Tibetans in Bristol cancel New Year celebrations

bristol | protests | news report Thursday March 05, 2009 15:37 by tejista - Free Tibet

Anniversary of 50 years of resistance against Chinese occupation.

Losar - the Tibetan New Year - fell this year during 25-27 Feb, but instead of celebrations the New Year was ushered in with a candlelit vigil and prayers in the centre of Bristol. Tibetans and their supporters gathered near the fountains to remember those who have been killed, detained or are still missing inside Tibet.

Since March 2008 and the biggest recent demonstrations in Tibet, China has responded with brutality, killing over 100 demonstrators and detaining over 6000, with 1000 still missing or unaccounted for. Some have been detained for the most chilling reasons, take Norzin for example, sentence for 5 years for phoning abroad and describing what was going on, or Dhondup, detained for making a documentary film about ordinary Tibetans, his current whereabouts are unknown rendering him extremely vulnerable to torture. Runggye Adak is also serving a 9 year sentence, not for murder, robbery or some major crime but for standing up in a public meeting and asking for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. For these reasons, Tibetans inside Tibet started the 'No Losar' campaign, making a peaceful act of defiance against the huge level of oppression imposed upon them by Chinese forces, and which was honoured worldwide by Tibetans and their supporters.

So on Tuesday night, a sombre mood descended over the centre of Bristol on New Year's eve; pictures of detained Tibetans illuminated by candles told individual stories of courage against oppression. Tibetans, dressed in their traditional costumes, but wearing black arm bands, led prayers to remember all sentient beings. The people of Bristol turned out to show their support and flew their Tibetan flags, an act which would be a criminal offence inside Tibet. Passers by were visibly moved to stop and talk, light a candle, sign action postcards and join in the prayers for people who had tried to peacefully express their views and ended up disappearing.

Tibetans will not give up, there is growing frustration among the younger generations over the stalled negotiations which China pretends to hold with representatives of the Tibetan government in exile. The time to act is now - you can show your support by joining the national demo in London this Saturday 7 March, and pressure our government to speak out by joining the mass lobby of parliament on Tuesday 10th March. Further details can be found via the link below.
Closer to home you can meet ex-political prisoner, Palden Gyatso, and watch his life story, being screened at the Watershed on Sunday afternoon15 March.

The Olympics in Beijing have been and gone, but human rights are universal and indivisible.
This March marks the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising of 1959 - 50 years of occupation, 50 years too long!