Trans-himalayan Peace March for the Tibet

Dharamsala to Leh ( Ladakh) - June and July, 2002

Presented by Benjamin LISAN

   

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Previous two walking took place in France:

· " March of the Tiger " (“Marche du Tigre”) from Lyons to Marseille in 96

· " Tibetan Transalpine" (“Transalpine Tibetaine”) in 2000 from Nice to Geneva, through the French Alps.

We had idea in September, 2000, having participated in " Transalpin ", to renew a walking, associating Tibetans and Occidental in the Himalayas.

The route of Dharamsala to Leh, meaning the “return of the Tibetans in the Tibet”.

Its duration of almost 2 months (45 days) and its "sportsmanship" (5 pass to more than 5000 m height, and 2 pass in more than 4500 m, some of the days of more than 10 hours of walking, its strong “made uneven”, certain of more than 1300 m in a day …) had been chosen so that one does not confuse this walking with a simple tourist trek.

The association was create on November 5, 2001 with Suzon CHASSEUIL, Michel GIGNOUX, Michel ASSAILLIT and the organizer Benjamin LISAN.

We met at first many difficulties for the organization: financial, material difficulties, difficulty of finding supports. 

 

The organizer launched announcements by Internet at the level of the pro-Tibetan associations and also at the level of the globe-trotters association “at the End of the World” (ABM, “Aventure au bout du monde”), France - Tibet, " Lion of Snows " (“Lions des Neiges”) of Lyons (France) and certain members of associations helped us.

There were at first more than 60 candidates.

We at first organized one certain numbers of walking of training _ at first in Paris region _ and to assure the cohesion of the group and because this walking required a high level of sports training.

 

The candidates being distributed in all France, we met the first time, in February, 2002, in Jura, near Metabief, for a long walking on the “Golden mountain” (Mont d’Or). Then, we renewed the other walking, of which the one, in May, with rackets, of Contamines-Montjoie, in Savoy, until the refuge of the Chap Pass (Col du Bonhomme), with association " Lion of Neiges Mont Blanc ".

Every meeting was the occasion to organize a balance of promotion of the project.

We chose the Tibetan trek agency of Manali " Changrila Adventurer " and his director Tsering DORJEE, for their seriousness and their good knowledge of the region. A strong help was so brought by Sonam Dhondup, a strong support.

Without sponsors, all the walkers even financed they totally this walking.

From Paris, on June 12, we were 10 French walkers (six having withdrawn at the last moment, because of the risk of the Indo-Pak conflict). There were 3 women (Aurelie, journalist, 25 years, Christine, shoemaker, 30 years, Huguette, educative staff, 40 years), 6 people (Jean-Pierre, civil engineering, 65 years, Joel, 55 year old, farmer, Maurice leader of  in the French railway, 55 years, Pascal, 33 years, educative staff, Sebastien, studying in mathematics, 22 years, Benjamin, information scientist, 45 years).

 

A walker, Sandrine journalist (35 years), was already on the spot, for a week, to anticipate problems. Marine student in Arts ( 21 years), our water colourer, in front of us to join in 2 weeks later, to Manali.

On June 12 in the evening in the arrival in India, we were received with Tibetan Youth Congress of Delhi and his president Mr . NORBU.

After a route by bus, we arrived on June 14, at Dharamsala.

In the afternoon of June 14, a joint press conference with our association, was organized with Tibetan Youth Congress, for the journalists.

This same day, we chose 4 Tibetan walkers, 3 political ex-prisoners, members of Gu-Chu-Sum (associations of Tibetan ex-political prisoners) _ 30 year old Gynsang, needlewoman, 30 year old Nandol, needlewoman, Ngawang, monk and painter, 35 years), and a student in English of Tibetan Youth Congress (Ngawang 25 years), to accompany us. We financed their participation, for the totality of the walking.

 

The next day, the 15 june, a big press conference takes place in the Dharamsala's big Temple, in honour of our group. It is chaired by Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, professor Samdhong Rinpoche and by the secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress and other important personalities of the tibetan community. 300 Tibetans and journalists are present.

After the conference and Kataghs's offered for the walkers by tibetan authorities, a symbolic walking of 5 km, with hundred Tibetan walkers, goes of the Big Temple downward Dharamsala, with in front of the march, Palden Gyatso, an ex-political prisoner.

 

We take then a bus for Sherab Ling's gompa, point of departure of the walking. In Yol, we are received by his holiness the Karmapa.

On June 16, we are received by the superior of Sherab Ling's convent “Tai Situ Rinpoche”, the biggest Tibetan convent of the North of India.

On June 17 begins really our walking. We are received warmly by the tibetan community from Bir. Then, during 13 days, we shall cross the green and magnificent mountains of the state of Himachal Pradesh.

