By Tenzin Chodon
New Delhi, April 12: More than five thousand people from all parts of North India gathered at Ram Lila Maidan in Delhi on the final day of three-day peaceful protests organized by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee to raise attention to the latest holocaust in Tibet.
Shouting slogans and carrying mock dead bodies (symbolizing those killed in Chinese military crackdown), the demonstrators marched till Jantar Mantar.
The three-day massive solidarity campaign worldwide and all over India was launched on Thursday, April 10, to mark one month anniversary of the Tibetan uprising that broke out in Tibet since March 10.
Tibetans in other regions of India have simultaneously paraded and cremated mock dead bodies representing the people killed in Tibet in the recent Chinese crackdown. They have also been holding regular prayers and candle light vigil for the victims.
Tibetans Government-in-exile says as many as 150 Tibetans were killed during the Tibetan demonstrations against Chinese rule.
Mr. Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and head of Tibetan delegation of Sino-Tibetan dialogue, stressed on the significance of the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He pointed out that many people protesting across Tibet never have had the opportunity to have a glimpse of His Holiness. “What they really want is for their spiritual leader to return to Tibet,” he said.
Speaking later at a press conference, Mr. Lodi Gyari reiterated that he had come to pay his respect and join fellow Tibetans in their struggle.
Mr Gyari said he holds Chinese government’s policy “fully responsible” for what had happened in Tibet and if they continue to persuade the current policies, it will push the “Tibetans to the limits”.
He said he was saddened but not surprised at the intensity and depth of the activities saying he saw it would happen.
Defending the Dalai Lama’s position, Mr Gyari said “even under very difficult circumstances His Holiness has been trying to reach out to the Chinese counterparts”.
Describing the fifth and sixth round of talks with China as quite constructive, he said exiled Tibetan administration remains fully committed for further dialogues. He, however, said there should be a certain degree of normalcy to begin with. He said he “wouldn’t be able to sit at the negotiating table with the thought that innocent Tibetans being killed at the same time”.
He said Chinese leadership should be willing to discuss for some tangible results without any pre-conditions in the next round of talks.
Mr Gyari raised hope that the recent “unfortunate events” which resulted in the loss of many lives will help the Chinese leaders in Beijing to wake up to the reality.
“Tibet is not finished. It is very much alive. This is the best moment for us to move forward”, he said as a closing line.
Many eminent Indian leaders also took part in today’s solidarity campaign, among them was India’s award winning writer Ms. Arundhati Roy.
Demonstrators later lit thousands of candles in memory of the Tibetan victims.
