Dharamshala, March 10 — Tibetan exiles in Dharamsala held a protest today, marking the 66th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising. Demonstrators marched from McLeodganj to Dharamsala, carrying placards and raising slogans demanding independence for Tibet. The protest concluded with a dharna in Dharamsala, where participants reiterated their calls for freedom.
“This day is deeply ingrained in our collective memory,” the Tibetan parliament in exile said in a statement, calling March 10 a “pivotal moment” in Tibetan history.
The anniversary also coincides with Tibetan Martyrs’ Day, which the parliament described as a tribute to “the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for Tibet’s religious, political, and national freedom.”
The statement traced Tibet’s struggle to 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was established. It noted that China’s military invasion led to the forced signing of the 17-Point Agreement in 1951, which the Tibetan government had attempted to navigate through dialogue.
However, Beijing disregarded the agreement, fueling public protests that escalated into the March 10 uprising, the parliament said.
Seven days later, the Dalai Lama fled to India, accompanied by members of the Tibetan government and thousands of citizens. The parliament accused China of continuing its “repressive occupation,” citing campaigns like Democratic Reform and the Cultural Revolution, which it said were aimed at erasing Tibetan identity.