By Phurbu Thinley,
Phayul Correspondent

Indian Government orders Tenzin Tsundue not to leave the territorial jurisdiction of Dharamsala Town from November 12-25 or else face the consequence

Dharamsala, November 12 - In an unprecedented development here today, an Indian-born Tibetan freedom activist, Tenzin Tsundue, has been officially barred from leaving his exile home town during the forthcoming high level visit to India by the Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Hu Jintao is slated to be in India from November 20-23 and is expected to visit New Delhi, Agra and Mumbai (Bombay) before leaving for Pakistan.

Mr. Tsundue is today officially served an order letter by the Superintendent of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer of Dharamsala, Ajay Kumar Yadav, forbidding him from leaving the territorial jurisdiction of Dharamsala town till 25th of this month effective from the date of issuance of the order.

Although no specific reason has been outlined, Tenzin Tsundue’s indulgence in “agitating activities” during the visits of Chinese delegations in the past and the availability of credible information that he is likely to stage similar protests during Hu Jintao’s visit were the main explanations cited in the said order.

Tsundue has earlier staged high profile protests during the visits of Chinese Prime Ministers Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao in 2002 and 2005 respectively.

The order further states that failing to follow the order; Tsundue would be liable to be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of law.

Looking closer into the development, Mr Tenzin Tsundue reveals that he has been routinely summoned to the office of the local superintendent of police (SP) since the past one week and is being interrogated and pursued by various means to discourage him from doing any protest during Hu Jintao’s scheduled visit.

As things are becoming more publicly visible, Tsundue is now being pursued and closely watched by police officers in civil dress. “Around seven officers are sent to follow me and are constantly after me where ever I go”, says Tsundue in a stifling mood.

In a letter sent today to the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Tsundue mentions, “In a big democratic India, I am being hounded even before doing anything”. In the letter, Tsundue has also asked for a meeting with Hu Jintao while he will be in India by citing: “It is because of the lack of this access that I have been demonstrating on your streets, drawing world attention to the atrocities that Tibet is subjected to”.

Tenzin said he was shocked hearing from SP Ajay Kumar himself telling him, “If you don’t obey the order, you will be deported back to Tibet”. Tsundue further mentions that it is saddening to hear from Additional SP, Santosh Patial ordering, “You are a Tibetan, you are a foreigner and you have no right to protest in India”.

Meanwhile, a local Tibetan shop owner, Lhamo, exerts that all Tibetans in exile are struggling for a common cause and if Tsundue is to be deported back to Tibet, then there is no reason why not all Tibetans should also be deported back at the same time.

Tenzin Tsundue in his reacting mood, says, “I understand that Indian Government is trying to do its own job, but they have to understand that this is a struggle of Tibetan people and not one individual activist”, and goes on to add, “Tibetan people should come forward more openly to struggle for our freedom “.

Tenzin Tsundue is presently the General Secretary, Friends of Tibet India (FOTI). Born and brought up in India, Tenzin Tsundue is among 1, 30,000 Tibetans refugees residing in India having to renew their stay every year as a result of forceful occupation of Tibet by Communist China in 1949.


See below for SFT’s complete Press Statement and the Order letter issued by Dharamsala Superintendent of Police to Tenzin Tsundue:

Contact:
Tenzin Tsundue (Friends of Tibet India): +91 94180 79 832
Tenzin Choeying (Students for a Free Tibet India) +91 98163 68 335

INDIAN GOVERNMENT GAGS TIBETAN ACTIVIST IN LEAD UP TO HU VISIT
TENZIN TSUNDUE THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION IF HE PROTESTS

Dharamsala – In anticipation of the first-ever visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India, the Indian Government today served Tibetan activist and writer, Tenzin Tsundue, with an order forbidding him to leave the “territorial jurisdiction of Dharamshala Town” until November 25. The letter, issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Police, threatens Tsundue with prosecution under the Foreigners Act of 1946 if he fails to obey the order. When asked what prosecution would mean, the Additional Superintendent of Police, Santosh Patial, replied: “Deportation to Tibet.” The pressure on Tsundue is the result of his high profile protests during the visits of Chinese Prime Ministers Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao in 2002 and 2005. Hu Jintao will visit India from November 20-23.

“This is an attack on the freedom of all Tibetans and people living in democratic India. It is a shame on the Government of India and disrespect to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and all those who struggled for independence in this country. Clearly this is pressure from the Chinese government,” said Tenzin Tsundue, General Secretary of Friend of Tibet India. “I was born in India and I am working only nonviolently for the human rights and freedom of my people. This issue is not about me but it is about the six million Tibetans who are suffering every day under Chinese rule and who are deprived of their voice to speak out against the occupation.” As of now, eleven policemen are following Tsundue around the clock and police have also taken up residence in the room next to his.

In a letter sent today to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, through the Dharamsala Superintendent of Police, Tsundue requested a meeting with Hu Jintao while he is in India. In it Tsundue stated: “It is because of the lack of this access that I have been demonstrating on your streets, drawing world attention to the atrocities that Tibet is subjected to. If such an opportunity to speak to Hu Jinato face-to-face does not arise this time too, we will again be compelled to come out on the streets in large numbers to voice our anger and frustration.” Tsundue also cited the recent shootings of defenseless Tibetan refugees by Chinese forces at Nangpala Pass as fresh evidence of China’s brutality in Tibet.

“The visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India is a rare and important opportunity for Tibetans to raise our voice for the restoration of Tibetan independence,” said Tenzin Choeying. National Director of Students for a Free Tibet India. “It’s our duty to use the freedom we find in India to bring attention to the Tibetan issue and push for an end to China’s ongoing occupation of our country. Rather than focusing on the actions of Tibetan youth born and raised in India, the Indian government should be concerned about what the Chinese are doing on their borders that threatens the national security of India.”

Hu Jintao will visit New Delhi, Agra and Mumbai (Bombay) from November 20-23 before leaving for Pakistan. While in New Delhi, he is expected to attend official functions at Vigyan Bhawan and the Hyderabad House. In the lead up to Hu’s India visit, government officials from both countries have been meeting to discuss trade and border issues.



ORDER LETTER
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OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, DISTRICT KANGRA AT DHARAMSHALA (HIMACHAL PRADESH)

ORDER

You Mr. Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan national holder R/C No. 167/90/Tib/D’shala at present General Secretary, Friends of Tibet India (FOTI) were found indulging in agitational activities during the visit of Chinese delegations in the past and there is a credible information that you are likely to indulge in similar activities during the visit of the Chinese President w.e.f. 20/11/2006 to 23/11/2006.

Therefore, I, Ajay Kumar Yadav, IPS, Superintendent of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer, District Kangra at Dharamsala (HP) in exercise of power vested in me under section 3 (2) (e) (ii) of the Foreigners Act-1946 hereby order that you will not leave the territorial jurisdiction of Dharamsala Town till 25/11/2006 from the date of issuance of this order, falling which you shall be liable for prosecution under the relevant provisions of law.

(Ajay Kumar Yadav) IPS,
Superintendent of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer,
Kangra at Dharamsala (HP).