Remembering Tiananmen Square: Celebrating an Endangered Democracy
The International Tibet Support Network is coordinating Tibetans and Tibet supporters in remembering the Tiananmen Square massacre. In Delhi, this will mark the celebration of an endangered democracy.
Ever since Delhi was brought to a standstill around the time of the Olympics Torch relay, Remembering the Tiananmen Square incident is more to do with how we are entrenching democracy today, within China and outside.
People are also being encouraged to wear WHITE that day as a part of the campaign advocated by a Tiananmen veteran Wang Dan who is leading such a protet rally in Washington DC. This is a moment to stand for freedom, democracy and justice, not just for the Chinese, but everyone.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s people-to-people relation building is a strategy, of sorts, to create people power to bring freedom and democracy in China and in extention to Tibet. Seeing the People’s Republic of China’s engagements with other occupied countries and also other countries whose freedom and democracy has been bought (read compromised) by China’s business interests, many members of civil society will be remembering June 4 this year, as a metaphor of the dissent.
Friends of Tibet is a people’s movement to keep alive the issue of Tibet through direct action. Its activities are aimed at ending China’s occupation of Tibet and the suffering of the Tibetan people. Friends of Tibet supports the continued struggle of the Tibetan people for independence.
Friends of Tibet has been commemorating Tiananmen since 2002 in Dharamsala, where besides a public gathering of about 300 -400 people we have small speeches made and do a candle light vigil and the main attraction is the film screening where we screen the famed documnetary ”Tiananmen: The Gate to Heavenly Peace”.
Reports of this with photos are sent to many chinese activist for freedom and democracy including Human Rights in China, Free China Network, China support network, and now there are a whole lot on Facebook also.
Friends of Tibet is seeking help to commemorate Tiananmen in Delhi, actists and like minded organizations are requested to get in touch with: aprajitasarcar@gmail.com
This is also Delhi’s call for freedom and justice as Friends of Tibet calls on a greater Indian participation, NGOs to endorse this call and also be physically present at Jantar Mantar.
Time: 4.30pm
Venue: Jantar Mantar
Date: June 4th, 2009
There would be
- a joint press statement
- candle light vigil
- short speeches made by representatives
- film screening
Images from China: The 18th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square
For more information, write to
Aprajita Sarcar: aprajitasarcar@gmail.com