 Rinpoche and Son Sentenced to Prison in China 
A Dri Rinpoche from Kham Zachu Kha of Onpo Monastery was sentenced to 5 years detention at Chushul prison.Rinpoche was previously a prisoner during the Cultural Revolution, though afterwards the PRC honored him with a post. In this occuasion, he was arrested on 15th March 2008 at his monastery after being accused of involvement in the 10thMarch Uprising. Rinpoche was then kept in Toe Lung Prison for a year. On 15th December 2009, his Chinese disciples arrived in Lhasa to appeal his case. They appealed for clemency based on the grounds of the Rinpoche’s age and poor health. His time in prison led to a serious deterioration of his health, including two months of hospitalization. Despite being sentenced to 5 years and beginning his term at Chushul prison in February 2010, Chinese authorities remained silent about his case until after Losar. On 10th March 2008, Rinpoche received a call from Lhasa informing him that 8 monks from his monastery were imprisoned for participating in the Uprising. Following this, Rinpoche telephoned his son Dashe, who was in Nepal at the time preparing to return to Tibet as the situation was becoming critical. Dashe, who was staying in a lodge in Kathmandu, immediately phoned friends in India to inform them about the serious events going on in Tibet. He appealed to his friends to take immediate action. Unfortunately, the lodge owner overheard these conversations and quickly reported them to Chinese authorities. On 13th March 2008, before being able to reach Lhasa, buses travelling from Nepal to Tibet were blocked by the Chinese army. That evening, Dashe and four companions were arrested on the spot. Though his companions were released following the Olympics, Chinese authorities continued to hold Dashe. In February 2010, he was sentenced to 10 years in Chushul prison after being accused of spreading news about Tibet to outsiders. The Chinese authorities consider Dashe to be a traitor and a spy. Following the verdict, Dashe was allowed to speak to his family for one minute, during which time he asked them not to worry about him and confirmed that he was in good health. President National Democratic Party of Tibet NDPT Central Office P.O.Mcleod Ganj - 176219 Dharamsala (H.P.) INDIA ongeveer 400 betogers passeren de Cinquantenaire, op weg naar de Chinese ambassade ( 6 clips dank aan Dennis) Een video van onze franstalige vrienden: Les amis du Tibet Tibetanen herdenken eerste opstand (Do. 11 maart, De Standaard) MECHELEN LIET TIBETAANSE VLAG WAPPEREN UIT SOLIDARITEIT Knokke-Heist vol Tibetaanse vlaggen Verder deden volgende gemeentes mee aan de aktie, door de Tibetaanse vlag te hijsen: Antwerpen (7 gemeentes): Boechout, Essen, Kapellen, Kasterlee, Mechelen, Vorselaar, Zoersel Vlaams-Brabant (5 gemeentes): Affligem, Beersel, Boutersem, Meise, Steenokkerzeel Limburg (5 gemeentes): Hoeselt, Peer, Riemst, Sint-Truiden, Voeren Oost-Vlaanderen (6 gemeentes): Beveren, Eeklo, Kruibeke, Zelzate, Zomergem, Zottegem West-Vlaanderen (5 gemeentes): Diksmuide, Ieper, Middelkerke, Oudenburg, Wevelgem Tibet manifestation 10 march 2010 The Hague Netherlands The Dalai Lama's March 10 message to Tibetans - "Truth will prevail."  March 10 Statement of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Driven by the evil designs of the Chinese communists, the Tibetan people rose up in a popular uprising against them in 1959. Since then, the Tibetans inside Tibet have had no freedom whatsoever, and this state of affairs continues even to this day. Besides their failure to take the ground realities into account, the Chinese leaders - by adopting an arrogant and hardline approach - have pursued and are pursuing wrong policies and programmes. These are not in agreement with the basic aspirations of the Tibetan people. As a result, they have not been able to solve the problem that exists between the Tibetans and Chinese authorities for the past 51 years. All these years the issue of Tibet has, however, continued to remain on the international stage as an important issue that needs to be resolved. Moreover, it has become an issue that cannot be wished away by the Chinese government. This is due mainly to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's meritorious services throughout the world, and the courage and determination of the Tibetans inside Tibet as well as the amount of support that we have been receiving from the governments and individuals globally. