soldiers, in silent acknowledgement of the events of Nangpa-la. There was a sizeable turnout of Tibetans of all ages, with many sporting the yellow and black placards and tabards of Tibetan Youth UK alongside more traditional dress.

At Downing Street the march paused, though didn’t get any quieter, as a delegation headed by monk and underground human rights worker Dewatsang Sangye handed in a letter to a representative of Tony Blair, asking the prime minister to speak out for Tibet, thus ensuring that “London would not inherit an Olympic Games tarnished by association with China’s brutal occupation of Tibet”. There was some disappointment that the delegation had to leave Tibetan flags and a photograph of His Holiness at the gates of Downing Street – it seems that the Dalai Lama is not welcome at the PM’s door whether attending in person or in print.

Rounding Parliament Square, Tibetan Community Chairman Tenzin Samphel presented peace activist Brian Haw with a Tibetan flag and they exchanged words of support. Haw has been camped outside parliament since 2001. Demonstrators were welcomed to the final rally point at Palace Street, near Buckingham Palace with the Tibetan national anthem, sung by the Tibetan Community Dance Group. The marchers and passers-by listened intently to Dewatsang Sangye’s accounts of Chinese abuses in Tibet. A new addition to this year’s rally was half Tibetan half Caribbean rapper Tony “Chino” Dorjee, who moved the crowds with his uprising rap. A real rising star in the Tibet movement, his work can be heard on the Project Tibet website www.myspace.com/tyuk.

At the afternoon event in Westminster Cathedral Hall, the statement of His Holiness was read by Tsering Tashi of the Office of Tibet, which discussed the need for a harmonious society, founded on trust, freedom of expression, truth, justice and equality. The statement repeated concerns about erosion of the both the Tibetan identity and natural environment as a result of Chinese population transfer.

The Tibetan Community proved excellent food, music and dance performance for the marchers, and parliamentarian Sonam Frasi spoke on behalf of the CTA. Keynote speaker for the afternoon was Alison Reynolds, former director of Free Tibet Campaign, speaking as executive director of the International Tibet Support Network. She explained the role of ITSN in supporting campaigning and building a strong coalition from the 100+ groups in the network, and highlighted the upcoming Beijing Olympics as a platform for Tibetans and their supporters to advance the Tibetan cause at a time when China is never out of the media glare.