DHARAMSHALA, April 3: Over a hundred of Tibetans attended the global solidarity vigil at the Martyr’s Pillar in Dharamshala to honour Drupchen Tsering aka Druptse on the 49th day of his death.
“We are holding this global vigil for Drupchen Tsering to pay our respect for his sacrifice for the freedom of Tibet … Tsering’s self-immolation also called for an immediate action by international community to end the crisis in Tibet,” said Lamsang, General Secretary of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress-Dharamshala.
Druptse, a Tibetan monk set himself on fire near the holy stupa of Boudhanath in the heart of Nepalese capital city Kathmandu on February 13. He died on the same day.
Despite repeated appeals from Tibetans and their supporters to release the body of Druptse, the Nepalese authorities have secretly cremated his body on Monday, March 25 in violation of a fundamental Tibetan tradition of funeral prayers and last rites essential for the dead.
In its joint statement, the organizers said, “China’s influenced on Nepal, particularly on this incident which violated the Customary International Laws, Rule 116, compiled by the International Committee of the Red Cross, echoes the Geneva Convention which Nepal ratified and acceded to in 1964, which requires that religious practice be followed if at all possible with regard to disposal of the deceased.”
“This [Druptse’s] incident highlights the extent of China’s stranglehold over Nepal, and the precarious situation of Tibetan refugees even after escaping from Chinese-occupied Tibet,” said Dorjee Tseten, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet, India.
The vigil was organized by the regional chapters of Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association and Students for a Free Tibet-India.
Similar solidarity prayer vigils are being held in the US, UK and Canada.
