Walk for Tibet stops in Northampton, marches through Hampshire County

Members of the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts gather for a photo with Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra in downtown Northampton following the group’s pit stop during it’s walk through Hampshire County in recognition of the 67th anniversary of the National Tibetan Uprising Day.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis

NORTHAMPTON — In recognition of the 67th anniversary of the National Tibetan Uprising Day, the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts led a “Walk for Tibet” on March 10, starting the daylong trek in Amherst, stopping in Northampton and ending the day in Easthampton.

A flag raising and proclamation reading in recognition of the day occurred at each community’s municipal hub, where leaders from each community came out to show support. The radiant sunshine and 70-degree weather made for a perfect backdrop as marchers recognized the anniversary.

National Tibetan Uprising Day commemorates the resistance against the People’s Republic of China’s occupation of Tibet, an occupation widely condemned as brutal and illegitimate. Over the past six and a half decades, China’s authoritarian policies have led to the loss of more than 1.2 million Tibetan lives and the repression of Tibetan cultural, religious and political identity.

“On this day, 67 years ago, the Tibetan people rose up against China’s occupation of Tibet,” said Regional Tibetan Association Massachusetts President Yoten Gyatso during the stop in Northampton. “Thousands of Tibetans stood together to protect His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and our country’s freedom. The Chinese government responded with brutal force, and since then, Tibet has remained under strict Chinese control. Even today, this is one of the most oppressed places in the world.”

The origins of the day trace back to March 10, 1959, when more than 300,000 Tibetans surrounded the Norbulingka Palace in Lhasa to prevent the Chinese Army from abducting the Dalai Lama. The Chinese response was swift and brutal, and by March 17, 1959, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee into exile in India. Since then, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army unleashed a violent crackdown on Lhasa, killing thousands and destroying countless Buddhist monasteries.

This year also marks the 17th anniversary of the 2008 Tibetan Uprising, during which peaceful protests across Tibet were met with severe military suppression. Since then, over 157 Tibetans have self-immolated, calling for Tibet’s freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama.

“Here in Western Massachusetts, we stand in solidarity with our Tibetan brothers and sisters inside of Tibet,” added Gyatso. “This is our way of showing Tibet is not forgotten and that we will continue to fight for justice and freedom … Let us work today for Tibet and for all fights against injustice. Let us honor those who sacrifice for our cause and continue to speak for truth, freedom and the Tibetan spirit.”

The United States Department of State has repeatedly condemned China’s human rights violations in Tibet, which has included extrajudicial detentions, enforced disappearances and torture. A recent campaign by the Chinese government has reportedly forcibly relocated up to one million Tibetan children into colonial-style boarding schools for political indoctrination.

In light of these injustices, the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts continues to call upon all defenders of human rights, justice and peace to stand in solidarity with Tibetans on the anniversary of its uprising.

“I want to really reiterate the importance of each one of us being here, right now, at this moment in our history. Like us, there are 150 other locations around the world where Tibetans in the free world are converging, or staging this march, and calling for freedom in Tibet,” said former member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Dhardon Sharling.