Final Day of Delhi Protests A Huge Success!
photo by Tenzin Dasel/Phayul
An energetic group of Tibetans returned to Jantar Mantar today to protest the second day of Hu Jintao’s visit to India. Once again, the protests received widespread media coverage with every major news article including mention of the Tibet issue and the protests. The following is a report from the day’s events!
Chalo Delhi: Day 3 - Update was posted on the popular Indian website Rediff:
The final day of the protests commenced with an extended Buddhist prayer session that swiftly transformed into yet another high-energy protest. With intense passion, we marched around Jantar Mantar and effigies of Hu Jintao were burned in the streets. As our program drew to a close, the chanting reached a fevered pitch and Tibetans wept openly in the crowd.
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) was present throughout the day but quickly seemed to grow bored with our peaceful protest.
The protests have been well covered by not just the Indian media but also the international media. For this, we owe a big thanks to the Indian and Chinese authorities for giving Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue an order not to leave Dharamsala. This was done because they fear that he might breach security and protest Hu Jintao as he has done during the past two visits of Chinese Prime Ministers.
In the end, Tsundue traded his presence in Dharamsala for the permission we needed to have this mass gathering in Delhi. And, while it has been strange not to have Tsundue around the past three days, his presence was felt throughout the protests.
To show our solidarity with him on Monday, hundreds of supporters put red bands around our heads (like the signature red band that Tsundue has vowed to wear each day until Tibet is free) while we read a short statement from him and one of his poems.
Our message to both the Indian and Chinese authorities is that in attempting to silence his voice in this way, they have now created hundreds more Tsundues. And the next time a Chinese leader visits India — watch out!
Lhadon Tethong, SFT Executive Director was quoted in ZeeNews’s article covering the protests:
“We have submitted a memorandum at Prime Minister`s office and at Chinese embassy to oppose the Chinese policies against Tibet,” said Ladhom Tethong, executive director of students for free Tibet at Dharamshala.
She claimed some of the Indian parliamentarians have also come forward in their support and they have assured us to raise this matter during the winter session starting from tomorrow.
The Daily India quoted Brandy Leitch, a core SFT India volunteer:
“With Hu Jinato in India, it is a critical time for us to show the international community that the Tibetans have had enough of inhumane injustices in Tibet. Over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of China’s occupation and the Tibetans in India have had enough of their brutality,” said Brandy, a protestor.
Lhadon was also interviewed yesterday by IndiaNews online. The article focuses on the creative tactics used by the protesters in New Delhi.
Over a thousand Tibetan refugees Monday held a unique protest in the heart of the capital against Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to India, reciting poetry and singing songs of freedom.
The Jantar Mantar, a popular place for protests about a kilometre away from Parliament House, was swarming with the Tibetans as they held their ’song and dance’ protest.
‘The protest is unique as songs and dances are being held and members will be given an opportunity to recite their poems and give speeches,’ said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of Students for Free Tibet. ‘We have also organised a candle light vigil in the evening,’ she said.
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Blessings of the Buddha be upon you! Happy to hear the protests are supported by Indian citizens who must remember they gained independence from Britain 60 years ago with the peaceful passive resistence actions of Gandhi and followers.
Remember the Salt March!
Wiluya :-)
I hope that your protests will help in growing compassion for the suffering of people in tibet, and the suffering of those who feel powerless against the way some chinese abuse their power and not to forget… the suffering that leads those chinese to that abuse…
and i hope that their comes a solution by which both chinese and tibetans can be satisfied…
i am so proud of all the ppl who took part in the protests in delhi. gives me hope that the tibetan cause is still alive.
michael
November 22nd, 2006 12:28 2I hope that your protests will help in growing compassion for the suffering of people in tibet, and the suffering of those who feel powerless against the way some chinese abuse their power and not to forget… the suffering that leads those chinese to that abuse…
and i hope that their comes a solution by which both chinese and tibetans can be satisfied…
Sincerely,
Luis Moreno.
I wholeheartedly agree and have donated to this great cause. I know for sure that one day both Tibet and Taiwan will be free and that China will become mature enough to recognize these states. As of now however, more of such protests is needed to keep the current Chinese regime aware that the world is watching. But this protest is one of the best I have seen yet. I do hope Tibet becomes free and independenat just as I hope the same for Taiwan.
I do hope this protest will be heard, and one day you dear tibetans friends will be able to get back safely to your country. I feel sade that governements all over the world are not more helpfull and seems afraid to give more for tibetan against china. We know your courage and determination to defend your rights.tashi delek
how can i help - not with this protest, but with freeing tibet?
i have donated to the cause. one day, tibet will be free.
[...] Due to the size and success of the protests, activists actually gave an ironic thank-you to Indian and Chinese authorities for trying to silence the well-known activist Tsundue, because “they have now created hundreds more Tsundues.” [...]
i am a member of the sft but have been living in gangtok and have been quite stagnant as being away from the scene, anywayz i feel really warm inside knowing that we stil havent forgoten our cause and we still cant relax completely without giving our best to fight for what is rightfully ours, our country, our independence, our people back to where we belong and the most importantly our culture and heritage……