On the road for awareness

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- Human rights activists armed with loudspeakers and flags

marched through Newport Beach on Saturday to fight for Tibet’s

independence from China.

“We are in an excellent position to advocate for them outside of the

country, where we have free political speech,” said Jamie Hunter, a

member of the Orange County chapter of the Friends of Tibet.

Activists from the Friends of Tibet began the three-week march in San

Diego on Memorial Day and will connect in Santa Monica with a second

group of protesters who walked down from San Francisco. For five days,

the two groups will protest in Los Angeles together. A public rally in

front of the Chinese Consulate is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 24.

Each leg of “Tibet March 2000” stopped at towns along the way. Protesters

are trying to raise awareness about the small country, which was invaded

by China in 1949 and remains under Communist rule.

“America will put profit over the people. The American government has

chosen to give China more equality. We hope the Senate makes a wise

decision to put the people first,” said Tenzing Chonder of the Friends of

Tibet Orange County chapter.

Activists reminded crowds about an important bill before the Senate. If

made law, it would grant permanent trade relations between the United

States and China. Protesters fear that strengthening the bond between the

United States and China will only weaken the chances for Tibet’s

independence.

Last month, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) voted against the

bill, and Rep. Chris Cox (R-Newport Beach) voted for it.

The group of 12 human rights activists marching from San Diego were led

by Palden Gyatso, a monk who escaped Tibet after he spent 33 years in

prison.

For Gyatso, this march represents the plight of the Tibetans under

Chinese rule. The small-framed man stood in gym shoes and a large yellow

hat. He wore his maroon religious uniform.

Gyatso spoke through a translator about the human rights abuses of

political prisoners. He displayed a table of torture instruments that he

said were used on prisoners. Gyatso said prison guards put a cattle prod

in his mouth and blew out his teeth.

“If we don’t stand for freedom, our Constitution means nothing,” said Ava

Park, an Orange County Friends of Tibet member.

For more information, visit the Orange County Friends of Tibet’s Web site

at https://www.octibet.org.