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Date: 28/07/2008 (Day 1)

To protest against the Beijing Olympics and the continuing colonial occupation of Tibet and oppression of Tibetans by the illegal Communist Chinese regime in Tibet, Tibetan Youth Congress today launched “Indefinite Fast for Tibet – without food and water” at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India. Six Tibetan patriots representing the plight of the six million Tibetans took part in this “Indefinite Fast for Tibet – without food and water”. Around 140 Tibetans mostly monks from South India are present here at the hunger strike site as supporters to show their solidarity with the hunger strikers.

Chief Guest Shri Bashisht Narayan Singh (Member of Indian Parliament and Convener, All India Parliamentary Forum for Tibet) lit the seven butter lamps to launch the inaugural ceremony. The program started out with singing of Tibetan and Indian National Anthem followed by one minute silence to pay tribute to martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Tibet’s Independence.

Shri Bashisht Narayan Singh then spoke passionately about his support and cooperation for the cause of Tibet and said, “you are fighting for a just cause, for human rights, for Tibet’s sovereignty, for your own culture and to protect your own education system, I hope you will get much more wider support than what you are getting today”.

In his speech introducing the campaign, Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress said, “Tibetans inside Tibet are sacrificing their lives for Tibet’s Independence and most recently the historic uprising by Tibetans inside has once again highlighted the Tibet issue on the world stage like never before and as exile Tibetans living in free and democratic countries, it is our duty to continue to keep alive the Tibet issue”. He further went on to add that “we must seize this Olympic opportunity to shine the spotlight on the brutal occupation of Tibet by China and I urge all Tibetans to do their part for our country”.

Shri Vijay Kranti, journalist and Tibetologist who was special guest also spoke in length about his vast knowledge of the Tibet issue and said, “I do not agree with this Fast without food and water but I think this is far better than people who use bombs. The world community has a larger responsibility to hear these voices, when we come and show our solidarity with these young people, we are not only showing our solidarity to Tibet, we are not only showing our support to Tibetan Youth Congress but it shows we believe in non-violence”.

Tibetan Youth Congress is left with no option but to organize these non-violent direct action campaigns against the colonial occupation of Tibet and the continuing oppression of Tibetans by the illegal Communist Chinese regime.

“Indefinite Fast for Tibet – without food and water” is part of the Tibetan People’s Mass Movement. TYC will organize numerous campaigns including Tibetan people’s demonstration on August 7th 2008 and throughout the Beijing Olympics.