DHARAMSHALA, October 24: Tibetan college students studying in the north Indian city of Chandigarh began a cycle rally to New Delhi last Friday in a bid to draw attention to the deteriorating situation in Ngaba, eastern Tibet.
Since March this year, nine Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet, protesting China’s continued occupation and demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.
The group of four girls and 15 boys, all members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Chandigarh, are expected to reach the nation’s capital tomorrow.
Speaking to Phayul, Gelek Jamyang, the president of RTYC Chandigarh said that the group will launch a series of free Tibet activities upon reaching New Delhi,
“We have organised this cycle rally to honour the sacrifices made by Tibetans inside Tibet and to fan up the spirit of exile Tibetans to show solidarity with the plight of people inside Tibet,” Jamyang said.
“At this critical moment when Tibetans inside and outside Tibet are looking up to the youth of Tibet to take the mantle of leadership, we must continue to carry forward the flame ignited by our brethrens inside Tibet,” added Jamyang.
The cyclist are demanding the Chinese government to “immediately withdraw its military presence from Kirti Monastery” and allow an “independent investigation team to assess the escalating critical situation in Ngaba County and Kirti Monastery”.
The Associated Press (AP) on Sunday released a video clip leaked out of Tibet, showing the self-immolation bid of Lobsang Konchok, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba.
Lobsang Konchok along with another monk Lobsang Kalsang had set themselves ablaze on September 26 in the central town of Ngaba district, raising slogans calling for the long-life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and religious freedom in Tibet.
In the clip, Lobsang Konchok is seen lying partially clothed on the street, his lower legs smoking from setting himself on fire.
“The shaky 34-second video begins after the fire was doused and shows white fire extinguisher residue covering Lobsang and the ground around him. A woman screams in Tibetan in the background and a police car and several uniformed People’s Armed Police officers are visible behind his prone body, but do not appear to assist him,” AP said in a report following the release of the clip.
