Tibetans in Switzerland Hold Peaceful Protest Outside UN Office in Geneva to Mark 49th Day Since Martyrdom of Lobga Rangzen

On 22 August 2026, Tibetans in Switzerland gathered in front of the United Nations Office at the historic Palais des Nations in Geneva to mark the 49th day following the self-immolation of Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen and to hold a peaceful demonstration calling international attention to China’s continued repression in Tibet, particularly through the enactment of the “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress.”

The protesters first assembled in front of Palais Wilson, the headquarters of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), before peacefully marching towards the Palais des Nations. They carried placards and chanted slogans condemning the PRC’s new assimilative legislation.

Representative Thinlay Chukki of the Office of Tibet (Geneva), the Abbot of Rikon Monastery, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s former Special Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, former Representative Kelsang Dorjee, and members of Tibetan communities from across the Swiss Confederation participated in the protest.

As the march concluded at the United Nations Office, Representative Thinlay Chukki addressed the gathering, emphasising the need for Tibetans to also chant slogans in English, French, and German to raise awareness among the wider community in the region. She further highlighted the importance of carrying forward the final messages of Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen and expressed her appreciation to everyone who participated in the demonstration.