Mysore: May 18: Around 40 monk-volunteers from Sera and Tashi Lhumpo monasteries, based in Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement in south India, staged a 24-hour hunger strike in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here.
The day marks the complete 12th year since the 11th Panchen Lama, the second most revered Tibetan leader was secretly taken into forced captivity by the Communist Government of China on 17th may 1995 in Tibet.
The hunger strike began at 10:00 in the morning yesterday and concluded this morning at the same time.
The sit-in protest was staged under the organised leadership of Mr Jampa, representative of Central Association of Panchen Lama, Mr Tsewang, representative of Monks Voluntary Freedom Activists Association, Blakuppe, and Miss Thinlay Chukki, a Kannada translator by profession.
Around 4:00 pm yesterday, they submitted a memorandum to the District Commissioner, requesting him to forward the appeal letter to His Excellency Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of UN, through the Government of India. A copy of the memorandum was also faxed directly to the UN Secretary General’s Office.
Later at 6.30 pm, the volunteers held a candle light vigil. Members of the Mysore Tibetan Business group and few Tibetan students from Mysore joined the march. The business group sponsored candles and mineral water supply to the protesting members.
The protesters remained peaceful and offered long life prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.
A 14-year old monk, Lobsang Jigme from Sera monastery, who was at the hunger strike, feels ” firstly being a Tibetan” and “secondly being a monk” are two reasons that drived him to take part in it.
Like any other Tibetan, young Jigme is eagerly hopeful of seeing Panchen Lama in person someday.
Following is the list of demands included in the Memorandum
▪ Immediate release of Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima and all other political prisoners.
▪ Freedom for Panchen Lama to pursue traditional spiritual training and studies in Tashi Lhunpo monastery without any interference from Chinese government
▪ Chinese leaders must give up hard-line attitude towards Tibetan issue and must immediately meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to discuss Tibetan issues without any precondition
▪ Restore human rights in Tibet and stop violation of thought and expression and religious belief and practices.
Based on story forwarded by Thinley Chukki via email
