By Tenzin Sangmo
New Delhi, May 2 – TYC led demonstrations that took the Indian Capital by storm compelling the authorities to deploy over 16,000 armed police officials and riot control personnel leading up to the Olympic torch relay here last month. Number of activists placed under judicial custody in New Delhi run as high as 800. Pro-Tibet and human rights campaigners rallied near the Chinese Embassy, the Le Meridian Hotel where the Olympic torch was guarded after its arrival and broke through the barriers of the venue of the relay at Rajpath just days before the official event.
The 33 activists who had stormed the Chinese Embassy March 21 were booked under Section 147/149/186/188/332/353/448/511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Mr. Ravi Nair, Executive Director of South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center had gone on record stating, “Section 511 is quite harsh and could serve them behind bars for more than 7 years if not get them out on bail”. However, they were later released on April 24 by the court on condition to attend regular judicial hearings.
A batch of 179 Tibetans were released April 29, another 118 on April 30 and a remaining 140 on May 1. Others arrested by the Indian police were either bailed by family and friends or let off on personal bonds by the police.
Meanwhile, the Tibetan Solidarity Committee continues its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar with its ongoing rotational hunger strike. Fifty volunteers from Dharamsala divided into three groups are expected to sit on a three day each (group) hunger strike till May 9. This will be followed by representatives from other northern regions such as Tashi Jong, Bir, Shimla, Kullu Manali, Paonta and so on. May 10 will also mark two months since the Tibetan unrest and subsequent crackdown in TAR by the Chinese government.
