February 2012 – In the last recent months in Tibet 23 young people, and among them many monks, set themselves on fire in the name of freedom for their own people.

“Società Libera” states once again its support to the aspirations of the Tibetan People coherently with its own position, which recognizes the centrality of individual liberties and Peoples’ right to self-determination.

We are convinced that it is now time for the Chinese Government to seek any practical solution aimed at lowering, for the moment, the current climate of tension in the view of an acceptable relationship between the two Peoples.

With this purpose “Società Libera” moves an appeal to the men and women of the city of Rome asking them to participate to the silent torchlight night procession on the

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10th of March at 7 pm, in Piazza del Popolo – Rome

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Our mobilization for human rights shall continue in:
Paris, Rome, Berlin, London, Barcelona, Geneva, Stockholm, Oslo, Bruxelles on 13 October 2012 with the
5th International March for the Freedom of Oppressed Peoples and Minorities

00186 – ROME – Piazza della Pigna, 6 – Tel/Fax +39 06 895.38.799
20146 – MILAN – Via Sardegna, 27 – Tel/Fax+39  02 480.28.327
Internet: www.societalibera.org – E-mail: info@societalibera.org

The group was trying to cross the western border of China, to flee from religious repression. A woman in the group had been previously incarcerated for having attended religion training courses. Following this episode the government arrested more than 30 inhabitants of nearby villages, amongst which many relatives of the group which had been previously intercepted.

Società Libera, defending the principle of Liberty, encompassing individual right and self-determination of Peoples, and according to its conception of liberalism which acknowledges the supremacy and centrality of the Person and his/her natural rights, asks the Chinese government to stop the repressive action against the Uyghur people that should be recognized, de facto, its fundamental right to religious freedom.

Società Libera expresses its broadest and concrete support to Rebya Kadeer, spiritual leader of her people, and President of the Committee  promoting our Marches for the Freedom of Oppressed Peoples and Minorities.

The site will be back online with full functionality from the 1st of February 2012 for the 5th March for Freedom of Oppressed Peoples and Minorities. So far we’re doing our best efforts to organize the 2012 march  in 7 cities (Barcelona, London, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Bruxelles, and Oslo).

Wherever you are, our thoughts are with you, let this Christmas be light in your homes and in your hearts.

The Committee will have the function of:
- pursuing the objectives of the March before International Institutions
- organizing the 2012 March for Freedom of Oppressed People and Minorities.

At the moment the 2012 March should involve 6 cities, with the aim of further increasing the number European capitals engaged in this event in the years to come.

The President of the Committee is Ms. Rebiya Kadeer. The Vice Presidents are Mr.Vo Van Ai, President of Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, and Ms. Kalsang Dolker, President of the Tibetan Community in Italy.

Currently, other members of the Committee are:

- Mr. Giulio Giorello, Member of the Scientific Committee of Società Libera
- Mr. Martinho Lubango, Coordinator of the Liberal Forum for the Emancipation of Cabinda
- Mr. Costantino Meskhi, Representative of the Georgian Diaspora in Italy
- Mr. Naing Lin Aung, Member of the Burmese Community in Italy.
- Mr. Vincenzo Olita, Director of Società Libera.
- Ms. Alexandra Rosch, Representative of The Best Friend – Organization in Berlin for Human Rights in Burma
- Ms. Tran Dung Nghi, Public Relations officer of the Vietnamese Youth in Paris and temporarily representing the FPADH ( Fédération des Pays Asiatiques pour la Démocratie et les Droits de l’Homme, Federation of Asian Countries for Democracy and Human Rights), until the FPADH confirms its representative in the Committee.

We are now beginning the first preparatory steps for the 2012 March for the Freedom of Oppressed People and Minorities. At the moment there are 5 cities where the event will be held simultaneously in October 2012. These cities are: Rome, Paris, Berlin (which hosted the 2011 march) together with London and Barcelona.

We are also assessing the possibility of organizing the march in Stockholm (Sweden) and in the capital of a major Asian country.

You can read the plea in different languages by clicking on the links below.
SIGNED PLEA TO THE EU PARLIAMENT (Italian) (German) (French)

TEXT OF THE PLEA IN ENGLISH (download as pdf)

To the President of the European Parliament
To the Honourable Members of Parliament

The Italian Association for the promotion of liberal culture Società Libera, the Transnational Radical Party and the Vietnamese, Burmese, Cabinda, Chinese, Tibetan, Iranian, Laotian, Cambodian, Uyghur communities of Europe, and many others, on the 22nd of October 2011 started the IV International March for the Freedom of Oppressed People and Minorities, a silent initiative which occurred simultaneously in Rome, Berlin and Paris, moved by the belief that the Western World needs to rise and concretely mobilise to denounce the lack of freedom suffered by Men, People and Minorities, last and not least the Christian ones.

Notwithstanding the initiatives dedicated every day to this theme by civil society, we are currently witnessing a worsening of the situation, individual rights are systematically repressed in more than a quarter of UN member countries, and in international relations said individual rights are always subordinated to the economic agenda. Hundreds of millions of people are denied their fundamental right to personal freedom, freedom of speech, thought, religion and self determination.

In conclusion to the initiative of the 22nd  of October, fully convinced that the European Parliament may be a leading example among international institutions and the initiator of concrete initiatives to safeguard Human Rights in the world, we deem necessary to submit a Plea to ask for the institution of a European Day for the Freedom of Oppressed People and Minorities.

We believe that this initiative will be able to involve the people of Europe in the defence of human rights, utterly convinced that it is not enough to express a generic solidarity and worry sporadically for single situations. It is time that the squares of Europe fill up with men and women who are aware of the importance of this issue.

Trusting in your effective interest in this issue, we extend you our best regards.

 Società Libera expresses his support to the commitment and efforts of the Burmese monks by sharing and publishing their requests.

 To the Ashin Sopaka center

To the Prime Minister U Thein Sein,

We, monks and people of Burma, desiring peace and justice, demand the immediate implementation of these three points:

1 – To free all political prisoners currently detained in Burma, including our brothers buddhist monks that were arrested while struggling for peace, liberty and justice.

2 – To stop the ongoing civil war with our ethnic brothers, and begin to work for the construction of a true peace and reconciliation with all ethnic and opposition groups.

3 – To halt all censorship and allow freedom of speech for all monks and people in order to create the inevitable greater good for everybody that will derive from said action.

Sincerely,

 The buddhist monks and all people working for peace

The following links will bring you to the photo galleries of all marches held on October 22, 2011

Photo Gallery of the Rome march (Picasa – Società Libera)

Photo Gallery of the Paris march (Picasa – Società Libera)

Photo Gallery of the Berlin march (Picasa – Società Libera)

The 4th International March for Freedom was successfully held in Paris, Berlin and Rome.

A big thank to everybody who participated to the 3 marches.

The site will be shortly updated with videos and pictures from Berlin, Paris and Rome took on this memorable 22nd of October 2011.

See you all next year!!!!

3rd March – Rome 23 October 2010

2nd March – Rome 24 October 2009

1st March – Rome 30 November 2008