IMAGERIGHT Dharamsala, March 25: 300 pro-Tibet activists from the North-East region of India, who began a peace march from Siliguri in West Bengal last Thursday, have been stopped by Indian police yesterday from entering Sikkim, a border state with Tibet.
The marchers were on their way to Nathu-La Border in Sikkim in their attempt to join the ongoing protests in Tibet.
The marchers have planned to reach Nathu-La, a border post between Tibet and India. Sealed by India after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, it was re-opened in 2006 following numerous bilateral trade agreements.
The protesters were stopped by Sikkim government at Rangpo, the border post between West Bengal and Sikkim states.
The peace march, organised by North-East Zonal Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), has seen the participation of members of Regional Tibetan Women’s Association as well as many local Tibetans and Tibet supporters.
Tibetans from Dimapur, Kohima, Shillong, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Ravangla and other places are taking part in the march to join fellow Tibetans in their ongoing protests against China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.
IMAGERIGHT “The main aim of the march is to join the ongoing protest in Tibet,” Mr. Samdup, the media coordinator of the march, earlier told Phayul.com.
“The peace march to Tibet is a determined attempt to join fellow Tibetans inside Tibet in our fight against China’s illegal and repressive occupation of Tibet,” Urgen from Northeast RTYC told Phayul.com over the phone.
As they approach the Sikkim border, the marchers briskly marched towards the Indian police barricade, already set up on the bridge entering the state.
Since they were barred from going farther, the marchers gathered at the border point and mowed flag of Communist China and burned down an effigy of the Chinese President Hu Jin Tao to vent out their resentment against atrocities committed by Communist China in Tibet.
The pro-Tibet group chanted slogans condemning Chinese rule in Tibet and offered prayers for the Tibetan victims killed in Chinese government’s ongoing crackdown inside Tibet.
The marchers said a petition has been filed to the Superintendent of Police of Gangtok, requesting permission to enter the state. So far there has not been any official response.
The peace marchers have earlier put forward the following three demands to the Indian government and the international community to pay heed to:
1. To put pressure on the Chinese government to immediately stop violent crackdowns on Tibetan protesters in Tibet.
2. To urge for investigation by the UN into the brutal killings, detention, torture and arrests in Tibet since the protest started on March 10.
3. To boycott the Beijing Olympics as China has failed to improve its human rights record.
