By Phurbu Thinley
New Delhi, August 6: The Indefinite Hunger Strike by 14 defiant Tibetans in the Indian capital, calling for world attention on Tibet and demanding direct response from the Chinese government over the ongoing violations of rights of Tibetan people inside Tibet, is almost nearing a month now.
Tibetan Youth Congress’ August 1 report says “The once lively and energetic 14 people now need the support of two people to even take a few steps”. The day marked 25th day of the indefinite hunger strike.
These hunger strikers have remained resolute despite several appeals by leaders and supporters to end the hunger strike. They want direct response from the Chinese government to their set of five demands. However, many are of the view that China will not pay a heed.
Meanwhile, several thousands of Tibetans have converged in the Indian capital to make happen, what they call the largest Tibetan movement to be held since the historical Tibetan National Uprising of Lhasa on 10 March 1959.
Tibetans and their hard core supporters from across India, Nepal and elsewhere have been flocking into New Delhi, the spot for the largest Tibetan conglomeration to steer the largest protest campaign ever by the exile Tibetan community.
Symbolic yet, equally significant campaign events are being organized elsewhere around the world by Tibetan regional organizations and Tibet support groups.
Tibetan activist leaders have been repeatedly saying that they will make use of every available opportunity in the wake of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games to create an effective campaign aimed at forcing the Communist Chinese Regime to bring about a meaningful change inside occupied Tibet.
Tibetans have long grumbled that the almost 50 years of brutal Chinese rule in Tibet has caused the worst human disasters in Tibet’s long and peaceful history. For them, the 2008 Olympics in China is a chance opportunity to make a difference. Many Tibetans are of the opinion that if they miss the Olympics opportunity to act, the aftermath may turn bleak to Tibetan struggle.
At the same time, Tibetan activists and their supporters are demanding IOC (International Olympic Committee) to put pressure on Beijing authorities to make improvements in China and in its occupied territories.
Dolma Gyari, the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Assembly in Exile, while addressing a Tibetan protest gathering in Dharamsala on Saturday, said “In 2001, to justify and defend its decision to honour China to host the 2008 Games in Beijing, the IOC had said that in the coming seven years’ time, there will be favourable changes in China”.
However, citing few of the many examples like the shocking Nangpala-Pass shooting incident in 2006, and sentencing, without proper justification, Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his close associate student in 2002 and the latest crackdown on Tibetan political demonstrator in Lithang this month by Chinese authorities, she said, “Now there is only a year left for 2008 Olympics, but things have been becoming only worst in Tibet.”
“Where is the change?” she questioned.
She also criticized IOC’s stand that Olympics is independent of political issues is a lame and baseless excuse. Pointing at Olympic Games in Montreal and Moscow, she said there are enough records of Olympics actually involved deeply in politics.
With Sino-Tibetan dialogue making no significant breakthrough after six rounds of talks and China’s repressive rule continuing in Tibet, Tibetan activists are becoming more restless and are getting exhausted with the wait and hope policy of their Government in exile.
The last few days saw Tibetans – young, old, monk and nun are storming into the large expanse of Delhi to make their protest presence felt and draw world’s attention to their cause.
With world focus cast on China when the Games will begin in August next year, many Tibetans see 2008 Olympics in China a viable opportunity to create a new dimension to their long standing peaceful freedom struggle.
Earlier on Saturday, Tibetans led by four prominent organisations and their supporters launched the “Bring Tibet to the 2008 Games” campaign to promote and advocate inclusion of “Team Tibet” in the Olympic Games.
Under the logo of “Snow Lion holding Tibetan National Flag” Tibetans will continue with the Team Tibet campaign in varying means till the Olympic Games will begin in Beijing on August 8 next year.
On Wednesday this week, as exact one year countdown to the 2008 Games will start, Tibetans and support groups worldwide will initiate a series of campaigns to mark International Day of Action for Tibet.
India being home to the vast majority of Tibetans in exile, the largest of such action campaign will be held in New Delhi.
The authorities in Beijing are making all effort to make the Games in Beijing run smoothly and to ensure that the event will not foil the suppressed stability of China and the Communist party’s hold on power.
In the wake of the 2008 Olympic Games in China next year, the strength of the Tibetan freedom struggle seems to be tested more than ever.
