Dharamshala: On the morning of 10 March 2025, the Central Tibetan Administration, together with a high-level delegation from Estonia and Slovakia, marked the 66th Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamshala, to commemorate the Tibetan martyrs who, on this day in 1959, assembled in Lhasa to protest the illegal occupation of Tibet by the PLA.
Honourable Andrej Kiska, former President of Slovakia, who is accompanied by Csaba Kiss, the Coordinator of Slovakia Tibet Support Group, graced the commemoration as its chief guest.
Honourable Juku-Kalle Raid, Member of Estonian Parliament, as the special guest headed the delegation from Estonia, consisting of Sakarias Jaan Leppik, former MP and former head of Tibet support group; Karmen Joller, Member of Parliament; Hanah Lahe, Member of Parliament; Jaak Valge, Member of Parliament; Ando Kiviberg, Member of Parliament; Roy Strider, Coordinator of Tibet Support Group in Estonian Parliament; Urmo Uiboleht, Honourable Regent of Seto Kingdom in South-East Estonia; and Priit Rohumaa, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AS Ekspress Group.
The delegations were accompanied by Representative Thinley Chukki from the Tibet Bureau Geneva during their visit to Dharamshala and meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan leadership of Central Tibetan Administration.
With the hoisting of Tibetan national flag by Sikyong Penpa Tsering and singing of the Tibetan national anthem by artists from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, the official commemoration commenced at the courtyard of Thekchen Choeling Tsuglakhang.
A minute of silence was also observed to honour the selfless sacrifices dedicated by all the Tibetan martyrs who have either lost their lives or underwent severe oppression in the hand of the PRC government.
During the event, Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel delivered Kashag and Tibetan Parliament in Exile‘s statement for the day, respectively.
Honourable Juku-Kalle Raid, Member of Estonian Parliament, addressing the gathering. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
The programme then continued with addresses from the special guest and chief guest. “This day is, of course, sad. 66 years ago, when you had the uprising to break free from Communist China, and actually, this is the thing that I am talking about for all Estonians — we can understand because we lived under communist occupation, under Soviet Russian occupation, for 50 years. We waited, hoping that history would eventually open the window to grasp our freedom,” remarked Honourable Juku-Kalle Raid. “I knew that 66 years ago, we consider that about 1.2 million Tibetans, who wanted nothing more but freedom, were killed. Actually, the entire Estonian population, all together, is 1.2 million. It means, for us, it’s like the Chinese Communist Regime killed everyone from our nation. So, we really understand what you are living through and what you have lived through.” However, he emphasised that authoritarian communist regimes across the globe “cannot kill the freedom and bravery of the people who want to be free. And you are those people.” “The Chinese,” he said, “didn’t only take your freedom, but also stole your children, and they commit crimes every day. And that’s what communists and dictators do.”
To express a call for international support, he stated, “I really hope that next year and in three years, you will meet here with more members of the free world parliament. It means that the free world will understand what you are living under and will recognise that Tibet must be free.” Likewise, he also encouraged Tibetans in the gathering and across the world to first understand the objectives of this ongoing struggle and urged them to fight for genuine freedom.
Before concluding, he presented Sikyong with a sweatshirt printed with the message ‘Will to Protect,’ a symbolic gesture urging that everyone must have the will to protect freedom.
Honourable Andrej Kiska, former President of Slovakia, delivering the keynote address. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA
In his keynote address, honourable chief guest Andrej Kiska said, “It is a great honour to be here with you today and to speak about compassion, justice, and truth. It’s the first time that I am in India and directly here.” To share how his interest and support for the Tibetan cause and His Holiness the Dalai Lama ignited, the former Slovakian president recalled, “It’s my personal story of how I became a friend of Tibet and a friend of His Holiness. More than 30 years ago, I was in a small library in our town and I found a book by His Holiness. And I started to read, and I was surprised by how I could understand the purpose of life and how I could understand that the biggest enemy is our mind, and what to do with our lives. So, I was then studying lots of books by His Holiness, about His Holiness, but of course, about Tibet and its fantastic history, culture, and sufferings. So, I had the privilege to understand better what His Holiness’ teachings were about.”
To follow the messages of His Holiness’ teachings, he shared how he then sold his business and ventured into the business of helping others by establishing non-profit charitable organisation to help children with cancer. He further shared how he ran for the Slovakian presidency and won, widening his efforts to assist and serve a larger number of people. “Then, I had the privilege to invite His Holiness as President and to be with Him in our country, Slovakia.”
He continued, “But today, I am here staying with you, being here, and I want to speak about Tibet, speak about truth and justice. Two days ago, I was in the Tibet Museum and I saw those pictures of 158 people who set themselves on fire for freedom. I was looking at their faces, reading their stories and their words. My eyes were full of tears. Tibet is not just a place on the map; Tibet is a symbol of suffering for human rights, cultural identity, and freedom of religion.” Speaking about the ongoing conflicts in Europe, he remarked on how similar the plights of Tibet and Ukraine are, as well as how similar the occupations of the PRC and Russia are, and hence urged European countries to also speak for the Tibetan cause. “And you, (especially) young generations and all of you living here, please keep the hope and never ever give up,” he encouraged.
With a prayer of the ‘Words of Truth,’ the official commemoration concluded, and the crowd proceeded to take part in the peaceful march organised by Tibetan NGOs.
