By Tenzin Dickyi
New Delhi
Today saw the end of the Tibetan Student’s Cycle Rally in New Delhi after covering a distance of around 300 kms. The aforesaid youth belonging to Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, (Chandigarh) who took to their cycles from Chandigarh till Delhi reached here at Jantar Mantar around 11.00 am. They were expected to arrive at the appointed place by 10:00 am but were detained due to some unfavorable conditions.
‘No Olympics in China Untill Tibet is Free’ read the core slogan for this cycle rally. A group of around 40 students studying in various colleges under Punjab University were welcomed with great pride by the local Tibetans and TYC here in the capital. For 7 days on cycle, 24 cyclists including 4 girls finally made it to their final destination.
A truck loaded with kitchen utensils and other necessities accompanied the cyclists. A special crew for preparing food was also managed and escorted them till Delhi.
TYC considers the Beijing Olympics to be a significant opportunity to make the world see the current face of, and learn the history of, China’s brutal occupation of Tibet. This Cycle rally was particularly organized to voice against the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. With this TYC demands;
•IOC should withdraw from giving Olympic host status to China until there is marked improvement in human rights situation in Tibet and China.
•All the political prisoners of Tibet including the world’s youngest political prisoner XIth Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tulku Tenzin Delek should be unconditionally and immediately released and see to it that justice prevails upon injustice.
On asking one of the cyclists, Miss Tenzin Dasel a second year BA student about her experience, she said ‘It was a very special experience, although there were times when we were too tired to go any further and when we had minor accidents on our way. Ultimately I felt the huge responsibity that we carry for our country through this cycle rally’. The people of Tibet and India alike encouraged us all our way and gave us very hearty reception at all the halts’, she adds.
Various halt at cities like Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat on the way to Delhi, the cyclists managed to spread their objectives behind this cycle rally and were able to gain love and support from many Tibetan as well as Indian Friends.
On their way, they have collected many hand impressions and signatures of the chief guests at various halts. ‘We will be submitting the hand impressions to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when we get back to Chandigarh’, one source told phayul.
A five star red flag of China was set on fire displaying their continued resentment against the brutal occupation of Tibet by Communist China. Later a minute-long mourning in memory of brave Tibetan martyrs was observed.
When asked whether this kind of cycle rally and protests would have positive impact on IOC or Tibetan freedom struggle at large; Tenzin Norsang, President of RTYC, Chandigarh, says, “Whether the world is listening to what we are doing or not but we will not stop with our struggle. These kind of movement will go on. And through non-violent direct action, we must continue to work for the call for justice and freedom and demand respect for human rights in Tibet”.
The cycle rally eventually concluded with Tibetan national anthem.
