Today marks the 26th day of the Hunger Strike movement which started on April 2, 2004 at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (in front of the United Nations Building) in New York. Besides heavy rain for almost the whole day on April 26, the three strikers continue getting support from the local supporters and representatives of various countries as well as organizations.
Mr. Miloon Kothari, UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing visited the hunger strikers with commitments of raising the demands put forward by the TYC hunger strikers in the United Nations.
In a letter from Mrs. Ivana Grollova, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations in New York “although the diplomatic community may have not responded to the strike much visibly, there have been much activity and attempts ‘under the surface’, going on to coordinate steps which might be taken, given the timing, procedural mechanisms of the UN as well as other consequences of the global politics.” He further added “On behalf of my country, including our Ambassador in New York, we can, nevertheless assure you and the striking students that we will keep looking for further opportunities to keep this question on the top of the EU agenda in its dialog with China. My colleagues and I appreciate and heartedly support the courage and determination of the young hunger strikers. We would, however, wish them to reconsider continuation of their protest which is putting their young lives under higher and higher risk with every new day. To their health, every single day counts, while response to their requirements might come in much longer period of time. Their suffering would not harm much of those who have not been concerned, while morally tortures those who do care. Their death would weaken the potential of the Tibetans nation even more, while their lives, their peaceful spiritual activities, their education and moral profile can serve the Tibetans much more and enrich the future generations much effectively.”
Mr. Seishu Makino, Chairman of the Japan Parliamentarian Group for Tibet wrote a letter to TYC expressing his deep concern and sympathy to the hunger strike movement. In his letter, he said, “The Japan Parliamentarian Group for Tibet consisting of Japanese Members of Parliament strongly believes that the demands of the Tibetan Youth Congress are the voice of the Tibetan People as a whole. United Nations must immediately and seriously consider their demands. We also demand that the necessary action be taken without further delay to save the lives of these three Youths.”
Russian Friends of Tibet, Students of Namgyal School (Nepal), Nepal Buddhist Welfare Association, Lumbini Foundation and Tibet Institute and many other governmental and non-governmental organizations showed strong support and encouragements to the Hunger Strike Movement.
On April 25, in support of the hunger strike movement the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, New York and New Jersey took initiative in organizing a rally in Washington DC. The rally was participated by over 160 Tibetans, who rode the buses to Washington DC from New York City at the Hunger Strike site and hold a huge rally at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC. The rally turned out to be vibrant and loud at the Chinese Consulate. Besides letters of memorandum were submitted to Mr. George W. Bush, the President of United States.
On April 27, His Eminence Kyapje Denma Locho Rinpoche, Tibet’s foremost Tantric master visited the hunger strike venue and blessed the hunger strikers. In the presence of Rinpoche, Mr. Tsultrim Dorjee, the General Secretary of TYC read out the summary reports of the ongoing hunger strike movement to-date followed the addressed by His Eminence Kyapje Denma Locho Rinpoche to the crowd of over hundreds of Tibetans and supporters, expressing deep feelings and concern about the movement. After addressing the gathering, Rinpoche initiated prayers to pay homage and tribute to those brave Tibetans who have sacrificed their precious life for the cause of Tibet and also for the success of the ongoing hunger strike movement. Every one assembled there received blessings from Rinpoche. Rinpoche also addressed the media and press.
Later in the evening the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress New York and New Jersey initiated a candle light vigil to commemorate the 6th death anniversary of Martyr Thupten Ngodup, who self immolated himself during 1998 hunger strike unto death in New Delhi, organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress.
Besides scores of flyers are distributed to every bystander as usual.
