By IANS,
New Delhi : Tibetans living in exile in India are expected to turn out in large numbers for a protest march against the Beijing Olympics in Delhi Thursday, a day ahead of the inaugural ceremony of the games.
“A protest march will be taken out from Rajghat to Jantar Mantar on Aug 7 morning to highlight the oppression of Tibetans in Tibet,” Dhondup Dorjee, vice president of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), told IANS.
“After the protest march, there will be a mass gathering and demonstration at Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street. We will also take out a candlelight vigil to mark our protest. The protest will continue through the long day,” Dorjee said.
“We are expecting a huge gathering and the participation of several thousand people. Tibetans living in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other parts of India are pouring into Delhi to take part in the protest.”
“Our protest campaign is going to be long. Everyone is welcome to support and join the campaign,” Dorjee added.
It’s not just Tibetans who will take part in the protest. “A number of social groups and civil rights groups will also take part,” said Jigme, a Tibetan activist.
One of the main demands of Tibetan protesters is the immediate release of Tibetans held by the Chinese authorities and an end to the oppression of Tibetans inside Tibet.
Six Tibetan activists, who were on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since July 28 protesting the Beijing Olympics were forcibly taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital late Tuesday after their health deteriorated.
Around 100,000 Tibetans live across India. The Tibetan-government-in-exile has been based in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh ever since the Dalai Lama fled Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959.