His Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki Moon
Secretary-General, United Nations
United Nations Headquarters
New York, NY 10017
Your Excellency,
Tibetans living in and outside Tibet urge the United Nations for an immediate intervention on the situation in Tibet. Since the People’s Republic of China’s illegal occupation of Tibet in 1949, the Communist Party has enforced a series of campaigns and policies to systematically stifle Tibetan culture, language, identity, spiritual traditions and destroy Tibet’s fragile environment. Tibet today faces a life and death struggle. Over 1.2 million Tibetans have lost their lives and Tibetans in Tibet today continue be oppressed and discriminated through various policies designed to marginalize the Tibetan people and wipe out our religion and culture.
On August 28, a 55 year old woman from Nguru Village in Eastern Tibet, Tashi Kyi set herself on fire. She later died that day. This is the seventh self immolation inside Tibet this year. Since 2009, 149 Tibetans have sacrificed their lives self immolation for their nations freedom inside Tibet and in exile. These brave men and women who set themselves on fire have called for the ‘Return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet’, ‘Independence for Tibet’ and ‘Freedom in Tibet’ etc. However, instead of addressing the demands of these courageous Tibetans, the Chinese government has tightened its control over Tibet and vehimently criticises the Tibetan spiritual teacher His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It has also stepped up its propaganda around the world by investing billions of dollars into mass media and other machineries. It is unfortunate that the United Nations and the governments of the world have ignored this crisis and the cries of the Tibetan people – but its not too late to act.
In order to create awareness about the critical situation in Tibet; to support the demands and aspirations of the self-immolators; and to show solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Congress has initiated a “Indefinite Hunger Strike”, in India’s capital Delhi from Sept 10. United Nations must act immediately and hold China responsible for their actions in Tibet.
Our demands to the United Nations are as follows:
1. Urge the United Nations to raise the issue of Tibet at its General Assembly and Human Rights Council Session
2. Urge China to address the demands of the Self Immolations in Tibet
3. Urge China to give evidence that the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive
4. Send a fact finding UN delegation to assess the current critical situation in Tibet
5. Urge China to release all political prisoners
United Nations cannot remain silent on the issue of Tibet anymore. Tibet continues to burn. We urge the United Nations for an Immediate Intervention in Tibet. We hope that you will do the right thing.
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Since the 7.8 April 25th Earthquake hit Nepal, TYC has been actively involved in relief efforts in the country. Two TYC centrex members visited Nepal in the early days of the disaster and together with our Rtyc Kathmandu chapter, began relief work. Distribution of Food, Medicine, Tents to remote villages as well as a blood donation drive was organized. Relief efforts by RTYC Ktm and their team of volunteers continued. Last week TYC President Tenzing Jigme visited Nepal to check upon the situation of the Tibetan community and deliver funds received towards TYC Earthquake Relief Fund made by TYC members and chapters worldwide. President observed that despite the difficult times and challenges, the people’s spirit are high and their will to rebuild is strong. During this visit a total donation of NRs. 15, 60,000.00 (Rupees Fifteen Lakhs and Sixty Thousand) was made to various Tibetan Settlements, Schools, Monasteries, Old Age Homes, and families of those that perished or were injured by the earthquake disaster.
