By Tsering Tashi
LONDON, March 10 – Representatives of the British All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, the Office of Tibet, the Tibet Society and the Free Tibet Campaign gathered here this afternoon at the memorial for victims of oppression at Westminster Abbey near Houses of Parliament to pray and lay a wreath to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising day against China’s occupation of Tibet and to remember all those who have died for Tibet’s freedom.
The gathering at the memorial service was welcomed by Canon David Hutt of Westminster Abbey who also lead a minute’s silence to remember all Tibetan victims of Chinese rule in Tibet. Canon Hutt deplored “man’s inhumanity to man” and offered a Christian prayer.
According to informed sources, the Westminster Abbey is more a historical site than a religious site.
Lord Weatherill, the former speaker of the House of Commons along with Geshe Tashi Tsering, the resident teacher at the Jamyang Buddhist Centre, laid a wreath on the memorial slab. The tag attached to the wreath read, “Parliamentarians remember the Tibetan people who suffer under the Chinese occupation of Tibet.”
Next to the wreath a white khata was placed on behalf of the Office of Tibet by its Secretary Mr. Tsering Tashi who also distributed the 10th March Statements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Kashag (Tibetan cabinet).
The Tibetan Buddhist prayer of remembrance, peace and well being of all sentient beings was lead by Geshe Tashi Tsering. He prayed in all seriousness with folded hands despite the light rain that Londoners and tourists alike did not find that pleasing.
In a statement issued later in the day Mr. John Wilkinson, MP, and Chairman of the British All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, said that he and his parliamentary colleagues have been inspired by the Middle Way strategy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to peacefully resolve the injustice so long borne by the people of Tibet.
“In commemorating the evils of the past and combating the wrongs of today within Tibet, the All Party Parliamentary Group strongly supports the dialogue between the Tibetan Government in exile and the authorities of the People’s Republic of China. It is our hope that consequent reconciliation based on personal freedom together with the restoration of cultural and religious liberties for the Tibetan people may lead to a better future for Tibet and the protection of the human rights of all citizens there,” said Mr. Wilkinson whose British All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet had organised the day’s memorial service.
