Europen Demonstrations since 1996

Since 1996, the European cities of Brussels (1996), Geneva (1997), Paris (1998), London (1999), Vienna (2001) and Brussels (2003) have in turn been the setting for demonstrations for the right of Tibetan people to self-determination and freedom. On 12th March 2005, this mass European demonstration will take place for the first time in Berlin, Germany.

In addition, thousands of European cities and municipalities annually hoist the Tibetan flag on 10th March to show solidarity with the Tibetan people. In Germany alone, over 500 Mayors and District Councillors have been taking part in this action over many years. www.tibetflagge.net

The memory of 10th March is still very much alive in Tibet too. On this very occasion in 1989, Lhasa witnessed the largest mass protests against Chinese occupation in 30 years. The then-Party Secretary of Tibet and today’s General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the PR China - Hu Jintao – even imposed martial law for 14 months in order to bring the situation under control. Hundreds died in the hail of bullets from the Chinese security forces. Since then, public demonstrations in Lhasa have no longer been possible due to complete and systematic control and monitoring. Nevertheless, the Chinese leadership still fears such demonstrations occurring as it intensifies its control over the Tibetan capital city annually at this time.

Despite this, the 10th March is ultimately also a day of hope as it signals that Tibetans, both in their homeland and in exile, have not given up and that there is still a future for the Tibetan people.