Ontario, March 12: Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario today led a protest rally against China’s illegal occupation of Tibet. The protest was organized in commemoration of the 48th anniversary of Tibetan Women’s National Uprising Day. More than hundred Tibetans from the community in Toronto participated in the protest to express their solidarity and support. The protest was also observed as a day of remembrance of the thousands of Tibetan women and men who sacrificed their lives for the struggle of freedom in Tibet since 1959.
Despite the cold weather the community members gathered for two hours shouting slogans against China in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. Being a weekday many had taken leave of work to be at the rally to show their support. The participants included young Tibetan school children over 7-15years as well as men and women from the community.
TWAO Vice President, Ms. Dickey Yangchen read out the statement of TWA Central Office to the public.
Ms. Peggy Nash, National Democratic Party MP from Parkdale-HighPark graciously participated in the protest rally in spite of her busy schedule. She expressed her solidarity with the community and said “the Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom is a just one, the international community especially Canada must support their struggle”. She further stated “I know that the Tibetan women are brave and courageous and will not stop until you achieve your struggle and I will be with you together”.
Ms.Nash recently introduced a successful motion in the Canadian Parliament which called the Chinese government to come forward and acknowledge the middle path policy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a pragmatic solution to the ongoing Tibetan issue.
Michael Craig of Amnesty International also expressed his solidarity with the Tibetan cause and addressed the gathering. He reminded the crowd that Amnesty International had cited in its report on the shooting of Nangpa la pass and the death of innocent nun Kesang Namtso and subsequently called China for its accountability. He further stated “China cannot afford to treat the Tibetan struggle especially human rights as a routine issue; China must respect the fundamental freedoms and rights of the Tibetan people”. He concluded with a positive note that China will see change very soon which could bring change for Tibet as well.
Mrs. Gyalthong Tsering Dolma, the adviser of TWA addressed the gathering by reiterating the responsibility of all Tibetans for our struggle and that the Tibetan women inside Tibet played an important role in the freedom struggle of Tibet.
TWAO President, Tsering Norzom Thonsur thanked the supporters for braving the cold weather and showing their solidarity with the Tibetan struggle. She called upon the international community to support Tibet’s just cause. More importantly, she added, “we send a strong a message to the authorities in Beijing through the Chinese Consulate here to acknowledge the peace proposal by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and resume negotiations at the earliest”. She reaffirmed that the TWAO and its supporters will not rest in peace until the issue of Tibet is resolved amicably. She thanked MP Peggy Nash for her steadfast support and requested her to continue to raise the issue of Tibet with the government of Canada and the Canadian Parliament.
TWAO circulated petitions to release Choeying Khedrub currently serving life sentence in Chushur Prison since November 2000. The protest concluded with prayers for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and those men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom of Tibet.
