Team Herald
MARGAO/VASCO: Around 43 Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) activists were arrested after they protested with Tibetan flags and placards at the Old Market Circle in Margao and at Colva.
The Old Market Circle is one of the busiest intersections in Goa’s commercial capital and the route of international leaders attending the BRICS summit.
The activists shouted slogans of ‘Free Tibet’ and ‘Stop the demolition of Larung Gar Buddhist Academy’.
42 Tibetan protestors were arrested at Old Market Circle and one was held at Colva.
All of them were taken into judicial custody.
The protestors were seen around the circle earlier while the motorcade of Russian President Vladamir Putin passed.
The protestors, residing in a hotel nearby, swarmed towards the circle and started protesting. They were immediately arrested and taken in 4 police vehicles to the police station.
The activists while speaking to the media have expressed serious concern over the current critical situation in Tibet and demanded that Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is currently in Goa attending the BRICS summit, to end the alleged illegal occupation of Tibet.
“Over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a result of this invasion since 1949,” Tenzing Jigme, President of Tibetan Youth Congress alleged.
“Today we are here to demand Xi Jinping to end the illegal occupation of Tibet and we also want to highlight the current demolition of Larung Gar Buddhist Academy where thousands of Tibetan monks and nuns are being displaced against their will. The world needs to hear this”, Tenzing Jigme further charged.
Choeje Yishin Norbu Khenpo Jigme Phuntshok founded the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, which is probably the world’s largest Buddhist monastic community. The academy, as framed by the late Khenpo, has been serving as the wellspring of knowledge. It is also the home for many Buddhist practitioners and the source of happiness for people across the globe.
“The Chinese government however has issued an order to reduce the population of the institute to 5,000 residents when there are well over 10,000 monks and nuns alone. The government also announced the planned demolition of living quarters, which would leave residential space for only five thousand members. News and photos of the demolition work have been circulating widely on social media sites,” Jigme informed.
Over a 140 Tibetans have allegedly immolated themselves inside Tibet since 2009 protesting China’s illegal occupation and their hardline policies. Protests are taking place randomly across the plateau, demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, freedom for Tibet and Independence for Tibet.
“It is clear that the Tibetans in Tibet are not satisfied with the rule of the current communist government. Tibet today faces a life-and-death situation. Tibet continues to burn,” Tenzing charged.
“As Tibetans living in exile, we have a duty and responsibility to stand up for our brothers and sisters inside Tibet. The oppressed will always protest the oppressor until justice is served – we will not remain silent”, Jigme added.
Meanwhile, expressing their serious concern over current situation prevailing in Tibet and demanding an end to Beijing’s alleged illegal occupation in Tibet, the Tibetan activists residing at Vasco staged protest opposite Vasco Railway Station on Saturday.
The protest was held at the kick start of BRICS Summit in Goa and the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, sending both hosts (India) and the visitors (China) into a tizzy.
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) earlier has announced its plan to stage demonstrations in Goa during Jinping’s visit to attend the 8th BRICS Summit on Saturday and Sunday.
The protest was held in a peaceful manner, without any disturbance to the general public and motorists. The Tibetan activists have demanded saving the Tibetan refugees and that the Chinese president stops criticising Dalai Lama.
Meanwhile, the Vasco police arrested and released five Tibetan activists under suspicion after they were found loitering near Dabolim airport.
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Association flays persecutions of
Chinese Falun Dafa practitioners
MARGAO: Indians practising the Falun Dafa, an ancient peaceful meditation practice have expressed their deep pain and anguish over the alleged persecutions of their counterparts in China.
At a press briefing the Falun Dafa Association of India has urged New Delhi to condemn the alleged violations as the Association plans to hold silent protests at Margao on Sunday.
Association president Vinod Pursani informed that Falun Dafa is a peaceful meditation practice for the mind and body and is practiced in over 114 countries around the world including India.
He said “Not only on humanitarian grounds should India condemn this severe violation, but being neighbour to China and entering into an active trade exchange at present, there is a grave concern for India to preserve its own moral values and firmly affirm its stance,” he said. “India needs to play a decisive role to end this gross human rights violation in China,” added Vinod.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping is coming to Goa to attend 8th BRICS summit. While the agenda of the summit will be development, cooperation and world peace in which China will claim to take the lead part, we should not ignore gross human rights violations taking place in China. One of the major human rights issue in China is the slander and victimisation of Falun Dafa followers” Pursani added.
“The Communist Regime uses this as an excuse to commit further heinous crime against humanity. Reports from witnesses and Chinese physicians reveal that thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners have been killed for their organs, which are sold and transplanted at enormous profit in the illicit organ trade,” the Association alleged.
