The ACT Tibetan Community has announced they’re going to be protesting today:
Canberra’s Tibetan community and human rights supporters are holding a rally and march today on 10 December 2012 to stand in solidarity with the people of Tibet.
The events planned for the 64th Anniversary of the United Nations Human Rights day will be part of a ‘Global Solidarity Day’ which is being observed by Tibetans and supporters around the world. They come at a time of growing repression and escalating protests within Tibet.
In February of 2009 a monk known as ‘Tapey’ set himself on fire in the eastern Tibetan town of Ngaba. His was the first self immolation protest in Tibetan history. Tapey’s condition and whereabouts are still unknown. In 2011 there were 12 more self immolations. They were from all walks of life; students, farmers, monks, nuns and nomads. 2012 has seen an intense and saddening escalation in the rate of self immolations. As of today there have been 94 Tibetans who have set themselves on fire. The self immolators have called for greater freedom and rights for Tibetans as well as the return of the Dalai Lama to his homeland.
“Tibetans around the world are coming together with friends and supporters because the situation in Tibet needs urgent international attention. The 94 self immolators have sent out a cry for help, an appeal to the world to speak out against this injustice. They self immolate because they are not free to express themselves in any other way” said protest organizer, Sonam Choedon.
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