Dharamsala, Feb 27: The largest pro-independence Tibetan group Wednesday launched a series of worldwide anti-China protests to mark “Black Year” for Tibet.
The demonstrations are part of a movement to boycott celebratory activities on Losar or, Tibetan New year, which began Wednesday, as a mark of homage to the martyrs of Tibetan freedom struggle.
In Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibet’s Government in exile, some 50 activists took part in a three-day hunger strike covering the first three days of the New Year.
Six members of the group’s regional chapter in New Delhi also started a similar peaceful hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Another 300 Tibetans from different parts of the city came together at the venue to show their solidarity.
The regional chapter also sent an appeal letter to the Prime Minister of India Dr Man Mohan Singh to alert him on the grave and worsening situation inside Tibet. In the letter the group said that they were observing a “Black Year” for Tibet by not celebrating their New Year, which is, for Tibetans, is the biggest holiday in a year.
“We want to express our solidarity with those who lost their life in last year’s unrest in Tibet and those who still continue to suffer under Chinese repression,” Ugen, president of Samyeling regional youth chapter, told Phayul.
Later in the evening, a candle light vigil was jointly organized by Regional Tibetan Women’s Association and the regional youth congress to offer prayers for the victims of Chinese atrocities in Tibet.
The groups announced that similar peaceful demonstrations were being carried out by its regional chapters around the world, in some cases Chinese embassies and consulates being targets of their protests.
On the second day of the Tibetan New Year, hundreds of Tibetans living in exile staged a clamorous rally in Dharamsala.
The protesters covering their foreheads with black bands participated in the protest march, raising anti-Chinese slogans.
In Kathmandu, Nepal, a group of self-proclaimed Tibetan activists hosted a Tibetan National flag on the wall of Chinese Embassy’s visa section office and painted “Free Tibet” on its entrance gate on Wednesday.
The protests also gain significance as the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan Uprising of 1959, which forced the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama to flee into exile in India, comes close.
Tibetans across India and elsewhere around the world had observed their New Year on Wednesday in quiet defiance and on a mourning note, a year after brutal Chinese crackdown on Tibetan demonstrations in Tibet left many dead and many more either missing or under detention.
Tibetans living in exile contend that Chinese atrocities have increased since the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa in March 2008.
