Ngawang Legshe was distributing pamphlets about young political prisoners in Tibet.

Free Amherst: Tibetans Laud American Values By Izzy Lyman September 25, 2002

AMHERST—The 7th Annual Tibet Awareness Day featured chanting monks, furry yaks, photos of the elderly Dalai Lama and the young Panchen Lama, and soft-spoken Tibetans who praised the United States.

The latter is especially noteworthy in a town where pro-American sentiments are scarce. Last year President George W. Bush was dubbed a "terrorist" by an anarchist at a Veterans Day Rally, and protestors burned Old Glory at an Assembly for Patriotism held at Amherst College.

On a muggy Saturday afternoon, residents and visitors gathered on the Town Common to learn about Tibetan culture, as well as human rights violations in a nation which has been occupied by the People's Republic of China since the 1950s. In 1981, Russian writer Alexander Solzhenytsin slammed the Chinese communist regime in Tibet as "more brutal and inhuman than any other communist regime in the world." Ngawang Leshe, who is affiliated with the Hampshire College chapter of Students for a Free Tibet, distributed posters, bumper stickers, and pamphlets. One pamphlet - "Child's Rights Violations in Tibet" - had shocking accounts of the plight of young political prisoners, such as Phuntsok Legmon.

Tibetan wares were on display during Tibet Awareness Day in Amherst.

The People's Intermediate Court sentenced Legmon, age 16, to three years in a Chinese-run prison for shouting "pro-Tibet slogans" in Lhasa in 1999. Ngawang Leshe also criticized the Chinese government for not allowing Tibetans the opportunity to practice their religion.

"They don't let (Buddhist) monks and nuns pray. They have been silenced," said Leshe.

The twenty-six-year-old Leshe said he has a dream: "For the Tibetan people to have freedom like the people in the United States have."

Lob Sang, an exiled Tibetan who was born in India and who introduced monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery of South India to the crowd, believes that the liberation of his country will occur. "The liar will lose at the end, and the truth is in our hand," he noted.

Sang, who has been in the United States for less than a year, lauded her citizens. "The American people are very helpful and very supportive of our cause. We thank the Americans."

Tsering Dorjee, who was born in southern Tibet, estimated that about 80 Tibetans live in Amherst. He called the United States a "free country."

"We can keep our culture, and teach the young kids (about it)," said Dorjee.

The International Tibet Independence Movement also made the case as to why liberty-loving Americans should be concerned about this once theocratic country of nomads, farmers, and traders. The organization handed out a flyer condemning the forced abortions and sterilization that Tibetan women have had to endure at the hands of the communist Chinese. In a series of one-liners, the pro-liberation group's flyer also explained why Tibet is important to American national security:

"Tibet is a model of non-violence.
China has access to enormous amounts of uranium in Tibet.
China's military is rapidly expanding.
(The) Tibet-India border is an important geopolitical border
(The) AFL-CIO confirmed at least 12 Chinese Army corporations in the USA.
Profits of these corporations directly support China's military."

Tibet Awareness Day attracted a modest-sized crowd of about two hundred and included a pair of Republicans who traveled from New York City to show their support. David Quaadman purchased a pin which featured the flags of Tibet and the United States. Toni Rachiele said she appreciated the event because "it was everything you'd want a free Tibet rally to be."

Izzy Lyman can be reached at ilyman7449@aol.com.

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