Tibetans Protest against Olympics in Dharamsala

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;} Tibetans march in protest of Olympics by,Abhishek Madhukar  Dharamsala, India, Aug 8 As China officially announced the opening ceremony of the Olympics thousands of Tibetans gathered around the main temple, Tsunglakhang, next to the Dalai Lama’s residence and office at 9 am in the morning, at McLeodganj – upper Dharamsala. The crowd of around over 3,000 Tibetans largely consisting of maroon-robed monks and nuns, along with local Tibetans, school children and Tibetans from across India began a protest march from McLeodganj. The protesters were accompanied by hundred or so foreigners (tourists) on the march which continued for over five kilometres to lower Dharamsala. On the march the protesters shouted slogans of “One World, One Dream, Free Tibet, Free Tibet” as well as anti-China slogans, calling China a “butcher, murderer and liar” The protesters demanded IOC to wake up to the human rights violation in Tibet, asking for international support. The traffic in Dharamsala came to a stand still for a few hours as the marchers flooded the road from McLeodganj to Dharamsala till the main junction at Kacheri Mode, lower Dharamsala, where they finally ended the march with speeches from the leaders of Tibetan N.G.O.’s (students for Free Tibet, Tibetan women’s association and Gu-Chu sum Movement, as well as an Indian supporter, Mr Ram Lal, secretary (Bharat-Tibet Sahayog Samiti) Indo-Tibet Friendship Society. Mr Ram Lal addressed the crowd in Hindi supporting their opposition to the Beijing Olympics and highlighted the issue of safety and security of India, with regard to China’s claim over Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh as a threat to India. He also requested the Indian Govt. to support the movement against the Chinese government and their policies. And denounce any trade with China, specifically with regard to arms and weapons. He brought up the issue of Kailash Mansarovar – the sacred Hindu pilgrimage site which is practically under Chinese control. Based on all these factors Mr Ram Lal told the gathering “we Indians and people of Himachal Pradesh, all support the movement, we also request the government of India that The Chinese companies should not be granted any tenders for business in Himachal Pradesh, specifically with regard to issues that are related to safety and security of the country.” The protesters charged the atmosphere with constant slogan shouting and waving of Tibetan flags; many of the older Tibetans were highly emotional and wept as they marched shouting anti China and pro Tibet slogans. At the end of the address the crowd observed a two minutes silence to respect those who have lost their lives in Tibet, during the crackdown. Later the crowd ended the protest by singing the “Tibetan National Anthem” before they dispersed. Lobsang Yeshi, former vice-president of Tibetan Youth Congress, said: “Tibetans have been waiting for the last 7 or 8 years since China has been granted the host status (for Olympics), but from today onwards we have called upon the Tibetan people to push forward this campaign with more power, Tibetans across the world won’t be able to stay home at such an important time, everybody will come out, leave their jobs, leave their kids and home and come out, voice their opinion. The Tibetans will voice their opinion on what’s happening inside Tibet and China, the Tibetans have been protesting for over 15 years, and this signifies that Tibet cannot die easily and the Tibetan cause is still alive.” The rally came to an end late afternoon when the protesters finally dispersed from the main square of town in small groups.