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to express our deep sense of gratitude and thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people inside Tibet and our international supporters. As per the resolution adopted by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile last year, a memorial stone in honour of all those heroic men and women inside Tibet has been recently erected. Even though His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Exile Tibetan Administration have been making sincere and great efforts, the Sino-Tibetan problem remains unresolved to this day. This is due to lack of political will on the part of the Chinese leaders and also due to their arrogant and hardline attitude rising from a sense that in today's global political situation virtually no powerful nation of the world can function in any field without appeasing China-be it in politics, economy, environment, or security. This is particularly clear when we see that there are some Chinese leaders who believe that the issue of Tibet will cease to exist once His Holiness the Dalai Lama is no longer there and that the Tibetan voices can be suppressed by brute force. On the basis of our experiences during the nine rounds of talks so far, the present Chinese leadership is trying to fool not only the Tibetans but also to confuse Chinese people and to deceive international community with their contradictory statements. It has become clear that their only aim is to postpone and not have the real desire to resolve the Sino-Tibetan issue. This is clear from the fact that on one hand they engage in talks with envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama about the Tibetan issue and on the other hand they say that His Holiness does not legitimately represent the Tibetans. There have been nine rounds of talks in the past eight years during which issues concerning the form and status of autonomy for the welfare of Tibet and the Tibetans were discussed. In accordance with their suggestions the envoys of His Holiness presented the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People. The contents of the Memorandum were rejected in totality at that time and they announced that during the ninth round of talk the envoys did neither revised nor made any concession on the Memorandum. This is strange knowing clearly from the widespread peaceful protests in 2008 how much respect and veneration the Tibetans have for His Holiness both historically and in reality. In truth they say these only because of their inability to bear His Holiness' fame and achievements and not because they have the confidence and pride to hold a plebiscite for Tibetans inside Tibet monitored by a third party. His Holiness has stated many times on various platforms, both in India and around the world, that he is not seeking independence. It is particularly mentioned clearly in the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People that the genuine autonomy should be achieved within the framework of the constitution of the People's Republic of China. Although the Chinese leadership has acknowledged that His Holiness' stand is "welcome news" during the fourth round of talks, to this day they claim that His Holiness is a separatist. Such contradictory talks are solely to confuse the Chinese people and nothing else. Though there is a wide gap between the Chinese Government and Central Tibetan Administration's outlook on the real situation inside Tibet, the demand to have a common investigation into the real situation is left unanswered by the Chinese. We welcome the uniform policy and program to be carried out in whole of Tibet to develop the economy after the so-called Fifth Work Forum on Tibet was held. However, Tibetans are being made to build new houses irrespective of their wishes. Such actions are simply aimed to increase demands for Chinese goods when the demands are going down due to global recession. If the programmes are meant to benefit the Tibetans then apart from building houses, they should clearly identify the aspirations of the Tibetan people. And then improvement should be made in the fields of education, health and environmental protection in Tibet. Particularly, Tibetans must be given the freedom of thoughts and promote opportunities to develop Tibet's unique culture, religion, language and to engage in Buddhist studies. Likewise, developmental projects in Tibet must suit the aspirations of the Tibetans and to develop human resources so that Tibetans are able to carry out these projects by themselves. It is unfortunate that even today even a slight, the Tibetan people inside Tibet who exercise their human rights to peacefully express their views and dislike of the Government are made to suffer suppression, imprisonment and other inhuman treatments. Some even face execution. The Chinese leadership should clearly recognize that if this situation persists then it is impossible to have cordial Sino-Tibet relationship. We urge Chinese Government to immediately release all political prisoners who are undergoing suffering in Chinese prison and those already sentenced. