Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Indians carry Tibetan flag to Indo-Tibetan border, Demand end to Tibet crisis

Tibetans holding the Tibetan National Flag at Indo-Tibetan border pass of Bumla in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
Tibetans holding the Tibetan National Flag at Indo-Tibetan border pass of Bumdila in Tawang,                                                                                                                                                        
DHARAMSHALA, October 16: A group of Indian supporters and Tibetans carried Tibetan national flags to the Indo-Tibetan border pass of Bumdila in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh calling for an end to the ongoing crisis in Tibet.

Bumdila is located at around 37 kms from Tawang, which China claims as ‘southern Tibet.’
Tibetans holding the Tibetan National Flag at Indo-Tibetan border pass of Bumdila in Tawang,

47 Indians from seven different states of India along with 36 Tibetans took part in the Tawang Yatra organised by the all-India Tibetan support group, Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch.

Senior leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and chief patron of BTSM, Indresh Kumar led the Yatra, which began Wednesday from the Assamese city of Guwahati.

In his address, Kumar said the rally aimed at creating awareness amongst the Indian public over China’s “barbaric rule” in Tibet and Beijing’s “indifferent policies” towards India.

“This is not just a rally or journey but an initiative to tell those, who have conquered peace loving Tibet and now are claiming many parts of India to be theirs, that injustice will no more be tolerated,” said Kumar. “By visiting Tawang we Indians want to tell China that Tawang is a part of India and will always remain so”.

The senior Indian leader added that India’s “horrible mistake” of regarding Tibet as a part of China can only be salvaged by supporting the cause of an “independent Tibet.”

Travelling in cars adorned with Tibetan National flags, the Yatra made stopovers at different places along the road, generating awareness amongst the people and talking to the locals on the issue of Tibet.
Indian and Tibetan participants of the Tawang Yatra stand at Bumla at the completion of their campaign calling for an end to the crisis inside Tibet.
Indian and Tibetan participants of the Tawang Yatra stand at Bumdila at the completion of their campaign calling for an end to the crisis inside Tibet.
Tracing back the same road to Bumdila, from where China had attacked India during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, the Yatra also paid homage to the Indian soldiers who fought in the war.

Upon reaching Bumdila, many of the Tibetan participants broke down at the sight of their country. The participants hoisted prayer flags and offered prayers and prostrations facing Tibet.

Returning from the border post, the Yatra was received at the Tawang Monastery by Abbot Guru Tulku Rinpoche, who expressed his deep appreciation to the Indians for their support.

Later in the evening, members of the India army posted in the region arranged the screening of documentary films on the 1962 war and the history of the Tawang region for the Yatra participants.

Buoyed by the success of this years’ Tawang Yatra, Mahesh Chadda, the convenor of the relay announced that the campaign will now be held every year.

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