DARJEELING, April 25 — The local Tibetan community brought out a candle-light rally this evening to express solidarity with three young Tibetans who are on an indefinite hunger-strike in front of the UN Headquarters, New York, for the last 23 days.
Highlight the violation of human rights in Tibet by China, the youth on hunger-strike are demanding for the repeal of a death sentence on a Tibetan spiritual leader, Tulku Tenzin Delek, issued by China. They are also demanding that China disclose the whereabouts of the XI Panchen Lama.
The rallyists here today gathered signatures from the public on a petition, drawing the attention of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the “deteriorating condition” of the youth on hunger-strike. “If the young Tibetan hunger-strikers die without anyone paying attention to their demands for truth and justice, it would be a big setback to the culture of non-violence and peace,” the petition stated.
