November 28, 1996

Today the Tibetan people in exile staged various demonstrations against the visit of Mr. Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China. We, the Tibetans in exile, protest to focus once again the attention on the ever continuing oppression of the Tibetan people and the destruction of our country and culture by the Chinese colonialists.

The demonstrators planned for today (November 28) in Delhi were staged without the authorisation of the police and was held at Majnu-ka-Tila (Tibetan camp) where a demonstration began at 9.00 a.m. The demonstrators were however stopped about one kilometre distance from the Tibetan camp. All the demonstrators were chained to symbolise the lack of freedom of the Tibetan people. The demonstrations asked Mr. Jiang Zemin about the whereabouts of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Rinpoche, Ngawang Choephel, the 30 year-old musician and Ngawang Sangdrol, the nineteen year old novice nun. A young boy to represent the seven year old Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama was put in a cage and taken along in the procession. The Tibetan people also burnt the effigies of both Jiang Zemin and Gyaincin Norbu, the Chairman of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. A blood signed memorandum addressed to Shri H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr. Jiang Zemin were also written.

In the evening, the Tibetan students demonstrated and distributed pamphlets at the Raotula Ram Marg and Hyatt Regency crossing. Six students were arrested and are presently in custody at the Vasant Vihar Police station.

Meanwhile, in Gwalior, Bombay, Dehradun, Dharamsala and all the major towns and cities in India, Tibetans took out processions and demonstrated against the Chinese President's visit to India. The Tibetans in Nainital were stopped from boarding buses to Dellhi by the police. Similarly, in Agra, we have been informed that police have sealed the railway and bus stations for the Tibetans. The Tibetan sweater sellers in Agra were interrogated and their houses checked for new Tibetan arrivals from other parts of India, in order to prevent further embarassment for the Indian government. It could be stated here that during the visit of Qiao Shi last November, the Agra Tibetans and some students had held a massive demonstration and blocked the Chinese dignatory's motorcade.

Issued by the Tibetan Women's Association and the Tibetan Youth Congress