Geneva — Tibetans living in Switzerland observed the 68th anniversary of declaration of World Human Rights Day with a demonstration in front of the United Nations for Human Rights in Geneva to highlight the deteriorating human rights situation inside Tibet.
On the morning of December 10th, 2016, over 900 Tibetans from 25 different Tibetan communities gathered in front of Palais Wilson (UN Human Rights Office) and marched up to Palais des Nations raising slogans to mark World Human Rights Day and 27th Anniversary of conferment of Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama on December 10th, 1989.
Mr Tenzin Nyingbu, President of Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, addressed the public and briefly highlighted the tense political human rights situation in Larung Gar and nearby area. The Chinese government have imposed forced eviction of the monks and nuns and demolished the shelters of the residents.
Mr Ngodup Dorjee, Representative of the Tibet Bureau and Mr Jampa Tsering, Europe Tibetan Parliamentarian also addressed the public underlining the importance of Tibetans to be more united and urged them to show resilience to sustain the movement for another 50+ years on the basis of past experience.
Mr Réne Longet, long time Tibet supporter and former Swiss politician and Mr Robert Cramer, Member of Parliamentarian Group for Tibet and Member of the Council of States in Geneva, addressed the gathering which underlines Tibet’s sovereignty before 1959 and signing of 17 point peace agreement. Both of them also expressed their deep solidarity towards prevailing situation inside Tibet.
Tibetans have been in Switzerland since the 1960s, when the Swiss Red Cross helped resettle 300 Tibetans in Switzerland. The first refugees arrived in Switzerland in 1960, at the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen. With over 4000 residing in the country, Tibetans make up the second largest Asian immigrant group in Switzerland, right behind Filipinos.
