Past Events

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The Tibetan Parliament in Exile's 'Flame of Truth Torch Relay' is set to end in Minnesota with a grande finale attended by North America's Chithue, Tashi Namgyal la. This was a joint event organized by TAFM, RTYC-MN, RTWA-MN, and SFT-MN.

Over 62 Self Immolations in Tibet since 2009. We cannot remain silent. Tibet needs us now!!!

PROTEST

- To amplify the voices of our Martyrs inside Tibet

- To stand in Solidarity with our brothers and sisters inside Tibet

- To spread the word about the ongoing wave of Self Immolations

- To highlight the brutal and illegal occupation of Tibet

- To restore Freedom and Independence for Tibet

Organized by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Minnesota and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Wisconsin

In 1970, Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) was established in Dharamshala with the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 315 delegates from 16 different Tibetan communities in India and Nepal attended. The founding of TYC in 1970 came at a time when the first group of young Tibetans who had received a balanced modern and traditional education were graduating from schools and colleges. TYC’s constitution, aim and objectives, and organisational structure were decided, and the first Central Executive Committee ( CENTREX) elected to lead it. The movement gathered momentum with set-up of regional chapters, called Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC).

The Minnesota chapter of Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC-MN) was founded on November 14, 1998. RTYC-MN engages in promoting the just cause of Tibet reaching out beyond the Tibetan community with seminars, campaigns and talks. RTYC-MN sets out to accomplish the mission explicitly stated in the objectives of its parent organization 'The Central Executive Tibetan Youth Congress' based in Dharamsala, India.

Mr. Tsewang Dondup la, who participated in peaceful demonstration in Lhasa in 1993 against Chinese brutal rules in Tibet. He was shot twice, one on his kidney and another on his elbow by Chinese police while he was leading peaceful demonstration in Kanze, Tehor in Kham Eastern, Tibet on the 24th of March 2008. Consequently, he felt on the ground and became unconscious. He was then taken to the mountain area by his elder brother and other acquaintances where had to remain hiding about a year. 

He was in bed for about six months with instance pain. So much so he even became unconscious as pain intensifies. Moreover, he was unable to eat and drink well and went through tremendous amount of suffering. Chinese government had publicized his arrest warrant everywhere in the region. As a result, he had no opportunity to under go treatment. 

He eascape to India in 2009, he has been a unique voice for Tibetan freedom. Ever since He came to exile,he visits different places to share pain and suffering he had undergone. Not only to share his own experiences but also all of our Tibetan brothers and sisters who participated in peaceful demonstration and went through unimaginable pain and suffering.

On Sept 18, member nations of the UN will convene in New York for the 67th General Assembly Session. The general assembly is attended by 167 members of United Nations and is a forum where discussion of the full spectrum of international issues are covered. Focusing on this important day, North America Regional Tibetan Youth Congress is organizing a global mass protest at the United Nations Headquarters,  New York.

A Tribute to our Martyrs - to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for our Nations Freedom and to Unite Tibetans in Exile.

STATEMENT from Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Minnesota

24 Hours Hunger Strike and Lobbying by Board Members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Minnesota on February 22, 2012. The first day of Tibetan Losar (New Year).

13 Tibetans in Tibet have self-immolated since February 27th, 2009. These self-immolations are the direct results of violent, repressive policies in Tibet by the Chinese government. These desperate acts of self-immolation are a continuing form of non-violent, political resistance. They are clearly aimed to remind the world, and the Chinese government that is illegally occupying Tibet, that the Tibetan people demand their rightful independence.

In 2008, monks, nuns and ordinary Tibetan citizens had led unprecedented protests across Tibet to mark the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against the illegal Chinese regime. Hundreds of Tibetans were killed, thousands arrested and a large number remained unaccounted for.

The Chinese government has declared most of Tibet under martial law, imposed a complete lockdown on its border and closed Tibet to visitors and international media. Besides this, the Chinese government also intensified its "Patriotic Education Campaign" and forced monks and nuns to denounce the Dalai Lama and declare their loyalty to Beijing. Apart from that, the "Strike Hard Campaign", that is aimed at intimidating and eliminating those supporting Tibetan independence and human rights activities in Tibet, is launched. This campaign saw increased detention through arbitrary arrests, interrogation and restriction on freedom of movement.

Thousands of Chinese soldiers armed with tanks and cannons have locked down the towns of Ngaba, Tawu, Kardze and the Chamdo regions of Tibet and over 400 monks from Kirti Monastery were forcefully removed to unknown locations for patriotic education. The monastery had endured brutal security raids, increased surveillance and permanent police presence inside the monastery monitoring religious activities and restricted visits from locals.

Although, Nepal is home to the second largest community of exiled Tibetans, after India, and has long provided security to Tibetans seeking refuge from religious, political and cultural persecution in Tibet, the government of Nepal, under pressure from China, continues to arbitrarily arrest hundreds of Tibetans and restricted the rights of the Tibetan people to demonstrate. Human Rights Watch had announced that Nepal's police used unnecessary and excessive force to carry out the arrests of Tibetan people. They have also documented the ill-treatment of Tibetans in detention to include beatings, repeated denial of access to medical care, threats of violence, sexual intimidation and deportation to China.

The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC-MN) stands incomplete solidarity with all our sisters and brothers in Tibet and Nepal, who continually suffer directly and indirectly under the draconian policies imposed by the Chinese regime.

Thus, the RTYC-MN board members will launch a 24 hour hunger strike and intense lobbying at the St Paul State Capitol, Minnesota, on February 22, 2012, to urge US lawmakers and world leaders to demand that:

1) the Chinese government remove all security personnel from the Ngaba, Kardze, Tawu and Chamdo regions of Tibet and allow all monks and nuns to return unconditionally to their respective monasteries immediately,

2) the Chinese government end the implementation of the Patriotic Education and Strike Hard Campaigns permanently, and allow foreign diplomats and independent, foreign media unfettered access to all Tibetan areas,

3) the Chinese government immediately and unconditionally release all Tibetans detained for peacefully protesting for their rights, and account for all those who have been killed, injured, are missing or are detained. All charges against them should be dropped, and information about their identities and whereabouts released,

4) call on the Nepalese government to adhere to Nepal's "Gentleman's Agreement" with the UNHCR on the safe transit of Tibetans going through Nepal to India, and be vigilant against possible violations of this agreement at or near the Tibetan border, and fully protect Tibetan refugees under the international principles of "Non-refoulement", which forbids the expulsion of refugees into an area whereby they might be subjected to persecution. Last by not least, to guarantee the freedom of assembly for Tibetan residents in Nepal.

The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Minnesota is a local chapter of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest Tibetan non-governmental organization in the world. (www.rtycminnesota.org)

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