1997 March Info | 1997 March Home

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The Milarepa Fund's Tibetan Freedom Concert happened on Randell's Island this past weekend in New York City. Some walkers attended the concert, one walker performed at the concert and others continued walking on the route about 50 miles out from the city.

The Tibetan Freedom Concert opened on Saturday morning with a press conference featuring some of the performers, speakers and concert organizers. Palden Gyasto, who spoke on both Saturday and Sunday to the many thousands of concert goers, talked to the press about his experience of suffering in Chinese prisons and labor camps for 33 years.

Dadon had an opportunity to speak in response to a question asked to all the performers, "Why are you involved in this concert?"

"I left Tibet in 1992. I left because I saw many uprising happen, and many Tibetan people killed and monks and nuns tortured, so I had to leave to take this very important message to the world. As a musician and a singer I need this kind of opportunity so I can tell you what is really going on in Tibet through music. This is very important."

A second opportuity arose when Voice of America asked the performers to say something to the Tibetans in Tibet.

Dadon said, "Hi to all of the people in Tibet. We are here in Western country. We work hard for free Tibet. Don't be frustrated or disappointed with the situation you have right now. Things are going to change. All the world's people are going to help us. We work together inside Tibet and outside Tibet.

Inside the "monestary," a large white tent on the concert grounds, monks and nuns prayed for peace almost continuously during the two days of the concert. The tent was open to everyone to come in and observe and learn a little bit about Tibetan Buddhism.

The monks created a Medicine Buddha sand mandala which at the end of the second day was dismantled and the sand was distributed to interested onlookers.

Thupten Phuntsok, one of hundreds of Tibetan volunteers, worked in the monastery tent answering questions. "I try my best to explain what is happening in the temple. People want to know what is the symbolism of the colors in the mandala and why will it be destroyed. People might not understand what they see here completely, but they have at least some idea, some image in their mind."

Dechen Wangdu (above) and Lobsang Dechen (below) both spoke to the crowd about the situation in Tibet and the necessity of political activism.

Having been alotted only 7 minutes to perform, Dadon graciously combined song and spoken word. She began by telling the audience, "You young Americans are so crazy and happy. I see all your smiling faces. I want to be crazy and happy like you, but I can't. I am very sad. I have seen my people be tortured and killed, and it is up to you to stop this. You are the ones who are going help Tibet."

With a very funked-up Tibetan sound, Dadon grabbed the attention of the Western crowd and sang, "Gi Ma Gi" (Happy Not Happy).

After the short but powerful performance Dadon took part in numerous interviews from Voice of America to George magazine, and rubbed elbows and networked with Taj Mahal and Sean Lennon. For Dadon, today's events were a tremendous break in a three year struggle to rebuild the career she left behind when she was forced to flee Tibet because of her political lyrics.

"I think it's very important for the young Tibetans to be involved," said Sonam Wangdu, a leader of the Tibetan community in New York City. "The young people realize what they are missing in there lives. They know their Tibetan heritage because of their parents, but it is something that they cannot experience, so this gives them a drive to push the issue forward.

Young Tibetans born outside of Tibet are going to be really fundamental in trying to create changes because they have been born in a free country with the opportunity to express their opinions without fear. Also, the young Tibetans don't have the inhabition of thinking that if they speak their minds they will be speaking against The Dalai Lama. Instead, they think that is exactly what The Dalai Lama wants.

I don't think Tibetans will ever oppose The Dalai Lama. His Holiness has given Tibetans democracy. If people don't speak and exercise their democratic rights then there will be no change."

Lakpa Thundup, when asked what he would like to see the young people do with the information they learned at the concert, answered, "I wouldn't hope for everyone here, but maybe if 25% of people take some kind of active roll in setting up an anti-Chinese-in -Tibet function or anything they can come up with will be a great help. Any kind of help. We need them."

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International Tibet Independence Movement
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