Bhopal, April 11 – Dozens of locals in Bhopal who are supporters of the Tibetans took to streets in Bhopal today to protest against Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s ongoing visit to the country.
Holding banners and placards, the activists shouted slogans against Wen demanding rights of the Tibetans in their homeland. The protestors called for stopping of genocide and illegal occupation of Chinese in Tibet.
“Dalai Lama has a political compulsion. Tibet is in great danger today. The Chinese have settled most of their people in Tibet, so in the coming year, their race will become extinct. Dalai Lama has appealed to the whole world, but has not been able to gather much support. So we are supporting him,” said Mahesh Yadav, an activist.
Beijing has recently turned down the Dalai Lama’s peace overtures saying he continues to pursue secessionist ideas.
The Dalai Lama, who says he wants real autonomy for Tibet, has said it could remain a part of China, but Beijing has rejected Hong Kong model of autonomy for Tibet.
Thousands of Tibetans, including their spiritual leader Dalai Lama, fled their homeland after Chinese troops marched into Tibet in 1950. About 130,000 Tibetan refugees are now settled in different parts of India with their headquarters in Dharamsala.
