Chilly wind blowing down the white mountains jostled the five coloured prayer flags hung outside the TYC led Indefinite Hunger Strike tent, carrying with it the blessings of the imprint holy scriptures and prayers for a free Tibet. ‘Lung-ta’ – windhorse gallops Turin, whistling through the streets, cajoling the international contingent of over 5000 athletes and journalists with the demand of the three hunger strikers of ‘No Olympics in China Until Tibet is Free’.
The third day of the Indefinite Hunger Strike at San-pietro-in-Vincoli, Turin began with prayer session led by Ven. Palden Gyatso la, joined by his two compatriots Tamdin Choephel and Sonam Wangdue and Pema Yangchen, Organisational Secretary of TYC and the Coordinator of the ongoing Indefinite Hunger Strike. Despite cold weather conditions, supporters, well wishers and journalists continued to pour in at the hunger strike tent to show their solidarity with the demands of the three hunger strikers. The hunger strike tent adorned with Tibetan national flags, prayer flags and banners advocating the demands of the TYC Indefinite hunger strike has, within a few days become the central point of ‘Free Tibet’ activism at the winter games.
The third day of the hunger strike experienced a greater rush of visitors and journalists as two honourable members of the Italian Parliament visited the holy site to show their solidarity and voice their support for the hunger strikers. Mrs. Laura Cima, Green Party and Mr. Bruno Mellano, Radical Party, both members of the Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet (IPGT) after being warmly received with traditional Tibetan white scarf conveyed to the hunger strikers, the support of the IPGT for their sacred mission. They also informed the hunger strikers of the recent demand put forward by the IPGT to the Italian government to pressurize the Chinese government to improve its human rights record in Tibet and China and further expressed their will to participate in the ongoing Indefinite Hunger Strike campaign. Both Mrs. Laura Cima and Mr. Bruno Mellano have visited Dharamshala, the seat of the exile Tibetan government and residence of H.H. the Dalai Lama and have had parleys with representatives of TYC during their official visits as representatives of IPGT. The Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet comprises of more than 160 members of parliament from all the political parties in both the houses of the Italian Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Mr. Paolo Phobbiati, President of Amnesty International, Italy and an old acquaintance of Ven. Palden Gyatso la also visited the hunger strikers.
Later in the day, a press conference was organized at the hunger strike tent, addressed by Mr. Bruno Mellano, Mrs. Laura Cima, Mr. Paolo Phobbiati, Mr. Tamdin Choephel and Ms. Pema Yangchen. A host of media personnel attended the press conference including Radio radical and RAI 3 National News Channel, which also carried out interviews with the hunger strikers.
Giving an update on the hunger strike campaign, Pema Yangchen, Organisational Secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress informed the press on the conditions of the three hunger strikers and appealed for solidarity from Tibet supporters all over.
While addressing the press conference Paolo Pobbiati, President Amnesty International Italy said that the diplomatic and economical relationships the world maintains with China should be determined by the human rights situation in China and Tibet. Responding to a query, he disclosed a series of activities that Amnesty International would be undertaking in the near future to expose China’s dismal human rights record.
Briefing the press, Tamdin Choephel, Vice president of Tibetan community, Italy and one of the hunger strikers said that his participation in the TYC led Indefinite Hunger Strike should be seen as a “Tibetans’ protest against the Chinese repression in Tibet”. He condemned the International Olympic Committee for giving China the privilege of hosting the 2008 Olympics games and urged the world’s sports fraternity to support the Tibetan freedom struggle by demanding the IOC to change the 2008 Olympic venue.
Contact Details:
Ms. Pema Yangchen, Organisational Secretary, TYC and Coordinator: +393332542727
Mr. Tamding Chomphel, Vice President, Tibetan Community, Italy: +393332542727
Mr. Lobsang Yeshi, Acting President, Tibetan Youth Congress, Dharamshala, India: +91-1892-221554/9816106224 Email: tyc@vsnl.com
Established in 1970, Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is the largest non-governmental organization within the Tibetan community fighting for the complete independence of Tibet, having over 30,000 active members in 80 Regional chapters across the globe.