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama always states, the purpose of our meeting with justice- loving people from other countries is because the Chinese leadership has not properly responded to our overtures. If the Chinese Government had accepted and responded properly to the mutually beneficial Memorandum forwarded to them, then we have no reason to appeal to them. The Chinese Government tries to prevent His Holiness the Dalai Lama from meeting with the world leaders and if at all such meetings take place then they are vehemently criticized. Such behaviors are not only childish but also very unbecoming of a powerful country. Therefore, if the Chinese leadership is able to resolve Sino-Tibet problem by recognizing the mutually beneficial approach and in accordance with the ground realities, then it will benefit both China and Tibet and improve relations between the two peoples. Tibetans in Tibet demonstrates their sincerity and heroism in a very intelligent manner. Therefore, we urge Tibetans in exile to be more determined and sincere and to our international friends to continue their support to us. In essence, as per the wishes of His Holiness, we must unitedly work hard towards a productive outcome. Today we have some Chinese friends including democracy activists present here with us today to commemorate the Tibetan peoples peaceful uprising day of March 10. We like to thank their offering of a souvenir with "Path to freedom of the Tibetan people" inscribe on it to the exile Tibetan Government as a symbol of their solidarity with the Tibetan people. To conclude, we pray for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and for the reunion of Tibetans inside and outside Tibet. Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile 10 March 2010 N.P. This has been translated from the Tibetan original and if there is any discrepancy between the two consider the Tibetan to be final.  Voor een grote poster klik hier Hartje Brussel wordt op 10 maart even "Tibet" De Vrienden van Tibet, de Tibetaanse gemeenschap, International Campaign Tibet, het Tibetan Youth Congress, Les Amis du Tibet en Chusi Gangdruk zullen op 10 maart eerstkomend, hartje Brussel innemen om te demonstreren tegen de illegale bezetting van Tibet en om de eerste Tibetaanse opstand van 10 maart 1959 te herdenken. De Chinese bezetting en hun dictatoriale regime hebben tot op vandaag al vele duizenden Tibetaanse slachtoffers gemaakt, de Tibetaanse bevolking wordt monddood gemaakt door willekeurige arrestaties, opsluitingen, folteringen en executies. Een ecologisch drama staat te gebeuren op het Tibetaanse hoogplateau als er niet heel snel ingegrepen zal worden. De watervoorziening voor grote delen van Azië is in gevaar. De Vrienden van Tibet doen een dringende oproep aan de Chinese overheid om eindelijk én na vele jaren van hypocrisie, het geweer van schouder te veranderen en met een open vizier gesprekken aan te gaan met de Tibetaanse regering in ballingschap en de Dalai lama. Een oproep voor het aanvangen van een eerlijke dialoog , gesprekken op te starten die vertrekken vanuit een openheid en wederzijds vertrouwen, met maar één doel voor ogen, namelijk het uitwerken van een samenlevingsvorm tussen verschillende gemeenschappen en culturen waarin respect is voor de eigenheid , een samenleving die rekening houdt met de specifieke kenmerken en behoeften van de verschillende volkeren, woonachtig in China. Een reële Tibetaanse Autonomie is voor de Vrienden van Tibet, agendapunt nr. één! Het "zich zachter en menselijker" opstellen van de Chinese overheid tegenover de minderheden in China, als tegenover zijn eigen bevolking, zal enkel veel respect oproepen in de ganse wereld. Aanvang demonstratie: Kunstberg te Brussel 10.00-10.30. Vandaar, doorheen hartje Brussel optocht richting Schumanplein waar tussen 12.00 en 14.00 toespraken zullen gehouden worden door een afgevaardigde van de Dalai Lama en politici uit onze verschillende parlementen. Om 14.00 uur vervolgen we de optocht via het Jubelpark richting Tervurenlaan tot aan de Chinese Ambassade waar de demonstratie zal eindigen om 16.00 uur. Inge HERMANS Voorzitter Vrienden van Tibet Aanwezige Politici supportes die al of niet een speech hebben gehouden: Georges dallemagne kamer CDH Xavier Baeselen kamer MR Juliette Boulet Kamer Ecolo Geert Lambert Groen! Senator Marco reuter, assistent van Thomas Mann Europees parlement voorzitter van de Tibet Intergroup Tashi Wangdi, Directeur Tibet Bureau Brussel Senator Pol Van Den Driessche, Cd&V Marc Hendrickx en Juliette Boulet Geert Lambert, had pech in het verkeer, maar was toch even later aanwezig Senator Pol Van den Driessche, toespraak op 10-3-2010 op het Shumanplein te Brussel, Tibetan Uprising day  Vrienden van Tibet medewerkers en staf |