Board endorses pro-Tibet resolution

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on April 18, 2008

In condemnation of the Chinese government's brutal crackdown against peaceful protesters in Tibet, the Select Board is unanimously supporting a resolution that will be sent to President Bush and Amherst's representatives in Congress.

Thondup Tsering, of 181 Fearing St., and a representative of the Tibetan Association of Western Massachusetts, said he brought forward the resolution Monday as a way to give hope to the people of Tibet.

"It is extremely important because we know outside pressure influences how people are being treated in Tibet," Tsering said.

The resolution calls for a number of measures, including asking the U.S. government to apply pressure on China, the release of all innocent detainees in Tibet, that international humans rights organizations complete an independent fact-finding mission and that Bush refrain from attending the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics.

The resolution is modeled after one already endorsed by the Northampton City Council.

In addition, Tsering, who also represents the Tibetan Association of Four Rivers and Six Ranges and the Five College Students for a Free Tibet, said he and other Amherst residents are petitioning for a special Town Meeting that will address the topic and allow Amherst's representative body to have a say.

Ruth Hooke, a Town Meeting member from Precinct 8, said she believes the resolution is important because the Tibetan community adds to the culture of Amherst.

During his presentation, in which more than 30 members of the Valley's Tibetan community were in attendance, Tsering described some of the atrocities, including punishing Tibetans who use the Internet or cell phones, and noted that more than 140 Tibetans have been killed and more than 2,300 have been arrested as the result of the protests that began March 10. "We actually feel the death toll number is much higher," Tsering said.

Tsering said the Free Tibet movement should not be perceived as anti-Chinese, but rather a way of seeking autonomy for the Tibetan people within China.

Three other Amherst residents provided the Select Board with reports of first-hand accounts of what Tsering said is a "military clampdown."

Ngawang Gyatso, of 211 Old Farm Road, one of those who spoke, said he was inspired to come because of the need to address human rights.

"I think the human rights applies to all humans and people in the world," Gyatso said.