Tibetans demonstrate throughout India against visit by Chinese president
New Delhi (AsiaNews) Tibetan refugees in India have announced non violent demonstrations during the state visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao, which began yesterday in New Delhi. Various protests against the "atrocities" by the Chinese government in Tibet are expected throughout the country despite the India government's attempt to restrict such initiatives.
In the capital hundreds of Tibetans took to the streets shouting "End Chinese Oppression and Tyranny in Tibet". Buddhist monks and other refugees waved banner that said: "Hu Jintao: Wanted for Crimes against Humanity", "Hu Jintao Go Home", "Tibet Wants Freedom". Many Tibetan youths were present, loudly calling on the Indian government to ditch its soft stance towards China over Tibet, but security forces intercepted and stopped protesters who had reached the vicinity of the Indian Parliament House building.
The protest, organised by the Tibet Youth Congress, was also the occasion for songs and traditional dances as well as poetry reading. The event included a candle light vigil.
In Shillong, the capital of the Indian state of Meghalaya, dozens of Tibetan merchants have decided for a three-hour shut down every day until Mr Hu goes back to China Thursday.
A press release by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Meghalaya stated: "We strongly oppose the Chinese president's visit to India as he was the man responsible for a military assault on peaceful demonstrators in Tibet in 1989 when he was the chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region."
This north-eastern Indian state shelters some 500 Tibetan refugees who primarily run shops and restaurants.
Apart from closing their businesses, merchants decided to hold silent prayers in a street corner and distribute leaflets describing the situation the Tibetan people face and the responsibility of Chinese authorities.
Hundreds of Tibetan refugees in the southern Indian state of Karnataka took part in a peaceful rally today in the city of Mysore which will last for the next two days.
In the eastern state of Orissa, the Tibetan Women's Association also staged protest rallies demanding dialogue between Hu and Tibet's spiritual leader in exile, the Dalai Lama, to solve the "Tibetan question".
Tsering Dolma, head of the association, mentioned the tragic fate of Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the youngest prisoner of conscience under house arrest for the past ten years in China.
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18/11/2008
