Dhasa, 9th March: Good News for Tibeans around the world as Santa Barbara County has passed a resolution recognizing March 10 as Tibetan Uprising Day and will join other communities around the world in a Tibet National Flag Raising and Ceremony, 10-11 a.m., at 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, in support of Tibetan human rights and freedom. Supervisors Das Williams and Joan Hartmann co-sponsored the resolution.

According to noozhawk, Tibet-born Santa Barbara resident Thepo Tulku of the Santa Barbara Summit for Tibet, as well as Williams, will speak at the local event. The Tibet flag will be raised after a prayer and the Tibetan national anthem to symbolize unity for human rights in China and around the world.

This year’s program commemorates the 63rd anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day when Tibetan flags are flown in front of government buildings around the world to express locals’ care about Tibetan human rights and freedom (also the Uyghurs, Mongolians, and people in Hong Kong).

Santa Barbara County will join 425 cities in Germany, as well as Richmond, Berkeley, and Oakland in California, and many communities in Wisconsin, in raising the Tibetan flag on this day, according to www.tibet-flagge.de.

Tens of thousands of Tibetans marched through the streets of Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, on March 10, 1959, to protest China’s unlawful invasion and occupation of their homeland. They surrounded the Dalai Lama’s home, the Potala Palace, in order to preserve his life and the Tibetan nation’s destiny. When Chinese soldiers opened fire on Tibetans, tens of thousands were slaughtered, but the Tibetans refused to surrender, and many risked their lives to ensure the Dalai Lama’s safe passage into exile, where he has been a devoted advocate for his people.

Tibetans are still fighting for their right to practice and preserve their national identity, despite the fact that they are still under the communist government in China. Hundreds of Tibet support groups around the world are working together for the same goals, including the Santa Barbara Summit for Tibet and SB Friends of Tibet.

Tibetans will be eternally grateful to the county of Santa Barbara and other cities for their support of Tibet and its efforts to preserve its culture and identity. Tibetans from all around the world will demonstrate on March 10th, the 63rd anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.

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