(Olympics In China, Anti-Oppression Demo In San Francisco)
By: Ravi Adhikari
SAN FRANCISCO – Coinciding with the official opening of the Beijing Olympics on 8/8/08, about 300 Tibetan protesters held 2 separate vigils. This was, however, only the beginning of a series of protests they plan to hold till 24th, the last day of the games.
Clad in traditional colorful Tibetan dress, most of the protesters consisted of refugees and their young siblings from cities such as Dharmasala, New Delhi, Banglore, Kathmandu, and several US cities, were holding anti-China/Olympic plaques and chanting slogans featuring their plight.
In the morning, they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge without any obstacle from authorities and gathered in front of the Consulate General of China, for the second phase of protest in the afternoon. The pedestrians and drivers encouraged protesters either by joining them or honking the horn.
According to Tsering Gyurmey, General Secretary of Tibet Association of Northern California (TANC), the 2-week vigil, named as Tem Tibet, was an outcome of unity among Tibetan organization such as TANC, Tibet Youth Congress (TYC), San Francisco Regional Tibet Congress, Students for Free Tibet (SFT) and Committee of 100 for Tibet.
“The response has been overwhelming so far,” Gyurmey, told this reporter in an interview near Chinese Consulate. “Not only Tibetans, as you see here, hundreds of people are supporting us for our peaceful struggle against oppression by China.”
Some of the popular slogans at the rally were: Olympic in China, torture in Tibet; China out of Tibet now; United Nations! we want justice and Long live Dalai Lama. But the environment was charged with the most popular slogan of Rangzen! Rangzen, meaning freedom.
The protesters, however, accused San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, of blindly supporting China and ignoring the plight of Tibetans. They were referring to the mayor’s April 9 decision to welcome Olympic torch to the city, the only US city to do so.
"San Francisco has always stood for freedom and human rights, especially when it comes to Tibetans" said Diki Renzen of Palo Alto. “This mayor made us very sad.”
But Newsom's spokesman, Nathan Ballard was quoted by Associated Press as saying: "It's important to remember that the Olympic spirit is one of international harmony and goodwill, and it transcends politics.”
Tibetan exiles around the world used the day to protest against China's hosting of the summer Olympics not only in the bay area. Exiles demonstrated in New Delhi and Kathmandu. In Dharmsala, hundreds of Tibetans started a six-month march to their homeland.
“We’re very said that Nepali authorities took extreme measures to suppress the peaceful protesters in Kathmandu,” Tenzin Dasang, a representative of TYC, who was another leading protester at the San Francisco gathering, expressed his displeasure. “With China-supporter Maoists in majority – and power – I fear Tibetans will have tough time in Nepal ...India is far better that way.”
In June, 20 members of Team Tibet, including TYC and SFT activists, drove all the way to the University of Oregon at Eugene, to attend the US Olympic Team track and field trials. They made an appeal to the athletes that while in Beijing they should stand up for Tibet.
The events included a peaceful protest and rally at a park at the University of Oregon, and handing out good luck packages to the athletes that included a letter of appeal to help Tibet.
When asked about the timing of the protest, Gyurmey, who was born in Laddakh (Jammu & Kashmir state) and raised in New Delhi, admitted saying ‘since focus of the world was toward Beijing Olympics, this was the proper time to tell the world what is going on in Tibet and show the true color of China.’
According to a rough estimate there are 2000 Tibetans settled in the Bay area. Other than San Francisco, they are planning to do candle light vigils, cycling, photo exhibition, and speaking in major cities such as Berkley, Palo Alto, Oakland, San Jose, Richmond and San Mateo.
By: Ravi Adhikari
SAN FRANCISCO – Coinciding with the official opening of the Beijing Olympics on 8/8/08, about 300 Tibetan protesters held 2 separate vigils. This was, however, only the beginning of a series of protests they plan to hold till 24th, the last day of the games.
Clad in traditional colorful Tibetan dress, most of the protesters consisted of refugees and their young siblings from cities such as Dharmasala, New Delhi, Banglore, Kathmandu, and several US cities, were holding anti-China/Olympic plaques and chanting slogans featuring their plight.
In the morning, they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge without any obstacle from authorities and gathered in front of the Consulate General of China, for the second phase of protest in the afternoon. The pedestrians and drivers encouraged protesters either by joining them or honking the horn.
According to Tsering Gyurmey, General Secretary of Tibet Association of Northern California (TANC), the 2-week vigil, named as Tem Tibet, was an outcome of unity among Tibetan organization such as TANC, Tibet Youth Congress (TYC), San Francisco Regional Tibet Congress, Students for Free Tibet (SFT) and Committee of 100 for Tibet.
“The response has been overwhelming so far,” Gyurmey, told this reporter in an interview near Chinese Consulate. “Not only Tibetans, as you see here, hundreds of people are supporting us for our peaceful struggle against oppression by China.”
Some of the popular slogans at the rally were: Olympic in China, torture in Tibet; China out of Tibet now; United Nations! we want justice and Long live Dalai Lama. But the environment was charged with the most popular slogan of Rangzen! Rangzen, meaning freedom.
The protesters, however, accused San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, of blindly supporting China and ignoring the plight of Tibetans. They were referring to the mayor’s April 9 decision to welcome Olympic torch to the city, the only US city to do so.
"San Francisco has always stood for freedom and human rights, especially when it comes to Tibetans" said Diki Renzen of Palo Alto. “This mayor made us very sad.”
But Newsom's spokesman, Nathan Ballard was quoted by Associated Press as saying: "It's important to remember that the Olympic spirit is one of international harmony and goodwill, and it transcends politics.”
Tibetan exiles around the world used the day to protest against China's hosting of the summer Olympics not only in the bay area. Exiles demonstrated in New Delhi and Kathmandu. In Dharmsala, hundreds of Tibetans started a six-month march to their homeland.
“We’re very said that Nepali authorities took extreme measures to suppress the peaceful protesters in Kathmandu,” Tenzin Dasang, a representative of TYC, who was another leading protester at the San Francisco gathering, expressed his displeasure. “With China-supporter Maoists in majority – and power – I fear Tibetans will have tough time in Nepal ...India is far better that way.”
In June, 20 members of Team Tibet, including TYC and SFT activists, drove all the way to the University of Oregon at Eugene, to attend the US Olympic Team track and field trials. They made an appeal to the athletes that while in Beijing they should stand up for Tibet.
The events included a peaceful protest and rally at a park at the University of Oregon, and handing out good luck packages to the athletes that included a letter of appeal to help Tibet.
When asked about the timing of the protest, Gyurmey, who was born in Laddakh (Jammu & Kashmir state) and raised in New Delhi, admitted saying ‘since focus of the world was toward Beijing Olympics, this was the proper time to tell the world what is going on in Tibet and show the true color of China.’
According to a rough estimate there are 2000 Tibetans settled in the Bay area. Other than San Francisco, they are planning to do candle light vigils, cycling, photo exhibition, and speaking in major cities such as Berkley, Palo Alto, Oakland, San Jose, Richmond and San Mateo.
(Published in The Indian Express)
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