Activists hold rally for Tibetan independence in Taipei
Taipei: In a show of solidarity for Tibet and Hong Kong, activists and supporters gathered today for the third round of the “Cycling for a Free Tibet” campaign. The Tibet Taiwan Human Rights Alliance organized the event, which included motorcyclists riding around important Taipei locations to raise awareness of human rights violations under Chinese rule.
After a group briefing at the park’s entrance at 9:30 am (local time), the ride began at 228 Peace Park. Cyclists followed a pre-planned route via Chongqing North Road, Nanjing West Road, and Zhongshan South Road. For quick discussions and the distribution of awareness materials, they made stops at Zhongshan MRT Station Exit 3 and Ximen MRT Station Exit 6. As the ceremony concluded at Liberty Square, participants once again reaffirmed their support for Tibetan independence.
The 310th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan rebellion against Chinese rule is being marked with this year’s ride. “Cycling for a Free Tibet” was founded in 2011 by Tashi Tsering, who is now the Secretary General of the Tibet-Taiwan Human Rights Network. Raising awareness of the demand for Tibetan self-determination and human rights in the lead-up to March 10 has been an annual effort since 2015.
The International Tibet Network, the Hong Kong Border Town Youth, the Taiwan Free Tibet Student Union, and the Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association were among the human rights groups that sponsored the ride. Carrying banners and chanting “Free Tibet” and “Tibet Belongs to Tibetans,” the participants aimed to mobilize support and increase awareness for their cause.
In 1949, China conquered Tibet, which had previously been a sovereign state with a distinct political, religious, and cultural identity. After being forced to sign the Seventeen Articles of Agreement in 1951, China imposed its sovereignty over Tibet, depriving it of its independence. Tibet’s protracted exile began on March 10, 1959, when a large-scale demonstration against Chinese control was brutally put down, sending the Dalai Lama into exile.
