In Dharamshala, Indian students lead protest against China’s incursion/ENG

2013. április 30./Phayul.com/TibetPress

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=33389&article=In+Dharamshala%2c+Indian+students+lead+protest+against+China%e2%80%99s+incursion

DHARAMSHALA, April 30: Indian and Tibetan students carried out a street protest against China’s incursion in Indian territory today at the McLeod Ganj Square in Dharamshala, the exile headquarters of the Tibetan people.

The protest action, jointly organised by the nation-wide Indian student’s group, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, students from the Ladakh region, and Students for a Free Tibet, India, also called for Tibet’s independence to ensure India’s security.

“As a Ladakhi staying far away from home, this has created tension and worry in our minds for our family and our nation,” Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, former president of All Ladakh Student Association, Jammu and state spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, J&K said. “Therefore, I strongly condemn the ongoing Chinese incursions in the Depsang Valley in Ladakh which has once again threatened India’s security and also humiliated the nation.”

“I call upon my government to act immediately. We don’t want to face what our fellow Tibetans have been undergoing under the Chinese regime for the past five decades. We stand in Solidarity with Tibet,” Namgyal added.

The ongoing military stand-off in the Burther region of eastern Ladakh began when Chinese troops intruded at least 19kms into DBO (Daulat Beg Oldie) on the night of April 15 and erected five tents stationed by soldiers.

So far, three flag meetings between army commanders from India and China have made little progress as both military continue to camp just 500 metres from each other. Exacerbating the situation further, China on Monday set up an additional tent while maintaining that it has not violated the border.

An Indian student protester called upon her government to “talk Tibet” with China to ensure stability in the region and further demanded that New Delhi “unwelcomes” Chinese Premier Le Keqiang, who will be in India on May 20 on his maiden visit as China’s second highest leader.

“India must act immediately against Chinese troops stationed on Indian soil,” Anchal Ranaut, an ABVP activist said. “To ensure stability in the region India should talk Tibet with China and realise Tibet’s independence as means to achieve ultimate security of India.”

“We demand our government to call off the upcoming visit of Indian Foreign Minister to China and unwelcome Chinese Premier Le Keqiang’s visit to India next month if this unfortunate incident continues,” she added.

Similar calls for the cancellation of FM Samlam Khurshid’s visit have been made by senior Indian leaders.

On Monday, speaking in the Indian Parliament, president of Samajwadi Party and former Defence Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav warned that China "is the biggest enemy" and "Pakistan is no threat to India."

Indian army sources have been cited as saying by reporters that they are treating the incursion as a localised incident and have ruled out military action, while admitting that the stand-off could continue for weeks.