Today (7th April, 2004) marks the sixth day of the Tibetan Youth Congress led indefinite hunger strike outside the United Nations headquarters. The three determined Tibetan hunger strikers, though loosing their weights by not taking any food for the last 6 days are so committed and in high spirit that until their legitimate demands are fulfilled. They plan to continue on fasting even at the cost of their life. From the first day of the strike, the Tibetans and every passerby as a mark of solidarity and support continuously visited them. Mrs. Bobby Nasser, NGO Human Rights coalition visited the spot of the Hunger Strikers and expressed her concerns and wishes. Many more prominent personals also visited the hunger strikers with their genuine support. The TYC also able to get contact with the office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in United Nations building.
As a token of support and solidarity to the hunger strike movement, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress New York and New Jersey has organized a huge rally in front of United Nations headquarters, where more than hundreds of Tibetans gathered and shouted anti-Chinese slogans. The rally begun with the introductory speech by Mr. Kunga Thinley, President of RTYC New York and New Jersey followed by an address by Mr. Kalsang Phuntsok, President of Central TYC to the gathering. The speech of Mr. Kalsang Phuntsok focused on the importance of hunger strike in a freedom struggle movement with special reference to the past history of hunger strike movement and he also addressed about the worsening situation of human rights in Tibet and the need of every Tibetans to shoulder greater responsibilities to struggle for Tibet’s independent movement. He further acknowledges the three hunger strikers for offering their precious life for the cause of Tibet and also to all the supporters of the TYC led indefinite hunger strike.
Later, outside the United Nations building, a huge and glorious Tibetan National flag encircled by over hundreds of Tibetan demonstrators with small Tibetan and United States National flag raised vociferous slogans such as ‘Long live H.H. the Dalai Lama’, ‘Tibet for Tibetans’, ‘Chinese Quit Tibet’, ‘Release Panchen Lama’, ‘Stop Killing of Tulku Tenzin Delek and Release all political prisoners in Tibet’, ‘Wake up! United Nations’, etc. The cry of the over hundreds of Tibetan demonstrators reverberates the entire area with a force that command the attention of all bystander and the locals. The slogan raising continued for over three hours outside the UN building. The rally also includes distribution of thousands of pamphlets to the entire bystander. Finally the rally concluded with prayers and singing of Tibetan National Anthem and subsequently all the Tibetan demonstrators joined the chain hunger strike in support of the three hunger strikers.
Besides in the 60th Session of UN Commission on human rights in Geneva on April 7, Mr. Jamyang Choephel, International Relations Officer of Central TYC represented to the 60th Session and where he had presented the oral statement along with the copy of statement on Item 13 on the Rights of child with special reference to the case of XIth Panchen Lama, the world youngest political prisoner of conscience and about the ongoing hunger strike movement and it was well received by many delegates showing serious concerns on the continued violation of human rights in Tibet. Mr. Jamyang further met the representatives of the member states of UNCHR with an appeal letter urging their support to meet the demands of TYC led hunger strike in New York.
