The Tibetan Youth Congress-led Indefinite Hunger Strike of fourteen Tibetans at Jantar Mantar in Delhi enters the eighth day. The hunger strikers have become noticeably weak. Two participants have become very pale. The female hunger strikers have developed sunken eyes and have been having dizziness. The health condition of the oldest hunger striker is very weak now.
The President of the TYC, Mr. Kelsang Phuntsok, is on a drive to mobilize the Tibetan people for the mass people’s protest on 8 August 2007 to be held in Delhi. After addressing the Dharamsala public, tomorrow he will make an address at Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement, Mussorie, and then at Rajpur. He briefed the hunger strikers this morning.
Among prominent people who visited the hunger strikers, Kalon Tempa Tsering, Minister of Information and International Relations (DIIR), cum Representative, Delhi Bureau Office, of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), visited the hunger strikers to express his appreciation for the non-violent method of the movement.
In the wake of an appeal by the hunger strikers to Tibetans living everywhere to participate in the upcoming 8th August 2007 action, Mr. Samten Lhundup, President, RTYC Dharamsala, came with the message from Dharamsala to assure the hunger strikers that there is an overwhelming response from the Tibetan public in Dharamsala (the exile Tibetan headquarters) to the People’s Movement, and that hundreds are committed to participate in the Mass People’s Protest on 8th August 2007.
Mr. Tsultrim Dorjee Chunang, the General Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress briefed the media about the health conditions of the hunger strikers and about the progress of the movement among Tibetans in India, Nepal, Bhutan and abroad. He told the media that as the days of the hunger strike progress, the movement is becoming increasingly popular and gaining momentum among Tibetans.
Young Tibetans are also visiting the hunger strikers in the last few days to empathize with the hunger strikers. Several groups of young people studying in various colleges or working in different fields in Delhi showed up to assure the hunger strikers that they are with them in the struggle. Mr. Sonam Tsering, Tibetan movie actor, who featured in the recent famous Tibetan movie, Richard Gere Is My Hero, came to express his support to the hunger strikers.
There was a heavy downpour of rain accompanied by a strong wind in the afternoon. The wind nearly blew away the tents. Most of the beds and blankets again got drenched.
The executives of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Delhi Samyeling have been actively assisting the TYC Centrex executives from the day one. They have been working with the Centrex Executives shoulder-to-shoulder by keeping aside their chores. Several volunteers are also joining to help the People’s Movement.
The Indefinite Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, is part of the Tibetan Youth Congress-led People’s Movement, pressing demands for accountability from China regarding the Tibet situation. Current updates and photos at http://www.tibetanyouthcongress.org
