By CATHERINE PATTISON
A 24-hour hunger strike at the University of Otago to raise awareness for a missing Tibetan Buddhist is not without its creature comforts.
A television (with an all-weather power plug), tent, T-shirt printing equipment and a meditation zone will occupy the 42 students until noon today. The fast will end with a moment of silence and mouthfuls of organic apples.
Second-highest Tibetan Buddhist leader Panchen Rinpoche (14) was abducted by the Chinese Government eight years ago and had been denied visits from human rights groups Amnesty International, Red Cross and the United Nations.
National co-ordinator of Students for a Free Tibet Angela Dempster-Passang said the Chinese government was “trying to politically brainwash him” and it was time he was returned to his country.
“It’s got to come from people taking at least one action to help one person, who is in an illegal custody situation.”
Students for a Free Tibet secretary, Raamy Majeed (20), was not too fazed about going hungry for a day.
“Twenty-four hours is nothing when I think about it. We take it food for granted.”
Ms Dempster-Passang said said Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff returns from an overseas trip today, hopefully with a statement on New Zealand’s stance on Panchen Rinpoche.
