DHARAMSHALA, August 27:The famous Indian tourist destination of Goa welcomed the Tibetan ‘Flame of Truth’ with open arms as politicians, social activists, students, and an Indian freedom fighter raised the torch in support of Tibet.
The south India leg of the torch relay was received in the Goan capital of Panaji by the Honourbale speaker of Goa Assembly, Rajendra Arlekar.
Tibetan member of parliament, Karma Yeshi briefed the Honourable Speaker on the critical situation inside Tibet and explained the demands of the ‘Flame of Truth’ torch relay.
Speaker Arlekar expressed his sympathy and solidarity with the Tibetan people and signed the relay petition urging the United Nations to discuss the issue of Tibet based on its earlier resolutions, to send an independent international fact-finding delegation to Tibet and to take special responsibility to ensure that the basic aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet are fulfilled.
The Speaker added that it is the moral responsibility of everyone to support the Tibetan struggle.
The torch delegation led by MP Yeshi also met other political leaders, including the former Deputy Speaker of Goa Assembly Simon D’Souza and the state’s former railway minister Jose Philip D’Souza. Both the leaders expressed their solidarity with the Tibetan cause and signed the campaign petition.
A public meeting for the torch relay was held in Panaji during which Dadu Mandrekar, a long time Tibet supporter spoke about the security threat to India from China occupied Tibet.
Speaking in the same vein, Indian freedom fighter Nagesh Karmali, President of Freedom Fighters’ Association in Goa said that historically Tibet has never been a part of China. “Tibet used to be a free country before,” he said, urging the gathering to support the Tibetan cause.
After the public meeting, actress and social activist Meenacshi Martins and many local Indians joined Tibetans and supporters at Azad Maidan to express their solidarity and signed the Tibet petition.
The torch will then travel to Karwar, district, situated at the border of Goa and Karnataka, from where it will be handed over to the Mundgod Tibetan settlement tomorrow.
The ‘Flame of Truth’ began its global journey on July 6, coinciding with the 77th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to express “solidarity with the courageous and selfless acts” of Tibetans inside Tibet.
The relay, after traveling around hundreds of cities all over the world will conclude on December 10, World Human Rights Day, with the submission of the petitions, simultaneously to the UN Headquarters in New York City, UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and UN information office in New Delhi.
