Tibetans to mark Tibet Day with march through London

Tibetan monk demands Blair ends his public silence on Tibet
[London] On Tibet Day, Saturday 10 March 2007, Tibetan monk and human rights defender, Dewatsang Sangye will be joined by hundreds of Tibet supporters in London, marching from the Chinese Embassy to Westminster, to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising when tens of thousands of Tibetan men, women and children were killed by illegal occupying Chinese forces after taking to the streets to protest against China's ongoing occupation.
Sangye will deliver a letter to Downing Street demanding that Prime Minister Tony Blair ends his public silence on Tibet. The letter also notes increased media attention on China in the approach to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and calls on the Prime Minister to use this opportunity to press the Chinese Government to engage more substantively in ongoing negotiations with envoys of the Dalai Lama (1). The letter concludes, "Your support for such a process would secure your legacy, not only for resolving one of history's great injustices, but also for ensuring that London would not inherit an Olympics tarnished by association with China's brutal occupation of Tibet."

Tibetan monk, Sangye, said, "Tibetans' desire for a free Tibet and a peaceful resolution to China's occupation remain as strong as ever, despite China's brutal policies in Tibet and its killing of defenceless Tibetan refugees on the Nepal border last year." (2)

The Tibetan Freedom March starts opposite the Chinese Embassy, 49-51 Portland Place, London W1. Assemble from 11am, march begins at 11.30am and ends with a rally on Palace Street, London SWI from 1pm.

A cultural event will take place at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1 from 2.30pm.

Tibet Day is organised jointly by the Tibetan Community in Britain, Tibetan Youth in UK, Students for a Free Tibet, the Tibet Society and Free Tibet Campaign.

Contact: Matt Whitticase 07904 063 746 or Ya'el Weisz-Rind 07733 391 773.

Notes to Editor:

(1) In 2002 talks were opened between the Chinese Government and envoys of the Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet. It has been more than a year since the fifth round of talks concluded in Beijing and progress has been frustrated by a lack of engagement from China.

(2) On 30 September 2006 Chinese border forces shot at defenceless Tibetan refugees attempting to flee from persecution in to Nepal. One refugee, nun Kelsang Nortso, has been confirmed killed as a result of the shooting. China has so far failed to publish a report into the incident, despite pledging to do so in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Click here for further details of events on Tibet Day.