Heres an account of what we did in New Zealand to observe the 10th March Anniversary.

The following programme was orginnized by Members of Friends of Tibet (NZ)

AUCKLAND :- On 9th March at 11.30am about 100 supporters met at the Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph to remember 1.2 million Tibetans who died as a direct result of Chinese Occupation of Tibet, we laid flowers and prayers were lead by the resident Tibetan teachers.

I read the 10th March statement by His Holiness, followed by singing of "Words of Truth" in English.

Then I announced that a world wide campagne to boycot Holiday inn and aslo asked members to stop buying chinese made goods. We finished the day with shared pic nic lunch.

Monday 10th March we protested outside the Chinese Consulate from 7.30am to 9.15am our theme was "CHINA QUIT TIBET" we had signes on the road side saying TOOT FOR TIBET and lot of the motorest tooted as they passed the Chinese Consulate, which I'm sure it irritated them, some of our members waved the Tibetan flag in front of their window. During the day I gave two radio interviews about Tibet and what is the significance of this day.

WELLINGTON:- The members of Friends of Tibet in Wellington demonstrated outside the Chinese Embassy.

NELSON :- Members held a candlelight service on Monday 10th March at 8.00pm on the church steps, Trafalgar street. They lit 38 candles, one for each year of the Chinese Occupation of Tibet.

CHRISTCHURCH:- The members floated candles and flowers down the Avon river from Bridge of Remembrance at dusk on Sunday 9th March and posters on the poles showing the Panchen Lama and others who have been imprisoned, the candles will symbolises those who have died and flowers for those who are currently imprisoned.

They sang "Words of Truth" and the local newspapers carried the story.

DUNEDIN :- The members met in the Octagin and lit candles in memory of those who died in Tibet. His Holiness's 10th March statement was read by Lobsang Dawa and followes by singing of "Tse me yong den" in Tibetan. The local newspaper carried the story.

Best wishes and Tashi Delek

Thuten Kesang - Liaison Office of Tibet (New Zealand)