Yesterday, the Marchers defied the Indian police’s restraining order and continued on their way. Throughout the day, intelligence agents and plainclothes police were following the March, but let them continue on their way. This morning, the Marchers set off again after refusing to submit their Registration Certificates – their sole identification as refugees – to the Indian police. While the Marchers are not expected to reach the boundary of Kangra District until tomorrow, the situation remains tense with the possibility of the March being stopped at any time.
As we anxiously await news from the Marchers, RFA continues to release reports of monks protesting inside Tibet. The protests started on March 10th with as many as 300 monks marching 10km from Drepung monastery towards Lhasa, calling for the release of the protesters who were detained in October when His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal. The Guardian is calling it “the biggest protest against Chinese rule in twenty years.” Fifty to 60 monks were detained. On March 11th, 500 to 600 monks from Sera monastery protested for the release of 9 monks who had been arrested in the previous days. As they walked towards Lhasa, they shouted: “We want freedom!” “Free our people!” “We want an independent Tibet!” and “Free our people or we won’t go back!” Witnesses say thousands of armed police surrounded them and fired tear gas into the crowd. There were also reports of smaller protests at two monasteries in Qinghai province.
Today also marks the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day. On March 12th, 1959, as so many men had been arrested in the previous 2 days of protests and others had joined the resistance fighters, the women in Lhasa took to the streets. To commemorate that day, 36 women stormed the Chinese embassy in New Delhi today. With fresh scenes in my head of Tibetan women yelling at Nepali police on March 10th, it is even more apparent to me how strong Tibetan women are. These women know how to protest!
As all these news stories keep flowing in and friends and colleagues call from the road, I keep having moments where I am overcome with emotion. Tibetans inside and outside Tibet are feeding off of each others’ protests! It truly feels like we are in the midst of one of the great moments in Tibetan history, and especially that of the movement. I may be sleep deprived and hungry, but there is nowhere I would rather be and nothing I would rather be doing.
As we anxiously await news from the Marchers, RFA continues to release reports of monks protesting inside Tibet. The protests started on March 10th with as many as 300 monks marching 10km from Drepung monastery towards Lhasa, calling for the release of the protesters who were detained in October when His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal. The Guardian is calling it “the biggest protest against Chinese rule in twenty years.” Fifty to 60 monks were detained. On March 11th, 500 to 600 monks from Sera monastery protested for the release of 9 monks who had been arrested in the previous days. As they walked towards Lhasa, they shouted: “We want freedom!” “Free our people!” “We want an independent Tibet!” and “Free our people or we won’t go back!” Witnesses say thousands of armed police surrounded them and fired tear gas into the crowd. There were also reports of smaller protests at two monasteries in Qinghai province.
Today also marks the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day. On March 12th, 1959, as so many men had been arrested in the previous 2 days of protests and others had joined the resistance fighters, the women in Lhasa took to the streets. To commemorate that day, 36 women stormed the Chinese embassy in New Delhi today. With fresh scenes in my head of Tibetan women yelling at Nepali police on March 10th, it is even more apparent to me how strong Tibetan women are. These women know how to protest!
As all these news stories keep flowing in and friends and colleagues call from the road, I keep having moments where I am overcome with emotion. Tibetans inside and outside Tibet are feeding off of each others’ protests! It truly feels like we are in the midst of one of the great moments in Tibetan history, and especially that of the movement. I may be sleep deprived and hungry, but there is nowhere I would rather be and nothing I would rather be doing.
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