World Tibet Network News Wednesday, March 25, 1998

Express News Service

Dharamsala, March 23

Hundreds of Tibetans from all walks of life today went on a 24 hour hunger strike in McLeodganj in support of the fast-unto-death being observed by six Tibetan Youth Congress activists in Delhi to press for immediate action on the issue of Tibet.

A large number of monks and nuns who are currently in the Tibetan township to attend the Dalai Lama's preachings, form part of the hunger strike along with many local Tibetan women. The township resounded with slogans against the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the Chinese anti-Tibet policies, as the Tibetan activists called upon the world community to feel sincerely for the enslaved nation and it's harassed natives.

General Secretary of TYC Yanchen Dokar said that the organization members sat in dharna (fast unto death) in Delhi on March 10 (the Tibetan Uprising Day) against the United Nations indifference towards the problem of Tibet, despite its general body having taken initiative in the early sixities through certain resolutions on the issue.

The three main demands of the TCY now include resumption of the UN debate on the question of Tibet based on its resolutions of 1959, 1961 and 1965, appointment of a special reporter to investigate the situation of human rights in the Chinese occupied Tibet and appointment of special envoy to promote a peaceful settlement of the question of Tibet and initiate a UN supervised plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of people inside of Tibet.

"Despite so much of international pressure against China on its human rights record in Tibet, the UN has remained a mute spectator. We hope that our protest and determination moves the United Nations on Tibet," said the TYC spokesman.

The TYC said that for the past four decades, the Tibetans have been struggling for their just cause, following the principals of non-violence and peaceful means which is in line with the UN charter. "But it is sad thing that the UN has not come out with any positive result regarding the Tibetans issue.

It's high time, the UN takes up the Tibetan issue as it is at par with the UN charter. If the UN still remains mute in the face of China's aggressive attitude and "veto power", it is going to be very depressing for the Tibetans and the supporters of the human rights world-wide", the TYC said.

The TYC members sitting on fast-unto-death in Delhi include Dawa Gyalpo, Yundrung Tsering, Palzom,, Kunsang and Dawa Tsering.