Tibetans march from Kashmir to New Delhi to demand freedom

NEW DELHI, Jan 14 (AFP) - Forty-two Tibetans arrived here Friday demanding freedom from China, ending a marathon march that began in the Himalayan Indian state of Kashmir 97 days ago.

The Tibetans, including 12 women, set out from Kashmir's hilly region of Kargil, which was the scene of heavy fighting between Indian troops and Muslim infiltrators from Pakistan in the summer of last year.

The marchers trooped into the mausoleum here of Mahatma Gandhi at the end of the walk, which also took them through the northern hill town of Dharamsala, the seat of the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile.

The organisers said the march was to highlight demands for Tibet's independence from China.

Some Tibetan organisations have criticised the Dalai Lama for moving away from demands of full independence in favour of autonomy.

"Early resolution of the Tibet issue is in the interest of India's security," said Tashi Targies Dimbir, vice-president of Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet, which organised the protest.

Dimbir urged the United Nations to put pressure on China "to end the misery of Tibetans."

In a separate statement, the marchers urged India to recognise the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile. No country recognises the exile government, set up after the Dalai Lama fled China to India in 1959.