Camp Hale Commemoration
September 30, 2010It's been busy since my last post. I've shot a few more interviews, which I'll post excerpts from in October. But the main story this month was the commemoration for the Tibetan freedom fighters and their CIA instructors at Camp Hale, Colorado on September 10. Ken Knaus, one of the instructors and project managers for the Tibetan Task Force, worked with Colorado Senator Mark Udall to install a plaque in memory of the Tibetan's training by the CIA there.
At almost 10,000 feet altitude, Camp Hale was originally used for training by the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division during WWII, then underwent preparations in 1958 for training some 265 Tibetans by the CIA which began in May 1959 and ended in November 1964. Many trainees were killed after returning to fight in Tibet. Perhaps 20 or so are still alive today, 5 of which were able to come to ceremony.
It was a remarkable day--an historic day actually-- the first time the US has ever officially acknowledged the CIA's operation with the Tibetans. Many flew in from all parts of the US and Canada to attend. Unfortunately there wasn't enough notice for those in India and Nepal to make travel arrangements, and many were sadly disappointed about that, including myself. Some who did attend expressed a wish that the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamsala, India would also commemorate the sacrifices their resistance fighters made. Since this subject is not politically correct for many in the Tibetan hierarchy, we'll see if that ever happens. If so, you know I'll have a camera crew there if I can.
It was a hard task compressing the whole afternoon into this 10 minute video. Some speeches couldn't be included, and I could only take short bits from those I showed. Basically I wanted to get the gist of the day, but if time permits, I'll try to post some more excerpts in the future. There's also a photo album of the event-- click here to view it on the Kefiblog Facebook page.
Below is the main list of attendees at the event.
Colorado Senator Mark Udall and staff: Jennifer Barrett, National Security Advisor/Deputy Legislative Director; Matt Sugar, Regional Director, Central Mountain Region
Camp Hale Translators/Trainees (including their American training names): Pema Wangdue (Pete); Tashi Paljor (Noel); Sonam Wangchuk (Lee); Tashi Chutter (Mark); Chime Namgyal (Conrad)
Camp Hale Instructors: Kenneth Knaus; Ray Starke; Don Cesare; (Roy Clarkston was represented by Command Sargent Major Harold E. Caldwell)
Descendants of Tibetan trainees/fighters: Doma Norbu, daughter of Athar Norbu, translator and instructor at Camp Hale; Karma Namgyal, President of NYC Chushi Gangdruk; Sonam Wangchuk, son of Pema Wangdue (listed above); Sonam Yangzom, daughter of Ratu Ngawang, Commander in the Chushi Gangdruk army
Descendants of CIA officers: Kevin McCarthy, son of Roger McCarthy; PJ Whelan, step-daughter of Roger McCarthy, and her daughter Chelsea; Julie Holober, daughter of Frank Holober; Lisa Cathey, daughter of Clay Cathey (also producer of this blog and the upcoming documentary "CIA in Tibet"); Kelly Witchey, daughter of Roy Clarkston, and her daughter Brianna
Authors/Scholars: Carole McGranahan, Author and Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder; Warren Smith, Radio Free Asia; Jamyang Norbu, independent Author/Blogger (also a member of the Mustang operation in Nepal)
Local Tibetan Americans: Nawang Sherap, Treasurer, Tibetan Association of Colorado, and other members
Forest Service: Dave Neely, District Ranger, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, White River National Forest; Buck Sanchez; Bill Kite; Andrea Brogan
International Campaign for Tibet: Todd Stein, Director, Government Relations
[...] Here's a video from the protest in Washington, DC, which began at the Chinese Embassy and ended at the White House. Speakers include the president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tsewang Rigzin; two members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Minnesota, President Jigme Ugen and Sangay Taythi; as well as Jamyang Norbu, noted writer/activist/blogger (and in previous postings here and here). [...]
[...] that same request to Colorado Senator Mark Udall after his speech at the Camp Hale ceremony (click here for my digested video from that [...]
the dalai lama was alive n kicking in exile since 1959
100% credit goes to the khampa independence warriors
tibetan govt in exile established since then
100% credit goes to the khampa independence warriors
tibetan movement(?) goes on in exile FOR 51 YEARS
100% credit goes to the khampa independence warriors
prior to granting asylum to the dalai lama by india
indian forces were rounding up ‘illegal’ tibetans in india
in preparation to deporting them back to china-occupied-tibet
AS IF WE WERE MEAT TO BE THROWN INTO THE TIGER’S MOUTH
lithang athar sent a message to america
america then sent a message to india
india then gave asylum to the dalai lama and our parents
the fact that we tibetans in exile are alive and doing what we do
is all due to the immense sacrifices made by the khampa independence warriors
we owe them our lives!
give them their due respect
no matter what our official policy is or
what cholka they belong
not many are left now
we must thank them
jamyang norbu and lhasang tsering!
chushigangdruk, old or new or both
can give them grand recognition
chushigangdruk can ask other tibetan ngos
to do the same
chushigangdruk can demand the same from tgie
don’t blame people!
blame tgie
get it upright!
let’s begin with tenshug for all the REMAINING WARRIORS
shoot straight!
join or support
Tibetan National Rangzen and Mangtso party
and we will erect busts for the unsung khampa independence heroes in dhasa
we will give them independence gold medals and ribbons
we will give them silver certificates
even then it is not enough
FOR THEIR SACRIFICE KNOWS NO MEASURE
we will remember them in our heart day and night
even then it is not enough
for their sacrifice knows no measure
we will follow them with courage in action for independence
to the last man
WHEN WE ACTUALLY DO LIKE THEY DID WHEN DESTINY CALLED THEM
that’s when we will hear the souls of the dead unsung KHAMPA AMDO UTSANG independence heroes rising!
from heaven or hell, RISING FOR SURE
THANKING us for giving rebirth to the sacred political independence lineage
FORGIVING us for being so late, so weak and so untrue for so long…
RISE AND RISE AGAIN
UNTIL LAMBS BECOME LIONS!
INDEPENDENCE; NO MORE, NO LESS!
Thank you for this short video which documents the contributions made by the great freedom fighters with the help of the American Government.
It is sad that our own Tibetan Government has for the most part ignored these heroes and as a Tibetan I am so proud of Doma for her passion and her eloquence.