Photo: tyc/facebook
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) celebrated its 45th anniversary on October 7 with a call to Tibetan young people “to participate in protests and campaigns to intensify the Tibetan movement and make it more effective on the global stage.” The TYC was founded in 1970 and now stands as the largest pro-independence group in exile, with 35, 000 active members.
Photo: TYC/facebook
In their anniversary statement, the TYC condemned China’s “abuse of basic human rights of the Tibetan people by denying Tibetans their freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and destruction of the fragile Tibetan environment through rampant mining activities and deforestation have been covered in detail in reports published by international environment and human rights groups.”
They said they would “hope for the best and prepare for the worst” and declared their intention to “leave no stone unturned to prepare and struggle for the cause of Tibet rather than hope for someone else to solve the issue.”
Historically, tensions exist within the movement as the TYC has chosen explicitly to struggle for total independence rather than supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration’s “Middle Way Approach”. However, they have remained conscious of the dangers of divisive action and began their anniversary statement by paying “deepest respects” to His Holiness.
Tenzing Jigme, President of the TYC, thanked His Holiness and members of the TYC for their contributions to the cause.
Photo: Phayul/Kunsang Gashon
“These are tough times for the Tibetan movement but we are strong and resilient group of people. The Chinese government will never be able to break the will and spirit of the Tibetan people. However, what is more important is that we Tibetans must never undermine and distort our own history. When we do that we fail all those martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for our nation’s freedom and independence,” he added.
tyc marathon
Photo: Phayul/Kunsang Gashon
As part of celebrations, the Dharamshala regional chapter of the TYC also organised a “marathon” from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts to Forsyth Ganj and back (around 8km). Over fifty runners participated, with ages ranging from 9 to 61 years old.
The Tibetan Youth Congress is an independent worldwide organisation of Tibetans united in their common struggle for the restoration of complete independence for the whole of Tibet. TYC does not subscribe to any particular political ideology nor to any particular religion or religious sect. Its activities attract the active support of all Tibetans – young and old, men and women, monks and lay people, and TYC commands a large following inside Tibet. The founding of TYC in 1970 came at a time when the first group of young Tibetans who had received a modern education were graduating from schools and colleges, and took place in Dharamsala with His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivering the inaugural address.
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