DHARAMSALA, 12th March 2000 (TWA Central) -- On this 41st anniversary of Tibetan Women's Uprising Day (12th March), we would like to recall the gallant valor of those Tibetan women who relentlessly revolted against the Chinese violent military action on this day in the year 1959 and laid down their lives for the cause of Free Tibet. Also, we would like to take this privilege to reciprocate our deep touched gratitude to those governments, parliaments, non-governmental organizations from different countries, who came forward to support our cause and shared hands in our struggle.

Today, an increasing number of supporters and sympathizers of Free Tibet could be seen in the international arena of this movement. This is mainly a result of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's ardent efforts to facilitate Tibet awareness campaign at the global level saying, "...protection of Tibet means the protection of a unique race with unique cultural heritage".  In fact, what characterizes a Tibetan of being a nationalist built upon an unshakable spirit is her respect to the path of democracy shown by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and her capability to practice it in her daily life. This characteristic is the
real power of our struggle. Despite, the Chinese' global level propaganda on the issues such as human rights in Tibet, the question how happy the Tibetans are in Tibet is self evident from the fact that the number of Tibetans pouring into India (via Nepal) to seek asylum is increasing year by year. Certain amount of material progresses that could be seen in Tibet had exclusively been for the benefit of colonial Chinese. None of such progresses have proved beneficial for the local Tibetans for the past 41 years. Instead, Tibetans are forced to undergo series of tortures such as mass slaughters of fellow countrymen, enslavement, forced anti-religious indoctrination, well planned cultural
genocide and so forth. Freedom of any kind either of religion or of politics is absolutely not known for them. Tortures caused to the political prisoners are so severe and ruthless that it is beyond any human imagination; thousands of them being caused to suffer premature death. Those survived have to undergo serious cases of malnutrition and infections, as these prisoners are deprived of any right to a diet of bare necessity and medical felicities. For example, Nun NawangSangdrol and Phuntsog Nyidron are reported to have been passing through a state of extremely critical health condition.

The practice of forced sterilization, which is in rife in Tibet under the so called Family Planning Program, is absolutely against the UNO charter of Universal Human Rights Declaration. It is a serious violation of women's fundamental right. Such a practice is hitherto unknown in the age hold cultural history of Tibet. Today Tibetan women in Tibet are passing through a state of tremendous psychological disturbance as a result of forced sterilization, forced abortion, and legal pressure to limit the birth rate (excess of which would result in harsh punishments). This is a well-planned strategy to wipe out a unique race with a rich cultural heritage (i.e. Tibetans) and turn this holy land of Tibet into that of Satan.  Therefore, we demand that the so called Family Planning Program being enforced in Tibet should be stopped immediately.

Also, we strongly condemn the Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin's recent statement in which he has said that Beijing is ready to accord a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, provided that the agenda is on his personal status and welfare. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been making every possible effort to open up a forum of bilateral talk with Beijing to solve the question of Tibet. This has been in process since many years, but Beijing has consciously ignored it with no positive response.

Recently, US Congress has expressed its concern over the human rights situation in Tibet and has disclosed its plan to bring this issue on the agenda of the forthcoming UNO's general meeting on human rights. Also, the Europe parliament has brought this issue on its agenda. We appreciate these parliaments for their bold steps of these kinds. We appeal that the other parliaments may also follow in this step and raise
the issue of human rights situation in Tibet.

As this year marks the 60th anniversary of His Holiness' ascending to the throne and the 50th anniversary of His assuming power, we the members of Tibetan Women's Association shall be ever ready to co-operate in the activities relating to the celebration of these two anniversaries, as it has been declared by the department concerned that
these anniversaries will be celebrated at the state level functions.

Our principal responsibility is to follow the advice of His Holiness and put them into practice in our daily lives. I take this privilege to appeal my fellow Tibetan women to follow in the path His Holiness has shown to us. Also I appeal them to act on the model of those Tibetan women who had laid down their lives for the cause of Free Tibet, so that our actions have bearings on each and every step in our day to day life-from family affairs to social service.  Our homage to those Tibetan women who had laid down their lives for the cause of Tibet during the past years.

In conclusion, we offer our Long Life prayers to His Holiness The Dalai Lama and may his wishes be fulfilled.  We also pray that soon our brothers and sisters living in Tibet and in exile may reunited in our homeland of Tibet and live happy and prosperous lives.

Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama!  Free Tibet!