Tubetan Protest

McLeodganj, March 16
While the Dalai Lama offered prayers for the peace and security of his fellow countrymen at the main temple complex here, thousands of Tibetans sat in dharna outside the temple and held a protest march from McLeodganj to Dharamsala raising anti-China slogans. At least 6,000 Tibetans and foreigners participated in the march.

A senior official of the district administration said tight security arrangements were made to avoid any untoward incident. The foreigners participating in protest were videographed and the details would be sent to their respective country’s embassies in New Delhi.

The protesters walked over Chinese flags that were laid down on the roads of Dharamsala, christened as “Mini Lhasa”.

With faces painted in the colours of Tibetan flag, they pledged to “take strict action against” the killings in Lhasa.

At least 10 people were reportedly killed in the largest ever demonstrations in nearly two decades against Beijing’s 57-year rule over Tibet.

“We are demonstrating against Chinese Army’s oppression and want the world to know about the situation in Tibet,” said Tashi, a monk.

Tibetans also expressed hope that the Indian Government would cooperate with them this time and they would not be detained en route as they would be returning to their homeland.

“We have resumed our march to Tibet. We were stopped earlier. Our 102 marchers are still in detention, but now we are another 50 marchers determined to go back to Tibet. We are really hopeful that the Indian Government will not stop us. We are just refugees wanting to go back to Tibet and we are requesting the Indian Government to please not stop us,” said Palkey, a marcher.

Meanwhile, a number of Tibetan activists gathered outside the Yatri Niwas, where 102 Tibetan marchers are held, to demand their release.

Meanwhile, around 70 Tibetan monks and nuns have started indefinite fast to express solidarity and support with fellow Tibetans.