GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION: OVER 100 ACTIVISTS GATHER AT CHINESE EMBASSY IN THE HAGUE TO COMMEMORATE PAWO LOBGA RANGZEN AND DENOUNCE BEIJING’S “ETHNIC UNITY LAW”
GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION: OVER 100 ACTIVISTS GATHER AT CHINESE EMBASSY IN THE HAGUE TO COMMEMORATE PAWO LOBGA RANGZEN AND DENOUNCE BEIJING’S “ETHNIC UNITY LAW”
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — August 2, 2026 — Marking exactly one month since Tibetan hero Pawo Lobga Rangzen self-immolated in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, more than 100 human rights advocates, Tibetan refugees, representatives of oppressed nations, and Dutch allies gathered outside the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Hague.
Organized by the Tibet Support Group Nederland (TSGN), the Global Day of Action served as a solemn memorial for Pawo Lobga Rangzen’s ultimate sacrifice and a united coalition protest against Beijing’s recently enacted Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress (in force since July 1, 2026)—a policy widely condemned by human rights defenders as an official instrument for forced cultural assimilation and systematic genocide.
VISUAL WITNESS: COALITION STANDS UNITED AGAINST CULTURAL ERADICATION
From 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM CEST on Sunday, August 2, the street behind the Chinese Embassy along Adriaan Goekooplaan was transformed into a powerful sea of resistance. Over a hundred Snow Lion flags of Tibet fluttered alongside a memorial exhibition displaying more than 100 portraits and biographies of Tibetan self-immolators under the banner "REMEMBERING TIBETAN SELF-IMMOLATORS." Framed photographs of Pawo Lobga Rangzen were encircled by candles and placards bearing the words "CHINA IS KILLING TIBET" and "PAWO LOBGA RANGZEN: WE WILL NOT FORGET!"
UNITED AGAINST TYRANNY!
UYGHURS, SOUTH MONGOLIANS, CANTONESE, KWANGSIESE, MANCHURIANS, JINLANDERS & DUTCH ANTI-CCP ACTIVISTS STAND WITH TIBET. JUSTICE FOR LOBGA RANGZEN!
Protesters also held vertical white posters directly targeting Beijing's aggressive linguistic and cultural assimilation policies:
CHINA'S "ETHNIC UNITY" LAW = GENOCIDE!
(Featuring a crossed-out "Speak Mandarin" sign with the caption: "One sentence of Mandarin a day assimilates me.")
Mandarin is a Colonial Language!
KEYNOTE ADDRESSES: A SACRIFICE THAT DEMANDS ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Tsering Jampa: "Tibet is Not Going Anywhere; Tibet is Here to Stay"
Opening the proceedings, Tsering Jampa, former Executive Director of International Campaign for Tibet Europe and current Chair of Tibet Support Group NL, delivered an impassioned keynote address, reflecting on four decades of advocacy outside the embassy gates:
"I personally have been coming here over the last almost 40 years. I could almost count the bricks of this road... Why me, one Tibetan refugee, who had to flee Tibet with her parents when I was five years old, and now I am 70? What does it matter that I come here every year? The answer today is that we do represent. We represent six million Tibetans inside Tibet, and our friends from East Turkestan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, Canton, Manchuria—millions and millions.
"Pawo Rangzen is the 178th Tibetan brother or sister since 2009 to self-immolate. People ask how to honor him: it is not enough to simply be emotional and say 'I am a Tibetan.' He gave up his life, and now it is our responsibility to continue this struggle. We must renew our commitment until we reach our goal—whether independence or autonomy.
"Under the guise of the so-called 'Ethnic Unity Law' introduced on July 1st, Chinese Communist Party leaders like Wang Huning visited Tibet to enforce this policy down to elementary schools and monasteries, implying it is a crime to speak Tibetan, a crime to be a Buddhist, and a crime to be a Tibetan. In July, Beijing resumed the night-time demolition of the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Serthar, expelling thousands of monks and nuns under the cover of darkness. But make no mistake, President Xi Jinping: the Tibet issue will never go away as long as Tibetans exist."
Norbu Tsering: Reading the Final Testament of Pawo Lobga Rangzen
Norbu Tsering, President of the Tibetan Community in the Netherlands (Tibetaanse Gemeenschap Nederland), highlighted that August 2 marked the 49th day (Gyu-shi, the traditional 7th-week Tibetan mourning milestone) since Rangzen’s passing. He solemnly read Pawo Lobga Rangzen’s final written statement aloud to the crowd:
*"What I want to say is that communist China's policies and activities in Tibet are targeted at completely destroying the Tibetan people... Those of us in exile need to work much harder. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave us democracy—not for internal disunity, but to advance our national struggle.
