Indian Police detained more than 100 Tibetan exiles
Thursday, as they marched to their homeland to protest of the Beijing Olympics.
The exiles were charged with threatening the “peace and
tranquility” of the region, officials reported. The police stopped their march
after one hour and forced them into police buses.
Shortly after being arrested, the protesters, among which
are five women and several foreigners, started a hunger strike, Tenzin Palkyi,
one of the march leaders, told the Associated Press.
"The marchers who are in police custody are refusing to
eat and if this detention is prolonged then we would be compelled to go on a
hunger strike," he warned.
Before being detained, the demonstrators shouted slogans
such as “Free Tibet” or “Victory to Tibet.”
The protesting march started on Monday and was part of the
worldwide protests to mark the 49th anniversary of the failed
uprising of Dalai Lama against Chinese rule. The Tibetan exiles left from
Dharamsala, home to Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
The march was banned by Indian police, but the exiles
continued marching, declaring that nothing will stop them.
Even though they were arrested, the exiles stated the same
thing again Thursday: they vowed to continue their march, overcoming all
obstacles in their way.
Sonam Dorje, spokesman of Tibetan Youth Congress, appealed
to the government of India not to ally with China and restrain their peaceful
protest.
"We are very disappointed. We have been living in India
for 50 years and we uphold the non-violent values of Mahatma Gandhi, the father
of the nation. And this march was a peaceful journey according to his
principles, back to the land which legitimately belongs to all Tibetans,"
said the head of the activist group, Tsewang Rinzin, according to the
Associated Press.
India used to sympathize with Tibet’s cause in the past, but
it has recently changed its policy, in order to keep a good relationship with
the other Asian country and not to embarrass Beijing.
The exiles insist that they have to right to return to their
homeland and expose what they say are human rights violations in Tibet.
