(Berkeley, CA, 3 August 2012) On 8 August 2012 Tibetans and supporters will publically offer prayers as a sign of respect and offer condolences and seek support from the people of Northern California outside the downtown Berkeley BART station. Over 45 Tibetans have self-immolated in the past months since 2009 to protest against the unbearable, brutal, and illegal occupation of Tibet that began in 1949 when Chinese communist armies invaded the country.
August 8 marks the one year anniversary of Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay swearing into office as the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. He is first the directly-elected 'political leader' of Tibet, following His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's full devolution of political power to a democratically-elected leadership.
Profiles of each of the 45 self-immolators will be read by SF Team Tibet members.
