April 5, 1999
| Get on the Bus 4 | ||
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Hundreds of activists gathered at 6 AM on Monday
morning joined in the solidarity of half-open eyes, a half-lit sun, and the commitment to
ACT to stop human rights abuses in Tibet, China and Nigeria. For the fourth year in a row,
Amnesty International Group 133 of Somerville MA, has organized a bus trip from Boston to
New York to demonstrate at various consulates for human rights. Four hundred activists
from Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut joined forces on
April 5 to demand justice. We demonstrated at the Chinese Consulate the Nigerian Consulate
and the Chinese Mission to the UN. We were honored and privileged to be joined by the
Venerable Palden Gyatso, a well-known monk, who was imprisoned for 33 years in Tibet. He
continues to actively protest against the Chinese government, calling for the release of
the prisoners of conscience who still remain in Drapchi prison in Lhasa, Tibet. We
specifically demanded the release of POC's Phuntsog Nyidron and Jigme Sangpo, a personal
friend of the Ven. Palden Gyatso at both the Chinese Consulate and the Chinese Mission to
the UN. Phuntsog Nyidron, a nun imprisoned for writing a song about freedom, and Jigme Sangpo, a Prisoner of Conscience jailed for the peaceful expression of his beliefs (including writing a poem). The first "Get on the Bus" started with a demonstration to remember Ken Saro-Wiwa at the Nigerian Consulate. For the fourth year, we arrived and remembered his struggle for the Ogoni people. We will not forget him, and our voices ensure that we will not stand silent while innocents are executed in Nigeria. We also demanded the freedom for Xu Wenli, who is in jail in China for trying to start an opposition political party. His daughter Jin Xu led our protests of demanding his unconditional release. We headed to Columbia University where the Venerable Palden Gyatso and Jin Xu presented their personal stories in relation to Human Rights in China. Palden Gyatso urged the crowd to continue to apply pressure on the Chinese Government. He recounted the torture inflicted upon him and others while he was imprisoned and called the activists his main hope for stopping the atrocities. He mentioned that he believed letters sent by Amnesty International directly affected his treatment in prison, which dramatically changed one day when he received cookies instead of the electric shock torture he was often given. Late in the day, with posters and Tibetan flags still waving, Jin Xu raised her voice to the oppressive Chinese Consulate and asked for the release of her father because he had not done anything wrong. During this emotional moment, she yelled, "Free Xu Wenli!" and was immediately joined by a chorus hundreds of activists demanding her father's freedom. The Chinese had slammed their doors shut a steel security gatedown, but they could not help but to hear our message. - by Get on the Bus 4 Coordinator, Julia Lodge Amnesty 133's International Day of Action for Tibet April 5, 1999 Over twenty countries in the world united to raise concerns over human rights violations in China and Tibet on April 5, 1999. Specifically, groups urged the government of the People's Republic of China to respect human rights and comply with its internal and international laws that it is a party to. Many groups demonstrated in front of Chinese Consulates or collected signatures for fax-a-thons and write-a-thons. In New York City, over 350 people participated in the International Day of Action (IDAT) event by demonstrating at the Chinese Mission and Chinese Consulate. There was incredible momentum to make the cement walls shake and have our loud vivacious voices creep through the thickness to be heard. Over 400 petitions and letters were signed and then nudged under the doors to the Mission and Consulate. Venerable Palden Gyatso, Tibetan monk imprisoned for 33 years and Xu Jin, daughter of imprisoned Chinese activist Xu Wenli spoke several times throughout the day to huge audiences, powerfully raising their individual concerns over human rights and justice. Information is still flowing in from other countries that participated in IDAT. Here are a few responses that we've received so far. In Quebec, Canada, a small demonstration was organized and 200 appeal cards were signed and sent to the government of the People's Republic of China calling for the release of Phuntsog Nyidron and Jigme Sangpo. In Israel, even though Passover was being observed, petitions were translated into both English and Hebrew and sent to all members via email and post as well as to various listserves. The Israeli group attended a huge demonstration at the Yugoslavian Embassy for the Kosovo situation and was able to pass out petitions for IDAT. They will resume faxing petitions after the holiday to keep the momentum brewing. In Balboa, Spain, letter signing took place in front of the Guggenheim and petitions were sent to Chinese government officials. Amnesty International Group 148 near Los Angeles, CA, had a really successful event collecting signatures for petitions and wrote letters over the weekend at the beach on behalf of Ngawang Choephel, Phuntsog Nyidron and Jigme Sangpo. Members were able to transmit the petitions to Premier ZHU Rongji, who was visiting LA, via Jackie Goldberg, a member of the Los Angeles City Council who had lunch with him a few days later. Group 148 plans to build on the momentum by having their petition on their group POC, Ngawang Choephel, added to the May monthly mailing. It is clear that throughout the world, individual citizens truly care about the gross human rights violations that are occurring in Tibet and China. We hope that people will remain conscious throughout the year and look to this day as a model for sustained action towards the people of Tibet and China. - by Amnesty International USA Tibet Coordinator, Kate Lazarus The quotes "Military actions cannot solve problems"' - Zhu Rongji, Premier of the People's Republic of China "Congratulation and you guys really did it. I am really moved and happy to see you guys actually doing it. It was such a good feeling to have you guys ('specially when you are voiceless) and there is somebody always to help you making sure that your voice are heard. I really appreciate what you guys had done and are doing. I thank you so much for joining in the circle of fight for justice and truth. Hey....truth is out there.... I really had great time today. It was a day filled with joy, sadness, anger, determination and hope. Anger seeing the Chinese Consulate and they are rock hard, joy joining with you guys, sadness not seeing my fellow tibetans, hope, shouting with common shared human spirit of need of independence supporters, determination, seeing, listening and being with Palden Gyatso. Love, take care and thank you very much Keep it up and lets all end up in Tibet Free Tibet and Bhoa Gyal Lo" - Pasang Tenzin, Co-coordinator of the Boston Tibet Network |
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