Nepal Bars Tibetan Uprising Day Commemoration Yet Again, Gu-Chu-Sum Absent from Co-organising Protest March for Second Year
DHARAMSALA, 10 March: Nepal has yet again denied permission for Tibetans to commemorate the Tibetan National Uprising Day, with the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office calling on Tibetans to conduct prayers and ritual activities at home as usual. Meanwhile, the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, an organisation of former political prisoners of Tibet, has abstained for the second year in a row from co-organising a peace march from the main temple in McLeod Ganj to Kacheri in lower Dharamsala to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day with major NGOs based here in the exile headquarters of the Tibetan people.
“As is the custom, the Nepalese government does not allow permission to observe the Tibetan National Uprising Day. We would like to urge all Tibetans to honour the law of the land and refrain from holding any public gathering or peaceful protests to commemorate the Tibetan National Uprising Day,” reads a circular issued by the Kathmandu-based Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office.
The notice issued on Wednesday further urges Tibetans to conduct prayers and ritual activities at home to commemorate the 65th Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10th.
Increased Restrictions on Tibetans in Nepal Linked to Chinese Influence
China provides substantial financial support to Nepal for various projects annually. However, this influx of aid has led to increased restrictions and harassment against Tibetans in Nepal, due to pressure from China. The Nepalese government, influenced by China, has arrested hundreds of Tibetans and limited their right to protest, particularly concerning events like the 2008 crackdown in Tibet. Tibetan National Uprising Day commemorations are either prohibited or met with harsh crackdowns by Nepalese authorities. Human Rights Watch has documented these abuses, including bans on political protests and limitations on Tibetan cultural and religious activities. With closer ties between China and Nepal, China has managed to prevent Tibetan refugees from entering Nepal, and those who do risk extradition.
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet Criticises Actions of Some Tibetan NGOs and Associations
Meanwhile, the President of the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, Ngawang Gaden, in a notice issued on Friday, raised strong objections to certain Tibetan NGOs and organisations for raising slogans such as “China out of Tibet” before the Chinese embassies and “setting fire to the Chinese flag and the effigies of Chinese leaders,” declaring them contradictory or against the Middle Way policy and morality.
He added that resorting to such acts would cause trouble to Tibetan leaders and Lamas inside Tibet as well as to the general Tibetans inside Tibet, while causing inconvenience to India, which hosts many Tibetan refugees.
Withdrawal from Co-Organizing Events Marks Second Year in a Row
While the organisation of former political prisoners usually collectively organises the public march from McLeod Ganj to Kacheri in lower Dharamsala after the official anniversary function to commemorate the Tibetan National Uprising Day, this year marks the second year in a row that the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet has given it a miss. Though several Tibetan political prisoners in exile support or endorse complete independence (Rangzen) from China, Gaden issued a strongly worded objection to the Tibetan Parliament, demanding an apology as one of the Tibetan MPs from the standing committee member of the Tibetan Parliament attended the 6th International Rangzen Conference in the Indian capital in August 2023.
Additionally, sources have told Tibet Express that Gaden has made it categorically clear that the rooms that Gu-Chu-Sum rents to Tibetans are only for those who follow or favour the Middle Way while announcing a ban on those who favour Rangzen.
As Gu-Chu-Sum withdrew its participation from co-organising protests and campaigns along with other major NGOs based here such as Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Students for a Free Tibet-India- and National Democratic Party of Tibet under Gaden, the website of the organisation has not been updated since 22 July 2022 while the Facebook handle of the organisation was last updated on 11 Nov. 2022.
