Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Nov 27: Tibetan activist group Tibetan Youth Congress flagged off its two-month long ‘All India Bike Rally’ to thank the government and people of India, appeal for the recognition of Tibet’s historical independence and raise awareness on Chinese atrocities in Tibet, from the Indo-Tibet border’s zero point at Bumla pass on Nov 22.
During the launch of the campaign, tensions arose when Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) activists confronted the Chinese border army who were present at the border during the beginning of the bike rally.
Speaking to Phayul, TYC President Gonpo Dhundup detailed the incident, stating, “At Zero Point, Bumla, we offered a scarf on the land of Tibet, prostrated facing our homeland, and raised slogans of ‘Bod Gyalo’ (Victory for Tibet). This prompted a reaction from the Chinese border army, who rushed toward us, blowing whistles and shouting. Despite their aggression, we stood firm and continued our slogans until the Indian army advised us to de-escalate and leave the area.”
The campaign, which began at the Bumla Pass, will cover over several thousand kilometers across 19 Indian states and 1 union territory. The 15 Tibetan activists, aged between twenty and forty, hail from Dharamshala, Ladakh, Manali, Gangtok, Delhi, and Bylakuppe.
The campaign focuses on three primary objectives. First, the campaign urges the international community to apply diplomatic pressure on China to discontinue its unlawful actions that threaten Tibetan cultural integrity, calling for respect and preservation of the Tibetan people’s rich cultural heritage.
Secondly, the campaign extends gratitude to the government and people of India for their solidarity, while simultaneously advocating for the Indian government to adopt an official resolution recognizing Tibet’s historical independent status, framing this as a critical measure for ensuring India’s long-term security interests.
Furthermore, the campaign urgently calls upon the international community to take decisive action in protecting Tibet’s fragile environment, demanding that China cease its exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources, which the campaign argues is not only detrimental to the region but is contributing to a broader global ecological imbalance.
The activists route will take them through Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, with the campaign set to conclude in the national capital Delhi.
