By Nem Davies
October 13 – Burmese democracy activists have joined an international Tibet Action Camp as of October 10 in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, North India.
The camp is being attended by 43 students, including Burmese activists
The six-day action camp organized by ‘Students for a Free Tibet in Exile’, is being attended by international student activists from different parts of India, Israel and non-Tibet activists and its supporters belonging to Europe campaign groups.
Tenzin Choeying, National Coordinator of SFT, India told Mizzima, “Basically the idea of this camp is to train young people, train our selves for an effective and successful movement”.
He also said that, “In Burma, the situation is more or less the same under the military junta. Everywhere Burmese people in exile are struggling hard to retain their freedom and to restore democracy and freedom in their country. I think it is very important for us in exile to train our selves”.
The participants are being taught some tactics and strategies including organizing blockades, and basic grass root organizing skills.
Lhadon Tethong, an Executive Director of Student for a Free Tibet, based in New York told Mizzima “Some people would consider it even a little radical. We don’t, if we look at what the other side is doing, for instance the Chinese Government and the Burmese junta. If we look at what the oppressor does to the people by violent means, ours are small demonstrations, hanging banners and blockades. They are effective because they are strong but they are not radical, neither are they crazy actions. These are necessary for the greater cause “.
She also said that, “for non-violent movements to be effective and powerful, it does not mean you just sit back quietly. Just protest, you have to think what is the best way we can draw attention to our message and speak out against our enemy or oppressor. It is direct people’s power.”
Students for a Free Tibet have been working to help the Tibetan people regain their freedom since 1994
The total Tibetan population in Tibet is 6 million. Of them, 2.09 million live in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and the rest in the Tibetan areas outside TAR.
Nearly 80,000 Tibetan refugees are living in exile primarily in India.
