By Tsering Paljor
March 15 – “I want to join the peace march to Tibet and go home to my family in Lhasa, who miss me and need me” said Chonzom, repeatedly in tears, a grade VIII student of Tibetan Homes School.
Over 1000 Tibetans mostly young children from Tibetan Homes School and Central School for Tibetans participated in a candle light vigil in the small hill town of Mussoorie. The procession was organized by Regional Youth Congress, Women’s Assocation and Freedom Movement today to condemn the recent killing of over 100 innocent Tibetans in Lhasa by the Chinese police and to pay respect to the Tibetan martyr’s. A 24 hrs relay hunger strike will also begin on Monday, March 17 at Library Chowk in Mussoorie to support the protests in Tibet and the peace marchers from Dharamsala into Tibet.
The peaceful procession reciting prayers with lighted candles began at 5 : 00 pm from happy valley and entered the Mall. The rally went through Picture Palace point and assembled at Library Chowk. In between the silence of the prayers sudden emotional outbursts were heard “U.N. we want Justice” “Long live Dalai Lama” and then there were some who cried and wept through the procession. At Library Chowk the rally offered prayers and mourned the martyr’s. Mr. Kalsang Namgyal, executive member of Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement addressed the gathering. In his speech he sent a strong message to the Chinese Government “Do not be fooled, hoping time will kill Tibet, Tibet can never die as the flame of freedom burns very strongly in every Tibetan inside Tibet and in exile” And ahead of the Olympic games in August in China he stated “The International Olympic Committee should realize their mistake and stop the games to be held in China, as the games if played will be over the blood of innocent Tibetans”
Earlier the news of TIBET BURNS spread like a wild fire among the Tibetans in Mussoorie. Within minutes the Tibetan community assembled at the Shedup Chophelling temple for prayers.