Fasting college students fear for their families in Tibet/ENG

2012. február 5./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, February 5: In a show of solidarity and support with Tibetans inside Tibet, college students in the western Indian city of Baroda sat on a day-long fast Saturday.

The fasting college students said the ongoing crisis and violent military crackdown in Tibet were affecting their studies as many amongst them have their families and relatives back in Tibet.

"The tension in Tibet is escalating day by day due to Chinese faulty security measures. It is really disturbing our studies, especially those of us whose family members and relatives are in Tibet," Thupten Ringzin, the president of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Baroda said.

"So, it is our responsibility to be the voice for the voiceless," Ringzin added.

Speaking to Phayul over phone, the president said that a number of Indian students had also come to show their support and were sitting on the fast along with the Tibetans.

"We have around 120 Tibetan students and 20 Indian students including the president of Manipuri Students Association in the city taking part in the fast," Ringzin said.

Human Rights in China in a release last week had said “escalating repression and failed official policy” were the root causes of the recent surge in protests and had urged Beijing to address them.

Since Tapey's self-immolation in 2009, 19 Tibetans have set themselves on fire calling for the return of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration has urged Tibetans all over the world to carry out solidarity movements in show of support with the plight of people inside Tibet on Wednesday, February 8.

Members of the Tibetan Parliament have also vowed to organise a series of campaigns in solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.

Calling for a boycott of celebrations during the upcoming Tibetan new year ‘Losar,’ parliamentarians will be sitting on a day-long fast on February 22 in the exile headquarters of Dharamshala.