55th Day of Peace March to Tibet, 3rd May 2008:

The March started early this morning, leaving Rudrapur at 5am, and quickly covered 27 kilometers in 6 hours. The day was hot but marchers were quite tireless. They camped at Lal Kuan, Uttrakhand State, on the playground of the Inter-Government College.

Local members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh heartily welcomed members of Organizing Committee with garlands. In the evening after the news briefing, the marchers were shown a collection of television news about the Tibetan Uprising, both inside and outside Tibet, from March 10th to present.

56th Day of Peace March to Tibet,4th May 2008:

The marchers left the camp at 6am and walked 20 kilometers. They reached Haldwani around noon, where they camped at the Vatika Banquet Hall, owned by Mr. RaKumar, a local timber merchant. Mr. Rajiv Vinayak, son of the owner of the Vatika Banquet Hall visited the campsite to welcome the marchers.

In the evening, the Association of Tibetans in Nainital hosted dinner for the marchers at Phayul Choekorling Gonpa in the heart of Haldwani. Everyone enjoyed the dinner, and the kitchen staff greatly appreciated the break. Mr. Pema G Sithar, President of Tibetan Refugee Foundation of Nainital, introduced Mr. Tashi Wangdue, President of Bhutia Mala Bazaar, and Mr. Jamphel, President of Bhutia Janjati in Nainital, to the marchers. The guests spoke about their origins, tracing their ancestry to the Tibetan community who was based in Nainital before the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. They expressed a deep appreciation for the sense of responsibility taken by Tibetans everywhere for achieving Tibetan freedom.

 

57th Day of Peace March to Tibet, 5th May 2008:

The marchers started as usual at 6am and walked 20 kilometers through woods, and began marching uphill into the foothills. The weather was extraordinarily pleasant with a light shower and cool breeze. Along the way, the marchers sang patriotic songs and enjoyed the cool weather.

The Additional District Magistrate of Nainital permitted to the marchers to camp at the Public Works Department rest house in Jeolikote, Nainital District. Mr. Govind Rawat, the village leader generously provided water for the marchers.

Many marchers found the evening particularly cold after the heat of the plains.

More Marchers Join March in Nainital

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2008

More Tibetans join the March to Tibet as the March gets closer to Tibet :
48 new Tibetan marchers joined the March at Nainital

Nainital - 313 Marchers left today on the March to Tibet at 7 am from Nainital in Uttarkhand State after receiving more orientation on Non-Violent action for two days. The March will make its first day halt at Kainchi and will head towards Almora.

“As we get closer to the Tibet border, the Marchers are reinvigorated and more determined than ever to cross into Tibet and join our brothers and sisters to unitedly protest China’s brutal Occupation of Tibet” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress.

Before leaving Nainital, on 7th and 8th May, the Marchers participated in Candle Light Vigil and Prayer for two evenings organized by the Nainital Tibetan Community. The community also provided accommodation and hosted meals for the 2 day stop at Nainital for the Marchers.

“Throughout our journey passing through North Indian states, we received encouraging support from Indian public, especially by mountain people living in the Kumaon” said Chime Youngdung, President of National Democratic Party of Tibet.

The March to Tibet started on March 10th from Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) and reached Nainital after passing through many states in the span of 60 days. Earlier on, the first group of 100 core Marchers were arrested and put under judicial custody for 14 days on the fourth day of the March. However, a second group of 48 Tibetan exiles resumed the March 2 days after the arrest on 15th March and were later joined by the first group soon after their release.

Tibetans living in Exile in India launched the March to Tibet as part of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement. This historic movement aims to revive the spirit of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, and by engaging in Non-Violent Direct Action to bring about an end to China’s illegal Occupation of Tibet.

Contact:
Tsewang Rigzin: 9805 297 259 (President, Tibetan Youth Congress)
B.Tsering: 9418 792 810 (President, Tibetan Women’s Association)
Ngawang Woebar: 9418 102 483 (President, GuChuSum)
Chime Youngdung: 9418 069 179 (President, National Democratic Party of Tibet)
Tenzin Choeying: 9816 368 335 (National Director, Students for a Free Tibet, India)

Obituary for Pema Tashi

May 11

A few days before his death, Pema Tashi told his best friend, Leki Dhondup, that “ Tibet has given me so much and I want to give back to the cause. If necessary, I will contribute my life to the struggle.” On May 10, Pema drowned in the Kosi River at Kakri Ghat, Uttarakhand, during the March to Tibet.

Born in Arunachal Pradesh to non-Tibetan parents, he decided to become a monk by the age of six. Pema delighted his parents with his decision and journeyed down to Sera Mae Monastery to take his vows of monkhood. When he saw the announcement about the March to Tibet, he said, “I was happy because I had always wanted to see Tibet. I have lived in a Tibetan community for a long time and have always viewed Tibetans as compassionate people and this motivated me to join the march. Since I have made up my mind to go on this march, I am fearless.”

When arrested with the other 100 Core Marchers at Dehra, Himachal Pradesh, Pema said “I felt the agony and the status of a homeless refugee.” Once released from house arrest, Pema rejoined the march only to develop problems walking. They allowed him to switch to the tent building crew where he earned the reputation as a hard worker and a joker. In fact, everyone knew of Pema’s infectious joking and his friend Leki said, “he couldn’t be quiet for a minute.” He eventually got the nickname “Man of the March.” Other marchers would never refer to him as Pema. In fact, most didn’t even know that name. They simply called him “the Man.” It was said that without him on the march, there would be no joking.

As they approached what was to be Pema’s last campsite, he marveled at “the beauty of newly entered hills and felt a sensation of coming to his homeland.” After building the tents at the campsite, Pema jumped into the cold and cloudy water of the river, apparently hitting his head on a rock. He spent too long underwater and passed away a few hours later at the Almora Hospital. The entire march spent several hours in prayer for his soul and a team of monks stayed up all night praying over his body. His body was cremated the next morning with a mountain of katas.

To a hard worker, a lover of jokes and a warm person with a brave heart who died before he reached his home, everyone on the March to Tibet sends our prayers with you, Pema.