wfn.org | Taiwan Church News: PCT remembers Tibetans on the eve of 228

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2975 Edition

>March 2~ 8, 2009

>PCT remembers Tibetans on the eve of 228

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

Many Tibetans around the world marked the 50th anniversary of the  Tibetan Uprising by holding “No Losar” events on February 25th  as the day coincides with the Tibetan New Year and Losar means “new  year” in Tibetan language.

Tibetans in Taiwan gathered in front of Liberty Square to hold a  candlelight service in memory of 216 Tibetans massacred by the Chinese  army this past year for protesting against the communist government of  China. They also remembered more than 6,000 Tibetans still detained in  prisons across China.

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), Taiwan Association for Human  Rights, Humanistic Education Association, and other social organizations  joined Tibetans in decrying the Chinese government’s shameless  measures and persecution against Tibetans.

According to PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang, Tibet is an independent  country violently suppressed by the Chinese government. Crackdown on  Tibet forced its government to flee to India. He added that if Taiwanese  people continue catering to China and living without any sense of crisis  consciousness, Taiwan’s fate will soon mirror Tibet’s present  conditions.

During his speech, Chang emphasized that human rights are God-given  rights and pursuit of democracy and freedom are universal and ecumenical  values and these spiritual convictions prompted the PCT to support  Tibet’s independence movements. He added that he hoped to see  everyone united in promoting Taiwanese independence for the same  reasons.

Chang pointed out bluntly that many democratic countries around the  world have invited the Dalai Lama to visit them, viewing it as an honor  and an opportunity to show concern for human rights in Tibet. In  contrast, the Taiwanese government didn’t extend any invitation nor  welcome a visit by the Dalai Lama. In an attempt to please the Chinese  government, the Ma administration explained that the timing was not  right for such a visit. Chang said such an attitude reflected poorly on  Taiwan in the international arena and urged Taiwanese to fight for what  was right.

According to reports, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama had issued  an open letter to the world on February 25, praying for the early  release of Tibetans imprisoned by Chinese authorities. He also called on  his countrymen to endure with dignity the suffering perpetrated by the  Chinese army by cherishing their lives and showing restraint despite  provocation, lest violence should erupt once again.

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