Tibetan activists launch signature campaign

Guwahati, April 24 (IANS) The voice for a free Tibet sounded louder here Tuesday after three motorcyclists who have embarked on an all-India tour arrived in this Assamese city to start a signature campaign for their cause.

One of the three, Sherab Tsedor, had already survived a self immolation bid in November last year for the Tibetan cause.

Tsedor and his team had embarked on three-month all India Tibet awareness and support campaign on March 10, this year-the 53rd Tibetan National Uprising day-at Dharamsala, the seat of Tibetan Government-in-exile. They hope to cover the length and breadth of the country by July this year.

Earlier, on March 26 this year, the home minister of the Tibetan government in exile Gyari Dolma kick started a campaign for the Tibetan cause in northeast India.

She also took part in a seminar on the theme 'Tibet and the Himalayan Environment & Ecology'. The Core Group for Tibet, who organised the seminar, also inaugrated a unit in Assam to work for the Tibetan cause.

"During the campaign in all the owns we pass by, we sit blindfolded and hold a signature campaign to highlight the critical plight of the Tibetan people inside Tibet and the indifference shown by the United Nations and world leaders," said Tsedor while talking to media in Guwahati.

The trio embarked upon the mission under the banner 'A Messenger of Snow land'.

"We are going to head for Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow and cover all the states in the northeast region," said Tsedor, who is leading the team.

"We represent the free voice of the desperate yet bold non-violent calls by young Tibetans inside Tibet to alert the world about the ongoing atrocities being committed by the People's Republic of China," he said, while appealing support from the people in this part of the country.

"We are gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation inside Tibet, which is leading Tibetans to feel so desperate and frustrated that they are taking to such extreme acts," he said.

"We appeal to the world leaders and United Nations to wake up and do something about it. Arab nations are not the only one, even Tibet is burning but for sure we dont have the fuel but we have the spirit of truth and 53 years of non-violent movement on our side. It is ethically right and moral responsibility for the sane people world over to support and seek justice for Tibet," he said.