On April 21st 2006 the President of the China, Hu Jintao, visited Yale University in New Haven Connecticut as part of his official state visit to the United States. On this same day, a large group of the Tri State area Tibetan community traveled to New Haven to highlight the suffering and persecution of the Tibetan people under Chinese occupation.
Early on the morning of April 21st, Tibetan activists boarded buses bound for New Haven. When the activist reached Yale University they waved Tibetan flags and chanted “Free Tibet” and “China out of Tibet”. They demanded the release of the Panchen Lama and all Tibetan political prisoners.
The event was organized by The New York/New Jersey Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) in conjunction with Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) and the International Tibetan Independence Movement (ITIM). The common objective of these organizations is to end the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the persecution of its people.
In order to ensure that President Jintao both heard and saw their message, the Tibetan protestors dispersed into small groups along the designated route of the Chinese President’s motorcade. This strategy worked well because not only did President Jintao receive the message, but the media also focused on the protestors chanting and waving Tibetan flags.
Mr. Tenzin Kalden, the President of RTYC spoke to Radio Free Asia and said “Until Tibet is free, there will be many more protests like the one we had today. It is the responsibility of every living Tibetan to ensure that Tibet is one day a free country”. The event went as well as expected and children as young as 6 years old participated in order begin the realization of the dream that every Tibetan can some day live in a free and democratic country.
The day before the Yale protest, RTYC of NY & NJ marched in Washington D.C to demand our country back and to obtain the release of the Panchen Lama as well as all other Tibetan political prisoners. This rally also served to highlight the fact that China is attempting to highjack the Tibetan culture and identity by having Chinese nationals dressed in traditional Tibetan Jewelry and clothing welcome President Jintao. Our presence served to remind the world that Tibetan culture is not Chinese culture. To stress this point, we jumped out in front of the Chinese imposters and let the world know the real character, culture and identity of a true Tibetan. It is amazing to see the courage and inspiration of the Tibetan people for the cause of Free Tibet.
BHOD GYALO!!!!!
