Tibetan NGOs Launch Peace March to Protest China's 'Ethnic Unity' Law
Tibetan activists launch a peace march from Dharamshala to Kurukshetra to protest China's new law threatening Tibetan identity and culture.
In a powerful display of resistance and cultural preservation, around 35 Tibetan activists-in-exile have embarked on a peace march from Dharamshala to Kurukshetra. The journey is a direct protest against China’s recently adopted ‘Ethnic Unity and Progress Law,’ which the Tibetan community alleges is a veiled attempt to dismantle their unique identity, language, and fundamental rights.
The march was jointly organized by five prominent Tibetan NGOs: U-Tsang Cholkha, Dhotoe Cholkha, Dhomay Cholkha, the Tibetan Women’s Association, and the Global Tibetan People’s Movement for Middle Way Approach (GTPM). The campaign was officially flagged off by Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration, in Dharamshala.
A 'Slow Death' of Identity
Speaking to the press, Sikyong Penpa Tsering painted a grim picture of the situation in Tibet under the new legislation, which was adopted on March 12, 2026, and is set to take effect on July 1. He described the impact of Chinese policies as a gradual eradication of the Tibetan people.
“I have always been saying that we are dying a slow death. We are like being constricted by a python, slowly being deprived of our breath,” Tsering stated. He argued that while there may not be visible violence, the systemic policies are designed to annihilate Tibetan national identity.
Tsering further criticized China's approach to governance, noting that while the global community emphasizes the rule of law, China uses legislation to "legitimize its illegitimate actions." He drew parallels between this new law and the National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong, as well as anti-separatism laws concerning Taiwan, suggesting a pattern of undermining the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongolians.
The Road to Kurukshetra
The activists are undertaking a grueling journey of approximately 345 kilometers. While the participants are traveling primarily on foot, buses will be utilized along the route. The organizers estimate that they will reach their destination in Kurukshetra within three to four days.
Why Kurukshetra?
Kelsang Dolma, president of the Tibetan Women’s Association, explained that Kurukshetra was specifically chosen due to its immense religious and historical significance. Because the site attracts a vast number of Indian citizens and international tourists, the organizers believe it is the ideal location to raise global awareness about the implications of the Chinese law.
Dolma alleged that the Chinese government has spent decades pursuing policies that erode Tibetan identity, and this new law simply provides a formal legal framework to accelerate that process, specifically threatening the linguistic and cultural heritage of future generations.
International Appeals and Next Steps
Tenzin Shinyi, president of the Global Tibetan People’s Movement for Middle Way Approach, emphasized that the law is effectively stripping children of their culture and language. She called upon the Indian public and international leaders to stand in solidarity with the Tibetan cause.
The protest is not limited to the march. Sikyong Penpa Tsering noted that the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile had already passed a resolution in March demanding the law's repeal. He also highlighted that concerns have been echoed by:
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
- Various international parliaments, including that of the Czech Republic.
Following the conclusion of the march in Kurukshetra, the activists plan to travel to New Delhi. Their objective is to meet with various embassies to secure wider international diplomatic support and pressure China to repeal the legislation.