Celebration for Serfs Emancipation Day starts in Tibet

Source: Xinhua | 03-28-2009 10:17

LHASA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- A grand ceremony celebrating Tibet's first Serfs Emancipation Day started at 10 a.m. Saturday at the square in front of the Potala Palace in Tibet Autonomous Region.

A Chinese national flag flicks at the square in front of Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 26, 2009. A grand celebration  ceremony will be held here at 10:00 a.m. local time on March 28 to mark the first Serfs Emancipation Day. (Xinhua/Chogo)

The meeting was presided over in both Tibetan language and Mandarin by Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the regional government of Tibet who was dressed in a traditional Tibetan robe. It was attended by about 13,280 people.

After the national flag was hoisted against the backdrop of the grand Potala Palace and snow-capped mountains in the distance, representatives of former serfs, soldiers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and students delivered speeches.

Tsondre, a 69-year-old farmer on the suburb of Lhasa, recalled changes of his life after the democratic reform.

"I was born to a serf's family, and was made a monk in the Sera Monastery when I was young," said the old man, adding that as a witness, he would never forget his tragedy.

He was at the bottom of the strata in the monastery, doing all kinds of chores throughout the year, but couldn't get enough food.

"Due to starvation, many people like me went out to beg for food, but if we were discovered by monks at upper levels, we could be clubbed or cowhided."