PRESS STATEMENT ON TYC HUNGER STRIKE
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) has organized an Indefinite Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from March 10, 1998. It was started at 10:00 O'clock in the morning. Earlier the Tibetans from Majnu Ka Tilla camp staged a procession from Feroz Shah Kotla and finally converged at the site of Jantar Mantar - the site of the Hunger strike. Once the procession reached there, the welfare officer of Delhi Mr. Sonam Choephel read the statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued on the occasion of 39th National Uprising Day. This was followed by speeches of the Chairman of Lcoal Assembly and TYC president Mr. Tseten Norbu.
Mr. Tseten Norbu, president of TYC has given a brief overview of the past Tibetan Youth Congress activities and emphasised on the need to a carefully
planed actions and continuous activities from the Tibetans themselves. He further said that Tibetans need to prepare themselves to pay the ultimate price for Independence. Considering the Nature of non-violent struggle of the people of Tibet,Gandhi's non-voilent method of hunger strike is the only option that people can participate and it is exactly what the Tibetan Youth Congress has done on this occasion. He said the six Tibetans participating in the indefinite hunger strike represents the six million Tibetans inside Tibet and their sufferings. Those participating in the hunger strike are:
Sl.No. Name Sex Age
1. Dawa Gyalpo Male 50
2. Dawa Tsering Male 53
3. Karma Sichoe Male 25
4. Palzom Female 68
5. Yungdung Tsering Male 28
6. Kunsang Male 70
The President thanked all the six Tibetans for their selfless dedication to the cause of Tibet and Tibetans in participating in the historic cause. Tibetan Youth Congress president has offered white scarfs to the six participants on behalf of the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan people. This was followed by presentation of white scrafs from the Tibetan welfare officer of Delhi followed by other organizations.
Earlier after the commencement of the Indefinite Hunger Strike, former Speaker of Lok Sabha and President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, Shri Rabi Ray has visited the hunger strike participants individually and wished them all the success. Similarly Former Indian Cabinet Minister Shri Satya Prakash Malaviya, President of Indian Students for Free Tibet, Leaders from Samata Party, and representatives from Himalayan Action Committee on Tibet visited the participants.
Similarly Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) Mussoorie has initiated a bicycle Rally from Mussoorie to New Delhi which also converged at the site of Hunger Strike. Representatives from Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Kathmandu, Nepal visited the site to wish them all success and donated a sum of rupees sixty five thousand to TYC and wished this important activity to be succeed. They have also shown keen interest to support and look forward to the dependents of the participants. The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Delhi has taken special care by making volunteers available at the site and other necessary contributions.
TYC regionals throughout the world had also sat on 24 hours token Hunger Strike to support the Indefinite Hunger Strike organized by TYC in New Delhi. TYC centrex had also sent appeal letter to all the Tibet Support Groups throughout the world to do solidarity activities in their respective places. Tibet Liberte Solidarite in South-East France had already sent their solidarity letter to this office by fax and they are also organising solidarity campaign for Free Tibet in their place.
TYC hereby request all the Tibet Support Groups to organise Free Tibet activities to support the ongoing TYC Indefinite Hunger Strike in New Delhi.
Released By :
KARMA YESHI (Mr.)
Vice President March 11, 1998.
