Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein observed 62nd commemoration of Tibetan National Uprising Day in three main Cities of Switzerland.
Geneva; 10th March 2021: To commemorate the 62nd year of Tibetan National Uprising Day, the Tibetan community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein (TCSL) organized demonstrations in three main cities of Switzerland. (Geneva, Bern and Zürich) jointly with the Swiss Tibetan Women Association (STWA) and Tibetan Youth Association in Europe (TYAE)
In Geneva, the demonstration was led by Tibetan Community of Switzerland &Liechtenstein (TCSL) in front of the United Nations (UN) building coinciding with the 46th United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session.
Due to Wuhan, Chinese originated COVID-19 Pandemics and as per the rules and regulations of the Swiss federal government, only a limited People are allowed to participate in the demonstration.
The Special Guest of the event was Honorable Mr. Emmanuel Deonna, Geneva Cantonal Councilor from the Social Democratic Party;, other dignitaries were : Mr. Chhimey Rigzen, Representative of Tibetan Bureau Geneva ; Mr. Jacques Arnal, activist and Representative of Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association.
The event started with the introductory Speech by Mr. Tsamda Norbu (outgoing President of Tibetan Community of Switzerland &Liechtenstein (TCSL) .Other Dignitaries who spoke on the occasion were Mr. Jacques Arnal and Mr. Tenzin Choezin Shitsetsang (Board member of Tibetan Youth Association in Europe)
While addressing the gathering, Mr. Emmanuel Deonna, cherished and reaffirmed the friendship of Switzerland with Tibetans for last sixty years. Extending his support to the Tibetan freedom movement he said “support to Tibetans’ on violent struggle implies support to all the people who are deprived of their rights across the world.” A joint petition was submitted to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet calling upon her to break her silence on atrocities in Tibet.
Mr. Chhimey Rigzen, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama , Tibet Bureau Geneva, thanked the political leaders, Parliamentarian Groups for Tibet, Tibet Support Groups and civil societies for their continued support to Tibet and for participating in the 62nd commemoration of Tibetan National Uprising Day. He read the Kashag`s statement and added “10th March is a historic day to remember and honor the courage of Tibetan martyrs and to commemorate millions of Tibetans who have lost their lives due to illegal occupation of Tibet by Communist China.”
Statement of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and Tibetan Parliament- in Exile (TPIE) on the commemoration of the 62nd Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising were read on the day.
After the recitation of Dhentsig Monlam (Prayer of Truth) the event concluded successfully with a vote of thanks by Ms. Karma Choekyi, newly elected President of the Tibetan community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein (TCSL)
Bern; 10th March 2021: In Bern, the demonstration was led by Tibetan Youth Association in Europe (TYAE) which held a “mass funeral exhibition” with 24 caskets honoring the fallen brothers and sisters who sacrificed their lives for Tibet. The TYAE President Tashi Shitsetsang, and several other executive members of the TYAE were present at the exhibition explaining to the curious onlookers the significance of the demonstration.
Zürich; 10th March 2021: The demonstration in Zurich was led by the Swiss Tibetan Women Association in front of the Chinese consulate in Zurich. President of Swiss Tibetan Women Association (STWA), Ms. Dekyi Santamaria and several other executive members of STWA organized the event successfully.
Hon’ble Mario Fehr, Government Councilor of Zurich and Swiss Parliamentarian and co-chair of Swiss-Parliamentary Group for Tibet Hon’ble Fabian Molina sent their written messages supporting the Tibetan struggle. Hon’ble Mario Fehr noted that “Switzerland recognizes the genuine concerns of Tibetans and that the Chinese government must be reasonable in making the proposal for genuine autonomy for Tibetan people possible.” Assuring his continued support, Hon’ble Fabian Molina noted that with the growing awareness about China’s continued human rights violations, the relation and business with China “as usual is no longer possible.”
A group of Tibetan youth volunteers from Switzerland initiated a postcard campaign whereby over 2,500 Tibetans and supporters sent individual postcards on the eve of the Tibetan National Uprising day, calling on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to break her silence on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet.
Tibetans all over the world organized demonstrations against 62 years of Tibet`s illegal occupation by China.
by Nyima Arya
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