Kalachakra - an opportunity for Tibet activism

2012. január 2./Phayul.com/TibetPress

BODH GAYA, January 2: The ten-day Kalachakra teachings that began yesterday is proving a golden opportunity for Tibet related activism according to Tibetan NGO workers and activists.

“For us, Kalachakra is a wonderful opportunity to spread out the fervour of the Lhakar movement to Tibetans from Tibet and across the world,” said Dorjee Tsetan, the Director of Students for free Tibet (SFT), India.

“Because of the large number of gathered people from all walks of life, we are also focusing on building networks for future action movements for a free Tibet.”

Lhakar, a Tibetan word literally translates into “White Wednesday” – Wednesdays are considered special by Tibetans as it is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s soul day according to Tibetan astrology.

The Lhakar movement is a homegrown Tibetan people’s campaign that initially took root in Tibet following the 2008 mass uprisings which was brutally suppressed by Beijing.

The Tibetan self-reliance movement embraces the power of strategic nonviolent resistance; mobilising Tibetans around the idea of protecting Tibetan identity by making special effort to wear traditional clothes, speak Tibetan, eat in Tibetan restaurants and buy from Tibetan-owned businesses.

“Lhakar movement is something that we can do every day – like buying from Tibetan shops, speaking in Tibetan, eating Tibetan food and wearing Tibetan dress,” said Tsetan.

SFT is also encouraging Tibetans to take “Lhakar Pledges” and be a part of the “greatest noncooperation movement Tibet has ever seen” by screening documentary films and distributing pamphlets.

Tibetans in Tibet and in exile have taken diverse Lhakar Pledges, including boycotting Made-in-China products, going vegetarian every Wednesday, reading a Tibetan newspaper once a week amongst others.

“We are planning a grand Lhakar movement on Sunday,” added Tsetan.

Meanwhile, Gu-Chu-Sum, the Tibetan ex-political prisoners’ association has brought its much acclaimed drama work to Kalachakra, depicting Chinese brutality and the mental and physical torture that Tibetan political prisoners suffer in Chinese prisons.

“Coinciding with the 32nd Kalachakra, we are campaigning for the rights and welfare of all the Tibetan political prisoners currently imprisoned in Chinese jails," said Ghang Lhamo, the General Secretary of Gu-Chu-Sum.

The former Tibetan political prisoners are also holding a photo exhibition of images telling the story of political oppression in Chinese-occupied Tibet.
By Tendar Tsering