Masked Protesters Mark 62nd Anniversary of the PRC
Tibet Custom, 2 October 2011
Today (1/10/2011) thirty protesters from Chinese, Uighur and Tibetan Solidarity UK gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in London to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Those present wore white masks, representing the millions of people who have died or dissapeared during the 62 years of the PRC, including victims of the invasions of Tibet and East Turkestan, the Cultural Revolution and the June 4th 1989 massacre around Tiananmen Square.
Their message was that, after 62 years, there is nothing to celebrate.
Shao Jiang, a survivor of the June 4th 1989 massacre said: “it is important that we send a clear message on this day: the PRC has caused the deaths of millions, and while its leaders wil mark the occasion with celebrations, ordinary Chinese, Uighur and Tibetan people will go on suffering.”
Nizamindin Sametov, a Uighur exile said: “For the people of East Turkestan the PRC has meant six decades of opression and persecution. Even today Uighurs are executed, imprisoned and prevented from practising our religion by the PRC authorities.”
Sonam Dugdak, a Tibetan exile said: “One of the first actions of the PRC was the invasion of Tibet. The torture, crackdowns and killings that have followed ever since mean we have nothing to celebrate today.”
Chinese, Uighur and Tibetan Solidarity UK is a coalition of groups supporting human rights and freedom for China, East Turkestan and Tibet
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Liam Allmark
Students for a Free Tibet UK