The morning of the 26th January, saw the TYC organized ALL INDIA RELAY HUNGER STRIKE culminate with a brief function in Dharamsala, the headquarter of Tibetan Exile Govt.
Earlier on, the function begin with a two minutes mourning in memory of the thousands of Tibetan martyrs who laid their lives for Tibet, followed by the Chief Guest, Mr Karma Yeshi, former Vice President of Tibetan Youth Congress and current member of Tibetan Parliament offering juice to the participants in a ceremonial breaking of the fast. Later the President of TYC, Mr Kalsang Phuntsok addressed the gathering of nearly two hundred Tibetans.
In his address, Mr Kalsang said, “With the ultimate goal of the Campaign yet to be achieved, Today’s is not really a conclusion ceremony. TYC continue to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Tulku Tenzin Delek and until that is achieved we will continue to conduct activities to seek his release. China has been using the Tibetan political prisoners and the Tibet issue as bargaining chips in the international politics to promote its credibility. This must be stopped. Today with the entire international bodies calling for the Tulku’s release, China has the trump card to play to its favor. The ball, so to say, is in their court and if it wishes to play fair, the world is watching. But if it continues to toy with its customary inhuman prosecution and schemes, it has only to lose further to its great disenchantment. The unfavorable developments in the world politics for the Tibetans demand greater dedication and sacrifices from the Tibetans in their struggle for a Free Tibet and we must prepare for the worst.” He further added, “The failure of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and its members to participate in the Strike is a matter of great sorrow and regret for all the Tibetans. At the time when grim situation demands our concerted effort for the cause, it does not augur well for the people’s representatives to be so callous.”
Later, Mr Karma Yeshi addressed the gathering, urging all the Tibetans to be more dedicated to the Tibetan cause. He pricked the conscience of the Dharamsala Tibetans for not being active in the Tibetan movement and shying away from their responsibility as a Tibetan!1 This was followed by a brief speech and a vote of thanks by Mr Lobsang Yeshi, Vice President of TYC. Before the close of the function, Mr Karma and representatives from Dolmaling Nunnery, Gu Chu Sum, Tibetan Womens Association and other organization offered scarf to the participants and the TYC Executives for organizing the Strike. The function concluded with the singing of Tibetan National Anthem.
The 85 day long ALL INDIA RELAY HUNGER STRIKE was the longest ever Strike organized in the Tibetan Diaspora and the longest ever conducted in Dharamsala. The Strike initially commenced in Delhi on the 2nd of November 2004 and continued for 5 days consecutive in Mumbai, Kolkotta, Bangalore and Delhi. Later a two month Relay Hunger Strike was organized in Dharamsala. The Strike was simultaneously carried out in different parts of India and abroad by the regional chapters of Tibetan Youth Congress in a major effort to garner support to demand the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek who has been sentenced for a crime he did not commit.
