By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, September 10: Two days after China celebrated with great pomp the 50th anniversary of establishment of the so called Tibet Autonomous Region in Lhasa, the largest pro-independence group of the Tibetan exiles today began an indefinite hunger strike in the Indian capital New Delhi.
Three TYC Executive members; Vice President Tamdin Hrichoe, Information and International Relations Secretary Tsewang Dolma and Finance Secretary Tenzin Wangchuk are sitting on indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar from today to draw the world’s attention to the situation inside Tibet and to show solidarity with the Tibetans inside Tibet.
Despite an unprecedented 149 Tibetan people who self immolated inside as well as outside Tibet, the Chinese government has ignored their wishes and demands of the dying Tibetans and reverted to their violent means to suppress the voices of Tibetans, the TYC said. The indefinite hunger strike is a desperate act in the face of unfortunate apathy of the United Nations and the leaders of countries around the world, added TYC.
“However, instead of addressing the demands of these courageous Tibetans, the Chinese government has tightened its control over Tibet and vehemently criticizes the Tibetan spiritual teacher His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” the TYC said in the statement.
TYC demanded that the UN hold China accountable for the actions inside Tibet. They have listed demands that includes urging the United Nations member states to raise the issue of Tibet at its General Assembly and Human Rights Council Session, urging China to address the demands of the Self Immolators in Tibet, urging China to give evidence that the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive, sending a fact finding UN delegation to assess the current critical situation inside Tibet and urging China to release all political prisoners.
At a modest event to officially commence the agitation, Shri Indresh Kumar, member of RSS and Tibet supporter, as the Chief Guest, expressed his support to the initiative of TYC.
Speaking to Phayul, TYC President Tenzin Jigme said, “We have forwarded memorandums to the United Nations office and embassies of various nations urging them to condemn the spate of self immolations as well as the atrocities taking place within Tibet.”
He added, “We are vary of interventions that might forcefully stop the hunger strike like it has been in the past but we have prepared and have discussed those contingencies. We are determined to make this campaign a fruitful one”.
Tibetan Youth Congress has previously organized several indefinite hunger strikes in various cities including New Delhi, Geneva and New York.
