Tibetan exiles mark painful anniversary

As the Dalai Lama calls for "meaningful autonomy" for his Tibetan homeland, dozens of his supporters here took to the streets yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising against Chinese rule that has forced many of them into exile.

Tibet is under security clampdown, closed to foreigners - but exiled Tibetans living in New Zealand say they are determined to be the voice for their homeland.

"The Chinese may have silenced the people in Tibet, but that doesn't mean we cannot raise our voices for them," said Tenzing Thupwang, 44, who marched with about 100 others up Auckland's Queen St yesterday.

Protesters, led by six Buddhist monks, waved Tibetan and New Zealand flags, chanted "Free Tibet" and for China to release its control of the mountain region taken by Mao Zedong's communist forces.

Chinese troops entered the Buddhist region in 1950 to "liberate" it from feudal rule, according to Beijing, but Chinese control remains unpopular.

"Many Tibetan people still feel a deep resentment," Mr Thupwang said.

The group yesterday started protesting outside the Chinese Consulate on Great South Rd, where they were met with barbed wire fencing and dogs.

Buddhist monks led a candlelight vigil outside Auckland Museum last night as supporters gathered to listen to their spiritual leader's speech.

"From time immemorial, the Tibetan and Chinese peoples have been neighbours," the Dalai Lama said. "We Tibetans are looking for a legitimate and meaningful autonomy."