DHARAMSHALA, JUNE 9: Hundreds of Tibetan exiles and Indian supporters on Sunday were stopped by the police at Majnu ka Tilla Tibetan Colony in the Indian capital as the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi began his two day India visit.
The largest pro independence group of the Tibetan Diaspora, the Tibetan Youth Congress, has however welcomed Wang’s visit, a move quite unusual from the group that had led the largest of protests against visiting Chinese leaders in the past. “TYC is pleased to hear about Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s upcoming visit to India. While we acknowledge that the visit will mainly consist of talks in regards to the overall benefits of the two nations, we urge you to speak to your Chinese counterpart on the issue of Tibet,” said Tenzin Jigme, TYC president.
The TYC had planned a protest by around 500 people near the Chinese Embassy on Sunday but were cordoned off by the police at Majnu ka Tilla Tibetan Colony.
The TYC has urged the Indian PM Narendra Modi to raise the issue of Tibet with Wang. The TYC, in a statement, appealed the Indian PM to “help bring about immediate and positive change for Tibet as well as India. “We believe that a lasting peace and security for India lies only in a free Tibet. A Tibet without China’s military presence is the only assurance you can have of an India free from constant Chinese incursions as well as ludicrous claims on the borders,” said Tenzin Jigme.
Meanwhile, the Students for a Free Tibet has appreciated the Indian PM’s invitation to Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay to his swearing in ceremony saying that Sangay’s presence at Modi’s oath-taking event has sent “a strong and clear statement on its stand on Tibet.”
“China’s imperialist and draconian plans for regional domination now expands beyond Tibet with the incursions by Chinese troops on Indian Territory in Eastern Ladakh, conflict surrounding Arunachal Pradesh or rerouting of the Brahmaputra River. With the growing security and border tensions between India and China, Tibet’s freedom is the only viable and permanent solution to the conflict,” said Dorjee.
“We ask the Government of India to issue a strong statement in light of the current human rights violation, the provocative policies and crisis in Tibet. It’s time now for the Government of India to devise a counter-strategy by reinforcing the issue of Tibet in the talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi,” said Rashi Jauhri, Deputy Program Director of Students for a Free Tibet-India. “I urge my new government to deal China with strength by bringing Tibet’s issue on table. Tibet’s freedom is India’s security.”
