PROGRAMS REPORT
Programs:
Berkeley
San Francisco State University
Stanford University
Mission College
With the exception of Stanford University, our programs have seen less than 30 people in attendance. While we would like to be talking to larger crowds, we are still very pleased to see people coming and showing interest in Tibet.
The programs begin with an introduction from the host and then Julie Crow, ITIM Walk Coordinator, offers a brief introduction, covering details of the walk and our purpose.
First to speak is Pema Lhundup, General Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress in India. His discussion generally covers specific details of Tibet/China History, refuting Chinaąs claim to Tibet. (For the full text click here.) He also explains the TYC's very specific and strong stance for Tibetan independence from China as opposed to His Holiness The Dali Lama's stance for autonomy.
Next to speak is Venerable Yishe Topden, President of the Gu Chu Sum Ex-Political Prisoners Organization in India. Yishe and the two speakers to follow speak through a translatorTsewang Migyur Khangsar, Vice-President of the Tibetan Association of Northern California and former Tibetan Children's Village teacher and principle. His talk covers specific cases of political prisoners in Tibet.
In the 1980s several peaceful demonstrationsthe participants were never armed or violentin Tibet against China resulted in the imprisonment of hundreds of political prisoners, many of whom are monks and nuns.
"When they took part in the demonstrations in Tibet they put their lives on the line," he said. "They could be shot down at anytime, in any place without provocation, simply for demonstrating in the street."
For example, one demonstrator was shot in the heart at point blank range because he was a threat to the People's Republic of Chinahe was an 8-year-old boy.
Political prisoners are jailed from anywhere from 2 to 19 years. One man is serving 40 years, simply for speaking out for Tibet. Political prisoners are treated worse than criminals. They are often not given food or water for days on end, and when they do receive meals they are simply a couple of dumplings and thin soup. Topden himself had to resort to drinking urine while in prisonand sometimes that isnąt even available because there wouldnąt be anything else to drink.
Once released from prison, ex-prisoners are still under a type of house arrest, with restrictions on travel, meetings, work, etc. Often the only option is to leave Tibet.
Ani Pachen, a Tibetan Nun and former political prisoner of 21 years, follows Topden. She first points out that Tibet had its own currency, own postal system, own government, own everything. It was an independent country before China came. There is even an agreement written in stone pillars in Lhasa, dating back hundreds of years, stating that the Emperor of China and the King of Tibet are happy being separate and recognize each other as sovereign nations. These can be seen today, she explains.
Her story begins when she was very young. Her father was a freedom fighter and after he was killed she felt it her responsibilty to carry on his mission. For speaking out against China, she was imprisoned. Her first year-and-a-half was spent with heavy shackles around her ankles.
She spent some nine months in a dark whole in the ground. She could only tell it was daytime by listening for the sounds of birds.
"I didnąt see the light of day for all that time," she said. "I couldn't even see when they poured some kind of drink in on me."
She also tells stories of other prisoners. One young boy was buried in the ground up to his neck. The guards then packed rocks in the hole around his body until he was crushed. They kept packing them in until his internal organs were forced out of his mouth and his eyeballs popped out of his head.
"This is just one example of the kind of brutality they are capable of," she explained.
Another prisoner had a rope tied around his neck and was drug around behind a horse until he was so raw and bleeding that he died. Yet another prisoner was actually crucified.
The guards attempted to get him to speak out against Tibet and The Dali Lama by cutting off pieces of his body. When he wouldn't, they slowly burned him alive, until he too, died.
"Today the only country that can really challenge China is America," she said. "If America fails to do something, then nothing can be done."
The first couple of programs didn't include Ani Pelmo, another Tibetan Nun, who also spent time in prison. She simply tells her own story of being imprisoned by the Chinese in 1988 for participating in a peaceful demonstration.
She tells of tortures ranging from being beaten with a sticks until they broke, to having dogs forced to attack her, to being stripped naked and having a cattle prod stuck in her private parts, her nostrils, her mouth and her ears. She has been hung from the ceiling by her hands, which were tied behind her back. She has been beaten unconscious, only to wake up and not know how long she had been out or what time or day it was. And, all of this took place during her first days in prison.
All of the speakers thank the attendees for showing interest in Tibet. And they all ask them to take advantage of their voting rights as Americans and two write letters on behalf of Tibetans, especially the political prisoners.
The Berkeley program, which took place on April 24 (the evening before the walk began), was attended mostly by the university's Students for a Free Tibet members. They have had so many Tibet-related activities as of late that they felt a Monday night program probably wouldn't draw a lot of attention. However, we feel that even to have contact with people on our side is good because contact with such important Tibetans with such strong stories is not an everyday opportunity. And, it can only help to reaffirm and invigorate the Berkeley SFT members.
The San Francisco State program, which took place on our first day off on Thursday, April 27, was attended by some 20 students. The Chinese Consulate was contacted by faculty and the local SFSU Tibet group. They were invited to send a representative to participate in a panel discussion on Tibetthey declined. We later found out that the faculty advocate for our program was actually pro-China. He didnąt attend because the consulate declined and he also didnąt do much promoting of the program for the same reason.
The Stanford program was a different sort of animal. We were part of a multi-part program, which included the screening of Tibet's Stolen Child, a new documentary about Tibetąs second highest spiritual leader, The Panchen Lama. He was taken by the Chinese government when he was only 6 years old and hasn't been seen since. He is now 11. Following the screening, the film makers gave a talk and answered questions about the film. After that came a panel discussion, which included a mix of five people, comprised of university professors and Tibetans activists and scholars. They were invited to comment on the film and field questions from the audience. Throughout the discussions that followed the film the crowd slowly dwindled. Then finally our people were given the stage. By now only about 20 percent of the 500 or so attendees remained. But, the presentation was well received by those who stayed.
Finally, our program on our second day off, Tuesday, May 2, took place during during the day at Mission College. Mission is a small commuter college. Our program was set-up outdoors, so speeches were cut a bit short to save people from suffering in the hot sun. Again, attendance numbered around 20, but, according to the faculty advisor, was rather good for this commuter college. A very kind gentleman purchased beautiful Mission College golf shirts for the walkers, which more than a generous gesture.
International
Tibet Independence Movement
PO Box 592 Fishers, Indiana 46038-0592 United States
e-mail: rangzen@aol.com
Why
Independence? | Why
is Tibet Important? | What
Can I Do? | Archive
Links | Important
Addresses | Merchandise
| E-Mail
Asian
Map
