The aftermath of the deaths and the sufferings of the monks and nuns of Drepung and Gharik Monasteries of Tibet through the repressive Patriotic re-education Campaign by the Chinese Communist Party saw powerful reverberations in the Indian Capital city of New Delhi with over 40 Tibetans including 7 women storming the notorious Chinese Embassy this mornings. Led by the Central Executive Committee of Tibetan Youth Congress, the activists from the RTYC Delhi Youth Hostel, RTYC Samyelling and RTYC Dharamshala converged on the Embassy with the cries of “Stop killing in Drepung Monastery”, “ Free Tibet”, “ Release immediately the arrested monks and nuns in Tibet” and “Stop the Patriotic re-education Campaign in Tibet” etc. taking the high security presence by surprise.
The demonstrators, besides raising slogans, scaled the walls of the Embassy and shoved leaflets inside the Embassy and raised banners calling out their demands. The activists also tied themselves to the poles and trees to avoid being taken away by the security forces. A group of protesters put their spray paints to good effect by painting the entire walls surrounding the Embassy with “FREE TIBET” slogans to remind the Chinese of the rightful owner of Tibet. The demonstration that continued for over half an hour attracted the attentions of the Embassy staff and the vehicles passing by resulting in the traffic jam in the vicinity.
Amongst the activists, Mr. Dawa Tsering and Mr. Pasang Tsewang from Dharamshala accompanied TYC President Godrukpa Kalsang Phuntsok and scaled the gates and entered the premises of the Embassy. They shouted slogans, raised banners and protested against the illegal and inhuman torture of the Tibetans inside Tibet and also demanded the staffs and the Security personals of the Embassy, a meeting with the Ambassador for a response for the ongoing repression and fateful developments in Tibet. They handed over a Memorandum calling for the end of Patriotic re-education Campaign in Tibet and sought the release of all arrested monks and nuns in Tibet. The memorandum also called for the re-induction of the detained monks in their respective monasteries.
Mr. Kalsang and others were severely manhandled and confronted by the staff and the security personals of the Embassy and were subsequently arrested after a prolong demonstration and resistance inside the premises. However the activists succeeded in speaking their demands to the staffs and warned that any further repression in Tibet would be met with more responses from the Tibetans in the Diaspora. They clearly signaled to the Chinese that the Tibetans all over the world would not remain silent for such incessant repression against its innocent fellow brothers. Over 26 activists were later arrested and taken away to the nearby Chanakya Police Station. A case was also lodged against the demonstrators for the security violation. Major electronic and print medias were present there during the whole demonstration to cover the event.
The Tibetans were protesting against the recent expulsions, arrests, killings and even suicides of monks and nuns in Tibet, following the intensification of the “Patriotic Re-education” campaign which requires every Tibetan monks and nuns to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a “Separatist” and accept “Tibet as a part of China”. The most recent case is of a suicide committed by two monks and the arrest of around 70 from Drepung Monastery. The two monks were compelled to take this sacrilegious step after being repeatedly confronted by the Chinese “Work Team” officials during the “re-education sessions to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a “Separatist” and accept “Tibet as a part of china”. There are also reports that around 120 nuns of Gharig Nunnery held protests against communist China’s notorious campaign.
Tibetan Youth Congress demands the immediate termination of the “Patriotic re-education campaign” in Tibet, and the immediate release and reinstatement of the arrested monks and nuns.
Tibetan Youth Congress also urge the friends and supporters of the Tibetan cause and the international community not to lose sight of our commitments to Tibet with politically defined perceptions but to heed and respect the aspirations of the Tibetan people of complete independence unto which our brethrens in Tibet continue to sacrifice their blood and life.
