The Effigy of Hu Jintao and Chinese flags burnt in the state’s capital
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Shimla organized a huge protest march in the state’s capital to mark the 48th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising. Braving the inclement weather and heavy downpour, around 600 protestors including monks, resident Tibetans, school students and Indian supporters marched for approximately 13 kms across the hill station carrying flags, banners and placards, and distributing pamphlets. Lead by a van carrying a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and replica of Chinese brutalities in Tibet, the procession walked passed various important administrative centers including Secretariat, Police Headquarters, High Court, DC office and Collectorate.
The demonstration also witnessed the participation of more than 50 Indians supporters who carried banners expressing their support and augmented the noisy anti-China slogans. After several hours of procession the protest march finally converged into a mass gathering at the Sher-e-Punjab chowk near Mall, where representatives from various Indian support groups including Mr. Tarsem Bharti (Vice-President, Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch), Mr V. S. Negi (General Secretary, Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society) and Mr. Narender Kumar (Information Secretary, Rashtriya Swem Sevak Sangh) expressed their support for the Tibetan cause and negated China’s claim over Tibet. After a speech by Mr. Tsering Dhundup (PRO, Tibetan Youth Congress), the effigy of Hu Jintao and Chinese national flags were burnt and reduced to ashes while the Protestors continued shouting ‘Free Tibet’ Slogans.
“If China wants the struggle of the Tibetans to be a ‘fight till death’ – TYC welcomes it. TYC welcomes it with the faith that if and when required Tibetans everywhere are willing to face death in the struggle for our nation. TYC welcomes it with the strong conviction that there is not death to truth, that truth of Tibetan independence will triumph.”
