This Sunday, 10 March, Tibetan communities in Australia and globally will mark the 65th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day.
On 10 March 1959, thousands of Tibetans took to the streets of capital Lhasa to resist China’s invasion of Tibet. The crackdown on the protest led to the loss of many Tibetan lives and forced the Dalai Lama and over 80,000 Tibetans to flee into exile to neighbouring India. From there, the Tibetan diaspora has spread far and wide, including to Australia where around 3,000 Tibetan refugees have found safety and continue to advocate for human rights in Tibet.
Three generations of Tibetan-Australians, whose lives have been shaped by that historic day in 1959, share their stories – Lobsang Norbu, who joined the protest on that day as a young monk and spent over 20 years in prison; Kyinzom Dhongdue, born in a refugee camp in India and currently Amnesty International Australia’s Government Relations Lead; and Tenzin Chokrab Kundeling, a high school student born in Sydney who spends his weekends learning Tibetan language and music.
Join the rallies across Australia on Sunday 10 March in solidarity with Tibetans and support human rights in Tibet.
Sydney
9.30 am: Rally at Martin Place, City
12 pm: Peace march to Chinese consulate (39 Dunblane St, Camperdown)
Melbourne
1 pm to 2.30 pm: Rally at Chinese consulate (534 Toorak Rd, Toorak)
3 pm: Peace march from Police Memorial Place to State Library Victoria
4.30 pm to 6.30 pm: Rally at State Library Victoria
Canberra
9.30 am – Rally at Garema Place
11.30 am – Peace march to Chinese embassy (5 Coronation Drive, Yarralumla)
Brisbane
12.30 pm to 3 pm: Rally at Reddacliff Place (266, George St, City)
