Woeser's immidiate release/ENG

2012. szeptember 27./GuChuSum Movement of Tibet/TibetPress

This day marks an important anniversary in the struggle for Tibetan freedom. Twenty-five years ago on the 27th September 1987 Lhasa the capital of Tibet witnessed the beginning of the largest and most significant uprisings since 1959. Twenty-one monks from Drepung Monastery instigated a demonstration against the Chinese government that would emphasise the tragedy taking place in Tibet and resonant the Tibetan people’s desire to rise up. Thousands of Tibetans who took part in the protests of the late Eighties in Lhasa were arrested, severely beaten and sentenced to hard labour. The Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet remembers those Tibetans who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Tibetan independence, their families and the political prisoners who are still languishing in Chinese prisons across Tibet.

Since The Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet advocates the complete independence of our country from China it is our responsibility to recognise the profound importance of this anniversary, and not forget the sacrifice that these and many other Tibetans have made. For Tibetans the uprisings in the late Eighties came to signify a stage in their history when the struggle against Chinese imperialism was taken up by a younger generation. The 27th September has echoed throughout the succeeding years as an inspiration to continue the struggle for Tibetan independence through non-violent and peaceful means.
The walls of streets in cities and towns in Tibet became decorated with pro-independence posters. In the narrow passages of villages and on the rock faces about the countryside scribbled words of independence were written. An increase in discussions on the pressing political issues regarding Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture took place in teashops, bars and social meeting places among Tibetans irrespective of their age and whether they were a monk, nun or lay person. The events which took place on the 27th September became a catalyst for widened political thinking among the Tibetan people helping to pave the way for discusses about rebuilding a nation.

A few foreigners were present during the initial demonstrations in Lhasa, and these people helped to create awareness and spread the Tibetan Issue to the international community. After the 27th September there was a renewed awareness of the plight of the Tibetan struggle for independence in Tibet and in exile on a global platform. These events helped further establish the Tibetan cause and gained support from parliamentarians, non-government organisations, Chinese intellectuals, writers and people concerned with the morality of the issue around the world. Artists, performers and activists from numerous nations have shown support for the Tibetan cause in music and verse, on canvas and in a variety of other mediums. The Chinese government endeavours to eradicate the Tibetan identity, yet Tibetan supporters help to preserve Tibetan culture and tradition in a number of ways. As a result the Tibetan flag has become a well-established symbol throughout the world. The kind of encouragement that we receive from our supporters is rare in the history of human relations. The determination and the selfless acts of our supporters are truly inspiring and all Tibetans should appreciate the selfless motivations of these people.
We must define the uprisings in Lhasa that took place during the late Eighties as part of the continued and on-going struggle against Chinese imperialism. China first invaded Tibet, then oppressed the Tibetan people, and now is finally destroying the very fabric of Tibetan identity with brute force and by using unjust means. The 27th September peaceful protest in Lhasa stands as a symbol for the struggle for truth based on non-violence principles.  
The peaceful protest of the 27th September 1987 has widened the perception of the Tibetan people and when the year 2008 came peaceful protests spread all over Tibet. The Chinese government’s policies, whether attempting to be alluring or coercive, have failed to gain the compliance of the Tibetan people. Instead of getting intimidated the Tibetan people have continued to pursue their right to freedom.
Fifty-one Tibetans have resorted to desperate act of self-immolation since 2009. This kind of drastic action to willingly sacrifice their lives clearly shows the level of suffering and sheer desperation of the Tibetan people.
If the Chinese have any desire to attempt to be moral or ethically minded in anyway then it must surely be the case that their current policies are in doubt, and that when viewing their actions in Tibet there must be a sense of losing hope in themselves and their ability to act rationally and with any integrity or propriety  at all.
 
PS: This is the English translation of the press release issued in Tibetan. Kindly refer to the Tibetan version for more details.

The new website of GuChuSum Movement of Tibet is www.gu-chu-sum.org