Tibet : A tale of 25 years

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The association traces back its origin to March 1959, in Lhasa when thousands of Tibetan women gathered in front of Potala palace to protest the Chinese invasion.

CJ: BIBIN.S.NATH

Sun, Nov 15, 2009 12:03:58 IST

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TIBETAN STRUGGLE for independence is not just the story of mutiny by monks. Ever since its beginning in 1949 ,women of Tibet fought shoulder to shoulder with their men in the fight for a free Tibet. The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) completing a successful 25 years of its re-instation is a visible symbol of Tibetan women protest.

The association traces back its origin to March 1959, in Lhasa when thousands of Tibetan women gathered in front of Potala palace to protest the Chinese invasion. In that historic struggle, hundreds lost their lives and thousands were imprisoned.

After those fatal days and the establishment of a Tibetan government in excile at Dharamshala, the Tibet women reconstituted themselves on September 10,1984.Today with 1500 members and 49 world wide chapters across four continents TWA is one of the most powerful women organizations in Tibetan history.

Seeking vigil and attention of world community is one of the prime agenda of Tibetan Women’s Association. But the association’s activities through the time period spread to other social services also. “Nowadays TWA is actively participating on issues of development, environment, gender and political issues by lobbying government and different NGOs,” said Nyima Lhamo, Programme Co-ordinator of TWA at Dharamshala.In May 2009, the association was invited to participate in the fifth Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights by the Women’s Global Network on Reproductive Rights (WGNRR).

But later due to pressure of China who hosted the conference, the permission was denied. The association is also a key member of the working group Tibet Third Pole, which is currently planning to participate in the Climate Summit scheduled next month in Copenhagen. The Tibetan Women’s Association is also active in the empowerment programmes of Tibetan women in excile. A number of projects like Tibetan Nuns Project, stitches of Tibet, Old People’s Home has been launched by the association for the purpose.