On March 10, 1959, the Tibetans in Lhasa took to the streets, demanding the withdrawal of Chinese troops marching into and stationing there since 1949. After a few weeks, tens of thousands of Tibetans were killed and injured in this protest. The temples were damaged in large-scale. Dalai Lama brought 120 thousand Tibetans fled to exile in India and began the lives without freedom and home for half a century.
The Tibetan National Uprising Day is March 10th every year.. Tibetans and supporters around the world would commemorate the bravely sacrificed Tibetans for the uprisings. This year is the 50th anniversary and marks more significant meanings. In particular, the Chinese suppressed Tibet on March 14th, 2008 again. This had shocked the world and showed the Chinese extreme governance has no improvement at all. According to the conservative estimatiopn, there were at least 218 people died in the 3.14 Riots, more than 6000 people were arrested, and more than 1000 people missing.
“The 50th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day Action League” broadened its cope and held “The 50th memory candlelight evening” on March 10th. Photos of 50 Tibetan heroes fighting for human rights were displayed. These photos were arranged as a 50 font, to show and encourage all of the brave Tibetans that they are not alone. Also, the League held peaceful candlelight and Tibetan Buddhism “the Brilliant Mantra of Six Words” to static going. They prayed for all of the martyrs and victims.
These fifty heroes were elected by the group “Student for a Free Tibet “ which is very vigorous and active internationally. Although Taiwanese are unfamiliar with them, every brave deeds had already left important chapters during the history of Tibetans’ fifty-year protests. One of them set himself on fire for Tibet independence. Another political prisoner was jailed for the longest 40 years ever. Another nun asked Dalai Lama to return and be sentenced and abused to death. And a documentary director was missing because he made the truth public. These heroes included some youths, who distributed the No Losar fliers in Tibet territory and were arrested to prison and beaten to death on the 25th last month, the global holding activities” Tibetans No Losar (No celebration for Tibetan new year) ”. Some of these 50 brave warriors are still fighting for the dream of Tibet independence. Some had already dedicated their lives. No matter what, these people and more anonymous Tibetans all witnessed the 50-year sufferings inside and outside of Tibet. They even demonstrated Tibetans’ determination for pursuing freedom and human rights.
Other than the candlelight evening event on March 10th in Taipei, there was a commemorative meeting in Kaohsiung Central Park for Tibetan Uprisings. Kaohsiung City Government announced March 10th is the Tibetan Day. More than hundreds of Tibetans and supporters had a parade in Kaohsiung City to introduced Taiwanese people Tibetan uprising activities. After Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pindong, and Yunling also continually announced the Tibetan Day as a pleading for Tibetans’ human rights for freedom and democracy in politics, religion and culture.
This year, the event organizer also invited three important Tibetan international organizations and .the heads of them: B. Tsering, the president of the Tibetan Women’s Association, Ven. Ngawang Woeber the president of the Gu Chu Sum Activities, who concerns about political prisoners inside Tibet; and Tsering Choedup, the director-general of the International Tibet Support Network in South Asia, which has 157 members’ organizations in fifty nations worldwide. They attended the Tibetan Uprising 50th anniversary activities in Taiwan, also would interact with related human rights organizations. The significance of Tibetan international organization’s coming to Taiwan is the solidarity and insistence on the implementation of universal human rights.under the Chinese communist’s threat of force.
