Tibetan Protesters, Dharamsala, India

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Tibetan protest in Dharamsala a day before Olympics By Abhishek Madhukar Dharamsala, India, August 7, Friday. Four major Tibetan Non Government Organizations (N.G.O.): Students for a Free Tibet (S.F.T.), Tibetan Women's Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet; and National Democratic Party of Tibet; organized a mass protest in northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala, a day before the Beijing Olympics. A crowd of around 1,500 people gathered late morning at the main Tsunglakhang temple courtyard, right beside the residence and the office of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual head. The Dalai Lama was neither present nor a part of the protest. The crowd mainly consisted of Tibetans and Tibet supporters, along with a fairly large number of foreigners. The gathering was first addressed by the Tibetan N.G.O. leaders, who spoke about the situation within Tibet as well as their aspirations and plans to continue the "Tibetan People's Uprising Movement". They also mentioned the fact that Olympics is a good opportunity and platform for the Tibetans to address the issue of Tibet and added that though the Olympics will be over in two weeks, but their movement will carry on. Majority of the protestors who gathered at the temple complex were maroon-robed monks and Tibetan nuns. After the address by the Tibetan leaders the crowd began to chant anti-China slogans and demanded a "Free Tibet" as they marched out of the temple complex starting their five kilometer walk to lower Dharamsala. The chanting of slogans continued as they marched through the winding hilly roads, there were a few Indian Police officers who monitored the protest as it went on peacefully. The Tibetan N.G.O.'s later organized a candle light vigil in Dharamsala in the evening where a large number of supporters are expected to turn up for the vigil. There are plans for more protests and demonstrations through the Olympics in Dharamsala as well around the world. Tenzin Choeying, National Director, Students for a Free Tibet said "We believe in the spirit of Olympics but as of now China has violated the fundamental principle of Olympics, there is no peace, no freedom, there are no human rights inside Tibet. As Tibetans outside (of Tibet), living in a free world, we have a responsibility to speak out for those who can't speak, it becomes our moral responsibility. When the world spotlight is on China, we want to use this opportunity to raise the Tibetan issue." He went on to say that "Of course, China deserves Olympics, the Chinese people deserve to host the Olympics, but not at this time when the conditions within Tibet as well in China are against the spirit of Olympics and we believe that Olympics can be a catalyst for a change, we as people living in a free country have to be the positive catalyst for this change." Choeying added "There will be more protests, tomorrow a bigger one on 8th, not just in Dharamsala but everywhere where there are Tibetans. Yesterday few of our activists in Beijing flashed banners, so in the coming days there will be many more such protests across the world, organized by Students for Free Tibet, within China as well as around the world."