School children kick off cycle rally for Tibet/ENG

2012. január 21./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, January 21: Three Tibetan school students began a cycle rally for Tibet from the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe in the south Indian state of Karnataka to the Indian capital New Delhi, yesterday.

Tselo Gyal, Lugoen Thar and Gyaltsen, all students of the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School, Gopalpur in north India have voluntarily organised the rally coinciding with their two-month winter vacations.

In a press statement, the three students said they were undertaking the “Cycling for Tibet” campaign to highlight the “plight of Tibetans suffering under China’s repressive rule” and to appeal for support in the resolution of the Tibetan crisis.

“The suffering and the injustice meted out to Tibetans in Tibet must end soon if truth, freedom, and peace are to sustain this world,” the release said.

In the past 11 months, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire in Tibet demanding the return of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Speaking to Phayul over phone from Bylakuppe, Tselo Gyal said they were taking out the cycle rally in support and solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.

“We are demanding an immediate withdrawal of Chinese security forces stationed in war-like numbers in Tibet and also calling on China to allow an independent international investigation team to visit Tibet,” Gyal said.

Condemning Beijing for its inaction in the face of the fiery wave of self-immolations inside Tibet, the students said the Chinese government is responsible for the loss of Tibetan lives.

“China can end these unfortunate incidents by adopting liberal and reasonable policies for Tibet and Tibetan people instead of suppressing them,” the young students said.

The students will be covering over 2,300 kms (1,400 miles) on their bicycles.
By Tendar Tsering