Zermatt – The “Tibetan Freedom Torch” arrived today in Switzerland. The Tibetan Freedom Torch relay was launched in Olympia in Greece on March 10, 2008. It stands for the hopes and aspiration of the Tibetan people for freedom and justice and is a symbol for reconciliation and friendship that should be core values of the Olympic movement.
The Tibetan Freedom Torch will be lit today in a ceremony by Rigzin Gyaltag, a member of Team Tibet. The ceremony in Zermatt in front of the Matterhorn is the start for the Swiss part of the torch’s journey around the world.
“This torch stands for the aspiration for freedom and justice. For us Tibetans living in Switzerland it is a very moving and special moment to be here with the torch in front of the Matterhorn in a country that has become a second home for thousands of Tibetans. However, we also feel sad knowing that the people in Tibet undergo the most dramatic period of their history while we light the torch here in a free country,” said Wangpo Tethong, president of the unrecognized National Olympic Committee of Tibet.
Rigzin Gyaltag, member of Team Tibet that was denied participation in the Olympics in Beijing, said: “It is a great honor for me to light the torch in these wonderful surroundings. Unfortunately, it is not only a day of joy. The situation in Tibet is depressing. I use this opportunity to remind the world of the fate of Panchen Lama who turns 19 years old today and has been forced to live under house arrest for more than 12 years.”
The torch will be taken to Bern on Saturday, April 26, 2008, where it will be a prominent part of the national rally organized in support for Tibet. The city authorities of Bern, however, prohibited the planned torch run through the city for questionable reasons.
The “Tibetan Freedom Torch” will continue its journey to Tibet, traveling through over 50 cities and four continents. It is supposed to reach Tibetan territory at the beginning of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August 2008.
The torch run - planned long ahead - obtained a new meaning and purpose due to the sad events in Tibet since 10 March. Basic human values - such as justice and freedom – have been violated by the Chinese military forces in Tibet. The figure of detained people is rising day by day, and the Chinese authorities have enforced so-called “re-education” measures all over Tibet.
Contact:
Wangpo Tethong +41 78 744 30 10
Rigzin Gyaltag +41 79 320 92 58