Interview and testimony of Mr. Thupten Ngodup given on April 23, 1998, five days before he died on April 29, 1998 from 90 per cent burns after setting himself ablaze to further highlight the issue of Tibet. His selfless action rekindled the Tibetan flame of freedom and made international headlines. The interview was recorded in New Delhi by Mr. Pachen Dorjee of Voice of Tibet, Norway Radio, at the site of the on-going hunger strike unto death (since march 10, 1998 by Tibetans demanding the United Nations Organisation to act against China s rule of Tibet:

Q: What is your name ?

A: My name is Thupten Ngodup.

Q: How old are you ?

A: I am 60 years old.

Q: You are one of the hunger strikers in the second batch. How did you decide to participate ?

A: Yes. As a Tibetan I have a responsibility. This is my main reason for participation.

Q: Do you have any family members ?

A: All my family members are in Tibet. In India I have no one, no parents, no relatives.

Q: At present where do you live ?

A: I live in Dharamsala at the Dip Tsechokling monastery.

Q: What do you do there ?

A: There I worked as a cook. Then I left the job and for the last two years I have been working here and there.

Q: Having come here and seeing the six unto death hunger strikers, don't you feel a sense of fear?

A: Not at all. Instead, I feel mentally happy. It is now nearly 40 years since Tibet has been occupied and our religion and culture are being destroyed. During this time thousands of action plans have been initiated both in and outside Tibet and in various parts of the world. His Holiness the Dalai Lama through his non-violent Middle Way approach has tried to contact and bring about negotiation with the Chinese (authorities) but so far they have not responded positively. That is why considering the urgency of the situation in Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Congress has organised this hunger strike unto death and I am happy that these six Tibetans with urgency are participating in it. They have no hesitation at all in sacrificing their life. I also feel the same. I have no hesitation at all in giving up my life for the cause of Tibet.

Q: If you have to sit in the second batch on the hunger strike unto death, will you also like them take water ?

A: I want to increase the effectiveness. There are many, many Tibetans who are volunteering to replace the hunger strikers unto death. I personally know many of the volunteers. As far as I am concerned I will neither agree to massage and nor will I drink water. Since we are facing an urgent situation I have no hesitation at all in sacrificing my life. The Chinese people themselves are not happy and certainly there is no peace and happiness in Tibet. So hoping to bring about peace and happenings to the Tibetan and Chinese peoples I have decided to sacrifice my life by joining this movement.

Q: Do you have any message for the Tibetans in and outside Tibet ?

A: I want to tell them that our religion and culture, for thousands of years Tibet has been an independent country. As for China the world knows how powerful it is. Our Tibet is a small country. So such a powerful neighbour, instead of helping us, is exploiting and taking away all of Tibet's natural resources, including mineral deposits. The Chinese have also taken away to China sacred statues and gold and silver religious artifacts belonging to individuals and thousands of our monasteries. That is why we have joined this action plan.

Q: Finally, what is your message especially to the Tibetan people inside Tibet ?

A: I want to tell them to continue the struggle. I know they will and I am hundred percent sure that they will never stop without continuing the struggle because each and every Tibetan has a responsibility and we have to accomplish it. For the last almost forty years there have been many small and big activities. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has worked so hard. From the age of five to sixteen he has worked very hard in his studies. Then from the age of sixteen until his present age of about sixty four, His Holiness has worked immeasurably hard for country's sake. That is why I would like to appeal to all Tibetans in and outside Tibet to join, in future too, our movement (to free Tibet). Thank you.

Tibetan Youth Congress