Tibetan people express solidarity with and support for the Chinese Democracy Movement
photo by Tsering Kyi, TWA
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, exile Tibetans stand in solidarity with the Chinese democracy movement and express support for their demand for freedom, human rights and democracy in China. In commemorating twenty years since the watershed event in the history of contemporary China, we condemn the brutal manner with which the heavily armed troops suppressed and killed the unarmed pro-democracy protestors and bystanders. According to Amnesty International, 1000 people were killed and thousands more injured in early June pro-democracy protests.
On June 3, Tibetan People's Uprising Movement (TPUM) will organize a signature campaign during the day and a candlelight vigil in the evening followed by the screening of the feature-length documentary movie about the Tiananmen Square protests, "The Gate of Heavenly Peace". June 4, will be observed as 'White China Day" an initiative by Wan Dan, a key figure in the 1989 pro-democracy protests in China. We request Tibetans around the world to wear "White Clothes" on June 4 to pay our respect to the victims and heroes of the Tiananmen protests. The series of events have been organized to express our deepest solidarity for the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre and to express our profound and unwavering support for the Chinese democracy movement.
It can be evidently inferred that the Chinese army's quelling of the 1989 protests is similar to the Chinese government's brutal crackdown on the thousands of Tibetans who took part in the peaceful uprising against the repressive Chinese rule in 2008. The protests have continued this year despite the imposition of 'de facto' martial law and in the midst of abominable acts of arbitrary arrests, unfair trials and executions including the death sentences for two Tibetans; Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak that could virtually take place any day. Tibetans continue to peacefully protest the mining activities in Markham County in Chamdo prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Local sources report that approximately 500 Tibetans continue to blockade the road leading to Ser Ngul Lo Mountain, although officials in Markham told Radio Free Asia on May 27 that the standoff was close to being resolved. The blockade reportedly started on May 16th to protest the mining activities of Zhongkai Co., a Chinese mining and lumber company. Local Tibetans also complain that mining in the area has contributed to water contamination in the region. In response to the protests, Chinese authorities in Markham are reported to have deployed at least 300 troops in the region. A local source reported that, on May 31st, Markham county officials declared it illegal for anyone to pass information to the outside world about the protests or the deaths caused by the mine. The source appealed for help from the international community stop the mining operations and averts the environmental crises befalling Tibet. We call on the Chinese government to immediately withdraw troops from the region, agree to negotiate an end to the mining operations, and offer compensation to all families affected by the water contamination.
With the affirmation and reassertion of our support for the Tiananmen massacre victims, we join the voices of the Tiananmen mothers in their call for reassessment of the June 4 incident by the government. We demand the Chinese government to release all the political prisoners of the June 4, 1989 protests in Beijing and the March 2008 Uprisings in Tibet. The Chinese government needs to realise that the call for freedom, justice and democracy will catapult into becoming a stronger, unified and an irrevocable force. While we reaffirm our commitment to work together with the Chinese community as an integral part of finding a lasting solution for democracy, we support the Chinese democracy movement and call for human rights in China and freedom for Tibet. From Tiananmen Massacre (1989) to Charter 8 (2008) to the Tibet Uprisings (2008-09), the road to democracy is vindictive. TPUM is convinced that a truly democratic China will enable Tibetans to determine their own future.
The Tibetan People's Uprising Movement, organized by The Tibetan Women's Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Ex-political Prisoners Movement, National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet (India) aims to revive the spirit of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, and by engaging in nonviolent direct action, bring about an end to China's illegal occupation of Tibet.