Tibetans and Japanese gathered this morning at Shinjuku, Tokyo to observe the Human Rights Day
Bijender Sharma
TOKYO: Around eighty Tibetans and Japanese gathered this morning at Shinjuku, Tokyo and marched through the city to observe the Human Rights Day and to seek public attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet. Tibet Koryukai and Tibetan community in Japan along with six other Tibet support groups organised the rally.
Messages from Mr Makino Seishu, Japanese Parliamentarian and Mr Ishihara Shintaro, Tokyo governor were read out. The two leaders expressed their solidarity with the Tibetan cause, and said that the Tibet cause is a just cause and they will do their best in improving the human rights situation and to realise the Tibetan dream of genuine autonomy in Tibet.
Ven Wakaomi of Japanese Monk Association appealed the gathering to come forward to highlight the injustice that is going on in Tibet and urged the Japanese government not to ignore Tibet issue. Mr Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East Asia read out the message of the Office in which Representative Lhakpa Tshoko thanked the organisers and the participants, and explained the critical situation in Tibet. Repression and martial law situation that followed after 2008 March uprising in Tibet was highlighted in his statement. Mr Arya drew the public attention on the recent Chinese government's policy to sinocise the Tibetan education system.
"When fifty years of indoctrination and oppression failed to subjugate the Tibetan, Chinese government is now trying to eradicate the Tibetan culture and belief by destroying the language. This is a very threatening development in the cultural history of a nation," said Mr Arya and appealed the Japanese public and the government to urge the Chinese leadership to refrain from destroying this rich language of Tibet.
The participants marched peacefully through the main city of Shinjuku with Tibetan flags and placards demanding freedom and respect for human rights in Tibet. A few elderly Japanese has also come to participate in the march, a young Japanese mother participated in the march with her baby in the trolley. An elderly Japanese man was seen urging the young Japanese to continue to support Tibetan cause.
Young Japanese participants said they support Tibet's cause, although they couldn't do much, participating in these marches give them sense of satisfaction and purpose. Some came dressed in Tibetan chupas or the traditional dress.
Posted by BIJENDER SHARMA
on 7:23 PM.
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