Former political prisoners highlight the real situation inside Tibet/ENG

2012. január 7./Phayul.com/TibetPress

BODH GAYA, January 7: As the ten-day Kalachakra teachings nears its end, the Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet, Former Political Prisoners Association has been highlighting the “real political situation inside Tibet” through street theatres.

"Taking advantage of this huge religious gathering from different countries, we are highlighting the real political situation inside Tibet, especially the life of Tibetan political prisoners,” said Lukhar Jam, a former political prisoner and vice-president of Gu-Chu-Sum.

The ex-political prisoners' association is also running a photo exhibition and has arranged for free distribution of books on the lives of Tibetan political prisoners.

The vice-president told Phayul that his organisation is networking with its members for better campaigning in the future.

"We have around 590 Tibetan ex-political prisoners living in the West and many of them have come here for the teachings, giving us a much needed opportunity to share our views and experiences,”said Jam.

"It is a good opportunity to build network and make our organisation stronger. We have also been talking to the families of ex-political prisoners,”added Jam.

Aiming to reach out to a wider audience, Gu-Chu-Sum is planning to enact their street theatre in the coming days as well.

A devotee from Singapore, after watching the theatre told Phayul that the show was an eye opener to him.

"I am totally shocked that such gruesome crimes against humanity are still being committed in this 21st century,”the Singaporean said.

A pilgrim from Tibet said he was grateful that Tibetans in exile are being the voice for the voiceless inside Tibet.

"This is my first pilgrimage to India and it felt great to see that our brothers and sisters in exile are doing their best to raise the plight of the people inside Tibet," said the Tibetan.

Founded in 1991 by a group of former Tibetan political prisoners, Gu-Chu-Sum looks after the welfare of the ex-political prisoners, their families, and reaches out to help the current Tibetan political prisoners in Chinese jails.

Interestingly, all the artists who are taking part in the street theatre are ex-political prisoners who have themselves suffered torture and the harsh conditions of Chinese jails.
By Tendar Tsering