"Indefinite Fast for Tibet" launched in Brussels

 
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[Brussels: 10th March, 2009]

On the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising Day, Tibetan Youth Congress  (TYC) launched “Indefinite Fast for Tibet” in Brussels, Belgium to protest against the continuing brutal occupation of Tibet and brutal repression of Tibetans by the illegal Communist Chinese regime in Tibet.

Around 400 Tibetans first gathered at Schuman next to the European Council building where the March 10th statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was read by Tenzin Wangmo, secretary of the Representative Office in Brussels followed by speeches from TYC President Tsewang Rigzin and members of Belgian Parliament. The protest rally then started with loud chants of “Free Tibet” and 'Long Live HH The Dalai Lama” heading towards the Chinese Embassy walking for almost two hours on a rainy and chilly wintry day. On reaching the Chinese Embassy, the slogans reached a feverish pitch and continued for around two hours.
Participants of the "Indefinite fast for Tibet" in Brussels. From left to right: Sonam Rinchen, Thupten Samdup and Namgyal Wangdu.
From left to right: Sonam Rinchen, Thupten Samdup and Namgyal Wangdu.
Fast participants in front of the tent facing the Brussels Chinese Embassy
Fast participants in front of the tent facing the Brussels Chinese Embassy
Fast participants inside the tent, Brussels
Fast participants inside the tent
Brussels Chinese Embassy
Brussels Chinese Embassy
TYC President Tsewang Rigzin then introduced the campaign and the participants. He said, “for the Tibetans inside Tibet who continue to defy the brutal Communist Chinese regime by risking their precious life for the last 60 years, we in exile who are in the free world must continue our solidarity not just in words but in deeds and can never let their sacrifices go in vain”. He went on to say that “with history and truth on our side we will prevail at the end”.  The Fast is being held right across the street from the Chinese Embassy.

The participants of the Indefinite Fast are:

Sonam Rinchen, 45 yrs old was born in Chamdo Chunpo Tenchen and fled Tibet in 1987. He lived in Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement before moving to Belgium in 2004. He took part in the 1987 Uprising in Lhasa. His father was killed by the Chinese Army during the Cultural Revolution and when he was only 5 yrs old. His wife and two kids are currently in Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement.

Thupten Samdup, 34 yrs old was born in Kham Gawa and fled Tibet in 1995. He was a former monk from Sera Jey Dema Khangtsen in South India and moved to Belgium in 2005. He had participated in political rallies while in India including in an All India Cycle rally.

Namgyal Wangdu, 31 years old was born and raised in exile in Bylakuppe Tibetan Lugsam Samdupling settlement. He moved to Belgium in 2002. He is currently serving as the Cultural Secretary of RTYC Belgium.

Many local and international media including AP, Reuters and others covered today's protest rally and the Indefinite Fast..
Tibetan Youth Congress, Central Executive Committee, P.O. Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala-176219 ( H. P.) India
Tel:+91-1892-221554 / 221239 Fax: +91-1892-221849 eMail : tyc@vsnl.com
©Tibetan Youth Congress