Students for a Free Tibet commemorated Tibetan Uprising Day's 40th anniversary in Madison. The following report was written by Claire Herbst, for the Badger Herald. A battle over a small stretch of land in the Himalayas reached the state Capitol Thursday, as nearly 100 Tibetans, UW-Madison students and community members commemorated Tibetan Uprising Day's 40th anniversary. The rally began and ended with a march on State Street, and included speeches from local Tibetan leaders and members of the UW Students for a Free Tibet. The Dalai Lama also released an official statement for the event and encouraged supporters to continue work toward preserving Tibetan culture. Gov. Tommy Thompson released a statement proclaiming March 11, 1999 Free Tibet Day and a representative of Russ Feingold's read a letter of support from the Democratic Wisconsin senator. "Strong leadership is necessary to build an international campaign [in support of the Tibetan cause]," Feingold wrote. The Dalai Lama detailed the history of the Tibetan cause in his statement and said he is optimistic that international support will eventually save the Tibetan culture. "Today, the Tibetan freedom movement is in a much stronger and better position than ever before," he said. "I, therefore, appeal to governments, parliaments and our friends to continue their support and efforts with renewed dedication and vigor." Forty years ago, the Chinese military began a campaign to claim sovereignty over Tibet. Through a strong military presence and eventual destruction of Tibetan monasteries and schools, the people of Tibet began to voice opposition to what they saw as an effort to destroy their cultural identity. On March 10, 1959, thousands of Tibetans held demonstrations to oppose Chinese occupation and defend their cultural leader, the Dalai Lama. That day, now known as Tibetan Uprising Day, ended with massive bloodshed and eventually forced nearly 100,000 Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, into exile. Since then, the Dalai Lama established a Tibetan Government in exile in India, and has worked to create international awareness and support for the Tibetan plight. Chris Hall, a chapter chairperson of the UW Students for a Free Tibet, said he became active in supporting the Tibetan cause through a personal interest in Buddhism. "It appeals to my compassion," he said. "The entire issue is connected to things I'm interested in otherwise." Although the struggles of Tibetans can seem removed from the lives of most UW students, it is important to become involved in campus activism, Hall said. "It's important to recognize this incredibly fortunate situation we're in, and take some of that energy to benefit the community," he said. Next month, the UW Students for a Free Tibet chapter is sponsoring a speech by Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk imprisoned for 33 years. Gyatso will describe his experiences in Chinese prison at a speech April 15 in the State Historical Society Auditorium. In an effort to help Tibetan refugees with their English skills, Students for a Free Tibet organizes weekly tutoring sessions. The sessions usually include about 15 to 20 Tibetan children from local schools, and a number of UW student tutors. "For an issue that can otherwise seem removed, you can see tangible effects with the tutoring," Hall said. "When you have a child who's struggling to make the transition to a new culture because they've been displaced from their country ... it's easy to become involved in the cause. |
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