"We have been persecuted regardless of whether we belong to Amdo, Kham, or U-Tsang. Today we lack human rights, freedom of speech, and the right to display His Holiness's portrait because we lost our independence. If we regain independence, we will regain everything... My action should not disturb the celebration of His Holiness's upcoming 89th birthday. Celebrate it grandly. Do not mourn for me; if you want to honor me, continue my struggle for Tibetan independence!"
MULTI-ETHNIC AND INTERNATIONAL COALITION STATEMENTS
Representatives from allied nations suffering under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authoritarianism delivered powerful statements of solidarity:
Abdurehim Gheni (President of Stichting Support Uyghurs):
Speaking in Dutch, the prominent Uyghur activist declared:
"The Chinese regime hoped the world would forget the vlammen of Lobga Rangzen and that political silence would prevail. But we tell the dictators in Beijing: his vlammen burn on as a fire of freedom in our hearts! The 'Ethnic Unity Law' is an instrument for forced assimilation and genocide. Standing here today as representatives of East Turkestan, Tibet, Canton, Southern Mongolia, and Guangxi, our unity is the ultimate nightmare of the communist dictators."
Elbereltu Borjigin (Human Rights Activist, South Mongolian Congress):
Extending condolences on behalf of Southern Mongolia, Borjigin issued a formal statement condemning the transnational reach of Beijing’s policies:
"The CCP's 'Ethnic Unity Law' erodes cultural diversity and fundamental freedoms, accelerating forced assimilation in Southern Mongolia, Tibet, East Turkestan, and Hong Kong. Furthermore, its extraterritorial reach extends political pressure beyond China's borders through transnational intimidation. lasting peace requires truth, transparency, and accountability under international law."
Rao Xing (Former Chinese Armed Police Officer from Fujian):
Sharing his personal transformation, Rao stated in Dutch:
"Having served as an armed police officer, I saw the truth of the CCP system under Xi Jinping—a system of mutual harm where people live in fear. The human rights violations against Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Falun Gong practitioners are indisputable facts. I am here today to stand with Tibet and resist the CCP."
Wei Zhijian (Guangxi Independence Movement & Voice of Anti-CCP NL Volunteer):
Representing Southern Chinese regional dissidents, Wei noted:
"Under the banner of 'Ethnic Unity,' the CCP is tightening state control over all ethnic identities. Even after Rangzen’s passing, his hometown remains under heavy military blockade with communications restricted. Standing in free Netherlands, I am more determined than ever that the values of freedom and human rights will overcome tyranny."
DIRECT ACTION: RALLY CONCLUDES WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE "ETHNIC UNITY LAW"
Following the speeches, the crowd gathered to sing "Langsho" ("Rise Up"), the historical anthem of the 1959 Tibetan national resistance, followed by high-energy chants of "Free Tibet! Free East Turkestan! Free South Mongolia! Free Hong Kong!" and "China Lies, People Die!"
In a concluding act of defiance, Norbu Tsering and Tsering Jampa brought forward official copies of Beijing’s Ethnic Unity Progress Law. Before international media cameras and the windows of the Chinese Embassy, leaders from Tibet, East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, Canton, and Taiwan jointly tore the legislative documents into pieces.
"We destroy this paper because we completely reject this colonial law!" declared Norbu Tsering. "This law is the root cause of the destruction of Tibetan language, culture, and all oppressed identities under Chinese control!"
OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY TIBET SUPPORT GROEP NEDERLAND
In a post-event communiqué, Tibet Support Group Nederland affirmed:
*"On the Global Day of Action in memory of Pawo Lobga Rangzen, over 70 Tibetans, community leaders, and international allies united at the Chinese Embassy in Den Haag. Lobga Rangzen set himself on fire in New York just one day after China's new Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress came into force.
"Instead of promoting genuine unity, this law accelerates forced state assimilation affecting Tibetans, Uyghurs, South Mongolians, Hongkongers, and other captive nations. Speakers from across these regions forcefully rejected the law and called on Beijing to repeal it immediately. This gathering was not only an act of remembrance, but a renewed pledge to carry forward Rangzen’s message of unity, courage, and freedom. His sacrifice will not be forgotten; his message will not be ignored."
#FreeTibet#LobgaRangzen#EthnicUnityLaw#HumanRights#StandWithTibet
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