Activists stage protests across 25 cities on Global Day of Action to Resist China
DHARAMSALA, 1 Oct: Tibetan Activists staged a visual protest with body bags symbolising Tibetans murdered by China to mark the Global Day of Action to Resist China on the 71st founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China here in the exile headquarters of the Tibetan people today.
“As CCP celebrates its founding day, we reach out to people who are the victims of this regime to forge our alliance in our pursuit of freedom and justice for our people,” said Gompo Dhondup, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress.
Coordinated by International Tibet Network, five Tibetan NGOs from here- Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet-India- have formed a coalition with over hundred human rights groups representing Uyghur, Southern Mongolian, Hongkonger, Taiwanese, and Chinese people, along with other international human rights organisations to mark China’s National Day with by holding protests in over 50 cities in 25 countries across the world.
The body bags symbolises Tibetans who have died under the regimes 70-year occupation of Tibet and those being murdered under the repressive rule, the NGOs said in their joint statement.
“China Lies, Tibetans Die,” it added.
The protest here saw Tibetan activists hold a photo action and march around Mcleod’s main square chanting slogans such as ‘Free Tibet’, ‘China out of Tibet’, ‘Tibet belongs to Tibetans’ among others.
The NGOs pointed out that the CCP has ramped up its crackdown on freedom, democracy, and human rights and called strong multilateral action to effectively challenge China’s unabated human rights abuses.
“It is now time for the world governments especially Indian government, to correct the errors of the past and to take a lead in finding a solution to the Tibet situation; which starts with recognizing the Indo-Tibet border and Tibet as a separate, historically independent country that remains under China’s illegal occupation,” said Rinzin Choedon, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet – India.
The day marked with much fanfare by China is for Tibetans, “a reminder of the brutal occupation of Tibet and a time for world leaders to know that neutrality in the face of such atrocities is unacceptable and that we must act together to confront China’s abuse of power,” said Khando, the project Project Officer TWA.
On 1 October 1949, Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the PRC.
