French Public, Parliamentarians Join Tibet's National Uprising Day in Paris

Paris: The commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in France received wide support from the French people.

Over 400 people, including Tibetans and their French friends, gathered at the Place du Trocadero in Paris to mark the historic day for Tibetans on 10 March 2010. On the same day in 1959 the people of Tibet demonstrated against the oppression and occupation of their country by the Peoples' Republic of China.

A minute's silence was observed in memory of all Tibetans who sacrificed their life for Tibet. After singing the Tibetan national anthem, Wangpo Bashi, an official of the Office of Tibet in Paris, read out the French version of the statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the occasion.

Lionnel Luca, (UMP majority party), President of the Tibet Group at the National Assembly, travelled from his electoral district off the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve Loubet,to take part in the commemoration.

Luca sharply condemned the ongoing occupation and oppression of the Tibet people. He reaffirmed the solidarity of his colleagues but also of the entire nation to the just cause of the Tibetan people.

He criticised some politicians in France who are actively propagating the voices of the Chinese government which he said are full of lies.

Luca also announced the initiative recently launched in France for the adoption of the villages and towns of Tibet so as to mobilise the opinion in France.

Patrick Bloche, (Socialist party), MP from National Assembly and mayor of the 11th district of Paris, while reaffirming his support to the Tibetan people said, the free world must not leave the Chinese leadership in peace unless the solution is found for the Tibetan people.

He said the overwhelming support to the Tibetan cause was proved by the fact that hundreds of mayors across the country hoist the Tibetan flag in and around the city, including the Town Hall of Paris. He said the French people and their elected representatives feel proud to hoist the Tibet flag right at some 600 odd Town Halls, where the Republic’s sacred motto “Liberty, fraternity, Equality” is inscribed.

Jean Patrick Gilles ( Socialist party), MP from National Assembly, who travelled from Tours in Western France, reaffirmed his support, and said all those who are supporting the Tibetan cause should not lose their hope but should continue to struggle.

Jacques Boutault, Green Party mayor of the 2nd district of Paris, said he fully supports the Tibetan cause which he said is based on non violence and justice. He criticised the Communist authoritarian regime of China for not listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama whose proposals for negotiated solution are extremely moderate and reasonable. He lauded US President Barack Obama’s support to the Middle Way approach of His Holiness which, he said, is very encouraging. He informed about his pleasure for hoisting Tibet flag in the morning of that day at the town hall of his district.

Thupten Gyatso, president of the Tibetan Community in France, in his brief speech informed about the police raid in Lhasa with an arrest of over 500 Tibetans as a precautionary measure. He said enough is enough for the authoritarian regime of Chine which has been carrying out a full-fledged colonialism in Tibet. Four young Tibetans then read out a brief case story of the prominent Tibetan political prisoners including Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and the 11th Panchen Rinpoche Gendhun Choekyi Nyima.

When this report is being filed, we have a list of 666 municipalities in France which have hoisted Tibet flag on the occasion of the 10th March Uprising Day. Town Hall of Paris has hoisted the flag just as the mayor of the 2nd and 11th districts of Paris did this year again.

On the eve of the 10th March, the statements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of the Kashag in their French version were relayed to all TSGs, National Assembly, Senate, media groups and other related institutions.
source tibet.net