Dharamsala, February – In a major setback, the march on foot to Delhi of the Tibetan Youth Congress, one of the major Non Governmental Organisations, was stopped by the local police who say they have been directed by the central government.
The march which was to begin from Mcleod Ganj today was disrupted by police at Lower Dharamsala where police forces blocked the marchers from moving ahead. Mr. Shishu Patial, the Additional Superintendent of Police, told reporters that it was a policy matter of the center and that he can not comment on it.
The police also lathicharged the marchers and drove them in two trucks towards the Police Station, said eye witnesses.
Eyewitnesses also say that the Vice President of the Tibetan Youth Congress Tenzin Samphel was manhandled by the police.
Ms. Dolma Choephel, the organisation’s General Secretary told TibetNet that the marchers were locked up in the Dharamsala Police Station this morning.
“We were told that we would be allowed to continue with our march if we acquire permission of the central government.” she added.
“The principle of Satyagraha propounded by Mahatma Gandhi, who is referred to as the father of the nation, was smashed today by Indian police”, said a young marcher.
“We were not taking the law into our hands, we were peacefully saying prayers. There was no provocation for lathicharge,” said another marcher who had come from Bylakuppee settlement.
Meanwhile, members of other Non Governmental Organisations like Gu Chu Sum movement, Tibetan Women’s Association, Students for a Free Tibet are offering their solidarity with the Tibetan Youth Congress by planning a hunger strike outside the police station.
Few members of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies also were present at the police station.
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration, on hearing about the detention of the marchers and gathering of supporters outside the police station, rushed to the site. Shri G.S Bali, the Transport Minister of the state government, accompanied Rinppoche to the office of the local police authorities. Shops and restaurants owned by Tibetans in Dharamsala closed down to display their solidarity to the marchers.
“We were not required to seek the central government’s permission earlier when we took up such marches. We just had to seek the district authority’s permission as we moved from one district to another.” said Pasang Dorjee, who told this reporter that he had taken part in three peace marches. “Post Vajpayee’s China visit last year in June, and the eventual rapprochement between Beijing and New Delhi, I think India is coming under pressure from Beijing”, a Tibetan woman said.
At the time of this report going online, a huge number of Tibetans has gathered outside the police station and were staging a peaceful protest outside the police station demanding that the march be allowed to continue. The marchers have reportedly said that they will sit on hunger strike if they are not allowed to resume their march to the capital.
