July 6, 2011: World Tibet Day and the Commemoration of Second Anniversary of the Uyghur Uprising
On the occasion of 76th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Friends of Tibet and World Tibet Day to screen the documentary: “The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom” and commemorate the second Anniversary of Uyghur Uprising on July 6, 2011. The organisations express their solidarity with the people of East Turkestan on the second anniversary of the crackdown on the Uyghur Uprising by Chinese security forces on July 05, 2009. The global event of World Tibet Day will be observed worldwide by Tibet Support Groups. In Mumbai, Friends of Tibet will organise film screenings and light candles in memory of those who sacrificed their lives in their struggle for freedom in both Tibet and in East Turkestan.
About World Tibet Day:
Founded by Richard Rosenkranz, a Pulitzer Prize nominee in history, World Tibet Day was created with three main goals: first to create an annual worldwide event to help restore essential freedoms for those living in Chinese-occupied Tibet; second to increase awareness of the genocidal threats to the Tibetan people; and third, to celebrate the unique beauty and value of Tibetan culture and thought. Founded in 1998, World Tibet Day has grown into one of the most important events on the Tibetan calendar. World Tibet Day is held on July 6 – birthday of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. To know more about the event or to get involved, email: info@worldtibetday.org or visit: www.worldtibetday.org
About Uyghur Uprising Crackdown:
On 5 July 2009, Uyghurs in Urumqi, the capital of East Turkestan, staged a peaceful protest which was brutally suppressed by Chinese security forces and subsequently led to ethnic unrest in the city that left hundreds of people dead. Approaching the second anniversary of these events, and despite international calls, no independent investigation into the incident has been allowed by the Chinese authorities and the number of people killed, detained, imprisoned, executed and disappeared remains unclear. The July 2009 protest began with a peaceful demonstration by Uyghurs in Urumqi that was brutally and lethally suppressed by Chinese security forces. The Uyghurs were protesting against a lack of government action in regard to a deadly attack on Uyghur factory workers in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province in the south of China.
The violent and illegal reaction of the Chinese security forces to the peaceful protest led then to ethnic violence and riots between Uyghurs and Han Chinese, during which hundreds of Uyghur and Han Chinese civilians were killed. According to data published by the Chinese Xinhua news agency, 197 people were killed, but the World Uyghur Congress estimates – based on eyewitness reports – that more than 1000 people died in the riots. However, until today, the exact death toll on both sides is not clear since so far no independent investigation of these events has been undertaken.
About The Sun Behind The Clouds:
In The Sun Behind the Clouds, Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam take a uniquely Tibetan perspective on the trials and tribulations of the Dalai Lama and his people as they continue their struggle for freedom in the face of determined suppression by China. The filmmakers had intimate access to the Dalai Lama and followed him over the course of an eventful year, which included the 2008 protests in Tibet, the international response to it, the Beijing Olympics, and the breakdown in talks between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. Set against this backdrop, the film explores the interplay between the personal and the historic, spirituality and politics, and the tension between the Dalai Lama’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Tibet situation based on compromise and dialogue, and the impatience of a younger generation of Tibetans who are ready to take a more confrontational course. The film had its North American premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in California where it became the focus of much media attention when the Chinese government tried to get the festival to remove the film, ostensibly for its anti-China stand. When the festival refused, two Chinese films were withdrawn in retaliation. The film had three sold-out screenings and a fourth was added when it was voted one of the Best of the Fest films.
To know more about the event, contact Friends of Tibet at: 9322978566, 9594717393 or email: support@friendsoftibet.org Web: www.friendsoftibet.org
The Root continues to propagate for FREE TIBET. Demanding an end to the Chinese rule. Extending Strength, Spirit, Support & Solidarity towards His Holiness Dalai Lama & all the people of Tibet.
