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Exile Tibetans stand in solidarity with Uighurs

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Exile Tibetans during a demonstration condemning the Chinese government suppression of the Uighurs in China’s north western Xinjiang province, in Dharamshala, India, 9 July 2009. At least 156 people have died after rioting erupted in the restive region on Sunday, the worst case of ethnic violence between migrated Han Chinese and native minority Muslims for years.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Drawing parallel to their cause, exile Tibetans stand in solidarity with the Uighurs in China’s north western Xinjiang province, and called on the Chinese government to end suppression of the minority Muslims in the region.

The Tibetan exiles also called on the Chinese government to release all those who have been detained since the Sunday protests in the region’s capital Urumqi, restore internet and telecommunication services, and allow free access for journalists to cover the events unfolding in the area.

Hundreds of exiled Tibetans and many foreign tourists in Dharamshala, the exile home of the Dalai Lama and the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, took part in a candlelight demonstration denouncing the ethnic violence and the Chinese government’s propaganda campaigns, which they said is fanning more ethnic clashes.

The event was jointly organised by five Tibetan NGOs — Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet India.

Despite China’s occupation of Tibet and Xinjiang for over half a century, Tibetans and Uighurs have never accepted Chinese rule. Discontent and frustration among both the minority groups have been simmering for decades, as both the peoples continue demand basic freedom and human rights.

Tibet saw its deadliest and most sustained anti-government protests in March 2008. Although the protests were quelled by force, the thorny Tibetan issue has caused to deface China’s image internationally. Last August’s Beijing Olympics torch relay was dogged by protests as it was paraded through the international capitals.

As Uighurs rose in protest in one of the worst case of violence in years, it has only posed more questions for China.

“By denying Tibetans and Uighurs control over their own lives, the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet and East Turkistan (Xinjiang) are destroying stability, not creating it,” a statement released by the organizers of the protests said.

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun