WASHINGTON, March 11, 1997 - Over 100 Tibetans and non-Tibetan supporters gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. on the evening of March 10 to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising.

As Embassy officials peeped through the windows and the main gate of the Embassy, the event began with a round of slogan shouting. The demonstrators asked China to quit Tibet, to free the Panchen Lama and give human rights to Tibetans.

After a prayer session, including the Words of Truth, the Vice President of the Capital Area Tibetan Association, Kalden Lodoe, introduced the day. He informed the gathering about the rally which took place earlier in the day in New York city. Thereafter, Bhuchung K. Tsering of the International Campaign for Tibet read His Holiness the Dalai Lama's statement for the day. He informed the gathering that the US Senate had today adopted a resolution (S 19) calling on the United Stated Government to support a resolution against China at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and to free Fulbright Scholar Ngawang Choephel. Then,a message from US Senator Daniel P. Moynihan on the day was read by his daughter Maura Moynihan. Messages were also received from Sen. Alfonse M. D'Mato, Jim Jeffords, Patrick Leahy, and Tom Lantos.

The demonstration ended with the singing of the Uprising Song and the Tibetan National Anthem.

As demonstrators waved placards saying, "China Free Tibet", "Human Rights for Tibet", "Free the Panchen Lama," passing motorists honked in support. At the fag end of the demonstration, the gathering shouted, "China out of the White House" a reference to news reports which say the Chinese Embassy has been chanelling funds to the democratic campaign here.