Meeting the 14 Tibetans on indefinite hunger strike in Delhi on official level, Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche appealed them to bring the protest event to an end
New Delhi, July 22: Kalon Tripa (PM) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche today paid an official visit to the 14 Tibetans undergoing indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi and appealed them to put an end to the indefinte strike.
The hunger strikers have been without food for 15 days since the protest hunger strike began on July 8.
Prof. Rinpoche was accompanied by Mr Tempa Tsering, Minister for Department of Information and International Relations of the exile Tibet Government.
Arriving at the site, Kalon Tripa handed over an official letter of the Kashag (Cabinet) to Mr Kelsang Phuntsok, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the organization which is leading the hunger strike.
The letter signed by Kalon Tripa himself, while acknowledging their courage and determination for the cause of Tibet, calls on the Tibetans to end the hunger strike.
In his address to the hunger strikers, Kalon Tripa said, “The sole purpose of my visit here is to appeal to all of you to end the fast.” Concerned about the health condition of the Tibetans, he said, “Today is the 15th day, and through this hunger strike the message has already reached the international community, and people’s consciousness and feelings have been aroused.”
“Hence I request you to end it” Rinpoche said.
According to Rinpoche; “The movement can take many other forms, but giving up one’s life is no good at all. If the value of giving up one’s life is equal to the value of the outcome, then the option of giving up one’s life may be perhaps considered. However, at this time, if one compares the loss of losing life with the gain of the outcome of the sacrifice, they do not balance.
I have come here to appeal all of you to halt the fast immediately. Even one single Tibetan should think of staying alive for the sake of making a sustained struggle in the Tibetan movement. All the six million Tibetans have great admiration to the hard work, courage, and determination of the hunger strikers.”
The Tibetan Prime Minister presented scarves to the hunger strikers before leaving the site.
The Indefinite Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, is part of the TYC-led People’s Movement, pressing demands for accountability from China regarding the Tibet situation.
The Letter
The main content of the letter dated July 22, 2007 reads as follows:
“I would like to express my deep admiration for your courage, patriotism and single-mindedness in staying for such a long period on the hunger strike, risking your precious life for the cause of Tibetan people, and despite knowing the enormous hardship that it entails. However, at this juncture, looking from all sides, losing the life of even one Tibetan would be a setback and a loss for all of us. As a result of enormous hardship undergone by all of you in this strike, you were able to draw international attention and sympathy from a large number of people from around the world. So, at this point, with deep consideration of your life and health, that they are not put in further danger, I would like to emphatically urge you to end the Indefinite Hunger Strike immediately. I hope you will seriously consider my appeal.”
The above is the translated version of the Kalon Tripa’s letter by TYC and, not an official translation. Please refer to the Tibetan text of the letter for accuracy
