(<- Previous Report) April 9, 1998 (Next Report ->)

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Students for a Free Tibet from the University of Washington hosted a well attended presentation tonight that featured not only the marchers, but the local Tibetan dance group, Nyenchen Thanglha. The group, named after a holy mountain in Tibet, is made up of mostly young Tibetans from the Seattle area.

With the help of Rigzin as her translator, Ani Wangmo la, retold stories she had learned from recent arrivals from Tibet to Dharamsala.
"In monasteries, where once there were 100 monks or nuns, today, maybe only 10. And the monasteries are watched all the time and the monks and nuns are questioned about their feeling for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The picture of His Holiness gives not only enjoyment, but tremendous courage to the Tibetan people. And now that right, to look at His picture has been taken away from Tibet. For many Tibetans His Holiness is the biggest part of their life. His love and compassion and His generosity is what gives the Tibetans unity, but the Chinese have a different kind of view. With guns to their heads people are made to say curse words about His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

Altanbat described the situation of his homeland Inner Mongolia.
"Inner Mongolia is now suffering under the oppression of China. The government of China continues to hand out the policy of genocide against Inner Mongolia, against Tibet, against East Turkistan, by forcing women to abortion and sterilization. Force Inner Mongolian children to forget their own customs. Fifty years ago the number of Chinese in Inner Mongolia was small. Now has become the majority. I have one good friend whose younger brother was killed by the Chinese government. After killing they opened his body, put a bomb in and exploded him into parts. This is real. No false example. Very dreadful and disgusting. We will continue fighting with our Tibetan brothers and sisters for freedom and independence from China. Last year in New York the Inner Mongolian People's Party was established to achieve freedom and independence of Inner Mongolia. I think the Inner Mongolian people with the Tibetan people and the people of Eastern Turkistan and Taiwanese, shortly by shortly together against the Chinese Communist Party, we can achieve freedom and independence."

In the lobby outside the lecture hall, SFT put together a display to educate the audience about the six Tibetan hunger strikers in New Delhi. Petitions were also available to sign on their behalf.

To close the evening a candle light vigil was held outside on the University's Red Square. Approximately 50 people circled together in prayers of peace and singing 'We Shall Overcome.'

ORIES FROM THE MARCH...

International Tibet Independence Movement
PO Box 592 Fishers, Indiana 46038-0592 United States
e-mail: rangzen@aol.com