More than 2,000 Tibetans are expected to join a coalition protest in Washington against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit….reports Asian Lite News Desk
More than 2,000 Tibetans from across North America are expected to join Uyghur, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Southern Mongolian and Chinese democracy groups in Washington on Thursday to protest Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit.
The daylong mobilisation will begin with a demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy, followed by a march through central Washington to the US Capitol. A coalition rally featuring members of Congress and representatives of participating communities is scheduled near the Capitol in the afternoon.
Protesters will later march to Franklin Park for a candlelight vigil and community programme in the evening.
Organisers said the demonstrations would declare Xi “not welcome” and draw attention to concerns over political prisoners, religious freedom, transnational repression, and what they describe as threats to cultural and linguistic identities under the Chinese government.
The Tibetan mobilisation is being led by the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Capital Area Tibetan Association, with support from the International Campaign for Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet, the Tibetan National Congress and other organisations.
Speakers expected at the Capitol rally include Tibetan Youth Congress President Tsering Chomphel, International Campaign for Tibet President Tencho Gyatso and Capital Area Tibetan Association President Tenzin Norbu.
Representatives from other communities are also scheduled to participate, including Uyghur rights advocate Omer Kanat, Hong Kong activist Frances Hui, Southern Mongolian activist Enghebatu Togochog and Chinese democracy advocate Shengchun “Sophie” Luo.
International Campaign for Tibet Executive Director Ryan Fioresi is expected to speak during the evening programme at Franklin Park.
The organisers said the demonstrations would call for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama and other Tibetan political prisoners. They would also demand the resumption of dialogue between Chinese authorities and Tibetan representatives.
The protesters are further calling for the repeal of laws and policies they say promote forced assimilation and undermine distinct cultural, religious and linguistic identities.
Ahead of Xi’s visit, the International Campaign for Tibet joined a coalition of 30 human rights organisations in sending an open letter to the Chinese president.
The coalition called on Beijing to release prisoners of conscience, end what it described as transnational repression and take concrete steps to address concerns over China’s human rights record.
The planned mobilisation brings together several diaspora communities and advocacy groups in Washington as Xi visits the United States.
