Brian Hioeby Brian Hioe
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Photo Credit: Screenshot
TIBETAN GROUPS MARCHED today to mark the 65th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day. Tibetan Uprising Day refers to the uprising that took place on March 10th, 1959 against the PRC’s invasion and subsequent annexation of Tibet. Each year, Tibetan groups worldwide commemorate the anniversary with demonstrations, marches, and rallies worldwide.
The march in Taiwan traditionally starts in front of the SOGO by the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT. This year was no different. The gathering started at 1 PM, with the rally beginning around 1:30 PM. The march set out around 2 PM. Among the Tibetan organizations that organized the rally were the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan and Students for a Free Tibet – Taiwan. The march took place on the streets, with the rights having been obtained beforehand.
Many of the stalwarts of Taiwanese civil society participated in the demonstration. This included the Taiwan Labour Front, Covenants Watch, the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty, the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation, Amnesty International Taiwan, and the Judicial Reform Foundation. To this extent, a number of the organizations present represented groups facing threats from China, such as not only Tibetans but Hongkongers and Uyghurs. This includes organizations such as the Taiwan East Turkestan Association and Hong Kong Outlanders.
Photo credit: Screenshot
The march set out from the SOGO and proceeded west toward the Taipei Dome. The march then headed south in the direction of Taipei 101. This, too, is usually the route that the march takes every year. Among the protest chants were, “Tibet belongs to Tibetans!” as well as “Long live the Dalai Lama!”
In comments, speakers highlighted the threat to democratic countries such as Taiwan, drawing parallels to the historical events that had taken place in Tibet. Likewise, comparisons were drawn with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
To this extent, speakers such as Tashi Tsering spoke about how many Tibetans such as himself had, in fact, grown up outside of Tibet without ever seeing their motherland. This is the experiences of exile faced by many Tibetans after Tibet’s annexation by China. Another participant was Lee Ming-che, the Taiwanese human rights NGO worker who was imprisoned for five years due to communications with Chinese friends about Taiwan’s experience of democratization.
The human rights abuses in Tibet continue to be highlighted by the self-immolations that continue to take place there. Such deaths draw attention to the harsh rule of the CCP in Tibet, even as the CCP claims to have liberated Tibetans.
Indeed, Taiwan is also accused of “separatism” regularly by the Chinese government. In this sense, support for Tibetans in Taiwan has long dovetailed with Taiwan’s own concerns about the Chinese threats it faces. This was no different with the demonstration today.