IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE November 30, 1996

New Delhi TWA/TYC Over 70 Tibetan students from Delhi and Chandigarh today demonstrated in front of the Chinese embassy, minutes before the Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit there. From 3.00 to 3.00 p.m.the students got down in front of the embassy from hired vehicles, shouting anti-Chinese slogans and distributing pamphlets. The students also burnt the Chinese flag.

The demonstrators had tied black bands on their forehead with SAVE TIBET written on them. They were also holding the portrait of Panchen Lama, demanding his immediate release. The Chinese embassy was taken by surprise when the vehicles in which they came stopped in front of the embassy.

At 5.00 p.m. the traffic at Bikaji Cama Place crossing was stopped by students for about an hour. The students shouted slogans holding black flags. They distributed pamphlets and sat on the road. The RAF showed much patience while the Delhi Police on reaching the spot, started beating the peaceful demonstrators. Two students were badly beaten and one of them seriously injured. They also tried to harass the pressman. At least 25 demonstrators were taken to Sarojini Nagar Police station. The Chinese President, who was scheduled to go pass the route was learned to have diverted the route owing to the ongoing protest on the same route. The Delhi Police went on a wild rampage trying to beat the vehicle owners who stopped to receive the pamphlets from the demonstrators. The Tibetan students demonstration has been very peaceful and they never reacted back even when they were lathi-charged by the Delhi police.

Ms. Tsering Tsomo Mr. L.Pema Lhundup

Tibetan Women's Association Tibetan Youth Congress