To protest against the ongoing lockdown of Kriti Monastery and brutal crackdown on the people of Ngaba, Tibet including monks, the youth body has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
While the temperature hit 43 degrees celsius, three Tibetan activists continue their fast at Jantar Mantar. It has been 21 days and the activists are prepared to die for their cause. While the climate isn't making it any easier, the relentless government is draining the last bit of hope in them.
It all started on the 16th of March, 2011 with the self-immolation of Phuntsok Jarutsang, a 20-year-old monk in Ngaba, Amdo, Eastern Tibet, setting the whole country and the Tibetan community on fire. He was protesting against the forced political re-education at Kirti monastery, denunciations of the Dalai Lama, and forced impositions, whereby they have to accept Tibet as a part of China.
Jarutsang's death resulted in an uproar and peaceful marches around Kirti monastery. In retaliation, China imposed a massive security crackdown in Kriti monastery and other Tibetan areas in present-day China, resulting in the death of three elderly Tibetans and injuring many more.
To protest against the ongoing lockdown of Kriti Monastery and brutal crackdown on the people of Ngaba, Tibet including monks, the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) launched an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on April,25 2011.
Meanwhile, Dharamshala, home to about 15,000 Tibetans and also the refuge of the Dalai Lama is witnessing hunger strikes on a daily basis.
Earlier in the day, professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa (current prime minister) of the Tibetan government in Exile met with the three activists of the Tibetan Youth Congress on fast at Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital, asking them to stop the fast.
The Tibetan Youth Congress says the aim of the hunger strike – now in its 22nd day – is to demand the immediate withdrawal of the Chinese security forces from the monastery and the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including those recently arrested in Ngaba, which has been at the centre of political dissent since March this year. The TYC is also demanding that a Tibetan Youth Congress delegation is granted access to Tibet to assess the situation of political prisoners there.
In the evening, regional TYC Samyeling and RTYC Rohini organised an evening of Indian solidarity for the three hunger strikers as part of the ‘Global Solidarity Relay Hunger Strike’. The evening saw a participation of several Tibetan supporters from all walks of life, and few Indian supporters as well.
Dr Honi Oberoi, professor from Delhi University said, “When we were growing up in Shimla many years ago, there was a Tibetan school nearby. We’d often see very young Tibetan kids in peace marches around Shimla walking with Tibetan flags. As we grew older, we came to understand that the Tibetan struggle is perhaps one of the longest non-violent freedom struggles of the whole of the 20th century.”
She further added that India’s radicals, Leftists and other activists do not really support the Tibetan struggle.
TYC said the activists health has deteriorated over 3 weeks with each of the activists losing more than 10 kilos each. Also, the fasters blood pressure has consistently been below normal for the past 3 weeks.
Both the Indian and the Chinese government have turned a blind eye to their predicament.
One of the three activists manages to smile and claps as he lays on his deathbed when Vinita Agarwal, an Indian writer, poet and researcher reads out her poem dedicated to him...
“When I look at you
I see men amongst people
Heroes amongst men
Saviours amongst heroes
I see brave hearts, I see hope
I see a dream coming back to life.
The Tsangpo is sweet by your promise
The mountains sturdy by your resolves
You are the coral of Tibet’s ruddy winds
The precious turquoise of its soil
You are the force of its snowy gales
You are the balm on the lesions of torn people
You are doves of peace
Bringing rest to a scattered million hearts...”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}