The Tibetan community in Belgium commemorated the 65th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in front of the Chinese Embassy in Brussels on 10 March 2024.

This year’s Uprising Day was directly hosted in front of the Chinese Embassy in Brussels with the permission of two hours. Ven. Tseten Phuntsok began the program by chanting The Prayer of the Words of Truth by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Thereafter Tibetan National Anthem and Longsho song was sung by the students of Belgium Sherab Nangje Weekend School. The gathering also observed a minute’s silence to remember and pay respect to the martyrs in the Tibetan struggle for freedom and justice.

 

Thinley Wangdue, Secretary of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, read the 16th Kashag’s 65th National Uprising Day Statement in Tibetan language. He also welcomed and thanked the gathering for their show of support and participation in observing this important day in Tibetan history. He applauded the parents for bringing their children with them and also commended the youngsters for participating in large numbers which he believes is a good sign to carry forward the Tibetan cause alive.

Belgium based Tibet Support Group, Lungta’s president, Han, and his wife also joined the National Uprising Day. Han said that we came here to protest China’s ongoing, illegal occupation of Tibet-an independent country. For more than seven decades Tibet’s society, culture, religion and identity has been under siege. He further said that Lungta is highly concerned by the recent brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in Derge, Kham, by the Chinese authorities. He ended by saying that for the last 20 years; Lungta stood firm by your side in solidarity with the Tibetans and will do so until Tibet is free.

Three young girls namely; Lhamo, Tenzin Yanchen and Norzin read statements on Tibetan National Uprising day in three different languages comprising English, French and Dutch respectively.

Once the speech part of the program was over, the Tibetans protested peacefully for almost one hour in front of the Chinese Embassy. With this year’s 10th March Anniversary falling on Sunday, witnessed a large number of Tibetans coming from six major cities in Belgium. Representatives from five other Tibetan Associations, two weekend schools and V-TAG, Belgium also joined the Uprising Day. Secretary Thinley Wangdue and Accountant Tenzin Nordhen of the Office of Tibet, Brussels also joined the Uprising Day.