Tibetan women shout out to Xi Jinping

200 Tibetan women activists take part in Shout out to Chinese leaders campaign organised by the Tibetan Women's Association in New Delhi on March 14, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, March 15: Tibetan Women’s Association, the largest women’s group in exile, staged a ‘shout out to Chinese leaders campaign’ in the Indian capital New Delhi Thursday coinciding with formal selection of Xi Jinping as China’s new President. TWA, on the final day of their three-day mass campaign ‘Tibetans stand together in joy and sorrow’ raised slogans at Xi’s figurine at Jantar Mantar. 200 Tibetan women activists representing 33 chapters from across India and Nepal directly called on China’s new president to ‘end the repression in Tibet, resolve the Tibet crisis now, and face the Tibet Challenge.’ “Today, as Xi Jinping formally assumes the title of president and as we commemorate the 5th anniversary of the ‘2008 spring uprising in Tibet,’ we are shouting out to the Chinese leaders to review their failed policies in Tibet, to end the crisis inside Tibet and significantly to fulfill the genuine aspirations of the Tibetan people who sacrificed their lives calling for ‘freedom for Tibetans inside Tibet’ and for ‘the dignified return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to Tibet’,” said Tashi Dolma, president of TWA. TWA in a release noted that the situation in Tibet is “exacerbated by a deepening crackdown by the Chinese government on any forms of peaceful expressions for freedom by the Tibetan people, thus deepening the anguish Tibetans feel.” “The Chinese leaders have time and again deliberately mishandled the crisis in Tibet,” the group said. The final day’s sit-in event at Jantar Mantar was addressed by Nitin Gadkari, former President of Bharatiya Janata Party, who said that he is ‘aware of the grim situation inside Tibet and remain saddened over the heightened repression.’ Women peach march from Samta Sthal to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. “I have and will always stand by the Tibetan people and their unwavering struggle for freedom,” said the BJP leader. Jaya Jaitley, prominent social activist, lauded the spirit of Tibetan women and assured that the ‘impeccable tenets of the Tibetan non-violent struggle and the powerful role of Tibetan women will persevere and bring triumph to the Tibetan freedom movement.’ Other speakers included Kamla Bhasin, Women empowerment activist, Radha Bhatt, Gandhian and social activist, Dr.Alana Golmie, Burmese democracy activist and members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. The TWA organised three-day mass solidarity campaign in New Delhi included sit-in protest, lobbying Indian leaders, peace march, prayer meetings, and signature campaign. Since 2009, as many as 107 Tibetans living under China’s rule, including 14 women, have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.