Feminist Peace Network

A BBC report earlier this week on the unrest in Tibet was typical of coverage of the event–no mention of the role that women are playing in the protests. The information isn’t hard to find, you can sit at your desk and find it on Google if your reporters are not so inclined as to get off their asses and go gather the facts. Perhaps one might be charitable and  say that in the little bubble world of mainstream media, such information is just not deemed to be important.  But the reality is that it is important and that is precisely why it is invisibiized.  So in our little effort to say ef you, the lives and voices of women are important, we pass  along these reports on the sheroes of Tibet:
From Phayul.com:

“A group of 36 women members representing six regional chapters of Tibetan Youth Congress from Northern India including Dharamshala, Poanta, Herbertput, Tsering Dhondenling, Rajpur and Manali took part in a demonstration led by Mrs. Tenzing Yangzom, Organization Secretary of TYC. The women stormed the Chinese Embassy at Chanakayapuri, New Delhi to commemorate the 49th National Women’s Uprising Day of Tibet. With faces painted with the Tibetan National Flag they shouted anti- china slogans and sprayed the Embassy walls with ‘Free Tibet’ and other slogans in red paint.

The demonstrators were collared by the Indian Police, dragged and pushed out from the Embassy compound after 40 minutes of continued protest. A large number of police were already present in the Embassy and they were prepared to stop the demonstration.

Even then, amidst high security the women activists were able to protest for a long time and put their demands forward.

1. Independence for Tibet.
2. No Olympics in China until Tibet is Free.
3. Stop forced sterilization of Tibetan women and one child policy.
4. Stop Human Rights violations in Tibet.
5. Immediate release of Tibetan who were arrested in recent National Uprising day in Lhasa.

The oldest protester, a 60 year old from Tsering Dhondenling said that the suffering of Tibetan women inside Tibet is unbelievable.

The women are tortured both physically and mentally and the implementation of one child policy by the Chinese government is a sign of genocide. The youngest protester, a 16 year old nun from Dolmaling Monastery in Dharamsala said, “I am not much aware of the Tibetan situation inside Tibet but know that China always try to belittle Tibetan women and destroy our religion which cannot be tolerated anymore.”

All 36 women protestors are detained at Chanakyapuri police station. The demonstrators have decided to go on hunger strike in the police station to continue their protest and they have decided not to come out on bail until and unless they are released without charges because they believe that protesting for a free country is not a crime.”

And here is an update on the hunger strike:

“All the 36 TYC Women Activists were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate Court by the Chanakyapuri Police after their medical examinations at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Four Women members (Dolkyi, Thinlay Palmo, Tenzin Gawa and Migmar Choekyi) were seriously injured after severe beatings and lathi Charge by the Indian Male Police constables during their peaceful protest at the Chinese Embassy on the 49th Anniversary of Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day. Following their failure to pass through the medical examinations, the Magistrate released them on his personal bound.

The youngest protester Ven Thinlay Palmo (16), who was in a state of unconsciousness, is under observation in ICU Ward at Mahavir Hospital. The court magistrate paid a personal visit to Ven Palmo at the Hospital and declined to book her under any cases by reasoning out that she is minor and innocent. All the remaining 32 TYC Women activists were booked Under Section 107/151 by the Special Executive Magistrate Court at Parliament Police Station, New Delhi and sent to Tihar Jail.

Memorandum letters were sent to 20 different Nations through their foreign missions based in New Delhi to highlight the issue of Tibet and the deteriorating human rights condition inside Tibet under the Chinese alien rule. The memorandum letter to the Indian Prime Minister sought for political support from the Indian Government towards the “Return March to Tibet”.

All the 32 protestors continued their hunger strike in Tihar Jail which entered day 3 and unanimously decided not to come out on bail. The Jail Superintendent made a personal visit to all the activists in their cell and appealed to terminate the hunger strike which is not allowed in Jail. Mrs. Nawang Tsomo’s health condition was weakening but she requested on behalf of all the activists not to bail them out.

Lhamo started crying when she learned about how the Chinese regime has suppressed the peaceful demonstrators and the Marchers who were detained by the Himachal Police under the guidance of Central Government. She stated “We will continue our hunger strike to pay respect to all the Tibetan Women and martyrs who have sacrificed their life for the cause of Tibet and its Independence”

Mr. Tenzing Norsang and Mr. Kunchok Yangphel of Tibetan Youth Congress were invited by Times Nows and CNN Office for interview about the reasons behind the protest at the Chinese embassy.”

Note that last paragraph where CNN is interviewing men about the protest…

And lastly there is this, although it is not clear whether this refers to the same hunger strike or another one:

“A group of Tibetans went on hunger strike in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu Tuesday demanding an end to the crackdown Tibet by Chinese authorities. The new protest came a day after the Nepalese police cracked down on Tibetan demonstrators in front of UN office building in Kathmandu in which more than 50 protesters were briefly detained.

“We will continue to our hunger strike until our demands are met,” Nyima Dolkar said with tears rolling down her face. “We are demanding human rights in Tibet and release of all political prisoners. “We want to draw the attention of the United Nations and international bodies to the plight of our people in Tibet,” she said.

The hunger strike was supported by dozens of women and about 60 monks who chanted prayers to show solidarity with the people in Tibet.”

FPN will continue to follow this story and pass along what we can find out about the role that Tibetan women are playing in very important struggle for human rights in Tibet.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Atrocities, Sheroes, Militarism, Media