Walking for a good cause

Torus Tammer

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Thirteen weary individuals on a mission of peace and

humanity arrived at the Huntington Beach pier Sunday. The group, which

upon arrival was besieged by several hundred supporters and spectators,

was headed by a venerable Tibetan monk by the name of Palden Gyatso.

His goal? To deliver his team to a planned protest in Los Angeles at the

Chinese Consulate by June 24.

Gyatso, 69 and living in exile, dedicates his life to helping people

everywhere gain awareness and knowledge of the crisis in Tibet. A former

prisoner of the Chinese regime, he not only spent 33 years incarcerated,

but also endured barbaric techniques of torture, such as electrocution.

Gyatso openly shares the nightmare, but shows no sign of emotion toward

his one-time captors, other than forgiveness.

“I am at peace with myself and do not hold grudges toward the Chinese

regime or toward those who tortured me,” he said. “Philosophically, from

a Buddhist perspective, I believe in karma -- if you hurt somebody, it

will come back to you. If not in this life, it will come in the next. So

the basic idea is to forgive.”

More to the point, Gyatso wanted to focus on the purpose of this

nonviolent protest and the role that people could play in this ongoing

saga.

“It would be a great support if people would join us on this walk for an

hour or for a day,” Gyatso said.

But on a larger and more long-term scale, more drastic measures need to

be taken, he said.

Gyatso added that the United States is a democratic country where what

matters is the voice of its people.

“I believe that if the people of the cities like Huntington Beach write

to their assemblymen, senators and congressmen in concern of the human

rights’ violations existing in Tibet, then political change will have to

take place.”

Councilman Tom Harman, who was present at the demonstration, concurred

with Gyatso.”The purpose for today and the rest of this march is to

continue applying pressure to the Republic of China until they release

Tibet from their stronghold,” Harman said. “The change begins at a local

level, by bringing awareness to as many cities as possible.”

Julie Cade of Huntington Beach joined the hordes of other residents who

came out to show support for the walkers. Cade spent several weeks

traveling Nepal in 1997, where as part of her journey she encountered

Tibetan refugees who were able to inform her of their history of Tibet.

Upon her return and with the horror of the Tibetan crisis fresh in her

mind, Cade joined the Orange County Friends of Tibet.

Cade especially wants the strong population of environmentally active

Huntington Beach residents to know of the dangers to Tibetan land.

“Huntington Beach residents who support the wetlands should know that

Tibet is environmentally significant because it contains the headwaters

of the major rivers throughout Southeast Asia. And one reason Chinese

have taken Tibetan land is to build power plants and dams, and extract

minerals for export,” said Cade.

One of the group’s walkers, Ava Park, has been active in the movement for

both human and animal rights. A dedicated peace advocate, Park put her

successful business and life on hold so she could immerse herself as a

participant in the solution process for Tibetan freedom. Bringing more

awareness to the doorsteps of Huntington Beach residents is of particular

importance to her.

“We ask that Huntington Beach residents use their power as consumers to

help regain peace in Tibet -- where 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed

since 1949 in this struggle,” Park said. “Chinese trade depends upon our

purchasing power. And if we can stop buying products made in China and

start talking about this to others in our community, then we can send a

message against violence.”

Cade added that pro-Tibetan groups’ diligent efforts to restore

independence to the country is not about the Chinese people but about the

Chinese government.

“I, as do many, have empathy for the Chinese residents living under this

harsh regime,” she said.

Gyatso’s group departed from San Diego on May 29. Their plans included

scheduled stops in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and,

finally, Los Angeles.

Another group of marchers departed from San Francisco on April 25 and

plans to arrive in time to join Gyatso’s group in a demonstration against

Chinese rule that will culminate at the Chinese Consulate on June 24.