By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, May 16 – The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Kathmandu organized ‘The Blind Campaign for Free Tibet’ early today to demonstrate that China is blind and cannot see their atrocities in Tibet, they started walking silently wearing black sunglasses and blindfolded with black ribbons from Jawalakhel Tibetan Refugee Camp at around 7 am following the Ring Road but were stopped by the police after four kilometers at Balkhu. A standoff with police ensued, some of the participants protested police interception, one even got under the Police vehicle and some were hit by baton. However, Tibetans had to comply in the end and were forced to return to Jawalakhel Camp.
The protest saw participation from over 300 Tibetan youths calling for a ‘Free Tibet’. Most of them were wearing white t-shirts printed with Tibetan National flag and ‘Free Tibet, Tibet belongs to Tibetans’ in the front and a Nepali and UN flag at the back. The protest came a day after the Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Forum requested all Tibetans and Tibet supporters to refrain from protest for at least one week to mourn China’s earthquake victims. However, RTYC President Drakpa Tenzin while addressing the gathering said that, “This campaign was already planned many days back and so we have to carry this out”. After returning to Jawalakhel, the youth also prayed for an hour for all the victims of China’s earthquake and those who have died in Tibet during recent Chinese crackdown.
The RTYC in a statement has urged the civil society and concerned citizens of the world to show their support for peace and freedom in Tibet. They insisted that the international community exert pressure on China to open Tibet to independent fact finding delegations, media persons and stop severe violation of human rights in the region. They also called on the International Olympic Committee to immediately cancel the torch relay through Tibet. They believe that it would dangerously exacerbate tension and more bloodshed will be inevitable inside Tibet.
The RTYC President said that they would also be holding their protest for a week. They have asked the Chinese Government to prove the baseless accusation of them being a terrorist organization. They claim that they totally adhere to dialogue, non violence and peaceful movement for the resolution of Tibet. The Chinese Embassy in a statement issued on Wednesday has called Tibetan protestors “harassers who ignored the pain of their compatriots and showed neither sympathy nor grief over the tragedy”. On Friday, Tibetans prayed at Maitighar Mandala and today they prayed for the victims and have more plans for bigger prayer services tomorrow.
