Hunger Strikers appeal to Tibetan NGOs to work together: Day 18

TYC Wednesday, 25 July 2007

 Today marks the eighteenth day of the Indefinite Hunger Strike.  The robust and healthy-looking hunger strikers in the first week of July have now turned feeble, pale and skinny after surviving only on water for eighteen days.   
 
Visitors from all corners throng to the hunger strikers. This morning, the representatives from the four main Tibetan NGOs (Tibetan Women's Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT), Gu-chu-sum, and Students for a Free Tibet), who are also jointly organizing a campaign againstthe Beijing Olympics in Delhi on 4 August 2007, paid a visit to the hunger strikers to express their solidarity and admiration to the hunger strikers.

During their visit, the hunger strikers appealed to the representatives of the four NGOs not to interrupt The People's Movement of 8 August 2007 in Delhi.  Mr. Tashi Wangdue, one of the hunger strikers, pleaded with the visiting representatives of Tibetan NGO's in the following words, "The responsibility of the Tibet cause lies with every Tsampa eater Tibetan. His Holiness also emphasizes this point.  In this spirit, at the critical juncture of Tibetan issue, we strongly feel that this is the appointed time to participate in a movement that will take the movement forward, even at the cost of our lives.  From our side, until the five-point demands are realized, we are prepared and committed to lay down ourlives.  However, the four NGOs are preparing to stage some kind of dance performance and play games on 4th August 2007 in Delhi at the same time when the serious hunger strike protest is going on; and in addition you have been creating confusion in the public by giving false information that TYC is in the 4th August campaign.  We feel immense pain to learn this through radio and newspapers. What has done in the past is done.  But, the future course of action can be changed.  Hence, we would like to vehemently appeal to all of you not to engage in activities that would jeopardize the 8 August "Mass People's Protest" in Delhi.  Every organization has its own standpoint and objectives. TYC has its own which is Rangzen (Independence).  However, the TYC call for People's Movement is a call for the general Tibetan public, which includes all Tibetans and Tibetan NGOs.  Although TYC is leading it, it is the people's movement and not a movement of TYC according to its own mission and objectives.  TYC is only facilitating and leading it.  It is actually the people's own movement. That is why it is the duty of all Tibetan people to participate in this movement as it is their movement.  We would like to thank you if you (TWA, NDPT, Gu-Chu-Sum, and SFT) can facilitate and participate in "The People's Movement"; but, if you can't do this please  …  do not disrupt it."

Among other visitors, Mr. Thupten la, President, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Shimla, and Mr. Tenzin-la, President, Local Tibetan Assembly, Shimla, visited the hunger strikers to express their camaraderie and

admiration to the hunger strikers. 

Ms. Tashi Dolma, a senior teacher, of C.S.T. Mainpat brought letters by students from their school expressing feelings and empathy to the hunger strikers. The hunger strikers love the letters of the children and they listened with much attention when they were read out. 

A Polish lady, Ms Karolene Frem, who came to see the hunger strikers, wrote the following comment in the visitor's book "I pray to God and wish you all from the deepest of my heart that all your dreams will come true all demands will be fulfilled. I pray for free Tibet!! I strongly believe that the effect which you put here will bring a concrete result soon."

www.tibetanyouthcongress.org