Exiled Tibetan hold candlelight procession against Olympics

North Korea Times
Friday 8th August, 2008
(ANI)

Varanasi/Manali/Kolkata, Aug 8 : Exiled Tibetans organised candlelight processions in three Indian cities on Thursday in protest against China hosting the 24th edition of Olympic Games.

Processions were held in the cities of Varanasi, Kolkata and Manali.

With the Olympics beginning in Beijing today, the Tibetans are trying to highlight China's illegal occupation of their homeland and their demand for freedom.

"There is breach of human rights in China. There is no peace and truth in that country but still they are holding Olympics. We are against Olympics in that country. We don't have any problem if any other country hosts Olympics. But a country where there is lot of bloodshed and violence should not be allowed to host Olympics," said Tisha, a Tibetan protester.

Tibetans believe that China should not be allowed to hold the Olympics because of its poor human rights record.

"Olympics should be held in that country where there is freedom and human rights. Chinese, they never give freedom to the people of Tibet. But they are going to hold Olympics there, because they wanted to show something to the world. They say something and do something," Karam Sithere, Vice President, Tibetan Kullu-Manali Association.

In Kolkata, students under the banner of 'Students for Free Tibet' (SFT) raised anti-China slogans and blamed it for "human rights violation."

They said that they wanted to make the world aware of their problems by staging such demonstrations.

"We are opposing Chinese for the Olympics. The country which violates human rights doesn't deserve to have Olympics," said Dhondup, a coordinator, SFT.

Over 25,000 Tibetans are expected to gather in New Delhi on August 8 to participate in a mass demonstration campaign and appeal the world community to boycott the Beijing Olympics.

Tibetan groups to hold rallies coinciding with Olympics

Express News Service

Posted online: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 03:21:05
Updated: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 03:21:05

Kolkata, August 05 The city will witness a string of silent protest marches and candlelight vigil against the “Chinese occupation of Tibet” from August 7, on the eve of the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics.

These protest marches will be organised by various social groups working for the cause of free Tibet like International Tibet Support Network (ITSN), Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Students for Free Tibet and others.

“All of us who have been demanding the sovereignty of Tibet in a non-violent manner have decided to launch a peaceful agitation across the globe,” said Shibayan Raha, a member of the Student for Free Tibet.

“Since this year’s Olympics are being held in Beijing, everyone’s eyes will be on China and it is here that we will stand up and take part in a global protest against the forceful Chinese occupation of Tibet,” said Shyamal Chakraborty of Gana Samannay, a city-based NGO.

The protest will coincide with the opening ceremony.

On August 8, these organisations will hold a rally that will begin from Subodh Mallick Square and culminate at Metro Channel in the evening.

These groups plan to hold peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in Kolkata on August 14.

“Our battle to free Tibet has been going on for almost five decades. Tibet is being illegally occupied by the Chinese government and cultural genocide is being carried out there,” said Pamba Bhutia, a member of the Students for Free Tibet.