March for Tibet's Independence Indiana, 2003

Rangzen Footsteps: Liberating The PRC and Independence for Tibet

Larry Gerstein, President, International Tibet Independence Movement

March 10, 2003

Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana

Congratulations, you made it! After five days and almost 60 miles or 90 kilometers, you have arrived at your destination, Monument Circle in Indianapolis. I am very sorry that I cannot be here to welcome you and express my deep appreciation. There were times I thought I could be here, but ultimately, I needed to stay in New York to help my parents. In any event, I am humbled by your dedication, endurance, strength of purpose, and unyielding belief in the importance of returning Tibet to the Tibetans. Thank you all very much for furthering the "March for Tibet¹s Independence" that Taktser Rinpoche, Thubten Jigme Norbu, and I began on this day, March 10th, eight years ago. It was our dream that such walks would happen regardless of our presence. So, as Rinpoche sits in His home at the Tibetan Cultural Center in Bloomington and as I assist my parents at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, know that we are extremely gratified and deeply appreciative of your actions on behalf of the Tibetan people, especially the Tibetans inside Tibet who would be arrested upon assembling to start such a walk or even discussing such a project.

I want to extend a very special thanks to some key leaders of the International Tibet Independence Movement, ITIM, who really stepped up to assure that this walk would be such a great success. Thanks so much Kimberly, Benjamin, Gerry, Tenam, Rabsal, Shawo, Kelsang, Gail, Shakya, Jack, Charlie, Rabten, Tsering, Paula, Bob, and Brenda for sacrificing your time and energy for this project. Thanks also to the volunteers of the Tibetan Cultural Center like Sandy, Ama Mary, and the three selfless women. Thanks to the leaders of the Indiana University Students for a Free Tibet such as Tenzin, Mary Kate, and Adam, and thanks to Kunyang Norbu and the staff of the Cafe Django Restaurant, and Thubten and Lhamo and the staff of Anyetsang¹s Little Tibet Restaurant for their fantastic contributions to this walk. We also owe alot to Tsewang for organizing the walkers from Minnesota and Wangmo and Kalden for doing the same in Kentucky. I want to mention our deep appreciation for the ongoing support we have received from the Eastern Turkestan and Taiwan independence movements as well.

I also want to express our heartfelt thanks to the Mayor of Indianapolis, Bart Peterson, for recognizing today as "Tibet Independence Day," and to Congresswoman Julia Carson, Governor Frank O¹Bannon, Senator Richard Lugar, and Congressmen Dan Burton for your continued support of the Tibet movement.

Jigme Norbu requested that we walk again in order to further the vision of His father, Taktser Rinpoche. Thanks for taking this important initiative Jigme-la. As I understand it, Jigme-la set a very fast walking pace filled with passion and fire for the cause which inspired and also physically stretched the walkers. This pace was unlike the one that Rinpoche would set. His style was to walk very slow, and interestingly, this inspired the walkers accompanying Him, but it caused them to experience much physical pain as well. I suspect that Jigme-la¹s pace represents the urgency and resolve of the next generation of Tibetans to regain Tibet.

There is one other person I want to thank; that is your walk leader. On three days notice, she not only stepped into my role, but excelled in her ability to motivate you, manage the logistics, exude a positive and hopeful attitude, and provide a sense of stability, determination, and flexibility to embrace the obstacles and solve whatever challenges emerged. I know you were comforted by her leadership. I was comforted as well in that I was able to stay in the moment with my parents not worrying about the walk.

Today is the 44th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa when the People¹s Liberation Army completed its brutal invasion of Tibet and slaughtered 10¹s of thousands of Tibetans who were defending their capitol city. At that time, Chairman Mao claimed he was "liberating" Tibet. We still do not accept this so called "liberation." Tibet at that time and also NOW belongs to Tibetans. China had no right to enter Tibet and has no right to still be in Tibet. The idea of Tibet needing to be liberated is absolutely ludicrous. Some day in the very near future, as a result of your actions during this walk and those of others around the world, the leaders of The PRC will be the ones to be "liberated" from their delusional, self-serving, and destructive beliefs about Tibet. At this time, Tibet will be returned to the Tibetans.

While it has been 44 years since the illegal occupation of Tibet, we have not lost our resolve to regain Tibet. In fact, our movement has become much, much stronger. Today, on every continent, and in every major city around the world, there are people gathering as we are to advocate for a Free Tibet and to ask for the release of all Tibetan political prisoners, especially Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the 13 year old Panchen Lama, and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, the Monk falsely accused recently of a bombing incident in Tibet. The truth about the history of Tibet and the current situation in Tibet is now known by more people. Our movement will only get stronger.

As we stand here in front of a monument dedicated to the victims of war which is an American version of a Stupa or Chorten, we all continue to remember a Tibet ruled by Tibetans; we honor the Tibetans killed and displaced on March 10th, 1959; we pray for a swift and just solution to the Tibet-China crisis; we pray for democracy and freedom in China in the very near future; and we pray for a peaceful and lasting solution to the Iraq and Middle East conflicts.

During your walk from Bloomington to Indianapolis, your rangzen footsteps rang loudly around the world, especially inside Tibet. Your footsteps assured that the vision of a Free Tibet through nonviolence was reinforced. Your chants of Bhod Rangzen, Free The Panchen Lama, Free Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Honk for Tibet, Bark for Tibet, Free Tibet, Free Southern Mongolia, Free Eastern Turkestan, and Independence for Taiwan rippled throughout the heartland and the international airwaves. Keep it up and please share your experiences with your friends, family members, and others in your community.

It has been a great honor to have you walk with us. I hope you will do it again. ITIM will continue to coordinate walks until Tibet is independent. At that time, we will walk freely into Tibet chanting "Victory to the Gods," "Long Live His Holiness The Dalai Lama," "Long Live His Holiness The Panchen Lama," and "Long Live Rangzen!"