By Jacquelyn Ryberg
Madison WI, April 1 – Peaceful protesters demonstrated on State Street Monday evening as part of the Global Day of Action for Tibet, a worldwide protest of the planned visit of the Olympic Torch to Tibetan areas.
Tibetans and supporters marched from Library Mall up State Street and to the Capitol. Protesters carried candles and signs depicting brutalized Tibetans and waved the Tibetan flag. The walk ended with a candlelight vigil and prayers outside the Capitol.
“I am one of the Tibetans. Whether I live in Tibet or not, it is my responsibility to stand for them,” said Tashi Bhuti, Wisconsin Tibetan Association member and Madison resident. “We want to let the people in Tibet know we are standing for them.”
As the Olympic Torch arrived in Beijing yesterday, hundreds of Tibetans and supporters rallied to contest the torch’s advancement into Tibetan areas because of the recent violent repression of the region by Chinese military.
According to Lobsang Tenzin, president of Wisconsin Tibetan Association, the protesters were also attempting to stem increased repression of Tibetans because if the torch passes through Tibetan areas, greater uprisings might occur, leading to greater violence from Chinese officials.
“The Olympic torch passing through Tibet will provoke further protest, which will lead to more arrests, more torture and more possibility of loss of life of Tibetans,” Tenzin said. “We are requesting the torch not go to Tibet to stop this.”
March 10 marked the 49th anniversary of a national rebellion by Tibetans acting in resistance to Communist Chinese rule in Tibet. Since that day, people throughout Tibet have risen up to express mounting resentment toward oppressive Chinese government rule, and the Chinese military has responded with aggressive and violent actions, according to a statement by WTA.
The protest was a means to increase awareness throughout other areas of the world and garner increased support to prevent the torch from entering Tibetan areas, Tenzin said.
“We want strong media coverage so that the International Olympic Association knows the protesting is not happening only in Tibet, but all over the world and in many communities,” Tenzin said.
The group decided to hold the protest on State Street to encourage students to join in opposition of the torch entering Tibetan areas and support the peaceful resistance to Chinese violence in the region.
“I think what is happening [in Tibet] is terrible,” said Jessica Schallock, a UW freshman who witnessed the protest. “I don’t know how effective [the protest in Madison] can be, but as long as people are spreading awareness and just reminding people that this is going on is important.”
According to Hilary Edwards, a UW graduate student and Midwest coordinator for Students for a Free Tibet, students can do many things to help with the issues occurring in Tibet, including contacting local representatives, President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or even the Chinese government.
“Even taking a small amount of time to look up the website or to go and find an online petition, if that is all you can do, it is something when you consider the sacrifices people are making inside of Tibet for their freedom and their basic civil liberties,” Edwards added.
