Dharamshala — Tibetans and Tibet Supporters around the world protested against the Chinese Communist government for the illegal occupation of Tibet in the 1950s and continue to repress Tibetans, eliminate Tibetan identity, language, culture and religion through sinicisation policies, destroying the Tibetan environment through illegal mining and dam construction, and placing more than one million Tibetan children as young as four in Chinese colonial-style boarding schools, separating them from their parents, culture and religion.
Tibetan NGOs, Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Students for a Free Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet and Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet in Dharamshala organised a peace march between the main Tibetan temple and Kacheri in Dharamshala, on March 10, 2026, to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. Hundreds of Tibetans and Tibetan supporters joined the march and protested against the Chinese government for oppressing and killing thousands of Tibetans who were fighting against the China's invasion on March 10, 1959.
The Tibetan five NGOs released a statement and it states,” Since the illegal occupation of Tibet by the government of China, countless patriotic Tibetan martyrs have laid down their lives with unwavering sincerity and courage. We bow our heads in remembrance of all those who sacrificed themselves for the just cause of Tibet, especially the brave men and women who undertook self-immolation to defend the dignity, freedom, and fundamental rights of the Tibetan nation. We honor these pawos and pomos with profound reverence. We also stand in solidarity with the political prisoners inside Tibet who continue to endure imprisonment, torture, and inhumane conditions for their steadfast commitment to our national cause.
“To our Tibetan brothers and sisters inside Tibet, who remain unshaken like mountains despite relentless repression, surveillance, and coercion, we express our deepest admiration and solidarity. Your resilience under oppression is the living spirit of Tibet.
“The Chinese government began its calculated expansion into Tibet in 1949, beginning in the eastern regions. In 1959, through the massive deployment of the People's Liberation Army, Tibet was invaded and brought under forceful occupation. On 10 March 1959, in Lhasa, Tibetans from the three traditional regions of Utsang, Dotoe, and Dhomay united in an extraordinary act of courage. They surrounded Norbulingka from all directions, placing their own lives at risk to protect His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Their voices echoed through the streets of Lhasa with resounding calls: “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live long,” “Tibet is an independent country,” and “China must withdraw from Tibet.” From that historic day, the Tibetan National Uprising began, marking the collective resistance of a people determined to defend their freedom and identity.
“Guided by the enduring principles of non-violence and compassion, Tibetans have continued their struggle with dignity and moral courage. For the preservation of our religion and culture, for the protection of Tibet’s fragile environment, and for the fundamental rights and survival of the Tibetan people, generations have risen in peaceful protest. Under decades of repressive policies, it is estimated that more than one million Tibetans have lost their lives. Since 2008, 170 Tibetans, young and old, inside and outside Tibet, have self-immolated in a final act of protest against oppression. This tragic reality stands as one of the most profound and heartbreaking expressions of resistance in modern history.
“In an attempt to eradicate Tibetan identity, the Chinese authorities have systematically implemented repressive and assimilationist policies. The daily lives of Tibetans have been subjected to constant control and hardship. Fundamental human rights are denied. Tibetan children are forcibly separated from their families and placed in state-run boarding schools designed to sever them from their language, culture, and spiritual heritage, and to assimilate them into a Chinese national identity.
“Over the past sixty-seven years, countless monasteries, historic printing houses, and cultural institutions across Utsang, Dotoe, and Dhomay have been destroyed. Archaeological sites and ancient monuments bearing centuries of history have been damaged or erased. Sacred mountains are exploited for resource extraction. Nomadic communities are forcibly relocated to make way for dams and large-scale infrastructure projects. Rivers are diverted, forests cleared, and fragile ecosystems destabilized. Tibet, often referred to as the “Third Pole” of the world, faces ecological devastation that carries consequences far beyond its borders.
“Moreover, the Chinese government has disregarded international law, seized land without consent, and propagated distorted historical narratives on international platforms. In unity and determination, the five major Tibetan non-governmental organizations categorically reject these false narratives and condemn these ongoing injustices. Until truth, justice, and freedom prevail in Tibet, we remain resolute in our commitment to continue this struggle through peaceful and principled means.
“At this critical juncture, the preservation of Tibetan language, literature, religion, culture, and environment is not solely a Tibetan concern. The Tibetan struggle represents a broader call for justice, environmental protection, human dignity, and global peace. We extend our sincere gratitude to international supporters, governments, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, and individuals who have steadfastly supported the Tibetan cause. We urge the international community to continue standing with the Tibetan people until the truth of Tibet is acknowledged and justice is realized.”
Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Toronto and Ottawa in Canada, Minnesota, Amherst (Massachusetts), Madison (Wisconsin), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Hartford (Connecticut), Chicago (Illinois), New York, Washington D.C., Vancouver (California), Monterey (California), San Francisco (California), Salt Lake City (Utah) and Boulder (Colorado) in the United States. Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Taiwan, India, Australia and New Zealand commemorated the 67th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising by protesting against the Chinese Communist government in cities and in front of Chinese embassies in these countries.
They protested against the Chinese Communist government for the illegal occupation of Tibet in the 1950s and continue to repress Tibetans, eliminate Tibetan identity, language, culture and religion through sinicisation policies, destroying the Tibetan environment through illegal mining and dam construction, and placing more than one million Tibetan children as young as four in Chinese colonial-style boarding schools, separating them from their parents, culture and religion.
More than 400 German municipalities publicly raised the Tibetan flag on Tibetan National Uprising Day, on March 10, 2026, to show their solidarity with Tibetans living in Tibet and express their concern about the current human rights crisis in Tibet.
This solidarity initiative began in 1996 with 21 pioneering municipalities, including Offenburg, Ulm, Wächtersbach, Hagen, Heidelberg, Langenfeld, and Stuttgart, which were the first cities and municipalities to participate. This year, they once again raised the Tibetan flag. They are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the raising of the Tibetan flag on Tibetan National Uprising Day.
