Six members of RTYC Belgium started day long hunger strikes in front of the Chinese Embassy in Brussels from August 8 to continue until the end of Olympics in Beijing. The day hunger strike is the first of its kind held in Belgium by RTYC.
The six hunger strikers demand and appeal to the world communities, the Chinese Government and IOC for an immediate end to the brutal suppression of Tibetans inside Tibet and unconditional release of all the Tibetan political prisoners as well as His holiness the 11th Panchen Lama,Gedun choekyi Nyima.
Meanwhile, the first phase of hunger strike in Austria began yesterday. This phase consists of making 21.000 prostrations, main hunger strikers Tseten and Jamyang will also prostrate eating only a limited portion of Tsampa (barley) twice a day until tomorrow. Other Tibetans are to offer prostrations along with them. The effort is supported by Brigid Weinzinger, human rights speaker of the Green Party in Austria
Tseten Zöchbauer started the function and spoke in detail about human rights violation in Tibet even during the Olympic games in Beijing. Brigid Weinzinger spoke about what she can do for the Tibetans inside Tibet, especially Tibetan film maker Dhondup Wangchen and his friend Golok Jigme, who are now in prison for making the documentary “Leaving Fear Behind”.
Dr. Khim Luetzow from Burma Association expressed her solidarity. She said no country is boycotting China for causing problems not in Tibet and Burma. Elisabeth Zimmermann, the president of Save Tibet in Austria also spoke in detail about the desperate situation of the Tibetans and demonstrated her understanding and full support.
Contributed by RTYC Belgium and SOS Tibet, Austria
