By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, October 4: The eight Tibetan college students who have been on fast since October 1, entered the fourth day of their hunger strike today amidst reports of self immolation in Ngaba and mass protests in Kardze.
The seven-day hunger strike, organised by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), Rohini, Delhi began October 1 at Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital of New Delhi.
The three girls and four boys are demanding an immediate end to the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet which have lead to the self immolation of five Tibetan monks this year alone.
“We can’t remain silent spectators. We demand China to immediately stop its inhuman policies in Tibet and we ask world leaders to step up and help us in our fight for justice,” said Palden Sonam, one of the hunger strikers.
The young college students who have lost 3 to 4 kgs in the past four days are also demanding China to allow an international fact finding delegation to visit Tibet to assess the real situation inside Tibet.
Organisers of the hunger strike told Phayul that they submitted memorandums to the Embassies of all UN veto power nations including the Chinese.
“Our memorandum was accepted by all the Embassies but the Chinese Embassy in Delhi refused to give us a receipt,” said the organisers.
RTYC executives also visited several top Indian government officials, including the office of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the office of former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to submit memorandums.
Tibetans and supporters the world over have been carrying out protests and campaigns in support of the sacrifices being made by Tibetans inside Tibet.
The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, in a statement today expressed fear that self immolation by desperate Tibetans will increase if the Chinese government fails to address their grievances.
“We urgently appeal the international community, including the United Nations, various government, NGOs, and other global institutions to call upon the People’s Republic of China to immediately cease its wrong and discriminating policies in Tibet,” the Tibetan parliament said.
