"Time and time and time again, we have nonviolently and peacefully pleaded in front of this Chinese consulate, and in the streets of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland for the People's Republic of China to end the torture and murder of our people -- but our pleadings have gone unnoticed and unpublicized.

Time and time and time again, our brothers and sisters, our friends and supporters have pleaded nonviolently in the streets of Lhasa, Delhi, New York and London for the People's Republic of China to return our country to us -- but our pleadings have gone unheard and unpublicized.

Today, this very day, six Tibetans, representing six million Tibetans, are at the brink of death from a continuing hunger strike in a desperate pleas to the United Nations to act on our behalf -- and yet their cries, our cries, the cries of six million people go unnoticed and unpublicized.

What more will it take for the world to see our torment, to hear our cries of anguish and to feel our pains from torture?

I was told by some in the media, Seattle where I come from included: "Your activities", they said, "are not news for our city. They have no affect upon our community and therefore no cause for joy or alarm. Your activities do not help sell our papers nor find sponsors for our television news."

Well! if our marches and rallies, our speeches and letters, and our cultural songs and dances can't make the news, what will make the news? Will hijacking the planes of the People's Republic of China and terrorizing the passengers of any aircraft going to or coming from China make the news?

Will kidnapping officials and supporters of the People's Republic of China and demanding ransoms to finance our terrorist activities make the news?

Will entering Chinese embassies and consulates in every city we have access to and holding everyone in those buildings hostage until our demands are met make the news?

And when we have made the news, will the power brokers of the world ensure us a nation of our own?

But fear not, good citizens of the world. We will do no such thing that the media may desire of us to do.

Instead, I propose to you, my fellow countrymen and good friends of Tibet, a new and more meaningful plan. A two-pronged course of action that is still peaceful and nonviolent, yet both gently disruptive and enormously constructive.

First, in the name of Tibet and for the benefit of all Tibetans, we should henceforth organize and engage in nonviolent civil disobedience. Mahatma Gandhi did it in India! Nelson Mandela did it in South Africa! and Martin Luther King did it in America! Why shouldn't we follow the proven successes and fearless examples of such great men?

Second, in the name of Tibet and for the benefit of the weak and poor, the lame and slow of all nations, we should form brigades of Tibetan crusaders who will reach out and go into the inner cities and rural outposts of this and other nations. A Tibetan Peace Corp, so to speak. A simple gesture as cleaning the streets of a poor neighborhood or providing sandwiches to the hungry will bring blessings beyond measure and support from politicians who need the majority's votes, not just the votes of a few Tibetans. We must reach out beyond ourselves in a meaningful way if we are to successfully raise awareness of our status and achieve support for our issues.

Peacefully disrupting the normal course of life of middle America or Canada and simultaneously helping the underprivileged of such nations, will bring us both the media attention we need and the political support we cannot do without.

My friends, fighting for independence is not an easy task and trying times still lie ahead of us. Our new approach though may finally enable us to see a light at the end of the tunnel and "hell-on-earth" may finally come to an end for our countrymen in Tibet.

God bless you all and Bod Gyal-lo!"

Tsoltim N. ("T.N.") Shakabpa
Executive Director, Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa Memorial Foundation
Former President & Representative, Tibetan Association of Washington

ORIES FROM THE MARCH...

International Tibet Independence Movement
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