We arrive in Manali, the 13th day of march, on June 29, when we are received , by the tibetan community of Manali. On June 30, a conference with the main representatives of Manali's community, of whom Mrs Tsamchoe LHAKHANG, tibetan walfare officer, and Sonam GYALTSO, president of the local Tibetan assembly, is organized in the Big Temple and Manali's gompa.

The next day, 2 French walkers (Sebastien and Maurice) leave us, Marine joins us. About forty Tibetans accompanies us on several km in Manali's exit. Embraces and tears at the time of the separation.

We cross, 2 days later, on July 2, the Rhotang Pass, 3915 m, marking climatic limit between green Himalaya and desert Himalaya (Lahaul, Zanskar, Ladakh). We reach the Chandratal Lake (lake of the Moon, 4010 m) on July 6, anniversary of its holiness the Dalai Lama, whom all the walkers and the trek staff celebrate in the mess tent.

We cross several 5000 m pass, being always more than 4000 m and beautiful mineral regions. We shall cross several totally deserted winter villages (Dat, Yackbu …). Our highest bivouac will be for Nimaling in 4800 m. We reach Hemis's convent on Saturday , July 27. The next day, we have beeen received by the monks of THIKSEY's gompa.

This same day on July 28, we arrive at the tibetan colony of Choglamsar, where waits for us a welcoming committee of tibetans authorities, of the tibetan camp, receiving us with a lot of kindness. We learn that a committee we waited several days, in vain, in Pang's village, on the road of Manali to Leh, situated in 60 km of Leh, during several days, further to a bad communication.

The next day, we are received by Mr. Dawa T. NAWA, director of CHOGLAMSAR'S SOS TIBETAN CHILDREN VILLAGE, having 2000 pupils, that we visit. We shall put back them our bag of 10 km of medicines, constituted by various gifts and school goods, offered by the senator de BROISSIA and by the walkers. Moreover, on the route of this walking, we have realized a certain number of humanitarian operations with the nomads and the villagers _ gifts of medicines to local doctors, school goods, glasses, clothes.

After a wait day, the Indian police, gives us the license to march past silently with the Tibetans, from Choglamsar to Leh, 7 km of march, on July 31. The tail is constituted by 400 Tibetans, on more than a km on the road. Even pregnant women participate in the walking. We arrive then in Big Temple Buddhist de Leh, for a conference with all the local tibetan authorities. Kataghs were offered. It was the end of the walking. Many tears at the Tibetans.

Then in the evening, reception in the restaurant by authorities tibétaines.

 

The 1/7, a bus drives us to Manali, by the highest second road of the World. To Manali, one still offers us residence, as in Dharamsala and Leh.

Then another bus returns us to Dharamsala, where we arrive the evening and when we have the surprise to be received, with honors, by authorities and by assembly of hundred Tibetans, in spite of the late hour, in the Big Temple of Dharamsala.

We learn that, on the 40th day of our walking, on July 25, all the tibetans associations organized, in Dharamsala, a "Watched candles", in support of our Peace March.

On July 5, his holiness the DALAI LAMA, receive all the group and the staff, congratulating our courage and our will.

We meet Mrs Dolma GYARI vice-president and Mr. Acharya Yeshi PHUNTSOK, president of " National Democratic Party of Tibet ", in the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.

Gu-Chu-Sum will offer us residence and place setting and a big meal in an excellent restaurant, Tibet hotel, the day before our Dharamsala's departure, on July 9.

It was a big grief to leave our 4 walkers and every Tibetans.

Importing fact, all our walkers shall return in France, with an excellante health.

The magnificent reception of all the Tibetans in India, convinced us still to work more at the Tibet Cause.

 

We shall realize soon exhibitions (panels), conferences (with a slide show and a film) and a book, to present this walking and cause of the Tibet.

We foresee the arrival of our 4 Tibetans for a series of conference in 2003 and certainly the other humanitarian actions, towards the Himalayan populations.

 

We can bring all the wished informations, to associations,  by panels of exhibitions (photos and texts on 8 black panels, 1m x 0,5m), by a slide show, texts, album photo and a future film.

 

Benjamin LISAN,

Organizer of Transhimalayenne,

On September 17, 2002

 


For any information about the association:

TRANSHIMALAYENNE ASSOCIATION (none profit association)

16 rue de la Fontaine du But

75018 PARIS, FRANCE

Tel./fax : +33 1 42 62 49 65

Tel. GSM: +33 6 16 55 09 84

Emails: transhimalayenne@yahoo.com

             benjamin.lisan@free.fr

Web sites: http://www.chez.com/transhimalayenne

 http://trans-himalayenne.ifrance.com

 

Associative bank account:

RIB: Mutual Credit: Bank: 10278 Count: 06039 Count number: 00035853141 Key: 75

IBAN (for those who are abroad): FR76 1027 8060 3900 0358 5314 175