DHARAMSHALA, February 10: The ongoing protests in Tibet are now spilling onto other adjoining regions with peaceful demonstrations now being reported from the Nangchen region of eastern Tibet.
In a video clip smuggled out of Tibet, hundreds of Tibetans are seen peacefully gathered in Nangchen town, sitting on the pavements and the streets and reciting prayers on February 8.
The Tibetans are heard reciting the old Tibetan national prayer, “Ghangri Rawae” which pays floral tribute to the Tibetan national identity, praying for the “reign” of the Dalai Lama to “endure till the end of existence.”
Releasing the three and a half minute long clip, US based news service Voice of America said that about 500 Tibetans took part in the day-long mass prayers, wearing traditional Tibetan dresses, eating traditional Tibetan food Tsampa (roasted barley flour) and carrying incenses while chanting prayers and slogans for the long life of the Dalai Lama.
In the latter half of the clip, Tibetans are seen tossing Tsampa in the air, as a mark of offering, and raising the traditional war cry, “Ki hi hi.” Tibetans can be heard raising slogans demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile and “victory to Tibet.”
The Wednesday protests in Nangchen and Kyigudo, where the latest self-immolation occurred yesterday, coincided with the call for a global solidarity vigil for Tibet by the exile Tibetan leadership.
As of now, there have been no reports of arrests made following the mass demonstrations in Nangchen and Kyigudo.
In the last three days, two self-immolations have been reported from Kyigudo and Ngaba, taking the toll of Tibetans who have torched their bodies demanding the return of the Dalai Lama and protesting China’s occupation to 21.
Many parts of Tibet remain cut off from outside world with a prevailing situation of undeclared martial law following mass protests in recent weeks in which at least a dozen Tibetans are feared to have been killed in police firings.
The exile Tibetan leadership as well as rights groups have expressed fear of further bloodshed and violence in the region and called on China to address the grievances of the Tibetan people.
