The Freedom Torch was carried from the Tibet Support Association Sambhala Center by Namgyal, a Tibetan refugee who has been living in Hungary for 2 years. Some other Tibetan refugees also took part in the march, along with Hungarian pro-Tibet activists. We carried the Torch to the Chinese Embassy through the biggest boulevard of Budapest. There was a cordon of police around the Embassy, nonetheless, the Tibetans sang their national anthem in front of the building, holding shocking pictures of Tibetan victims in their hands. Then we went to Heroes’ Square, the greatest square in Budapest, where about five thousand people were gathered for the Peace Symbol Ceremony. The central flame of the Peace Symbol was lit with the Tibetan Torch of Freedom. A Tibetan refugee, Dakpa gave a short speech there:
“My name is Dakpa, I am a Tibetan refugee and I have been living in Hungary for 2 years. the Torch of Tibetan Freedom you are going to light the Peace Symbol with was started by Tibetan young people living in exile. This Torch is a symbol of the hope and efforts of Tibetans for freedom and justice. This Torch - just like the Olympic Torch - represents the ideal of peace and harmony. Please keep Tibet in your mind so that there could be peace and love there! Let there be peace in Tibet! Let there be peace in Hungary! Let there be peace and love all over the world!”
After Dakpa’s speech there was a short movie depicting brutal violence by Chinese soldiers, pictures of Tibet and a short message from His Holiness the Dala Lama given some years ago.
Photos and video coming soon!