Belleville, New Jersey — The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, says representatives of the Chinese government tried to prevent him from showing solidarity with the Tibetan people and honoring members of the community.
Tibet has been an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China since 1950, but many Tibetans in exile in the United States and around the world say their religion and culture have been suppressed under communist rule. .
Yangchen Nodong, 74, said it brought back painful memories of fleeing from Tibet to Nepal and then India in 1960. She was a 10-year-old orphan when she ran away with her aunt and her younger brother.
“I had to cross a glacier once. I couldn’t cross it to the end, so I had to sleep on the glacier. It was cold. I’ll never forget that moment,” Nodong said.
This year’s Tibetan New Year falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year. Nodong was overjoyed when Mayor Michael Melham agreed to raise the Tibetan flag at his son’s request.
Nodon said, “Despite us being a small town, it means a lot to us that the mayor was kind enough to raise the flag. I’ve never heard of a mayor doing something like this. .It’s truly a wonderful thing.I sincerely thank the mayor.” .
“We are here to thank the mayor of Belleville for affirming our Tibetan identity and standing up to the Chinese Communist government,” said daughter Pema Nodong.
However, the mayor posted information on his social media saying that the Chinese vice consul in New York had contacted him shortly before the ceremony to try to prevent the flag from being raised.
“They urged us to stop and reconsider, but my town attorney, my town manager, the police chief all said to me, “What are you going to do?” I said the flag would be raised at noon,” Melham said.
The Tibetan flag has been banned in Tibet by the Chinese government because it has become a symbol of freedom for exiles like Nodong who continue to demonstrate to keep their culture alive.
“If we continue to strive for independence and identity, Tibetan Buddhist identity, they will end up oppressing the people,” Nodong’s daughter said.
“We stand in solidarity with the Tibetan people and want to let them know that we stand up for everything they stand for,” Melham said.
The mayor said his decision was not political and that he sent a letter back to the Chinese vice consul expressing respect that the flag would be flown in order for the diverse community to respect all voices.