New Delhi, April 25 – As the indefinite huger strike by 3 executive members of the largest pro-independence group of the Tibetan Diaspora entered its second day, activists of the organization carried out a protest rally in the Indian capital Monday against the visit of Jiang Jufeng, the governor of Sichuan province, where the crisis stricken prefecture of Ngaba is situated.
Jiang’s three day visit to India starting April 25 is looked at as a deliberate attempt by China to undermine the sentiments of the Tibetan people who are grieved by the stalemate in Tibet’s Ngaba county where 3 people have been killed since March 16 and hundreds others arrested or gone missing.
“For such a person to come to the largest democratic country in the world and home to the largest population of Tibetans in exile at such a time is an attempt to rub salt to the Tibetans’ wound. This kind of behaviour is only befitting of an official of the Chinese government,” the TYC said.
The rally participated by hundreds of Tibetans living in Delhi and Tibetan students of Delhi university concluded with a modest gathering at Jantar Mantar, the venue of the hunger strike.
Mr. Vijay Kranti, a veteran Indian journalist and a longtime supporter of the Tibetan cause while addressing the gathering said ‘Rangzen’ (independence) lies at the core of the Tibetan people’s struggle, a view that is shared by the TYC, which does not agree with the position maintained by the Tibetan government in exile of seeking autonomy for Tibet.
Mr Surendar Agarwal, General Secretary of Gandhi Peace Foundation was also present at the gathering. Agarwal appealed the Tibetan people not to lose hope and to keep the fight alive.
Acharya Yeshe Phuntsok, member of the Tibetan parliament in exile expressed his support to the monks of Kirti monastery in Ngaba. Hundreds of supporters and well-wishers offered Khatas (traditional Tibetan scarf) the 3 executive members of the TYC on indefinite hunger strike.
Meanwhile, members of TYC submitted letters of appeal to the various Embassies in New Delhi including the Chinese Embassy. Petitions were also sent to the Indian Prime Minister’s office as well the UN office in Geneva.
