By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, June 2 – After a break of about two weeks, Tibetan volunteers in Nepal resumed their campaign activity today with ‘Full Length Prostration’ by 39 Tibetan volunteers from Boudanath Stupa to Swayambhunath Stupa covering a distance of about 12 kilometers. According to the volunteers, it is to pray for all those who have lost their lives in Tibet under the recent Chinese crackdown and also for the victims of the natural disasters in China and Burma.
One of the leading volunteers Nima Dolkar told Phayul, “This is also a form of protest as we are all are wearing ‘Save Tibet’ t-shirts to draw the attention of people towards the continued crackdown, arrest, detention and torture of Tibetans inside Tibet”.
About the same number of volunteers were also present to support the participants with refreshment while they braved the scorching Kathmandu summer on the black asphalt road.
Several members of The Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Forum and RTYC Kathmandu were present to support the campaign with food and other logistics. RTYC Executive Norbu Gyaltsen also participated in the prostration campaign and told Phayul, “I pray for all those who have lost their lives in Tibet under China, I am always with them in spirit, I will always support them and we will continue our struggle peacefully until His Holiness the Dalai Lama asks us to stop”.
One of the oldest women participant Yeshi Tso 61, originally from Dege, Kham Province of Tibet and now living in Kathmandu since 1991 said, “I am praying for all those who are being tortured by the Chinese in Tibet, I pray for all those who have died, I pray that the Tibetan crisis would end and the truth shall prevail and His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to the Potala Palace”. Two other elderly ladies about the same age were also prostrating among many men, women, monks and nuns. They plan to complete the distance by next morning.
The Nepal Tibet Solidarity Forum’s ongoing 24-hours relay hunger strike at Swayambhu Hill entered its 51st day today with participation by 55 people. The Forum has also been organizing daily prayer congregation at Tibetan Community Center in Boudha for the past two months.
