By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, October 1: The 11 monks from Gadhen Jhangtse monastery broke their four-day fast yesterday, marking an end to their month-long march and fasting campaign.
President of Tibetan Youth Congress, Tsewang Rigzin offered the monks juice to break their fast.
The president appreciated the group’s determination, courage and commitment towards the cause of Tibet.
While signaling a spate of major activities to “fight against the Chinese government’s repressive policies inside Tibet,” Rigzin urged the core majority of Tibetans to lend support in the up coming activities.
Referring to the recent self-immolation of two more monks in Tibet, the monk group said that they were “sad” in having to end their fast at a time when the situation inside Tibet is turning from “bad to worse.”
Amnesty International in a statement issued Wednesday had raised strong concerns over the self-immolation of the monks and urged the Chinese government to “immediately end their repressive practices and respect the rights of Tibetans to practice their culture and religion.”
“We are uneducated and economically a group of handicapped people. All we have to offer are our bodies,” said Lobsang Jampa, one of the marching monks while thanking all those who helped them carry out their campaign.
The monks assured of their continued activism and offered support for individuals and organisations carrying out initiatives for the cause of Tibet.
“We are even ready to sacrifice our lives,” the monks said.
Speaking on behalf of a group of six parliamentarians attending the closing ceremony, former youth leader and parliamentarian Karma Yeshi acknowledged the “great determination” displayed by the monks and said more of such initiatives were needed.
The 11 monks started their march cum hunger strike campaign from the Indian city of Pune on September 3.
In their month long campaign, the monks carried out marches and hunger strikes in six major India cities and marched the last leg of their campaign from Chandigarh to Dharamshsla (approx. 230 kms) before sitting on the four-day hunger fast.
