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World Tibet Network News Tuesday, March 12, 1996

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2. March 10 Rally in D.C. joined by Eastern Turkestanians and Taiwanese; Four demonstrators engage in civil disobedience

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Submitted by International Campaign for Tibet

WASHINGTON, 12 Mar 96, (ICT) -- Over 400 Tibetans and Tibet-supporters from
all over the United States, Canada, and other countries in the region took
part in a rally before the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. on the
afternoon of March 10, 1996 to commemorate the 37th anniversary of Tibetan
National Uprising. The gathering carried Tibetan flags, placards and banne=
rs
asking China to quit Tibet.

Passing motorists honked in support as the gathering began the commemoratio=
n
with the recitation of the Tibetan Prayer of Truth. After observing a
minute's silence in memory of the many Tibetans and other people who have
perished on account of China's occupation of Tibet, Mr. Rinchen Dharlo,
Representative of H.H.the Dalai Lama read the March 10 Statement.

Thereafter, remarks were made by Mr. Benpa Topgyal of the Boulder Tibetan
Association, Ms. Dorji Dolma, representative of the Australia Tibet Council=
,
Dr. Blake Kerr, a physician who had witnessed China's atrocities against
Tibetans, Mr. Lobsang Sangay, a member of Tibetan Youth Congress, Ms. Tseri=
ng
Yangdon of the Tibetan Women's Association (East Coast), etc. The gathering
responded in thundering voices as Mr. Douglas Weiner of the US Tibet
Committee raised slogans relating to different aspect of the Tibetan issue.

Chinese embassy officials could be seen peeping through the window blinds a=
nd
taking photographs.

This year, the Tibetan rally was joined by a very active group of Eastern
Turkestanians and members of the World United Formosans for Independence.
Their representatives also addressed the gathering who responded in approva=
l
as slogans such as "Free Tibet", "Free Taiwan", and "Free Eastern Turkestan=
"
were raised.

After the singing of the Tibetan Uprising Song and the Tibetan National
Anthem, Special Envoy Lodi G. Gyari and Representative Rinchen Dharlo
presented scarves to Prof. Thubten J. Norbu and the group of people
undertaking a march from Washington, D.C. to New York city. Prof. Norbu an=
d
Ven. Palden Gyatso, the Tibetan monk who had been imprisoned for over 33
years in Tibet, addressed the gathering before they started their historic
march. The gathering raised slogans and clapped in support as the marchers
began crossing the bridge alongside the Chinese embassy in the first phase =
of
their journey. Some Eastern Turkestanians also joined in the march.

At the close of the demonstration four people engaged in civil disobedience
by sitting in front of the embassy doors. They were taken to Washington's
Second district and were released after two hours and a $ 50 fine. The
misdemeanor charge against them, called "incommoding," will be completely
erased from their record if they do not incur any other offenses in D.C.
within the next year. The four are John Dinuson of the Milerapa Fund, Bonn=
ie
McCala, the director of the Bay Area Friends of Tibet, Sherab Dolma,
executive committee member of Tibetan Association of New York and New Jerse=
y,
and Paul Donowitz, a student from the University of Wisconsin.

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Articles in this Issue:

1. Commentary in New York Times: Indicting China's Communism
2. March 10 Rally in D.C. joined by Eastern Turkestanians and Taiwanese; Four demonstrators engage in civil disobedience
3. 37th Tibetan National Uprising Day Demonstration (TYC)
4. 10th March Anniversary in New Zealand
5. Berkeley City Raises the Tibetan Flag on March 10th
6. Berkeley Waves a Flag for Tibetan Freedom -- Only U.S. City to do so
7. Amnesty Cites Massive Rights Violations

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