The Tibetan Youth Congress in its 34 years of existence has organized various extensive, conclusive and peaceful activities for the cause of a Free Tibet. February 11, 2004 marked the beginning of yet another peaceful activity of the TYC in the form of a ‘Freedom March’ from the residence of H.H. The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala to the Indian capital, Delhi. The voluntary marchers reflected the unflinching commitment of the Tibetans for freedom of Tibet as it comprised of monks, nuns, women and Tibetans ranging from 19 years old to an 81-years-old senior citizen.
The group of 80 Tibetans led in the front by executive members of the TYC assembled at 7.00 in the morning at the Lhabso-ri to offer solemn prayers. After taking a round of the Mcleod Ganj market the marchers convened at the Tsugla-Khang for the flagging off ceremony. The Honourable Health Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shrimati Chandresh Kumari attended as the Chief-Guest of the function. Speaking to the gathering she committed the support and sympathy of the Chief Minister and the Government of Himachal Pradesh towards the Tibetan cause. Mr. Lhasang Tsering, former President of the TYC, in his speech praised the marchers for their commitment and thanked them for voluntarily working for the cause of all 6 million Tibetans.
The beginning of the march didn’t go as per planned as just minutes after Mr. Lhasang Tsering flagged off the march the marchers confronted some resistance from the local police. The police argued that proper permissions from the authorities were not sought and further claimed that they had received strict orders from the Central Government of India to prevent the peaceful march from proceeding. The marchers despite of the resistance moved forward towards Gangchen Kyishong, chanting prayers and hailing Tibetan national flags.
The march was crudely brought to a grounding halt at the main market center of Dharamsala, at the Kotwali Bazaar by a huge convoy of police personnel wearing helmets and carrying lathis. While the executive members of the TYC tried to take up the matter with the police personnel, the marchers expressed their resolute will to proceed by sitting on the road. What followed in the milieu was a purely unexpected and appalling move from the local police. Beginning from the executive members of the TYC the marchers were indifferently lathi-charged and mercilessly beaten in the middle of the main market. In the presence of local Indian crowd, the Tibetans were ruthlessly struck with the bamboo sticks on the head and were heartlessly kicked and punched around before dragging them and dumping them into the police trucks. It was a show of utter insensitiveness and rude force from the local police towards their own residential people, who in the past had never created any law and order problem to the authorities. It is probably the first time in the history of Dharamsala when Tibetans were beaten up and jailed for a peaceful and noble cause in Dharamsala by the local aut horities themselves. Clothes were torn and Tibetan National flags were flung to the ground as the marchers contInued their slogans of ‘Free Tibet’ and ‘Tibet ki Azaadi Bharat ki Suraksha’ in the truck which took them to the KB Police Station.
Tibetans from nearby areas slowly started to build up at the closed gates of the police station as the news of the rude behaviour meted out by the police to the peaceful marchers filtered to the Tibetan community. In support of the imprisoned peace marchers, all the Tibetan shops in Mcleod Ganj were closed and shutters were downed. While representatives of the Tibetan Parliament and the Tibetan Welfare Officer arrived at the scene to deal with the situation a slow crowd of 300 odd Tibetans and foreigners waited outside the police station for the release of the arrested Tibetans and continuation of the Freedom March. In the meantime representatives of Tibetan Non-Governmental Organizations arrived at the site to show their solidarity and support for the Freedom March. Inside the closed prison doors, the freedom marchers sat on a hunger strike and vowed that they will continue the hunger strike unless and untill they were allowed to proceed and resume their Freedom March.
In the past history of Tibetan peaceful activism of peace-marches, demonstrations, rallies, and processions, no permission was sought except the giving of a prior notice to the concerned authorities, to carry out such activities on the soil of the largest democracy of world, India. This time also the TYC had informed in advance the local authorities and thus carried out the March.
The TYC forwarded applications to the Honorable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, and the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra district seeking permission to resume the Freedom March. The Hon’ble Transport Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri. G.S. Bali and Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Chairman of Tibetan Cabinet (Government-in-Exile) called upon the imprisoned leaders of the TYC to settle the stalemate. After a stalemate of 7 hours the authorities consented for the continuation of the Freedom March and the marchers resumed their 535 km long journey towards Delhi at 5.15 pm. On the first leg of the march, the participants covered 15 kms and were warmly received and were hosted dinner by the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah. The march stopped for its first night halt at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, looking forward to a new day of peaceful Freedom March.
Contact:
Dolma Choephel, Joint Secretary, Mobile : 94180 79448
Gadong Jigme, Information Secretary, Mobile: 98160 83228
Lobsang Yeshi, Organisational Secretary, Mobile: 98160 98637
