Indian college students carry out Tibet solidarity march, Call on China to stop rights violation/ENG

2012. február 21./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, February 21: Hundreds of Indian college students along with Tibetan youths carried out a protest march across Delhi University to highlight the ongoing crisis in Tibet, calling upon China to respect human rights in Tibet, today.

The protest march was jointly organised by the Delhi University Students Union, one of the largest and most respected student unions in India and the India chapter of the Students for a Free Tibet.

Speaking at the protest rally, Deepak Bansal, Joint Secretary, DUSU recalled the historical and cultural friendship shared by the people of India and Tibet and said it is India’s “moral responsibility” to stand with the Tibetan people in their “fight for freedom.”

“We were shocked by the recent cases of self-immolations and military crackdown by the Chinese armed forces which has lead to the death of many Tibetans,” Bansal said.

“We strongly condemn the Chinese government’s violent means on peaceful protesters.”

The fiery wave of self-immolation in Tibet has witnessed a dramatic escalation in recent weeks with three Tibetans torching their bodies last week alone.

According to the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration, 23 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.

The Indian students carrying placards stating, “Tibet is not a part of China,” “China Stop Human Rights Violations” belonged to some of the most reputed colleges in India, including St. Stephens College, Miranda House, Kirori Mal College, Hans Raj College, Ramjas College, Khlasa College, and Hindu College.

Student unions of Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and other Himalayan regions also joined the protest to show their solidarity.

“Both Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh share a long history of cordial relationship with Tibet,” said Stanzin Khakyab, President of the Ladakh Student Union, Delhi.

“China’s regular muscle-flexing has been evident with is recent land grabbing attempts across the trans-Himalayan region. Tibet’s resolution can only bring a true solution to these problems.”

Speaking at the protest march, Dorjee Tseten, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet-India noted that the spate of self-immolations by Tibetans is a “testimony to China’s authoritative and repressive rule in Tibet”.

“World leaders must come together and intervene as a global force to stop China from taking further Tibetan lives,” Tseten said.

The Tibetan leadership in exile and rights groups have expressed fear of more self-immolations and bloodshed as many parts of Tibet continue to remain under an undeclared martial law with Chinese security personnel gunning down unarmed Tibetan protesters in recent weeks.