By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Feb 15 : The Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan (HRNTT) organized a “Cycling for a Free Tibet” event in Taipei on Wednesday to raise public awareness on the Tibetan struggle for freedom ahead of the Tibetan Uprising Day. During the event, cyclists took to the streets of the capital to commemorate 65 years of Tibetan resistance against China’s occupation of their homeland and the Lhasa uprising that happened on March 10, 1959.
Tashi Tsering, the founder of The Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan (HRNTT), held a press conference outside the Legislative Yuan. During the conference, he expressed his concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s coercion of Tibet into signing the “Seventeen Point Agreement” in 1951. He highlighted many issues happening in Tibet, including Tibetan children being separated from their parents and subjected to China’s indoctrination education in colonial style boarding schools.
He also highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party has imposed laws to dictate the selection of reincarnated Buddhist leaders, in a bid to regulate and suppress Tibetan Buddhism.
During the same event, DPP Legislator Puma Shen warned against China’s economic and diplomatic aggression towards Taiwan. Shen cited the “peaceful treaty” signed with Tibet as a warning and emphasized Taiwan’s obligation to defend against tyranny, especially in light of the circumstances in the so-called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Hong Kong. Shen also pledged to continue advocating for freedom, democracy, and human rights within the parliament.
Sky Fung, the chief secretary of Hong Kong Outlanders, expressed his grief over the persecution of Tibet’s religion, culture, and tradition after China’s invasion. As a Hong Kong citizen, Fung expressed regret for not realizing China’s deception earlier and for not raising support for Tibet. He emphasized the importance of freedom and cautioned against complacency, while warning Taiwan could potentially become China’s next target.
More cycling events are scheduled in Taipei on Feb. 21, Feb. 28, and March 6, with another in Kaohsiung on March 2.
One Response
Nice but how can rising a bicycle help Tibet defeat Chinese socialist dictatorship ? To win the war, one needs weapons and artillery as we see now in Ukraine-Russia conflict. Denmark has given all their weapons to Ukraine to kill Russian invaders. There is no other way whatsoever except the ought weapons for self defence.