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Tibetan Youth Congress to observe "Black Year"

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TYC President Tsewang Rigzin.TYC/India

The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) announced today that it will observe 2009 as a “Black Year” by forging Losar or the Tibetan New Year celebrations. It will organise various activities to mark 50 years of failed uprising against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

The organisation appealed to the Tibetans not to celebrate the Losar of 2136 earth ox year to show solidarity with their fellow countrymen in Tibet.

The year 2009 marks 60 years of China’s invasion and 50 years of occupation of Tibet.

In a press release issued today, TYC said Tibetans continue to suffer under the Chinese rule. Tibetans inside Tibet have valiantly endured the torment of separation from their most beloved leader, the Dalai Lama, and their government.

The activities are aimed to recognise and honour the sacrifices of the Tibetan martyrs.

On the 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan year 2135 (23 February), as it is customary to throw luu (a ritual to ward off evil spirits from the past year), TYC will throw two effigies of — Mao Tsetung and Hu Jintao — a past and the present Chinese leaders. TYC appealed all the Tibetan participants in this event to bring effigies of Mao Tsetung and Hu Jintao instead of the luu.

On the 30th day of Namkhang (24 February), TYC has planned a signature campaign addressed to the United Nations and the European Union, asking them to address the Tibetan issue.

On the first day of the Losar (25 February) will commence a three-day hunger strike. Fifty people will take part in this event. TYC appeals to all the Tibetans to light butter lamps and candles outside their homes in the evening of the same day as a mark of homage to those Tibetan who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet.

On the second day of Losar, there will be a massive peace march from the memorial statue of martyr Pawo Thupten Ngodup at Lhagyal ri to Kacheri at Dharamshala.

On the third day a prayer session will be held at Tsugla Khang temple.

The TYC called upon China to end the occupation of Tibet and immediately release all the political prisoners in Tibet. It appealed to the international community to support the Tibetans in bringing a constructive developments to their struggle.

The TYC, headquartered in Dharamshala, India, is the largest non-governmental organisation in the exile Tibetan community, fighting for an independent Tibet. It has about 30,000 memebers, in 12 different countries, including Taiwan and the US. The organisation was founded in October 1970.

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